This fall, Friends Seminary introduced Friends Foundations, a new required course for all ninth graders that places Quaker values at the center of the Upper School experience. Conceived by the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice (CPEJ) and led by Kara Kutner and Kirsti Peters, the class is designed to help students begin their high school years by engaging deeply with the principles and practices that shape life at Friends. Although not a traditional history class, Friends F

Friends Seminary’s Middle School educators are stepping boldly into a two-year professional learning journey focused on interdisciplinary teaching through a Project Based Learning (PBL) lens. Building on the division’s work in differentiated instruction, this initiative supports teachers as they continue to design learning experiences that are rigorous, collaborative, and deeply connected to the world beyond the classroom. PBL empowers students to make choices, pursue their i

For the past three years, the Lower School has been engaged in a collective effort to refine and reimagine how reading is taught. What began with curiosity about the evolving science of reading—and how best to align instruction with the latest research—has grown into a shared, division-wide approach that reflects both evidence and the School’s child-centered values. Rather than adopting a single model, Friends’ work is informed by current research and responsive to new thinki

The Upper School Club Fair showed off 40 student-led clubs at Friends. From new options like Mahjong, Ping Pong, Music Production, Girls Rock, Medicinal Chemistry, Fashion Marketing, and Video Game Club to the many groups already part of school life, there’s a club for every interest — arts, culture, science, sports, and more.

Friends Seminary’s first Anchor Grant & Lighthouse Award gallery walk on Monday, September 29, 2025, showcased a culture of open sharing and sustained innovation across the curriculum. Conceived and launched by K-12 Dean of Studies  Hassan Wilson, the initiative will continue annually, creating a dependable rhythm for faculty to bring summer work into public view and into conversation with colleagues. Over the summer, talented educators researched, designed, and prototyped n