Language Arts and Mathematics --
Basics and Beyond
We teach basic skills in reading and mathematics in an orderly sequential fashion providing plentiful practice, but introducing new skills when old ones are mastered. Moving beyond the basics, we stimulate children to apply their skills in other life contexts, to think analytically and critically, and to evaluate both in verbal and quantitative areas.
In reading, we teach phonics, word recognition, comprehension, and other skills needed to acquire competency. We hope to foster a lifelong pleasure in reading and ask all students to read regularly at home as soon as they can read. Families are asked to read with their children not only during their pre-reading years, but afterward as well. We make a continual effort to expand students' spoken vocabularies, and we expose them regularly to literature, both classic and contemporary. We encourage students to make connections between the ideas and viewpoints of different authors, and to relate these ideas to their own reflections about life.
Writing and reading are closely interrelated. Beginning readers learn to write the words they are learning to read. Writing is a daily activity throughout the school. While students are encouraged to express themselves freely in writing, this is balanced by regular instruction in spelling, grammar and fundamental mechanics in writing. Students leaving the school are expected to write clearly for creative, persuasive, and information reporting purposes.
We place a strong emphasis on mathematics in the belief that children can acquire greater skill given greater exposure. Beginning with concrete hands-on experiences to help young children develop mathematical concepts, students move to master computational skills, acquire a greater breadth of concepts, and apply mathematical skills in a variety of real-life settings.
Science and Social Studies
Students build their knowledge while learning a process of inquiry so they may continually expand their own horizons. Study is correlated with relevant literature, with visiting speakers, and with field trips into the community to bring students into direct contact with some of the rich resources of the area.
Science study contains many hands-on activities to allow students to explore directly the living and non-living world around them. We guide students to form conclusions after first questioning, then hypothesizing, experimenting, observing, and recording. We place value on respecting and protecting our environment and resources.
In social studies we focus on children's immediate social environments as well as broader human environments in various geographical and historical settings. We seek to foster understanding and appreciation of people in a variety of settings and cultures.
Foreign Language. We place high priority on providing foreign language exposure. Young children are particularly adept at acquiring the basic sounds of language, and competency in a second language enables broader communication with others. Our choice of language is Spanish because in this country it enables more outreach to non-English speakers than any other language. We focus more on speaking and interacting in the language in meaningful ways than on memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules.
Computer literacy. In today's world, it is essential that our students become computer literate. As the school grows, it is acquiring classroom computers, printers and educational software to support the academic curriculum, and to permit word processing opportunities and Internet research.
The Arts. We encourage artistic, dramatic, and musical expression and interrelate these with other areas of the curriculum. We regularly display visual arts along with other samples of excellent work. Each child has the opportunity to perform dramatically and/or musically before parents and grandparents at some time during the year.
Physical Education. Sound minds and caring spirits function best in healthy strong bodies. We stress healthy eating and living habits and schedule daily outdoor time in all but the most inclement weather. Accordingly, we ask that children come to school with adequate outdoor attire. Physical activities are geared to develop coordination and fitness as well as to foster interest in continuing recreational pursuits. As children grow older we encourage cooperation and teamwork in games. While we recognize the satisfactions of winning, we place even more value on gracious winning and losing.
Early Childhood Program
The program for preschool children (ages 5 and under) provides a comfortable school environment geared to the learning styles of young children. Time is set aside for healthful snacks and for rest in the afternoon. Pre-reading, writing, and number exploration lead some children to begin reading and solving simple mathematical problems before first grade. We encourage exploration and creativity, and we foster caring interactions with others just as we do at the elementary level. We offer both a full-day and morning-only program at the pre-kindergarten level but give first priority to full-day candidates believing they can more fully benefit from the program we offer.
School Schedule
The school calendar follows that of Frederick County Public Schools with a few minor exceptions. School closings for inclement weather also correspond to those of Frederick County Public Schools, as do delayed openings and early closings. The school day begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:30 for grades 1 to 8. The official end of the school day for the pre-kindergarten class is 2:30 but an additional 50 minutes of aftercare with the same teacher is provided to full day children at no additional cost. Pickup for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children is at 3:20 p.m.
Extended Day Program
Many working parents experience considerable difficulty and worry over making suitable before and after school arrangements for their children. For an added fee, Friends Meeting School provides before school care from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and/or after school care until 6:00 p.m.
Lunch
Lunch time is an opportunity to develop healthful eating and living habits as well as constructive social interactions. Children bring their own lunches and morning snacks to school and we ask parent cooperation in sending to school foods high in nutritional value with minimal processing, artificial preservatives, sugar, salt, or fat content. Examples of foods we encourage are: fresh fruit and vegetable pieces, rice cakes, whole wheat bread for sandwiches, and 100% fruit juices. Once a week children have the option of ordering hot pizza, which is delivered to the school.
Friends Parent Organization (FPO)
Our school community is enriched by the active involvement of parents. All parents belong to the Friends Parent Organization, whose purpose is to work cooperatively with the school administration in building a sense of community and in sponsoring social, educational, and fund- raising events.
