Parents want to provide the best for their children – especially when it comes to their education and their future. As parents search through different education environments to find the best fit, many are turning to independent schools because of their small class sizes, hands-on learning activities, student support resources, and more.Here are just six of the many advantages that an independent school education might offer your child:

The longer days, warmer temperatures, and even the rain reminds us that spring is less than a month away. There is never a bad season for science, but springtime provides us with more opportunities to use natural materials and to see things in a brand new way. The following four experiments are a fun way to welcome in spring, and help your children understand how the world works around them.

Exploring history through the arts is a great way for cultural traditions to come alive for students. It is also a great way for students who normally shy away from the arts to find new meaning in their creation. At Sandy Spring Friends School, our 6^th grade students recently made their studies of the Maori people in their Social Studies classroom come alive by creating colorful art pieces in their arts class.  By drawing self-portraits and Maori style tattoos (known as Ta Moko), the students were able to learn about the meaning of the various patterns used by the Maori while also building upon their understanding of symmetry and color schemes. 

Follow the steps below so you and your children can  create pieces of art that will inspire you to learn more about the Maori people and their culture!

The crisp air and colorful leaves remind us that we are in the midst of a beautiful fall, where teachers at Sandy Spring Friends School are using the campus and our commitment to providing experiential-based learning opportunities to engage students in fun earth science activities. These activities help our students explore the changing world around them, as well as get them outside.  Check out these four great activities for your children (and you) to enjoy!

Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow while taking in the wonders and culture of a new country. The experience can help students develop new skills, expand their worldview, and increase resilience and independence as they learn to adapt in different environments. Studying abroad can also be a transformative experience that may help students define a career path or select a college program that will best fit their interests. 

While many of us know that studying abroad is a great opportunity, it can be a nerve-racking endeavor to start planning for travel to a new and unfamiliar place. Lexie Leeser and Alex Polon, two of our high school sophomores who recently had an amazing experience studying abroad in Australia over the summer, have offered four great tips they wish someone had told them before starting their adventure abroad.