At Friends Day this year, our Parents Association hosted families, friends and members of the community for a day of fun, music and games. The weather cooperated and our beautiful campus has never looked better. Ken Smith, our former Head of School, was there; we were able to show off our new climbing wall; the pond sparkled, and the Upper School band rocked. There was lots to grin about.
I enjoy talking about these things and I am proud of these elements of the School. They are a reflection of who we are. But they do not define us.
As an independent Friends school, we are largely free to set our own course, to find our own balance. While not knowing the contours of the world our students will be entering upon graduation, it is our charge to determine what educational experiences will best serve them for the rest of their lives. If you assume, as I do, that American schools are struggling as budgets shrink, class size grows, programs such as arts and athletics get cut, and standardized testing is confused with real learning ("teaching to the test”), there is a sense that not slipping, just remaining in the same place, is a kind of moral victory. Not so for us.
Sandy Spring Friends School was founded 50 years ago by local people, members of the nearby Quaker Meeting, some of whom were the sixth generation to have resided on their land. Many still addressed their neighbors with thees and thous. Looking back, they were ridiculously optimistic in imagining what could be achieved, stunningly progressive in their outlook as it relates to sustainability, diversity, and the importance of educating the whole child. They apparently did not know the word "quit." They created a school that would remain under the care of the Sandy Spring Meeting while insisting that it be entirely independent.
So here we are. For fifty years our community of lifelong learners has been debating, exploring, and innovating. We have been centered in the belief that there is that of God within each person and convinced that each person has the responsibility to discover individual gifts and purpose so that his or her Life Speaks.
This is important work, and we are all engaged in it. What I often hear, and what our recent Parent's Survey confirmed, is that Sandy Spring Friends School is a place where children develop character, practice Quaker S.P.I.C.E.S. (Spirit, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship/Service), and appreciate differences. I know of no better preparation for the Real World (as they say). In this vital area we are strong, and we are energized. And why shouldn’t we be? This is an expression of what we have held dear for 50 years.
We can expect, and I can confirm, that families - all of whom make a financial sacrifice to send their children here - are made up of practical people whose commitment to their child's formative years is unbending and includes wanting every class that their children take to be extraordinary (or at least very good). In this vital area, while we are strong and we are energized, I do not think that we always communicate as well as we should. Families sometimes think we are three different schools rather than one school with three different divisions. We will do better in giving families greater visibility into successive divisions, curriculum, and expectations as we recognize that where parents send their children is a choice with many components. Transparency is our friend. We really believe the more you know about SSFS the more you will find to like.
We believe that it is not enough to stay the same; therefore, we look to improve, to raise the bar, at every opportunity. In particular, we are committed to engaging and retaining exceptional faculty and supporting them with unparalleled professional development opportunities. For faculty and staff (including me!), we believe in evaluation loops, mentoring, and frequent communication. We have an extraordinary campus and a wonderful history, but the essence of Sandy Spring Friends School is the people.
We take the view that our success as a school is wholly dependent on maintaining a vice-like grip on our Quaker character. Challenging academics, vibrant arts, and robust athletics mix perfectly with Meeting for Worship, the celebration of Peace Day, Morley Games and the multitude of things that define Sandy Spring Friends School. In balance and as a whole, this is a safe place for kids to find their passions, develop their skills, learn to think, argue and change their minds (while changing the minds of others) as they make their way into adulthood.