FCS Middle School New Family Guide 2023-2024

UPCOMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Getting-to-Know-You Conferences

Thursday, Aug. 31 & Tuesday, Sept. 5

Parents & caregivers will be able to schedule a 20-minute meeting during the day with their child’s advisor. The sign-up link and more information for these conferences will be sent in mid-August.

New Student Orientation (for all grade 6 and all NEW grade 7 & 8 students)

Tuesday, September 5, 9:30-11:30 am

Parents & caregivers are welcome to stay at this time for a parent and caregiver orientation at 9:30 am.

First Day of School - All Students

Wednesday, September 6, 8:20 am

Community Celebration

Sunday, September 10, 2-4 pm

Early Bird start for new families at 1:30 pm

Felsen Common, City Avenue campus

Join

HELPFUL CONTACTS

Andy White

Middle School Principal awhite@friendscentral.org

Middle School Picture Day

Tuesday, September 12

Middle School Curriculum Night

Thursday, September 14, 7 pm

Welcome Social hosted by Parents of Students of Color (PSOC)

Saturday, September 23, 1 pm

All-School Parent/Caregiver-Teacher Conferences

Friday, November 10 (no classes)

Lauren Davis

Middle School Assistant Principal ldavis@friendscentral.org

Frederick Pratt

Director of Student Support Services & Clinical Counselor (MS & US) fpratt@friendscentral.org

Middle School Administrative Assistant 610.645.5063

We’ve listed these fall dates to give you a head start, but don’t let the rest of the year sneak up on you! Once the school year begins, the most up-to-date information will be in the monthly calendar which is shared via our weekly newsletter, JtF, and can always be found on the Veracross portal. For long-term planning, check out the Important Dates Calendar (also shared in JtF and Veracross).

DEAR FAMILIES NEW TO MIDDLE SCHOOL,

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Friends’ Central community! As you will soon discover, the Middle School years at FCS are filled with joy, creativity, exploration, and a whole lot of laughter. I am thrilled to be with you all on this journey. In anticipation of your arrival in the fall, we have put together this guide to support your family’s transition to Friends’ Central’s Middle School. Below, you’ll find practical information regarding schedules, transportation, dining services, technology, and communication, just to name a few. I hope this resource will be useful to you in preparing for the school year ahead. As you make your way through the summer, please remember that the Middle School community is here to answer any specific questions you might have about the program or life at FCS in general. Feel free to reach out anytime. And if you would like to schedule a time to connect via phone or Zoom, I am happy to do that as well.

I am so grateful to be joined by this incredible Middle School faculty who are eager to meet you and your students in September. I also look forward to getting to know each of you in the months to come. Have a wonderful summer, and I’ll see you soon!

Best,

Andy White Middle School Principal

FAST FACTS

w Homeroom begins at 8:20 am

w School ends at 3:00 pm

w Bus pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm

w Car pick-up (PPU) begins at 3:20 pm

w Homework is posted by 3:30 pm on Canvas

w Weekly School Newsletter - Just the FaCtS is emailed on Fridays

w If your student will be absent, arrive late, or leave early please complete the Student Attendance

+ Transportation Changes form (the big green button found on the Veracross Parent Portal)

w Back-to-School Info is on Veracross (myfcs.org)

NEW FAMILY CHECKLIST

q Submit health forms through the Magnus Health Portal

q Review summer reading list

q Check supply/book list in Veracross & prepare school supplies

q Mark important dates

q Set up Canvas preferences in the Canvas parent portal in Veracross

q Set up MyKidsSpending.com to fund dining hall purchases

q Confirm transportation plans

q Label water bottle, lunch box, book bag, sweatshirts, etc.

q Review contact information in Veracross (myfcs.org)

ORIENTATION EVENTS

Tuesday, September 5, 9:30-11:30 am, is Orientation Day! Orientation Day is designed for the entire incoming sixth grade as well as seventh and eighth grade students new to Friends’ Central. Students will meet teachers, ask questions, go over the schedule, learn the locations of classes, and much more!

Parents and caregivers are also encouraged to stay for a Q&A during this same time. The Home and School Association will host a meet and greet for new parents and caregivers following the Q&A, so please plan to stay and chat!

Middle School Curriculum Night will take place on Thursday, September 14 at 7 pm. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend. We hope you will join us for a chance to meet your child’s teachers, learn more about the curriculum, and meet other families.

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

VERACROSS - ONLINE PORTAL FOR ACADEMIC INFORMATION

For FCS parents and caregivers, the Veracross parent portal is the central online information hub for the School. This is where you can view back-to-school information, your child’s schedule, attendance records, and report cards as well as schedule your conference in November. Veracross also keeps a log of the emails that have been sent to you by the School and has helpful links to the School directory, the Magnus Health portal, and tech help. There is also a button on your Veracross home screen that enables you to access Canvas, our student workflow and class management program. You can continue to use the Veracross credentials you used to sign in to the Admission and Enrollment portals. If you are not new to the School, the credentials you used previously will continue to work. If you have forgotten your password, go to the Veracross portal, myfcs.org, and click on the “forgot username or password?” link to receive an email with your username and a link to use to reset your password.

JUST THE FACTS (JTF)

Every Friday, Just the FaCtS (JtF), our electronic newsletter about events and news, is sent to all households. It is critical that you read JtF every week since it has the most current information and may have important messages from the Principal and the Head of School. JtF also has links to the monthly calendar and the important dates calendar.

Important information and invitations will also be shared with you via email from the FCS Communications Office. In the event of a weather-related closing or other urgent communication, you will be notified via text and email.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEBSITE

Follow Friends’ Central on social media to see what’s happening on campus, support student/faculty achievements, and to stay engaged with the community no matter your location.

The Friends’ Central website, friendscentral.org/parents, is another source of information on the life of the School. There, you will find School news and events, the calendar, photo galleries, athletics updates, and other helpful information. In the FCS Extras section, you will also find information on transportation, dining services, and the school store.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE PROCEDURES

The car line is very busy in the morning and the afternoon. Please be mindful and follow these guidelines:

w There is no cell phone use during drop-off or pick-up.

w Please follow the directions of security and staff members.

w Be alert to pedestrians and give them the right of way.

w Drivers should remain in the car while in the car line and at the curb. If the driver needs to exit the car, please park in the lot and then exit the car.

ARRIVAL

w School begins at 8:20 am. Students should arrive at school between 8 am and 8:20 am so they can prepare for the day. Homeroom begins promptly at 8:20 am and ends at 8:25 am. Students who arrive early stay in the dining hall until 8:10 am.

w If you plan to drive your child to school, the car line travels around the curve of the City Avenue driveway. Parents and caregivers should pull over to let students out and then continue along the driveway.

LATE ARRIVAL

w If students come to school late, they must sign in at the kiosk in the Middle School Office upon arrival.

w For a late arrival, a parent or caregiver should notify the Middle School Office by using the green Student Attendance + Transportation Changes button in Veracross. If you cannot use Veracross, notify the Middle School Office at msattend@friendscentral.org.

DEPARTURE

w School ends at 3:00 pm unless a student is involved with interscholastic athletics or play rehearsal. If students are awaiting pick-up, they are expected to be in front of Shallcross Hall or in the library.

w At the end of the day, the parking lot is reserved for buses from 2:45 pm until 3:30 pm. We realize that families want to pick up their children, but we ask that you wait until at least 3:25 pm to arrive for pick-up. This is both safer and more efficient, since it eliminates the need for students to cross

through bus traffic to get to parked cars.

w If you do arrive before 3:20 pm, a staff member will direct you to form lines in the parking lot until the buses are clear.

EARLY DISMISSAL

A parent/caregiver must notify the school of an early dismissal by using the green Student Attendance + Transportation Changes button in Veracross. If you cannot use Veracross, notify the Middle School Office by emailing msattend@ friendscentral.org. When it is time to leave, your child must sign out at the kiosk in the MS Office. Students may not leave campus early without permission from a parent/caregiver.

SCHOOL ABSENCES

Parents/Caregivers are expected to keep sick children at home. Children who have experienced fevers or vomiting should not return to school until 24 healthy hours have passed. If you are keeping your child at home, please notify the school using the green Student Attendance + Transportation Changes button in Veracross by 9am. If you are unable to use Veracross, contact the Middle School Office at msattend@friendscentral.org by 9:00 am. School materials needed during the child’s absence may be obtained by notifying the Middle School Office. Students are encouraged to consult Canvas for information about homework and class assignments

TRANSPORTATION

Friends’ Central students get to school in many different ways, including by private vehicles, public school district busing, Friends’ Central busing, and SEPTA trains and buses. There is an intercampus shuttle that runs in the morning and afternoon between the two campuses, and a shuttle service to and from the Overbrook train station. Available services vary by location but all services are free of cost..

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Dodds, Director of Transportation, at mdodds@friendscentral.org or 267.698.0587. During the summer, specific transportation options may change so look for communications from the School! For the most current and detailed transportation information, see the FCS website at friendscentral.org/ transportation

CAMPUS SAFETY & SECURITY

Friends’ Central is fortunate to have a wonderful team of campus safety and security officers who patrol our campus daily and assist in the event of emergencies. We also have layers of campus security that include our card access system, radio system, cameras, alarms, and more. All Middle and Upper School students are required to wear identification cards on campus; these cards also give students access to school buildings.

All visitors to campus – including parents and caregivers – must go to the reception desk of the Main Building to sign in on our Raptor check-in system. Once you have submitted your ID and have been cleared, you will be given a lanyard (green for parents and caregivers) and a temporary ID badge that you must wear while on campus. When your visit is complete, please return your lanyard to the reception desk in the Main Building. Your lanyard will not give you access to buildings, so you must be admitted into buildings by a member of the FCS security team, faculty, or staff. Please do not ask students to give you access into the buildings.

DINING SERVICES, RECESS, & LUNCH

DINING SERVICES

The Dining Hall at Friends’ Central School provides students with high quality, nutritious, and flexible options. We partner with SAGE Dining Services. Via MyKidsSpending, you will be able to conveniently add funds to your child’s account for use in the City Avenue dining hall. Please visit friendscentral.org/extras for more information about dining services. If you have any questions please contact Dave Woodford, FCS Chief Financial Officer, at dwoodford@friendscentral.org.

SHALLCROSS DINING HALL HOURS, MONDAY–FRIDAY

w Breakfast & Snack: 7:45-11:00 am

w Lunch: 11:30 am-1:45 pm

w After-School Snack: 3:00 -3:30 pm

RECESS AND LUNCH

w Students have a 15-minute recess each day (around 10:00 am) that allows them to play outside or in the gyms, eat a snack, and socialize.

w Lunch begins at 11:35 am and is a 35-minute period. All Middle School students and teachers eat lunch together in the dining hall or at the outdoor tables. When students are finished eating, they are welcome to play outside or in the gyms.

CONTACTS & RESOURCES

w Middle School Office: 610.645.5063

w Transportation: Mark Dodds, mdodds@friendscentral.org

w FCS Extras: friendscentral.org/extras

w Dining Services: Dave Woodford, FCS Chief Financial Officer, dwoodford@friendscentral.org

HEALTH SERVICES

The City Ave campus has a full-time Registered Nurse, Josh Van Dyke, overseeing the health of our student body. Families are encouraged to contact the nurse at healthservices@friendscentral.org with questions about managing illnesses, allergies, or medications at school. All necessary and required health information is found through our secure Magnus Health Portal that you can access through Veracross. Regular email reminders are automatically sent for any outstanding information related to your student.

A physical examination is required for each student every year. It is due on the month of your child’s birthday or on the anniversary of your child’s last physical examination. For new students, physical examination information is required before your child may attend the first day of school. For all the details about required medical information, consent forms, medication procedures, emergency health care plans, allergies, and immunizations, please visit the Health Services page of our website (friendscentral.org/healthservices).

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Support Services Team supports students and teachers in a comprehensive and thoughtful way. There are a variety of supports in place for students’ learning, social, and emotional needs. The Middle School shares two clinical counselors –Frederick Pratt (fpratt@friendscentral.org) and Heather Tomes (htomes@friendscentral.org) – with the Upper School. Frederick and Heather provide short-term, solution-focused counseling. Middle School Learning Specialist Jill MacDougall (jmacdougall@friendscentral.org) also provides support to our students. Interns join our counseling team every year from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education as an integral part of their training towards becoming licensed professional counselors. All of the counselors work collaboratively with faculty members to help identify strategies which will enhance a student’s experience. If you have any questions about mental health, wellness, social/emotional learning, psychological/neuropsychological, or educational testing, please contact: Frederick Pratt, LPC at fpratt@friendscentral.org.

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE & CLASSES SCHEDULE & CLASSES

One of the biggest changes for students as they move to Middle School is the rotating class schedule. The students have a letter day class schedule that rotates through the week. The days are labeled consecutively, A through F. It is helpful for students to know which letter day of the week it is prior to coming to school that day. The letter days appear on the Veracross calendar and are also posted in classrooms. Students do not travel from class to class as a group; they are mixed up in each of their classes, so it is important that they learn their own schedule.

HOMEWORK

Homework for each day is posted on Canvas before 3:30 pm. Homework in the Middle School is meant to be meaningful and purposeful, allowing students to practice skills and deepen understanding. Each Middle School student has a Friends’ Central email address, Canvas Account, and Google Drive account.

CITY AVENUE CAMPUS MAP

1. Main Building

2. Language Building

3. Fannie Cox Center (FCC)

4. Shallcross Hall

5. Middle School

6. Blackburn Library

7. Center for Innovation & Design (CID)

8. Linton Gym

9. Shimada Athletic Center

10. Tennis Center

11. Swimming Pool

12. JV & Middle School Softball & JV Soccer Field

13. Track, Boys’ & Girls’ Soccer Field

14. Additional Playing Fields

15. Girls’ Field Hockey & Lacrosse Field

16. Varsity Softball Field

17. Felsen Common

18. Visitor Parking

19. Bus Pick-up & Drop-off (Buses only between 2:45 & 3:30 pm)

w FCS Email: Students should check email regularly for any timely messages from teachers. Each student’s email account will be through Gmail, but the address itself will be an @friendscentral.org address that is managed by our Technology department.

w Canvas: Canvas is our classroom management and workflow program used by teachers and students. Parents and caregivers also have their own Canvas account where they can view their Students’ assignments and access other community resources and information. If you are having trouble with Canvas, please view our helpful blogs under IT Help on the Parent and Caregiver Page of the website.

w Google Drive: Google Drive is the place where students produce and save much of their work. It allows students to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. This work is stored in the cloud, so students can access it from any device connected to the internet.

GRADES & REPORT CARDS

We provide both letter grades and narrative comments on our report card in the Middle School. We are currently on a semester system, so you will receive report cards in late January and early June. Between the report cards, we do write mid-semester reports in which teachers provide brief progress reports for your child. The mid-semester report for the first semester is discussed face-to-face during the November 10 Conference Day. The face-to-face parent/caregiver-teacher conferences enable advisors to share observations about the beginning of the school year and to allow parents to help us know your child better. Our Getting-to-Know-You Conference Days will be on Thursday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 5. Parents and caregivers will be able to schedule a 20-minute in-person or video conference with their child’s advisor. Your child’s advisor will look forward to getting to know more about your child and your family, as well as sharing information about what to expect from your child in the first weeks of school. Our fall Conference Day for 2023 will be Friday, November 10. You will be able to sign up electronically via Veracross for your conference time a few weeks before the Conference Day.

ADVISORY

We find that most students have a very smooth transition to FCS, one that is supported by caring teachers, small classes,

and welcoming students. The advisory system is an important component of the transition to Middle School.

w Your child’s advisor is their homeroom teacher. Their advisor will be their point person, advocate, and cheerleader! Advisors are charged with overseeing your child’s overall progress and social-emotional well-being. The advisor is also meant to be a point person for parents and caregivers to answer questions and to connect you to the School.

w There is an advisory period for 30 minutes every day. This gives your child time to work on homework, to seek help from teachers, or to work on group projects.

w During their advisory period, students may also participate in Chorus, Orchestra, or Jazz Band.

TECHNOLOGY

Each student in the Middle School will receive a School-issued and owned Chromebook, the leasing cost of which will be spread across FACTS tuition payments. This Chromebook will be used in classes and for schoolwork.

TECHNOLOGY USE

Students will be asked to use their Chromebooks for a range of assignments and schoolwork-related activities. While students may use their devices during the academic day, there is no device use during homeroom, recess, or lunch. We consider these times important for social interaction and essential for a break in students’ screen time.

CELL PHONE USE

To be mindful of Community, student cell phones will be stored in their advisory/homeroom for the entire school day. Students place their cell phones in the classroom closet, where they will be locked and secure, beginning at 8:20 am. Students will collect their phones when they go to athletics at 2:05 pm. If you wish to communicate a message to your child during the day, please do so by calling the Middle School Office at 610.645.5063. Students are permitted to use our classroom or office phones at any time should they need to reach a parent or caregiver.

OVERVIEW OF MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMICS

Math 6 or Advanced Pre-Algebra*

English 6: Identity & Movement

CORE CLASSES

Science: Topics in Life Science

Human Geography

Prima Lingua

ROTATIONS & ELECTIVES

*Math levels are determined by placement tests, grades, performance in the previous class, and teacher recommendation. The vast majority of our students progress from Math 6 to Pre-Algebra to Algebra I. Students then take either Geometry or Advanced Geometry in ninth grade.

Pre-Algebra or Advanced Algebra I*

English 7: Windows & Mirrors

Science: Chemical & Physical Exploration of this World & Beyond

U.S. American History 1600-1865

Spanish I, French I, or Latin I**

Algebra I or Advanced Geometry*

English 8: Dream a Better World Science: Earth in Motion

U. S. American History 1865-1970

Spanish I, French I, or Latin I (continued)**

ELECTIVES

Art: CREATE

Drama: Walking in Another’s Shoes

Music: Composing Through Time

Economics: Financial Literacy

Robotics: Middle School First Lego League

**Students and parents choose from Spanish, French, and Latin for seventh grade. Students take this same language in eighth grade; level I of that language is taught over the course of two years. Students can then continue in the next level of that language for ninth grade or take a different language.

GRADE 6

GRADE 7

GRADE 8

This chart gives you an overview of the courses students take in Middle School.

OUR QUAKER CULTURE

At Friends’ Central, School life is steeped in Quaker values. At every level, we promote a commitment to learning through inquiry, reflection, action, and discovery – an approach that stems from two foundational beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends: that there is that of the Spirit in every one and that Truth is continually revealed. Our foundational beliefs call Quaker educators and students to a life of ongoing, joy-filled, Spirit-led discovery with one another. The daily impact of this philosophical grounding cannot be overstated. It informs the shape of curriculum, but more importantly, the way curriculum is delivered by faculty and embraced by students. We intentionally build an inclusive atmosphere that fosters the development of curiosity, openness, empathy, and respect for ideas and for one another

MEETING FOR WORSHIP (MFW)

Foundational for Friends, or Quakers, is the belief that the Light of the Divine resides in each and every person. Meeting for Worship is a time when we gather together, still our bodies and minds and open our hearts, so that we might connect with the guiding Light within. We make every effort to ensure that students understand why we do Meeting for Worship

and how the silence and stillness can help them in other aspects of their lives. The Middle School has Meeting for Worship every Thursday morning during Community Block. Some Meetings are held with the entire student body while others are held with smaller groups, such as grades or advisories.

CONTACTS & RESOURCES

w Middle School Office: 610.645.5063

w Middle School Learning Specialist: Jill MacDougall, jmacdougall@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5088

w Director of Support Services and Middle School Counselor: Frederick Pratt fpratt@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5134

w Quakerism Coordinator: Robyn Richmond rrichmond@friendscentral.org

w Director of Equity, Belonging, and Inclusivity: Nefetaria Yates, nyates@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5035

CONTACTS & RESOURCES

w Instrumental Music: Carl Bradley cbradley@friendscentral.org

w Vocal Music: Katrina Collia kcollia@friendscentral.org

w Athletics: Michelle Crowley mcrowley@friendscentral.org

w Athletic Schedules: friendscentral.org/teams_schedules

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, BELONGING, & INCLUSIVITY

Friends’ Central School strives to be a deeply respectful and loving environment rooted in Quaker values and committed to supporting individuals to have what they need to thrive. We foster a community where all members feel a strong sense of belonging and are celebrated across race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, class background, religion, ability, family structure, and other social identities. We are engaged in an ongoing journey to become

more aware of institutional and interpersonal barriers and provide learning opportunities that foster greater equity and create an increasingly healthy, diverse and inclusive environment for everyone.

Grounded in Quaker tradition and practice, we strive to embody our commitment to justice and equity through our policies, practices and the culture we build together. We call upon all members of our community – faculty, staff, students, administrators, parents and caregivers, trustees, and alumni/ae – to join us.

At Friends’ Central, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Justice aims to (1) close opportunity gaps; (2) advance critical conversations and initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, and social justice; and (3) enhance our community’s commitment to eliminating harmful bias and discrimination. This department is central to the coordination and implementation of our strategic plan’s diversity goals. Nefetaria Yates (nyates@friendscentral.org) our Director of Equity, Belonging and Inclusivity, leads these efforts through her inclusion, belonging and equity work with students, colleagues, and parents. She provides training and support to colleagues with respect to curriculum and programming as well as provides education and support to all of our parents and families through workshops and affinity and alliance group work. Nefetaria works alongside Middle School Ambassador for Justice Education, seventh grade teacher Kirk German, to guide our students through their affinity group work and Justice Core Team activities. Our Middle School team supports, challenges, and affirms our students as they think about identity on a personal level and on a community level.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Middle School offers a range of extracurricular activities. The School is committed to supporting and celebrating the diversity of its students, enabling them to develop into strong, confident, and capable young people by pursuing their innate interests and exploring new activities. The range of choices may at first seem daunting, but making these choices is an important part of students developing aspects of their identities and engaging in the community.

CLUBS & SERVICE

Each Middle School student participates in a weekly service project and club, both of which are part of the school day. Service takes place during Community Block on Wednesdays. Clubs take place during Community Block on Fridays. Students sign up for service projects twice per year, with the exception of some yearlong projects. Students also sign up for clubs twice per year.

AFFINITY GROUPS

Middle School students participate in affinity groups based on particular aspects of their identity, such as race, gender, or religion. Led by two faculty advisors, affinity groups meet regularly throughout the year’s Community Blocks. Through meaningful conversation, Middle School affinity groups seek to affirm identity, create networks of allyship, build community, and cultivate leadership. Each group facilitates an assembly presentation to help educate members of the community.

MINI-COURSE

The “Mini-Course” is a signature program in the Middle School that occurs the week prior to spring break. Teachers design three-day interdisciplinary courses that cross grade levels and culminate in special field trips related to the subject. Recent courses have included Genetic Mutation, Lego Engineering, and Filmmaking.

DRAMA PROGRAM

The Middle School performs two plays each year – one in the fall and Playwrights in Progress in the spring. All students are welcome and encouraged to participate! Lori Reed, the Middle School drama director, will share information about the auditions and rehearsal schedule at the beginning of the school year. Students then sign up for the fall play within the first two weeks of school. Middle School play rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Participating in the play does not conflict with participation in sports.

MUSIC PROGRAM

The Middle School performs two concerts each year to showcase Chorus, Orchestra, and Jazz Band. Chorus and Orchestra are open to all Middle School students, but Jazz Band is formed by audition. The rehearsals for vocal and instrumental groups take place during the advisory period in our schedule, so they are built into the day. Our school also offers private vocal and instrumental lessons that we schedule during the day. If you have inquiries about vocal or instrumental lessons, please contact music teacher Carl Bradley at cbradley@friendscentral.org

ATHLETICS

All students participate in our athletic program. Middle School students sign up for fall athletics during the first week of school. There is no preseason for the Middle School athletic program. Middle School athletic practices are built into the school day from 2 pm to 3 pm. Game days for interscholastic sports are Mondays and Wednesdays. Students ride the bus to and from games, and parents and caregivers pick up children at FCS after the game. Some of our opponent schools are quite a distance from FCS, so parents and caregivers will need to plan for their child to be picked up late on game days, Mondays and Wednesdays. Coaches can usually give a good estimate of the arrival time back at school following an away game, and we do encourage students to use cell phones, when possible, to stay in touch with parents and caregivers about late pick-up. Please check the Athletics section of the

ATHLETICS OVERVIEW

website for the schedule and location of games. Schedules can be found at friendscentral.org/athletics/teams.

Most sports teams will have tryouts which will determine rosters based on skill level and with the understanding that, in some sports, the roster size is limited. Students not making teams are encouraged to try a different sport or participate in the seasonal intramural offering. If numbers dictate, then we will try to offer both travel and developmental teams, which can vary in skill level. Player development – both skill and character – is emphasized as an essential part of the athletic program.

w On a travel team, at the coaches’ discretion, playing and practice time may be limited and not equal; however, coaches will work with players to find opportunities to play everyone during the course of the season.

w On a developmental team, the coach will work intentionally with players to provide equal playing and practice time.

Any questions, please contact Michelle Crowley, Director of Athletics and Wellness, at mcrowley@friendscentral.org.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

THE HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (HSA)

The Friends’ Central Home & School Association (HSA) is the vibrant and vital FCS parent and caregiver volunteer organization that works collaboratively with the School to strengthen communication and foster enriching opportunities between families and the School. If you are new to FCS or new to the Middle School, please feel free to reach out to your HSA division co-chairs, Alison Siskin and Lauren Yoppi with any questions you may have. Alison and Lauren are experienced parent and caregiver volunteers who are here to help as you transition to the Friends’ Central Middle School.

You can play an important role as a volunteer helping in many ways, from being a class rep or a committee chair to helping at all-school events such as the Community Celebration or the MLK Day of Service. HSA believes that parents and caregivers are essential for the development and success of our students. We encourage you to find a role or event that’s right for you. If you have any questions, contact the HSA at home-school@friendscentral.org.

PARENTS OF STUDENTS OF COLOR (PSOC)

For parents and caregivers of students of color, our PSOC Affinity Group fosters communication within the school community between administration, faculty, staff, parents and caregivers, and children. PSOC supports efforts to develop greater awareness of the needs and values of children of color and to empower children of color within the FCS community as part of a unified whole. Every year, we build on our ongoing work creating a space for parent and caregiver leadership development, building capacity, engaging in meaningful partnerships, and working together for our students’ success. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to our PSOC Co-clerks, Osaru Anyumba and Sherrie Jograj. Mark your calendar! Saturday, September 23 at 1 pm on the Lower School Campus, Welcome Social sponsored by Parents of Students of Color. All families are invited to enjoy treats with friends!.

CONTACTS & RESOURCES

w Middle School Division Co-Chairs: Alison Siskin

Lauren Yoppi

w PSOC Co-Clerks: Osaru Anyumba

Sherrie Jograj

w HSA Co-Clerks: Pam Kim

Elisha Snedeker

w HSA Coordinators: home-school@friendscentral.org

OTHER HELPFUL INFO

PERMISSION FORMS

Permission forms are completed online using the Informed K12 Document system. Each form will be sent to parents as an email with a link to the online document that requires an electronic signature.

INCLEMENT WEATHER & SCHOOL CLOSINGS

In the event of a closing, a modification of regular school hours, or a school emergency, you will receive an alert by text and email. The School will also post a notification on the homepage of our website, friendscentral.org. Visit the Veracross portal, myfcs.org, to make sure the contact information we have for you is correct. Please check with your local school district regarding weather-related changes in transportation, if your child uses public school bus service.

FRIENDS’ CENTRAL SCHOOL GIVING

Gifts to the Friends’ Central Fund are an important way for families, alumni/ae, faculty, staff, and friends to demonstrate their commitment to the School. There is a strong tradition of giving at FCS, and the ongoing generosity of our community allows the legacy of support to continue year after year. Annually, over 1,500 generous community members contribute to the School’s operating budget.

These contributions impact the people and programs that make an FCS education extraordinary. Specifically, gifts to the Friends’ Central Fund include but are not limited to tuition assistance for qualified students; faculty and staff support; diversity, equity, and inclusion programming; and student life initiatives, such as athletics and the arts. Participation in the Friends’ Central Fund at any and all levels makes a difference because it affirms belief in our mission and models the way for all members of our community to show support.

Additionally, Annual Fund volunteers are vital to the success of the Annual Giving Campaign. Responsibilities may include connecting with community members (grade specific) through making phone calls, sending emails or texts, or connecting through social media. Typically, volunteers are asked to participate for community-wide Giving Days in the fall and the spring. Serving as an Annual Fund volunteer has an immediate impact on the School and our ability to fulfill our mission of excellence at every level. To become an Annual Fund volunteer, contact Tinuke Oyefule, Annual Fund Manager, at toyefule@friendscentral.org or call 610.645.4499.

HELPFUL LINKS

w Athletic Schedules friendscentral.org/athletics/teams

w Veracross Parent Portal and Back-to-School Page myfcs.org

w Health Services Pages (including COVID-19 policies and procedures) friendscentral.org/healthservices

w FCS Extras - Dining Services, Transportation, Music Programs, & After-School Options friendscentral.org/extras

w Parent and Caregiver Website Page friendscentral.org/parentupdates

FCS LINGO & FUN FACTS

w JTF - Just the FaCtS (our weekly newsletter)

w PPU - Car pick-up at the end of the day

w MFW - Meeting for Worship

w HSA - Home and School Association, FCS parent and caregiver group

w PSOC - Parents of Students of Color, affinity group

w C4E - Caregivers for Equity, parent & caregiver alliance group

w OPA - Old Pupils’ Association Room (the room in the Main Building next to the welcome desk)

w CID - Center for Innovation and Design

w Raptor - security check-In system

w School Mascot - The Phoenix

w School Colors - blue and gray

HELPFUL RESOURCES

w Athletics & Wellness

Michelle Crowley, mcrowley@friendscentral.org

w The Home and School Association home-school@friendscentral.org

w Director of Support Services

Frederick Pratt, fpratt@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5134

w Middle School Learning Specialist

Jill MacDougall, jmacdougall@friendscentral.org

w Director of Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion

Nefetaria Yates, nyates@friendscentral.org

w Instrumental Music

Carl Bradley, cbradley@friendscentral.org

w Vocal Music

Katrina Collia, kcollia@friendscentral.org

w School Nurse

Joshua Van Dyke, jvandyke@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5084

w Director of Transportation

Mark Dodds, mdodds@friendscentral.org

w Quakerism Coordinator

Robyn Richmond, rrichmond@friendscentral.org

w Technology - parenthelp@friendscentral.org

We Go Further