From the Head of School

Dear Friends,

This pandemic year has brought with it many silver linings for me, one of which has been the opportunity to meet hundreds of alumni from around the country, all from the comfort of a Zoom room. As we pass the one-year mark of COVID-19 entering our lives, I look back at the MFS friends I have met this year from across the generations. No matter the graduation year, every conversation I have had with alumni comes back to an influential or memorable teacher, someone who opened up possibilities and new worldviews and encouraged their students to push beyond what seemed possible.

As you enjoy this issue of Among Friends, I invite you to read the inspirational stories of our “30 Under 30,” alumni roughly aged 30 and younger, from the Classes of 2008 to 2017, many of whom can trace their success and life’s work back to an MFS teacher who sparked in them a desire to make the world better. MFS educators have had an undeniable impact on so many lives, and it’s their commitment to the growth and development of young people that makes MFS the special place that it is.

Conducting school during a pandemic has challenged our faculty to think and work in creative ways this year, but the core of every MFS classroom experience continues to be the relationships nurtured between students and their teachers. Whether working with students online or in person, the faculty have found innovative ways to help students feel connected to their community, safe to explore new ideas, and supported to continue their learning despite the circumstances. This school year has moved us well beyond surviving to truly thriving in a different kind of environment – one that celebrates the spirit of connection and innovation.

Technology has allowed our teachers to immerse students in real-world learning that extends far beyond the classroom walls. Seventh graders are studying climate change and food systems from an interdisciplinary perspective by speaking with experts from around the globe and hosting an online climate symposium. Upper-level French students are participating in Talk Abroad, a platform that allows them to communicate with native speakers about topics of interest on a weekly basis. An Upper School English seminar on immigration encouraged students to use the video-messaging tool Loom to conduct interviews with family and friends towards a goal of sharing and preserving stories across generations. Fourth graders practiced their leadership skills by leading a virtual assembly for first, second and third graders, complete with a scavenger hunt, a Kahoot game, and a read-aloud story, fostering a division-wide sense of community.

Now more than ever, relationships between students and teachers matter, especially as we all experience a sense of isolation during these unusual times. I have been inspired by the creativity and commitment our faculty have shown as they not only strengthen their sense of classroom community, but link students with peers around the world. At a time when so many are missing out on precious school moments, MFS teachers and students are designing new learning opportunities that will surely open up unique pathways to generations of future alumni.

Together we celebrate our talented faculty. I encourage you to consider which teachers and memories remain with you these many years later. Take a moment for silent gratitude or perhaps reach out to thank them directly. As a life-long educator, I can assure you that there is nothing better than hearing from your students, no matter how much time has passed.

Warmly,

Julia de la Torre Head of School

Notes from Pages Lane

This section of Among Friends takes its name from Pages Lane, the road that bisected the Moorestown Friends School campus prior to the construction of Stokes Hall in 1986.

March 12

Student performers were their talented on-stage best as the Theatre Department adjusted to current times and provided streaming broadcasts of the Upper School musical The Little Mermaid, Jr.

The annual Pi Day celebration was hosted by the Math Department without the usual homemade pies donated by students, families, and faculty. However, Tastykake came to the rescue by providing discounted assorted pies to ensure that this annual MFS tradition was sustained in 2021.

Throughout the pandemic, Matthew Will ’25 turned to piano as both a method of relaxation and a new skill to be learned while at home. Matthew was asked to play the piano as part of the youth showcase for the Black History Month series hosted by the Salvation Army Kroc Center. The Upper School Service Committee and Operation Smile Club hosted a minimal-contact Food Drive with 120 grocery bags donated to the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) food pantry and over 50 household items donated to Operation Smile.

March 4

February 17

Class of 2021 parents provided individually packaged treats for soon-to-be-graduates.

February 11