The Interdisciplinary Sequence (IDS), begun in middle school, continues through ninth and tenth    grade English and history courses.  IDS traces human culture from 3000 B.C. to the present, integrating literature, history, philosophy, religion and the arts.  

 

English, required every year, introduces ninth graders to further genres in literature, and extended composition skills.  Tenth graders refine literary analysis and research abilities, while juniors focus on American literature and take an elective second semester.  Seniors choose electives, such as Shakespeare, American Road Trip or Writing Beyond Our Borders.  

 

Students must take history through their junior year.  In ninth grade, students study Asia, Islam, and Medieval and Renaissance Europe, while tenth grade examines Europe and western civilization.  Juniors explore American History and, along with seniors, may select electives such as Introduction to Philosophy, Constitutional Law, and Life Under Imperialism.

 

International Studies In-Depth

 

Three years of mathematics are required beyond Algebra I.  Students may take Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Calculus as one sequence, or Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Pre-Calculus.  Electives include Advanced Calculus, Probability  and Statistics, Advanced Probability and Statistics, and Number Theory.

 

Three years of science are required: All students take Chemistry and Biology, and then select from electives including Physics, Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics and Robotics, Astronomy/Cosmology, Great Debates in Science, and Environmental Science.

 

Friends Select offers courses in five languages, and most students complete three or four years in one of them.  Language options for 2009-2010 are French IV, French VI, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Latin.  Juniors and seniors may take Italian as an elective.

 

This ninth to tenth grade course studies religions, including the Religious Society of Friends, and connects to community service projects.  Tenth graders visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., to explore spiritual resilience under oppression.  Juniors and seniors may elect Religion and Politics.

 

Students complete at least two fine arts courses:  In the performing arts, courses include Choir, Instrumental Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble.  Visual art classes feature Art Foundations, Drawing and Painting I and II, Photography I and II, Studio Major, and Graphic Design.

 

Ninth and tenth graders complete a sequence of skills-focused physical education courses.  Juniors and seniors may then select semester electives.  This requirement is waived if students participate in team sports.  A related course, Health, must be taken each year.  

 

The highly involved students at Friends Select choose among two theater productions each year.  Student government, Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, student newspaper and literary journal, Worship & Ministry, and Speech and Debate Club are just  a few examples of the many student clubs available.  Ninth and tenth graders must participate in one after-school sports season, or one theatrical production.  Eleventh and twelfth graders must participate in one after-school sport, one theatrical production, or one other significant school activity. 

 

Friends Select competes in the Friends School League and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association against other independent, public and parochial schools.

 

Fall: field hockey, soccer, cross country

Winter: basketball, swimming

Spring: softball, crew

 

Fall: soccer, cross country

Winter: basketball, wrestling, swimming

Spring: baseball, crew

 

Spring:  tennis