On the Parkway

Benjamin Franklin Parkway—Philadelphia's Cultural Campus

Located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Friends Select School is flanked at one end of the Parkway by City Hall, and on the other by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Collaborative relationships with institutions on the Parkway have included:

• Academy of Natural Sciences-Lower schoolers study insects, reptiles and human anatomy; upper school students conduct biology experiments in conjunction with Academy scientists.
• City Hall-Art students draw the buildings of the city from the tower; lower schoolers visit city departments and political offices.
• Fairmount Park-Athletes compete in soccer, baseball, softball and cross-country on Fairmount Park fields. The school's award-winning crew team rows from the Vesper Boat House on the Schuylkill River in the Park.
• Franklin Institute Science Museum-Lower and middle schoolers preview new exhibits and provide feedback to designers; lower schoolers participate in weather station workshops; middle schoolers use statistics to verify Guinness World Book entries submitted by the museum.
• Free Library of Philadelphia-Middle schoolers write reviews of newly published works of children's literature.
• Kelly Drive Sculpture Garden-Seventh graders study sculptures as part of their study of American Myths.
• Moore College of Art and Design-Students participate in summer courses; many students earn scholarships for summer study.
• Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts-Eighth graders tour current exhibits, while upper schoolers take studio drawing classes on-site and work with PAFA graduate students
• Philadelphia Museum of Art-Students of all ages in art, history, literature and other classes visit frequently, often walking to the museum during double class periods. In ninth grade, each student chooses one piece of art to research thoroughly, culminating in an event at the museum in which ninth graders take center stage to present research findings to parents, teachers and peers.

Parkway Council Foundation

Friends Select is a charter member of the Parkway Council Foundation, a group comprised of all the institutions lining the Parkway. The Parkway Council was formed to promote the Parkway as a culturalOther Parkway Council members are: Academy of Natural Sciences; Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin; Moore College of Art; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Four Seasons Hotel; Philadelphia Museum of Art/Rodin Museum; The Philadelphia; Blank Rome LLP; The Free Library of Philadelphia; Fox Rothschild LLP; and The Franklin Institute Science Museum.

Rose Hagan, head of school at Friends Select, is treasurer of the group.