Michael Gary Speaks Spring 2023 | Michael Gary Speaks | News | Friends Select School

 

 

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Michael Gary Speaks

We continue to sustain our commitment to cross-cultural competency.

 

In December, more Friends Select faculty than ever before attended the People of Color Conference (PoCC)—the flagship diversity and equity professional development opportunity hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). This is a reflection of our growing diversity as a school, and perhaps more importantly, our pledge to become an antiracist school.

 


I am so proud of what we have accomplished together since we launched our strategic plan, Advance Friends Select.

 

Most visible have been the Blauvelt Theatre, the first-floor Parkway Building transformation, the rooftop athletic field, and the addition of the upper school STEAM Building. Our physical transformation continues this year with the redesign of the backlot and playground to become a multi-functional, interactive, outdoor play space that will be accessible to all Friends Select students, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. 

We also added a director of city curriculum, a full-time director of equity and inclusion, Quaker coordinators, a director of lower school admissions, an advancement events coordinator, and a major gifts officer, to name a few. The endowment has grown and enrollment is just shy of an all-time high. 

We continue to sustain our commitment to cross-cultural competency and to becoming an antiracist institution. In December, more Friends Select faculty than ever before attended the People of Color Conference (PoCC)—the flagship diversity and equity professional development opportunity hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). This is a reflection of our growing diversity as a school, and perhaps more importantly, our pledge to become an antiracist school.

To elevate the attention Friends Select is giving to excellence in teaching and learning, we initiated our Transformation Talk series. The inaugural event, “Building for the Future: How to Create Lasting Equitable and Accessible Learning Spaces,” specifically addressed the important topic of how space impacts learning, highlighting the physical transformation that our school is currently experiencing. Good space allows for good teaching and learning, in so many ways. Given our enrollment growth and strategic vision, managing our limited but very valuable real estate in Center City warrants our attention. The Transformation Talk 
series also provides us an opportunity to further steward our powerful relationships with local thought leaders and city partners.

How do we know if we are delivering on our mission and our strategic goal of excellence in teaching and learning? How do or should we measure excellence? To gauge these and other elements of our strategic plan that are not as visible, our faculty and staff are collaborating to build a dashboard. In exercises that implement the Quaker concepts of community and continuing revelation, Friends Select educators are creating a system that will help us uphold our strategic goals and determine how we are delivering on our value and promise as a school. 
 

 

 

 

 

Fri, 02 May 2025

Going For Gold: Andrea Kremer ’76, Traci Green ’96, and Maia Weintraub ’21

Friends Select School is proud to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our alumni, who excel in diverse fields while embodying the values instilled in them during their time at the school. Three remarkable Friends Select alumnae—Andrea Kremer ’76, Traci Green ’96, and Maia Weintraub ’21—exemplify this tradition. 

Fri, 02 May 2025

Michael Gary Speaks: Spring 2025

As I reflect on the vibrant and dynamic community at Friends Select School, I am filled with a profound sense of awe.

Fri, 02 May 2025

Global Perspectives: Expanding Friends Select’s Study Abroad and Cultural Exchange Programs

By expanding partnerships with schools throughout the world, Friends Select provides upper school students with opportunities for cultural exchanges and language immersions, all rooted in its commitment to cultivating global perspectives and transformative learning experiences.

Fri, 02 May 2025

Empowering the Next Generation of Civic Leaders

Friends Select School hosted a Student Civic & Community Engagement Summit (SCCE) last October in celebration of National Voter Education Week. 

Fri, 02 May 2025

Caring for Our Community: In Conversation with Recently Hired Employees

In this continuation of our Select News series, we highlight some outstanding employees who have recently joined Friends Select as they share their perspectives of our school.

Fri, 02 May 2025

Unveiling a Newly Refurbished Gymnasium

In time for the winter sports season, Friends Select School updated the gymnasium of its Parkway Building, creating a modern, multipurpose facility to support the school’s athletic programs, holistic curriculum, and community events.

Fri, 02 May 2025

From the Archives: Updating Our Athletic and Physical Education Facilities

The evolution of Friends Select’s athletic and physical education facilities mirrors the school’s growth over time. 

Fri, 02 May 2025

Inaugural Falcon Fest Soars

On October 17, Friends Select students, faculty, and staff celebrated the inaugural Falcon Fest, an event designed to cultivate community and school spirit across all grade levels.

Fri, 02 May 2025

Excellence in Teaching and Learning Beyond Our Classrooms

Friends Select faculty and staff exemplify a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning beyond their classrooms.

Fri, 02 May 2025

Giving Back: Ben Behrend '12

As a young alumnus, Ben Behrend '12 has been a dedicated supporter of the school that shaped his life in meaningful ways.

 

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