Friends Community School is a Kindergarten-8th grade Quaker day school with a strong sense of spirituality and a Progreseive educational focus. We seek to nurture life-long learners, courageous risk-takers and joyous peacemakers.

We gather in silence for a few minutes each day for a "quiet time" to introduce students to the idea of Quaker silent worship. Teachers use centering devices such as guided imagery, poems, music, or questions to help children grow into the ability to be reflective. The whole school gathers weekly for Meeting for Worship. We speak from the silence of the inner light and the need for each person to seek the Spirit within.

The Quaker principle of service is important to the school. The older children are encouraged to help the younger children. Each child has a job to do in the classroom. Kindness and thoughtfulness toward others are fostered throughout the school. Community service is integral to all grades. Service projects have included: participating in community ecology programs such as the county Stream Teams and College Park Committee for a Better Environment projects; making sandwiches for homeless shelters; in-school service projects; and toy, food and clothing drives.

Our community includes not only the students, families, faculty and staff of FCS, Adelphi Friends Meeting, and the City of College Park, but also extends out to the world at large.

We believe it is important for children to feel a sense of continuity between home and school. Parents need to feel they are a part of the school community. We expect strong parent interest and involvement, such as attendance at back-to-school nights and school events, driving for field trips and overnight camping, helping with classroom activities, working on clean-up/fix-up projects, and assisting with fund-raisers. We keep in close touch with parents through a regular newsletter, scheduled conferences, descriptive progress reports, and frequent discussions.