About
Quaker Progressive Education
Quaker Progressive Education at FCS
At Friends Community School, our approach to education reflects the intersection of Quaker values, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and progressive education.
Here, Quaker Progressive education is more than a method; it is a commitment to nurturing the full potential of every child. We center our work on the whole child, inspiring curiosity, purpose, and a lifelong love of learning and community.
Our Mission
At Friends Community School, children are inspired to reach their full potential as individuals and engaged community members, discovering that of God in themselves and others. We nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk-takers, and joyous peacemakers.
Diversity/Inclusion Statement
Friends Community School is dedicated to fostering an equitable and inclusive educational environment that affirms the dignity of all people. As a Quaker school, we believe there is that of God in every person and strive to be a place where all people feel a strong sense of belonging. We value and celebrate the diversity of our community in terms of race and ethnicity, culture, ability, religion, gender identity and expression, sexuality, family form, socioeconomic status, and all their intersections.The FCS community is committed to:
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Empowering students, faculty, staff, and our whole community to advocate for themselves and each other.
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Centering historically marginalized people.
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Teaching loving and responsible ways of being in community across differences.
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Integrating a pedagogy of social justice throughout all aspects of school life.
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Dismantling systems of exclusion, inequity, and oppression.
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Inspiring students to express pride, confidence, and healthy self-esteem without denying the value and dignity of other people.
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Learning from our mistakes.
Through these commitments, our students will learn to identify and address injustices, develop their vision of a caring and just community, and position themselves to be builders of a better future.
Approved by the Board of Trustees, 12/12/2022
A Look into Progressive Learning
We believe students learn best when they are actively engaging, asking questions, exploring ideas, and making meaningful connections to the world around them. In partnership with students and families, we create inclusive learning spaces, cultivate a spirit of belonging, and practice meaningful engagement in our world.
Rooted in respect for each child’s individuality, our program nurtures hands-on experiences, collaboration, reflection, and courageous risk-taking. Students develop a strong sense of self and grow into thoughtful, compassionate, responsible members of their communities.
Quaker Education in Practice
At Friends Community School, Quaker values and beliefs are woven into the fabric of our school culture. We actively work to acknowledge and affirm the inner light in each member of our community. We invite students of all ages to actively participate as truth seekers and community members by encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, contemplation, and courageous risk taking. Our students learn and practice the invaluable habits of quiet reflection, careful listening, attention to values, imaginative collaboration, and disciplined study. These anchoring principles align with our commitments to diversity and progressive education and are foundational to our work in and beyond the classroom walls.
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Inquiry-Based Learning
Learning at FCS begins with curiosity. Students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate ideas, and hold space for deep thinking and creativity. Teachers guide this exploration and empower students to see themselves as capable, engaged thinkers who can navigate complexity with confidence.We support learners as truth-seekers, building skills in critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and contemplation. -
Real-World Learning
From literature and debate topics to science capstones, we aim to make learning applicable and relevant at every opportunity. By framing concepts in real-world contexts, students understand not just what they are learning, but why it matters and how they can use it to make a difference. Learning in and beyond the classroom helps students develop essential skills for meaningful participation in community. -
Whole Child
At FCS, students are welcomed for who they are and supported in all aspects of their development, academic, social, and emotional. We believe learning happens best when children feel seen, heard, and valued.By supporting each child’s unique strengths and needs, we help them grow into confident learners, thoughtful friends, and compassionate community members. Our environment reflects our belief that excellence means nurturing every dimension of a child’s growth. -
Community and Collaboration
At every grade level, students learn and grow through teamwork, sharing ideas, listening to others, and working together to solve problems and create. In partnership with families, we strive to cultivate a sense of belonging, creating inclusive spaces where every student’s contributions are valued and they are welcomed and appreciated for the perspectives they bring.We teach students to listen deeply, speak thoughtfully, and work together with integrity and respect. Through these experiences, they learn to value diverse perspectives and develop the skills to engage in meaningful, respectful dialogue, essential preparation for participation in any community.
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Integration of Quaker Values
Quaker values are not separate from learning at FCS; they are the foundation of how we teach, learn, and live together. We integrate simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship into daily life, guided by the belief in the Inner Light within every person.In the spirit of continuing revelation, we approach each day with humility and openness to growth. Students explore values in action, recognizing and honoring differences, and learning to use their voices to promote peace and justice. This intersection of Quaker values, DEIB principles, and progressive education creates a unique environment where academic rigor coexists with care for the whole child. -
Reflection and Action
Reflection is central to learning at FCS. Students are encouraged to pause, consider their experiences, and connect their learning to their values and goals. This intentional process strengthens self-awareness, deepens understanding, and inspires purposeful action.Through group dialogue, service projects, and advocacy work, students practice translating reflection into meaningful action, using curiosity, creativity, and courageous risk taking to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.
At FCS, students learn that their actions matter in the classroom, in their communities, and in the wider world. Discussions about justice, activism, and ethical decision-making are woven into daily life. Students learn to recognize the impact of their voice, to respect the many dimensions of difference within our community, and to explore how they can contribute to a more just and compassionate world. -
Meeting For Worship
An essential element of our community life is gathering for Meeting for Worship as a full school on Wednesdays. Meeting for Worship provides an opportunity for children and adults to gather in silence, reflect quietly, and listen for the still, small voice within. This time brings our community members together in contemplation and also provides space for any messages community members are moved to share. We then end in song. After the first few weeks of school, students attend Meeting for Worship with "Meeting Partners" - paired older and young students who build connections and explore our Quaker roots and values. -
Continuing Revelation
A foundational principle of Quaker education is the idea of continuing revelation: the belief that there is always something new to discover. When we talk about being lifelong learners, we want students to continually seek new understanding of the world and others, to learn through shared experiences with others, and to engage in active reflection. We encourage students to remain curious, open, and teachable, and to see learning as a dynamic process of exploring ideas in order to make new connections and meaning.
In progressive schools, students play a vital role in helping to design the curriculum, formulate the questions, seek out (and create) answers, think through possibilities, and evaluate how successful they—and their teachers—have been. Their active participation in every stage of the process is consistent with the overwhelming consensus of experts that learning is a matter of constructing ideas rather than passively absorbing information or practicing skills.
Alfie Cohn, leader in Progressive Education
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