Ms. Schoman's Blog

I had the opportunity to spend two days with the class at Great Hollow Wilderness located in western Connecticut. This is a four day trip that challenges students to sleep in the out of doors, make their own meals, and engage in a variety of challenge initiatives- both physical and mental.  I must say, the Class of 2016 has already proven itself to be outstanding in many ways- they are good listeners, they are willing to go outside of their comfort zone and try new things; they are positive, energetic, and most importantly they are kind, respectful, and really FUN to be with! I have a feeling this is going to be a very special class as they journey through the upper school! 

I know that the lessons learned on this trip will transfer to their work in the classroom. In the groups I shadowed, the students discussed how the challenge activities they engaged in can help them become stronger students. "Patience, resilience, collaborative problem solving, self-reliance" were thoughts that were shared. The other great by-product of this trip is the friendships that are developed for all students, new to FA and veteran students!

            As we come to the end of the school year, students and faculty continue to be reminded about our theme for this year “Sustainability”. Over the course of the year, the student leaders of our Environmental Club, Paige Friedlander and Chris McCann, have provided weekly “Ecotips” and along with advisor Mary Ann Vascotto planned an Earth Day Assembly and Week. The “Plastic Pile”, a giant box in front of the Dolan Center was provided during Earth Week as a reminder to the community to place all plastic bottles used and determine how many bottles as a school we use. The focus of the campus initiative to reduce the use of plastics will continue beyond this school year. As underscored during the Earth Week Advisory activity, “ The environmental problems our lifestyles have created are the result of small actions multipled by millions. That is why small actions to east our impact can have a large positive impact if more and more people are involved. In fhte face of the overwhelmeing problems, these small actions are an important part of the solution. No matter who you are, you can make your community more sustainable.”

Hofstra Model UN- March 2012

 The veteran Model UN leaders introduced and prepared these “first time” younger members for their first Model UN.

Advisors Kate Scudellari and Christine Kulke reported: “Day One: The younger members seemed to all have a blast at Hofstra, particularly during Session III. Kevin was paging around SPECPOL w/ support from Skyler, Eva, and Marianna. Jacqueline had the courage to speak a couple times in LEGAL, while Kasey was cheering her on. Chloe and Rhea even made good friends with other schools' delegates in SOCHUM, and Jack was expressing excitement/disbelief after some heated debates. Day Two: Today was another success at Hofstra. The students were excited at morning check-in. Those who hadn't spoken in their committees yesterday were determined to do so today, and they achieved their goals! They left with appreciation for the opportunity to learn about the process, and several mentioned how much they look forward to next year's conferences now that they know what to expect and how to prepare. They were worn out but satisfied.”

YSOP (Youth Service Opportunities Project)

As a requirement for their course on Community Service and for graduation, all 10^th grade students travel to NYC to take part in an overnight service work camp focused on the problem of homelessness. Organized by the sophomore Head Advisor Sara Pozzi, and supported by the 10^th grade advising team of teachers, the class goes in groups of about 20-25 students to the camp run by a Quaker-affiliated organization called YSOP (“Youth Service Opportunities Project”) which is housed at the Friends Seminary School at 15^th Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues. On the first evening students prepare a meal for a local men’s shelter and receive instruction on what homelessness means. After sleeping overnight in the Meetinghouse, a bagel breakfast, and a debriefing,  the students along with their advisors are broken down into smaller groups and assigned a specific soup kitchen or food pantry in the city to work for the day. After their service, they travel back to Friends Seminary to discuss their experiences before heading back to Penn Station and the LIRR to return home. This is the twentieth year that we have participated in this program. Students have found the experience extremely valuable, enjoyable, and memorable.

To learn more about the organization visit the YSOP website at www.ysop.org.

Friends hosted a lively group of students and their chaperones from the Lycee Schoelcher in Martinique as part of an exchange program offered through the World Languages and Cultures department.

A group of twelve students traveled to John’s Hopkins University in Maryland to participate in a Model United Nations Conference Feb. 9-12.

Headed off to the opening ceremonies!

The FA Delegates dining and celebrating!

For the first time, FA hosted The Quaker Youth Leadership Conference Feb 2-4. Quaker schools from all over the country (and also from abroad) spent three days exploring the theme "Embracing the Tension".  This significant event was supported by many parent/student/ faculty volunteers, led by Angie Martin in cooperation with Brooklyn Friends School. This was truly a community effort that had far reaching effects to the over 150 participants and their chaperones.

As part of the conference, students participated in community service.

Pictured here are 50 of the conference participants working in the food distribution warehouse of L.I. CARES in Hauppauge.

The Olympiads is a Science Department initiative led by Mark Alber and Mary Ann Vascotto . Over 25 FA students competed in a wide variety of events this year. This program challenges students to engage in collaborative problem solving including activities that involve building things and taking written tests. FA offers a Science Projects course that helps students to prepare for this competition. FA competes with many Long Island public, parochial and private schools- some high schools have enrollment of over 2000 students. This year in a field of over 70 schools, we placed 33^rd . The FA team continues to grow and improve each year- moving up the ranks.

Gravity Vehicle Competition (Aidan Vascotto and Ian D'Silva)

Judge Adam Weber of the FA Tech Dept. tests out a cardboard chair designed and built by one of the Engineering class teams.

AJ Muran tests the durability of his team's chair.

On Friday during Peace Week, the entire school focused on “Activism”. We gathered in Community Groups in the field house and together considered the many ways that we engage in service to others. We also had an opportunity to hear from two Friends alums. Mike Fox '91 shared his personal story of how he made a significant change in his career when he met a homeless man on the streets of New York City. He founded the “New Life Project” which produces an online social game called Beekin that generates funds, awareness and action for causes around the world. Courtney Lenoir '10 is currently a sophomore at NYU. Her career goal is focused on the Quaker belief in “Letting Your Life Speak”. Courtney spoke about how her years at Friends helped to shape her commitment to social justice, activism and service and how students can commit to serving others. Both Courtney and Mike met with the Senior class during lunch in the social space to talk with them about the senior ISP (Independent Service Project) which the students will be engaged in at the end of their senior year. ISP is a graduation requirement for seniors that provides students a two or three week opportunity at the end of May and beginning of June for seniors to pursue activities and studies in the community. Each senior designs a project that is reviewed by an ISP committee, composed of faculty and students. The student also chooses a sponsor to work with on the project. Upon completion of the project, the student gives a presentation to the seniors and the ISP committee. The ISP committee rates the project as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and this rating goes on the student’s official transcript. The student must earn a grade of satisfactory to fulfill the graduation requirement.