-
Q
What is Quaker education?
-
A
Germantown Friends School’s Quaker identity fundamentally influences the School program. The Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship are incorporated into day-to-day student life and are reflected in the school’s emphasis on social responsibility. All students and faculty attend Meeting for Worship once a week by division. For more information about Quakerism, please click here.
-
Q
How can parents become involved at GFS?
-
A
GFS welcomes and encourages parent involvement. The Parents Association, Multicultural Parents Association, and Lesbian and Gay Parents and Friends Alliance all offer ways to become involved in the life of the school and community, through activities, events, and programs. In the classroom there are opportunities for parents to support special projects and attend field trips. For more information, please click here.
-
Q
How do students manage schoolwork, after school sports, and extracurricular activities?
-
A
GFS students take advantage of the multitude of opportunities that are offered to them. Time management is an important skill that GFS students learn through their balance of academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. Teachers and Grade Advisors offer students guidance and support when they are choosing their courses and planning their schedules.
-
Q
Why doesn't GFS offer Advanced Placement classes?
-
A
GFS offers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum that interests, engages and inspires our students. Our departmental structure allows us to adapt our curriculum to meet the individual needs of our students in today's world, and enables our teachers to go deeper into the subject matter than an Advanced Placement curriculum would allow. Our teachers are able to incorporate their own scholarship and passions into their courses rather than be constrained by the text and curriculum choices prescribed by the College Board. GFS students do take the AP tests and do quite well; we prepare them for these tests outside of class.
-
Q
Is learning support available?
-
A
In the Lower School, two full time reading specialists teach reading thus, between them, gain insights into each child’s learning style. In the Middle and Upper school there is a full-time Learning Specialist who is available for small group or one-on-one work with students who seek help, have been referred by teachers, or whose parents have requested learning and/or study skill support. In the Middle School there is also a teacher available for math support. We have a full-time School Psychologist, a full-time Nurse, and a Director of Multicultural Affairs who are also available to support all members of our community.
-
Q
How do parents get information about their children's progress? How can parents communicate with faculty and administrators?
-
A
At the beginning of the school year, parents are invited to attend “Back to School” presentations by division where they can meet their child’s teachers and learn about the curriculum. Formal reports occur through fall and spring parent-teacher conferences (through grade 8) and regular report cards. The Lower School teachers, the Middle School homeroom teachers, and the Upper School Grade Advisors are the primary contacts for any and all questions. Additional conferences may be scheduled at the request of parents. Faculty and administrators are available to speak with parents about progress or concerns at any time during the year. Email addresses and phone numbers are listed on the GFS website and in the GFS Handbook and Directory.
-
Q
Where do the GFS families come from?
-
A
Approximately 60% of our families come from the Northwest neighborhoods of Philadelphia, 20% (and increasing) of our families are from Center City Philadelphia, and the other 20% come from a wide variety of other city neighborhoods and near and far suburbs. 32% of our students are on some type of financial assistance.