Alumni Connect Across Generations in Boston’s Back Bay

Not long after GFS’ well-attended alumni gatherings in California, New Englanders had the chance to reconnect at an alumni event in downtown Boston. On Thursday, March 12, alumni from across generations, as well as friends and spouses, met in the Fireplace Suite at The Banks Seafood and Steak in the city’s bustling Back Bay neighborhood for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and updates from campus.

From the very start of the event, the private dining room was filled with conversation and laughter as old friends embraced and new acquaintances got to know one another. Alumni from many decades turned out—attendees ranged from the Class of 1962 through the Class of 2024!

Head of School Dana Weeks greeted the guests and held a moment of silence. Then, she reported on exciting happenings at Coulter Street, including the final months of the historic Picture This campaign, highlights from the 2025 Alumni Survey, and info about the School’s thoughtful, deliberate approach to leveraging new technology and AI.

When she spoke about the ongoing importance of Meeting for Worship for our students, a few alumni spontaneously piped in to share their own reflections about speaking in Meeting.

Hannah Henderson ’91, GFS’ Chief Advancement Officer, reminded attendees about the upcoming Alumni Weekend, happening May 14-17, 2026, and encouraged all to come back to campus to see their classmates, participate in the programming, and enjoy firsthand the All School Commons and the new Dining Hall. 

She then introduced GFS history teacher Andrew Malkasian, a Quaker historian who has worked extensively to reshape how the subject is taught at GFS, including designing a new required ninth-grade Quakerism course.

Malkasian shared the story of coming to GFS, which was not originally part of his plan as a career public school teacher. However, in 2022, while doing research on the history of public education in Philadelphia and the United States, he discovered how instrumental the Quakers were in the founding of public schools. Through a series of serendipitous circumstances, he applied to teach at GFS and joined the faculty that fall. He continues to research and share his findings with the faculty and staff to deepen the community’s understanding of how Quaker faith and practice meets Quaker Ed in the modern world. 

After another hour of socializing, swapping stories, and chatting, the gathering concluded as the guests headed out into the chilly Boston night. Thanks to all who joined us—we hope to see many of you in Philadelphia during Alumni Weekend!