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Germantown Friends School

explore our CAMPUS

What's cool about our campus is that it's spread out over seven acres in Philadelphia's historic neighborhood of Germantown. The buildings are an eclectic mix of old and new, a unique look and feel more consistent with a college campus. With three gyms, three auditoriums, a student center, numerous open, green spaces and nine classroom buildings, it's a place worthy of adoration and exploration. The Meetinghouse, at the center of it all, provides a beautiful and spiritual focal point.

1. Main Building 2. Meetinghouse 3. Sharpless 4. Hargroves 5. Wade Science Center 6. Alumni Building 7. Admissions 8. Living Graveyard 9. Dead Graveyard 10. Loeb Performing Arts Center 11. Smith Gym 12. Cary Building 13. Friends Free Library 14. Field House 15. Scattergood Gym

we have deep roots in this place

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Germantown Friends School

The Pillars of A

Quaker Education

At GFS, students and teachers gather in Meeting for Worship once each week. This is a time for shared, silent contemplation. Anyone who feels moved to speak may rise and do so. It is a simple formula, and can be a remarkably powerful experience.In these days of constant connectivity, the ability and opportunity to sit in silence have special value. Meeting for Worship is a cornerstone of the GFS culture that many come to cherish throughout their lives.

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speak the truth

We strive to deal fairly, equally and honestly with everyone. We aim to do as we say, reflecting our beliefs in our actions. even when it is inconvenient or challenging, we stand by our convictions, striving to lead lives of integrity.

Shine Together

We are all blessed with remarkable gifts. We are equally qualified to seek truth and to hear the voice of God. Every person deserves equal respect. For these reasons, we work against prejudice and discrimination and for equality.

stay connected

"Alone we can do little; together we can do so much."* We know there is strength in cooperation and wisdom to be found when many perspectives come together. We believe in the power of community.*
The words of Helen Keller.

keep it simple

In every way we can, we try to minimize the distractions that can draw our attention from the important things in life. This means not becoming overwhelmed by the busyness of daily routine. It means seeking balance. It means embracing simplicity.

care for all

This planet we inhabit, the talents we've been given, the community of which we are a part- all hold remarkable value. We must be responsible, imaginative and proactive in protecting these gifts and caring for the world and people around us. We must exercise good stewardship.

promote peace

We believe each life is precious and unique. We stand against war and violence and work to eliminate their root causes, including ignorance, racism, hatred and oppression. We are committed to creating peace.

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Germantown Friends School

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Computer Science + Digital Media

COMPUTER SCIENCE

The computer science courses at GFS seek to introduce students to the concepts and skills involved in programming and robotics.

Our Introductory Programming course begins with the study of Scratch, a drag-and-drop coding environment familiar to a lot of students, and continues to the study of Python, one of the most widely used languages and a favorite for introductory courses in high schools and colleges due to its gentle learning curve.

Students may continue with the Advanced Programming course, offering serious programmers a forum for learning skills and techniques to create sophisticated, large-scale projects, and Advanced Topics in Computer Science for juniors and seniors who have taken Advanced Programming.

The Robotics elective allows students the opportunity to design and build robots and write the code that controls them.

DIGITAL MEDIA

The digital media courses at GFS seek to develop both creative and technical skills in designing and producing websites, publications, animation/film and other media works. In each course, students will learn technical skills and software applications related to the field while obtaining a broad introduction to the concepts and principles used in successful media projects.

Courses

191 Robotics
minor elective (one semester) | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This one semester minor elective uses robots to introduce students to the intersection of computer programming and mechanical/electronic devices. Students will assemble robots and then learn to program them to perform tasks, ranging from simple (moving forward, turning on a light, etc.) to complex (finding and retrieving an object, playing soccer, etc.). Most units culminate in some sort of challenge, where teams of students try to get their robot to accomplish a task (robot bowling, relay races, tug of war) more efficiently or effectively than the other teams. This injects a level of excitement that makes the class memorable and fun.

Students signing up for Robotics can request either first or second semester, although we cannot guarantee you will get what you ask for. But we will make every effort to place you in the semester you request. This makes this class ideal for second semester seniors who are looking for a class that will be interesting, fun and won’t increase workload.

No previous experience in robotics or programming is necessary. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

193 Introductory Programming
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This full-year minor elective seeks to introduce students to computer programming. We will begin the year by learning Scratch, a programming environment that makes it easy to create an animated story or an interactive game. Scratch allows students to learn fundamental programming concepts in a simple drag-and-drop context.

After Scratch, the remainder of the year will focus on learning Python, a programming language used at many colleges and high schools as their introductory language. The learning curve for Python is gentle, so students learn the basics quickly and produce simple programs easily.

Students will progress to more advanced projects, including interactive games, card game and casino simulations, as the year continues.

No previous experience is necessary. We hope to reserve one section of Introductory Programming for girls only. If you are a girl and want to be placed into that section, please indicate this when you sign up. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

194 Advanced Programming
minor elective | grades: 10, 11, 12
prerequisite: Robotics, Introductory Programming or by permission of instructor
This full-year elective course builds on the skills developed in Introductory Programming. The course continues to use Python to examine more advanced topics in programming. The class will explore topics such as abstraction, recursion, hash tables, and object-oriented programming. This class also serves as a brief introduction to the concept of algorithms, exploring sorting algorithms and program run-time. Students will spend a mixture of their time learning concepts and working on their own programs, either in collaboration or alone. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

195 Advanced Topics in Computer Science
minor elective | Grade: 11, 12
prerequisite: Advanced Programming or permission of instructor
Advanced Topics in Computer Science aims to explore new areas in the realm of computers and programming. Students will now use their knowledge of programming to look into fields such as full-stack web design, data science, computer hardware, and/or algorithms. Students will help mold the direction that this course takes. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

196 Web Design & Development
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course covers the basics of designing websites, as well as web development using the HTML and CSS authoring languages. Students learn about the creative design of websites, including the strengths, constraints, and limitations of this medium of communication. Students will code their own web pages from scratch, using the latest web standards and tools, such as HTML5, CSS3, coding software, wireframing, and browser tools and plug-ins for web developers. Students complete several assignments and projects to master the course objectives, including a final project to create an original design for a microsite on a topic of the student’s choice. To support their work, students complete readings from the course texts and selected articles; they share their original work and critically reflect on real-world examples. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

197 Advanced Web Design & Development
minor elective | grades: 10, 11, 12
prerequisite: Web Design & Development or permission of instructor
This advanced course builds upon the principles and skills acquired during the Web Design & Development course. Students learn more advanced CSS3 coding techniques to create web pages employing the latest trends and standards in web design. Topics include HTML5 semantic tags, CSS selectors and combinators, text styling and embedded fonts, special effects, transforms, transitions and animations, CSS3 layout techniques, responsive web design, and a brief introduction to jQuery plugins. Using text editing software and developer tools, students complete several smaller assignments to master the course objectives. In addition to the course text, students complete readings and participate in class discussions on topics such as page and site design, color schemes, fonts, imagery, and site management. Students incorporate all they have learned to produce a final project: to design and implement a functional site for a real client using Wordpress or another content management software. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

192 Print Media Design
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Learn the fundamentals of designing and producing print media, including magazines, newspapers, and other forms of printed publications. The primary focus of the course is on publication design, layout, and typography. A secondary focus is on learning technologies and tools typically used today to create print media, including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. An historical overview as well as emerging trends will be addressed through class readings and discussion. Students complete several handson projects to master the course objectives, including a final project to create an original mockup of a printed publication that relates to the school or wider community. Throughout the course, students share their original work, and critically reflect on their classmates’ work as well as real-world examples. Students are encouraged to employ their skills by working on one of the school’s student publications, such as Earthquake, Polyphony, and/or Anno. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.

787 Mixed-Media Animation
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
prerequisite: Foundation (Art)
This course introduces students to a variety of traditional and contemporary techniques in animation. Looking at examples of animations in art and film, as well as nonfiction topics such as science and history, students will learn handdrawn, stop-motion and digital methods for making their own animations. Story building will be key in developing ideas for production. Students will also learn to edit the animations and incorporate sound effects and music. Throughout the course, students will produce a series of short animated sequences using a variety of techniques, themes, and media as they explore how these choices impact their stories. These works will build to one or more major projects. An historical overview and international perspective are provided through film screenings and group discussion, and students will review and discuss current trends in animation. Enrollment limited to 12 students per section.