Frequently Asked Questions

Please reference our Transportation Information 2024-25 Document.

EC students can experience MFW as a class, a campus, or a division. Children learn to focus on the SPICES* via story, poem, and song, as they gather in short silence. (*Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship- the values of Quakerism.)

All Early Childhood classrooms have two lead teachers. Preschool class sizes range from 10-14 children and PreK class sizes range from 14-16 children.

At GFS, we believe that the hours after school are a critical component of a child’s day. We offer a wide range of fun and enriching after-school activities designed not only to engage and excite children, but also to reinforce the essential values taught throughout the day.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EXTENDED DAY

Available to students in Preschool and PreK

Our after-school program for students in Early Childhood is available on both Main Campus and in Center City. It includes circle time and enrichment activities, such as science, art, creative movement, and of course, play! The program is led by GFS floater teachers, so the experience for children is an extension of the school day, and is both comfortable and familiar.

ASPire: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IMAGINE, REACH, EXPLORE (Kindergarten-Grade 5)

Our after-school program called ASPire captures the fundamentals of our philosophy, namely providing opportunities for children to imagine their futures, reach beyond their comfort zones, and explore new experiences. Each afternoon, students choose from an array of activities, including (but not limited to): arts and crafts, lego’s and games, homework help, and playground time.

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS (Preschool-Grade 5)

Our clubs program offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities they might not otherwise encounter during the school day. We also hope that our clubs afford students the chance to spend time with students from other grades and friend groups, and benefit from the knowledge and expertise of engaging club leaders. Some of the clubs offered include Karate, Ceramics, Science Explorers, Cooking for Kids, Chess, Magic, and more.

LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC ENSEMBLES (Kindergarten-Grade 5)

These music ensembles provide students with the opportunity to extend their musical knowledge in a group setting alongside friends and classmates. ORCHESTRA is open to any Lower School student who has taken private lessons for at least one year. CHORUS and WORLD PERCUSSION are open to all fourth and fifth graders, and no experience is required. Forty-five minute rehearsals occur once a week after school. Sessions run through the fall and spring, with a break in the winter. All three ensembles perform twice a year, at the end of each term.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & VACATION CAMPS (Preschool-Grade 5)

ASPire offers special daylong programs when GFS is closed for teacher conferences, in-service days, and certain holidays. Special program days are also offered during one week of spring break vacation. Programs take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants (who must pre-register through Active Network) will also enjoy field trips and other special activities. 

GFS offers private transportation to students attending Main Campus. Pick up and drop off locations are limited.

GFS has two school nurses who provide in-person assistance to students on Main Campus as well as telehealth assistance to those at the Center City campus.

Students in Preschool have the option to enroll in either 4 or 5 full days. All PreK students attend for 5 full days. There is no half-day program attendance option.

Students have Library, Music, Art and Movement. These are taught by faculty with professional backgrounds and talents specific to instruction of these subject areas.

Outdoor time is an important part of our program. Students on both campuses spend at least an hour outside each day.  On Main Campus we have access to an Early Childhood play yard, and students at our Center City campus use the nearby city parks.  Both campuses have access to an indoor space during inclement weather.

Lunch and snacks are brought from home in the Early Childhood and Lower School programs. GFS food services become available in middle and upper school.

Students enrolled in the Early Childhood division do not need to submit a new application for the GFS Lower School.  The developmental growth rates of each child are difficult to predict when children come to us at very young ages, so each student’s potential for success in GFS’ Kindergarten is assessed and communicated through our progress reviews and parent-teacher conferences. We will inform parents if there are any questions about a student’s promotion to the next year and an offer of re-enrollment at GFS.

Like most area independent schools, GFS uses a September 1 date to organize the chronological ages of each classroom cohort.  As a result, children with birthdays in June, July, and August will be either the youngest in their “grade” or the oldest. The admissions process at GFS will help to reveal (and, once enrolled, the school will advise parents on) which “grade” placement will suit each individual child. Some children will progress through our Early Childhood program in two years, and some will progress through our Early Childhood program in three years.  This is dependent upon many factors, including- but not limited to- chronological age.

Each division has different start and end times. For Early Childhood, drop off is between 7:45-8:00 am with an official start time of 8:00 am. The school day ends at 3:10 pm.  Aftercare is available until either 5:00 or 6:00 pm.

All Early Childhood students have time to rest their bodies and brains in the afternoon. Those that are non-nappers will get up and move out of the classroom to engage in free play until the end of rest time.

Students entering Preschool do not need to be fully potty trained to start in the program.  Students entering PreK are expected to be fully independent when using the bathroom.

For Preschool, students must be 2 years and 7 months old by September 1st of the school year. Students who are not yet old enough will need to wait until the following school year to apply. For PreK, students must be 4 years old by September 1st of the school year. 

Guided by Quaker principles, our multidisciplinary curriculum is taught through a combination of structured activity and free exploration, which fosters children’s natural curiosity while providing them with the foundation needed for success in Kindergarten—and beyond.

First round review" means that our Admissions Committee will first review all applications that are completed by the January deadline. These applicant first round review" means that our Admissions Committee will first review all applications that are completed by the January deadline. These applications will receive an admission decision (admit, waitpool, or regret) by the end of January, and a financial aid package (as applicable), shortly thereafter on will receive an admission decision (admit, waitpool, or regret) by the end of January, and a financial aid package (as applicable), shortly thereafter.

"Rolling admissions" means that applications will be reviewed by our Admissions Committee on an ongoing basis and will receive an admission and financial aid decision once available (typically bi-weekly). It is important to note that the availability of spots and financial aid both decrease during rolling admissions, and it is possible that the best possible outcome during this time could be a waitpool decision. 

Rolling application review begins February 1, 2025. Review of applications completed after December 18 will resume in February and continue on a weekly, rolling basis. February 21, 2025 is the enrollment deadline for applicants admitted during first round review. Please note: For applicants accepted during the rolling cycle, the deadline to enroll is two weeks from the date of acceptance.

At GFS, we assist families in bridging individual affordability gaps that may exist with the cost of tuition. Our robust, need-based program, awards more than $9.95 million in financial aid each year to help cover tuition costs and activity fees for students in PreK through twelfth grade. The deadline for submitting financial aid applications, as well as supporting documents is in January.

• GFS uses the Clarity platform for financial aid applications.
• We suggest reading their Family Application Guide and Quick Reference Guide before starting the process. Please find the Spanish versions here: 2025-2026 Guía de Aplicación de Clarity Para Las Familias and 2025-2026 Guía de Referencia Rápida de Clarity.
• To get started, create a profile in Clarity, fill out the application, and upload all required documents. This includes paycheck(s) and W-2s that show the total income for every financially responsible parent or guardian.
• Preliminary financial aid awards will be based on the current year’s earnings and prior year’s tax documents.
• All adults who contribute towards a student’s tuition (including parents, stepparents, guardians, and others who pay tuition) are required to provide their tax information to Clarity.
• An important part of your application is the Letter to School where you can share information that might help our Financial Aid Committee better understand your financial situation. This can include any factors that may impact your ability to pay tuition. 

In addition to scheduling and completing your Virtual Parent Interview, complete all division- or grade-specific application items by the January deadline to be eligible for first-round review. These items are outlined in detail within the Veracross Admissions Portal. As you move through the application, we will help you complete the different checklist items within the process.

Early Childhood:

• Play Observation Video
• For PreK applicants only:
  • Virtual Readiness Assessment
  • Confidential Teacher Recommendation

Kindergarten:

• In-Person Readiness Assessment* & Observation Video
• Confidential Teacher Recommendation
• Official Transcripts or School Records

Lower School, Grades 1-5

• In-Person Admissions Testing* & Observation Video
• Confidential Teacher Recommendation
• Official Transcripts or School Records

Middle and Upper School

• Confidential Teacher Recommendations
• Admissions Testing (ISEE or SSAT)
• Official Transcripts or School Records
• Graded Writing Sample

*Remote/Virtual Options Available

Virtual Parent Interviews are a chance for us to get to know your family, learn about your child and answer any questions you have about GFS. They typically last about an hour and are conducted via Zoom. If you aren’t familiar with video chat, don’t worry — we’re here to help! Please schedule your Virtual Parent Interview as soon as you have submitted your application as our interview slots tend to fill up quickly

During the pandemic, we held a number of virtual events, which had given our prospective families the opportunity to hear from GFS leadership, staff, faculty, and students. 

Currently, most of our Admissions events take place in person on our Main or Center City campuses. Occasionally, we will host virtual webinars and discussions for our prospective families to learn more about GFS right from home!

View our upcoming Admissions Events and begin your application by starting an inquiry.

We look forward to connecting and introducing you to the rich array of learning opportunities that a GFS education has to offer!

We are here to help you through the process and happy to answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office at 215-951-2345 or admissions@germantownfriends.org.