Greenwood Friends School

We welcome Ula Konczewska as our new Primary Team Co-Teacher. Ula has been volunteering with the Primary class since January and, while a number of enthusiastic and well-qualified candidates came forward for this position, we are thrilled that Ula has accepted our offer to join Greenwood’s faculty. She has already connected beautifully with our Primary students demonstrating an approach to teaching that fits seamlessly within our learning community. We all look forward to collaborating with and learning from Ula.

Bob Lentz passed away at his home in Danville on January 13, 2010. Bob acted as Greenwood's interim head of school in 2007-2008, coming out of retirement to help Greenwood regain its footing at a time of challenge and change. A graduate of Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Bob spent much of his career in education as principal of Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan. During this time, Groves became nationally recognized for its innovations in experiential learning and in multicultural leadership. Prior to this, Bob served as the founding director of Project Adventure.

On January 18th Greenwood Friends School gathered to celebrate Mick Myers years of service to the Greenwood Community. For many years, as a volunteer and friend of the school, Mick has visited classes and shared books and stories about heroes, many of whom were called into service in their communities. Mick has had such obvious enthusiasm when he is around children that his exuberance tends to rub off on them. A former teacher and sponsor of a local baseball team, Mick has shared his joy of learning with our community.

Welcome to Ula Konczewska who is teaching Primary Languages and Cultures while Heather Almer is on maternity leave. Ula will be teaching a set of traditional folk dances from all over the world. The classes will initially focus on European dances and continue to move East while our Primary students learn about the countries and cultures of the Silk Trail.

We left Lewisburg, Pa on June 28th for Brussels. It was technically a fourteen-hour trip but we were only flying for eight hours because of the plus six-hour time difference. We moved into our apartment on July 2nd. Very close to our apartment we have a boulangerie (French for bakery), chocolaterie (chocolatier), papeterie (bookstore), and a bus stop.

Next stop... London

[Ed. Greenwood sixth grader Ethan and his parents, Ken and Sandy, are on a year-long sabbatical in Brussels, Belgium and traveling throughout Europe. We are glad to share this update from Ethan to our Greenwood community. Note to the whole family—we miss you; travel safely!]

You can now stay connected with the latest news and photos from Greenwood on Facebook! It's also a great way to keep in touch with all of your Greenwood FRIENDS.

A warm Greenwood Friends welcome to Gavin Noble (Intermediate/Middle School teacher), Eric Smith (Music teacher), Emily Weisgerber (Art teacher), Heather Almer (Language and Culture volunteer), Ross Genzel (Drama volunteer) and Renee Hodgson (Horticulture volunteer). Follow the link below to read more about each of our wonderful new faculty members.

Gavin joins the Greenwood Friends School family this fall as Intermediate/Middle School Cooperating Teacher. He and his wife Beth, a Bloomsburg native, moved from California to Bloomsburg this summer. It was in California, at San Jose State University, that Gavin completed his coursework and student teaching for his K-9 multiple subject credential. After finishing student teaching, Gavin accepted multiple long-term substitute positions in the local middle school where he received rave reviews from colleagues, supervisors, and students.