Greenwood Friends School

GFS students celebrated Thematic Kickoff Day 2008 with every age group participating in integrated activities such as studying star formations, constructing rocket models, and enjoying space-related stories.  There will be future theme-related events including “A Starry Starry Night” utilizing the robotic telescope installed in cooperation with Bloomsburg University. Each class will weave the theme into their curricular activities throughout the year, culminating in an end-of-year presentation based upon what they have learned.

There are new faces in the school. Brenda Boggess is the new Head of School, Andira Dodge is the new Development Assistant, Rhiannon Dame is the new Middle School teacher, and Jen Mausteller is the new Physical Education Teacher. The school also boasts a “new” van to transport students!

On Tuesday, August 12, Greenwood's new garden and greenhouse project began, overseen by Intermediate and Middle School teacher Craig Muller.  Directing heavy equipment from Don Eyer Excavating, including a small backhoe, Craig watched as a hole appeared that will become the pond and waterfall environment; the backhoe also prepared a shallow, neat, and square depression that, filled with fine gravel, will underlie the greenhouse.  In the following days, Craig dug holes and set piers for the greenhouse's foundation.  Funded partially by a grant from the Friends Council on Education, the project will include raised beds and a contemplative garden area, which along with the greenhouse will make year-round classroom space for our students.

The four weeks of Camp Greenwood and Camp Invention were a terrific success thanks to our enthusiastic teachers; the energy of our camp coordinator, Rejena Girton; and especially our campers.  The children (and some adults) at Camp Greenwood learned about Animals, Art, Astronomy, Drama, Fire Science and Safety, First Aid and CPR, Shakespeare, and Whitewater Dynamics.

On Friday, the 6th of June, Greenwood's students and faculty joined family members and friends at the Millville Meetinghouse for our graduation ceremony.  Walker, Kelsey, Aidan, and Emma spent a combined total of thirty years at Greenwood, exactly the number of years since the founding of our school.  The graduates received their diplomas from Acting Clerk of the Board Sandy Smith and Interim Head of School Bob Lentz, each of them also soon to move on from the roles we have known them in.

Greenwood wrapped up its academic year with Graduation at the Millville Meetinghouse on Friday the 6th of June. The graduates invited Intermediate team teacher Audra DePrisco as their speaker. Three of them were part of Audra's very first class at Greenwood, in 2001. Audra shared highlights of the students' careers at Greenwood, seven lessons (to match the number of years she has taught at Greenwood),

Greenwood Friends School wishes our four recent graduates all the best. Read more below about each of the graduates.

After the graduation ceremony, as the graduates' families returned to school for a lunch provided by the other Middle School families, Frank treated the four 8th graders to one more ride: the trip back to school in a borrowed Camp Victory golf cart.  Frank's wife, Gretchen, and their daughter, Elizabeth (Greenwood class of 2003), had decorated the vehicle with balloons, mortarboards with the grads' names, and a "Just Graduated" sign, with strings of empty cans tied onto the rear bumper.  Elizabeth drove the "chase car" and picked up the cans as they one at a time separated themselves from the golf cart as Frank headed for school.