| Teaching to the Child ... Not to the Test |
Greenwood Friends School's approach to individualized instruction
includes combining grades in an organizational structure that we call
"teaming". From primary grades through Middle School, students in each team are assigned to a homeroom with an appropriate number of students. Flexible
groupings are set up for Math and Language Arts. Teaching teams share
responsibility for challenging and supporting students throughout the
year. The teachers continually assess each student's needs and
strengths.
Our teams are:
- Pre-Primary Team: preschool ages
- Primary Team: kindergarten to grade 2
- Intermediate Team: grades 3 to 5
- Middle School Team: grades 6 to 8
Science and Social Studies topics follow a three-year
rotation. This curriculum rotation minimizes overlap and allows more
in-depth coverage of subject areas.
Scheduling allows students to benefit from access to more
teachers, cooperating teachers, and other support staff, who can customize
instruction to meet individual needs. Students may work with teachers
within their "team" or move to another team as needed.
Trips, resources, events, and guest speakers are often shared.
Parent classroom coordinators work with an entire team and not just
one classroom.
Teaming makes it easier to support students whose needs
are not met in the traditional, one-grade classroom. Students can be
encouraged to tackle more advanced levels or given added support when they
encounter difficulties.
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| | Why I Teach at GFS |
To teach at Greenwood Friends School is to be planted in
fertile soil. My first year at Greenwood sped by
in a whirlwind of activity, with procedures and traditions to learn
fresh, but I recognized immediately that I had found a place where I
could use every bit of what I had learned in college and in previous
teaching positions. Here I found a faculty committed to keeping
up with the latest educational practices while staying loyal to the
best of the tried and true. Here I found veteran teachers to offer guidance and advice. Here I
found educators interested in designing and adapting the curriculum to
meet the needs of the students – a true child-centered curriculum. I
feel blessed to teach in an environment where academic standards are
met through meaningful, hands-on,
investigative learning, and where that learning happens across a rich
curriculum that includes art, music, and physical education...
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| GFS Mission Statement |
Greenwood Friends School is an educational community in which
students, teachers, and parents value learning, sharing, and living
joyfully. The school reflects the Quaker testimonies of integrity, equality,
community, simplicity, and peace by providing a challenging and supportive
environment. Each child is welcomed and valued as a unique individual
in this community. Friends recognize "that of God" in
each person, and this principle is central to our philosophy of educating hearts as well as minds.
Our values in practice:
Greenwood Friends School implements its mission in the following
ways:
- We nurture a child's natural curiosity and encourage students to "learn how to learn."
- Instruction accommodates each child's learning style, abilities, and rate of development.
- Flexible classroom groupings allow children to progress in each subject at their own level of ability.
- We
believe that children reach their highest potential through hands-on
and investigative activities that are relevant to their lives.
- Students are challenged to recognize and value their own potential and to appreciate the potential of others.
- We strive to help children build a strong self-image and to be their own advocate.
- We value a diverse school community in which students work cooperatively.
- We reach out to the local and global communities, believing that each person can make a difference in the world.
- Meeting for Worship encourages personal and spiritual growth in a supportive atmosphere.
Greenwood Friends School accepts children without regard to race,
gender, sexual orientation, or economic, social, or religious background.
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| | Quaker Education |
Quaker education represents a unique combination of academic excellence and spiritual depth.
Children are expected to grow and change in an environment that nurtures their spirits and challenges them to develop inner resources for discipline and achievement.
The Quaker belief in the "Inner Light" leads to faith in the ability of every member of the school community to reach his or her full potential.
- -from the Friends Council on Education pamphlet "What does a Friends School have to offer?"
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| The "Care Relationship" |
Quakers explain that Greenwood is “under the care of” of Millville Friends Meeting and the Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Our “care relationship” is evidenced in the structure of our school (our bylaws state that more than half of our Board of Directors must be Quaker representatives), in the regular patterns of our activities (once a month the entire school gathers at the Millville Meetinghouse for Meeting for Worship; annual graduation ceremonies are hosted there), and in the commitment of both Meetings to support the school’s educational mission with their corporate resources (annual Garden Tour proceeds benefit tuition assistance funds; members support classroom activities; the Millville Meeting housed our current Middle School during its first year).
On September 8, 2007, the gathered members of Millville Meeting passed the following Minute in affirmation of its support...
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| | Quaker Testimonies |
Quaker testimonies and the Greenwood Friends School philosophy:
Quaker testimonies are general statements about Friends' practices and beliefs. Our school's mission statement refers to several testimonies—integrity, equality,
community, simplicity, and peace—which are reflected in our goal of providing a challenging and supportive environment.
You can learn more about Quaker education from the Friends Council on Education. The Friends Council offers links to other Quaker schools.
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