Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) is a progressive, coeducational, college preparatory
Quaker
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
school serving students from preschool (age 3) through 12th grade. SSFS offers an optional 5- and 7- day boarding program in the Middle School and Upper School. 59% of its student body identifies as students of color, and 19 countries are represented in its boarding program. Founded in 1961, its motto is "Let Your Lives Speak" an old Quaker adage which expresses the school's philosophy of "educating all aspects of a person so that their life—in all of its facets—can reveal the unique strengths within."
SSFS sits on a pastoral 140-acre campus in the heart of
Montgomery County,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, approximately midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. SSFS is under the care of the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting and the
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Baltimore Yearly Meeting (officially the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends) is a body of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) headquartered in Sandy Spring, Maryland that includes Friends from Virginia, Maryland, ...
.
History
The establishment of a Quaker school in the Sandy Spring community was first suggested by S. Brook Moore at a meeting for business of the Sandy Spring Friends Monthly Meeting in 1958. Although some were initially skeptical of the idea, the next day Brook received a $100 check and a group of concerned Friends formed a school committee shortly thereafter. Esther Scott followed by donating several acres of her family farm for the school and an adjacent Friends Center. Sam Legg, who had participated in the
Minnesota Starvation Experiment
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment, also known as the Minnesota Semi-Starvation Experiment, the Minnesota Starvation-Recovery Experiment and the Starvation Study, was a clinical study performed at the University of Minnesota between November 19, 1 ...
while serving in the
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service (CPS) was a program of the United States government that provided conscientious objectors with an alternative to military service during World War II. From 1941 to 1947, nearly 12,000 draftees, willing to serve their ...
as a
conscientious objector
A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. The term has also been extended to object ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, was appointed the school's first headmaster in 1959. SSFS opened its doors in September 1961 with 77 students in Grades 10 and 11. Twelfth Grade was added a year later.
The school's first buildings were the Headmaster's home, named “Scott House” after Esther Scott, and a dormitory, named “Moore Hall” after Brook Moore, with room for 46 students. The dormitory building also held two faculty apartments and classrooms, plus the school's kitchen and dining room, library, laboratory and lockers on the lower level. The school quickly outgrew the original buildings, and over the next decade additional classrooms, an arts center, faculty housing, an infirmary and a second dormitory with expanded kitchen and dining facilities were constructed.
In 1973, a 9th Grade program was added, with classes initially held in the nearby Sandy Spring Community House; the 9th Grade was brought onto the main campus in 1990. In 1980 SSFS expanded to include a middle school, and the lower school was added as a result of the 1993 merger with Friends Elementary School.
Connections With Other Friends Schools
The establishment of SSFS was preceded by the Sherwood Friends School (also known as Sherwood Academy) as the first Quaker school located in Sandy Spring, from 1883 to 1906. After 1906, Sherwood Academy became part of the Montgomery County public school system, eventually becoming the
Sherwood High School. Sherwood Academy occupied the old Ashton (Orthodox Quaker) Meeting House, which was later relocated to the SSFS campus.
The nearby
Thornton Friends School, named after former Sandy Spring Friends Head of School C. Thornton Brown, traces its roots to an innovative academic program, the “Interlocking Curriculum,” that was first developed at SSFS in 1973.
Sandy Spring Friends School annually sends students to QYLC (Quaker Youth Leadership Conference) which connects students from Quaker schools in the area on the basis of leadership, community, and Quaker traditions.
Sandy Spring Friends School also plays host to an annual "Friendly Dance Exchange" which was spearheaded by faculty member, Hannah Kerr. Along with Sidwell Friends School and the Friends School of Baltimore, the Dance Programs of the three schools are brought together for a day of community building through dance and choreography workshops.
Heads of School
* Sam Legg (1961–64)
* John H. Burrowes (1964–66)
* C. Thornton ("Thorny") Brown, Jr. (1966
†-79)
* Edwin E. Hinshaw (1979–91)
* Stephen L. Gessner (1991–96)
* Kenneth W. Smith (1996-2010)
* Tom Gibian (2010-2020)
* Rodney Glasgow (2020 - )
†Administrator from 1966–67; appointed Head in 1968
Academics
SSFS is accredited by th
Association of Independent Maryland Schoolsand approved by the
Maryland Department of Education
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is a division of the state government of Maryland in the United States. The agency oversees public school districts, which are 24 local school systems—one for each of Maryland's 23 counties plus one ...
. It is a member of th
Friends Council on Educationand the
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1962, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boar ...
, among others. The SSFS curriculum is intended to prepare students not only for entering college but also for being valuable citizens of the world. It stresses the challenge of Quaker values, academic excellence, and personal growth in an environment that stresses personal responsibility. Approximately 15% of the students are Quaker.
The Lower School (Pre-K to Grade 5) curriculum includes basic skills in reading, mathematics, science, art, music and languages, as well as conflict resolution and Quakerism. Children are encouraged to apply these skills to other life contexts, to think analytically, and to evaluate in both verbal and quantitative areas.
The Middle School (Grades 6-8) offers a curriculum of English, general mathematics and algebra, social studies, science, foreign language, art, music and sports. Other activities include field trips, art and music programs, and science activities.
The Upper School (Grades 9-12) has a daily schedule that includes seven academic periods, lunch, and an academic help period which is designated time at the end of each day for students to meet with teachers before sports practices begin. The average class size is 14 with a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:7. A 5- and 7-day boarding program is offered in the Upper School.
SSFS offers a specialized program for international students. The school's ''International Students Program'' (ISP) includes
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, including an ESL/English transition course, ESL Science, ESL American History, and ESL World History. International students are placed in regular classes according to their level of English proficiency, and all receive preparation and practice for the
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by more than 11,000 universities a ...
and other standardized tests.
[Private Secondary Schools, pp. 1058-59 (Peterson’s Guides, Inc. 2008)]
To graduate, students must earn 24 credits, including English (4), foreign language (3), history (3), mathematics (3), science (3), electives (3), and fine arts (3). Additional requirements (noncredit) include two physical activities each year and a semester-long course on Quakerism, fulfilled by the Life Skills course built into the 9th grade curriculum. One Hundred hours of community service, broken down to fifty hours of outside of school community service and 50 hours of stewardship on the school's campus are also required prior to graduation. Full-year courses are offered in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, history, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, art (including drawing, painting, ceramics and fiber arts), orchestra, chorus, theater/musical production, modern dance and wood shop. Advanced Placement courses are available in Environmental science, music theory, English (both AP Literature and AP Language), history, government and politics, calculus, statistics, chemistry, French and Spanish.
Facilities
The wooded campus includes a stream, pond (which was made safe for swimming in 2011), meadows, and several athletic fields. The physical plant includes a historic Quaker Meetinghouse, a science center, a performing arts building with a fine arts wing, an athletic complex that includes a fitness center, training room, and a gymnasium, an expanded Lower School, a new Middle School building, a dormitory and dining hall, three major classroom buildings, a large resource center with a 25,000-volume library, an observatory, classrooms, and computer lab, an administration building and faculty housing in 2005 the addition of a second gymnasium was added as well as a new Middle School building and new performing arts center. in 2011, a rock climbing wall was also added to the newer gymnasium. Computers are integrated into many aspects of the curriculum. Each school division is equipped with its own computer lab, and every classroom is wired for network and Internet access. The School's library includes computers for online research through online subscription reference tools and the Internet.
The historic wooden Ashton Meeting House (built 1881) was moved onto the SSFS campus in 1983, and a new library and gymnasium was constructed in 1987. In 2005-2006, a new middle school building was added, as well as a new performing arts center and athletic facilities, along with substantial renovations to several of the existing buildings.
A new high school facility is currently under construction to be put in effect at some point during the 2019-2020 school year.
Demographics
Approximately 7% of the student body are Quakers.
Athletics
The Middle School teams and the Upper School boys' and girls' athletic teams compete in the
Potomac Valley Athletic Conference
Formed in 1979, the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference is a group of independent schools in the Washington metropolitan area who compete against each other in interscholastic athletics. The conference comprises small independent schools from Maryl ...
(PVAC);. SSFS offers the following varsity and junior-varsity sports:
* Women's: Cross Country; Volleyball (Varsity and JV); Soccer (Varsity and JV); Basketball; Track & Field; Tennis; and Lacrosse.
* Men's: Cross Country; Soccer (Varsity and JV); Basketball (Varsity & JV); Track & Field; Tennis; Lacrosse; and Baseball (Varsity and JV).
* Coed: Climbing, Golf, Wrestling, and Hockey (club team).
Traditions
Some of SSFS's notable traditional activities, which date to the earliest days of the school, include the following:
* ''The Morley Games.'' The whimsical outdoor games of Frazleerham, Hoop-a-Doop, Brindledorph, Nurdleybawl and Friedlefrappe were invented by Barry Morley, a long-time SSFS teacher. The Morley Games, inspired by limited funds and facilities early in the school's history, made use of everyday objects, and continued to be played long after the introduction of soccer, lacrosse and other sports to the school's curriculum. Brindledorph, a field hockey-like game, is played with ordinary brooms, and Hoop-a-Doop with old bicycle tires. Nurdleybawl (a variation on tee-ball) uses a small rubber ball and sawed-off softball bat. Frazleerham, a combination of rugby, soccer, basketball and ultimate Frisbee, is played with a soccer ball and wastepaper can (held by the “frazsnapper”) standing in a small enclosure (10’ x 10’ x 2’) or “rham” made of 2-by-4's. In Friedlefrappe, a “friedlesphere” (a ball) is thrown up to a “friedlesnatcher” (goalie) standing on a “friedleplat” (an elevated platform) who attempts to catch it with a “friedlesnare” (a net on a pole), and defended by a “friedlefrapper” swinging a broom.
* ''Spirit Week.'' Held within the first few weeks of the school year, this recent school tradition is a weeklong event that features a number of school-wide and division-wide activities, such as "Twin Day" (students dress alike), "Pajama Day" (come to school dressed in pajamas), “Green and Gold Day” (students and faculty are requested to wear green or yellow clothing), and "Crazy Hat and Hair Day."
* ''Community Day.'' Held in the fall, Community Day began as "
Mountain Day
Mountain Day refers to three different and unrelated events: (1) Mountain Day, a student celebration in some colleges in the United States in which classes are cancelled without prior notice, and the student body heads to the mountains or a park, ( ...
," in which the entire school would travel to nearby
Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain ( pt, Pão de Açúcar, ) is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising above the harbor, the peak is named for its resemblance to ...
for a picnic and a day of exploration. In the mid-1970s the venue changed to
Catoctin Quaker Camp. As the size of the school grew and the logistics of transporting the entire school over long distances became more difficult, Mountain Day evolved into Community Day, a day of campus-based work projects (such as trail maintenance, tending to the community garden, and bus waxing races), followed by school-wide games.
* ''Our People, Our Planet Day''. Similar to Community Day, Our People, Our Planet Day (formerly known as Earth Stewardship Day) is an all-school event held in the spring. Our People, Our Planet Day (OPOP Day) is a day dedicated to a dual focus of environmental literacy and greater understanding of the unique social, global, and cultural composition of all SSFS community members.
* ''Intersession.'' In the week before spring break each school year, all SSFS Upper School students are required to participate in an Intersession, a trip of experiential learning that supplements the traditional school curriculum. Intersessions often involve community service, physical activity, or environmental stewardship. In the past, Intersession trips have gone to Florida, Senegal, Korea, Sicily, and numerous other locations.
* ''Strawberry Cowbake.'' An end-of-year festival featuring a cookout and strawberry shortcake.
Student government and publications
''The Wildezine'' is an upper-school student newspaper. Other student publications include a literary magazine and a
yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a type of a book published annually. One use is to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school. The term also refers to a book of statistics or facts published annually. A yearbook often ...
.
The Torch Committee, the student government organization, includes day and boarding students, as well as faculty and administration representatives. A Torch representative is invited to all faculty meetings, school business meetings and meetings of the Board of Trustees.
In addition, the student body also has several affinity groups for racial identity.
Notable alumni
* John Fogarty, Lead
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it be ...
Counsel,
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The ''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spill (also referred to as the "BP oil spill") was an industrial disaster that began on 20 April 2010 off of the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect, considered ...
litigation and settlements
*
Josh Joplin
Josh Joplin (born Joshua David Blum on January 1, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter, as well as music and film producer. He has founded the bands Josh Joplin Group and Among The Oak & Ash. His song " Camera One" was the first independen ...
, musician
* Amy Michelson, actress/clothing designer
*
Toshi Reagon
Toshi Reagon (born January 27, 1964) is an American musician of folk, blues, gospel, rock and funk, as well as a composer, curator, and producer.
Early life
Born January 27, 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia, Reagon grew up in Washington, D.C. She wa ...
, American folk/blues musician
*
Robby Reider, musician
*
Liz Lerman
Liz Lerman (born 1947 in Los Angeles, CA) is an American choreographer and founder of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange .
Called by the Washington Post “the source of an epochal revolution in the scope and purposes of dance art,” she and her dancers ...
, (former SSFS dance faculty member)
See also
*
Religious Society of Friends
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...
*
List of Friends schools
Friends schools are institutions that provide an education based on the beliefs and testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). This article is a list of schools currently or historically associated with the Society of Friends, reg ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
1961 establishments in Maryland
Boarding schools in Maryland
Educational institutions established in 1961
Private elementary schools in Maryland
Private high schools in Maryland
Private middle schools in Maryland
Quaker schools in Maryland
Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland