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QUAKER PHILOSOPHY is at the heart of our school and Quaker beliefs permeate daily life with an emphasis on the discovery of each student's unique gifts. The Quaker tenets of simplicity, moderation, equality, resolution of conflict through nonviolent means, community service, and shared decision making are interwoven throughout the fabric of school life.
The 210 students in the Lower School are divided into four teams of teachers and students: Early Childhood, Kindergarten and Grade 1, Grades 2 and 3, Grades 4 and 5.
We have a long standing tradition of enriching our programs with "special" instruction by teachers with "special" talents and knowledge in "special" areas of the curriculum. Art, music, library, world language, physical education, music, and science teachers fall into this category. Click here for more information.
Hours of Attendance
Early Childhood: 7:45am-2:45pm, Monday - Friday
Kindergarten: 8:05am-3:00pm, Monday - Friday
Grades One - Five: 8:05am-3:10pm, Monday - Friday
Snacks and Lunch
All children are served a light snack at mid-morning in their classrooms. All students in Grades Kindergarten - Five have lunch in the dining room with their teachers and have the option of subscribing to our Meal Plan (a description of this plan is provided by the school's business office at the time of enrollment). Early Childhood children bring their lunch to eat in the Early Childhood Center kitchen space.
Bus Service
Friends Academy students may apply to their local school districts for bus service. This application must be made by April 1st and applies to those students who live within a fifteen-mile radius of the school.
Meeting for Worship
Meeting for Worship is introduced in Early Childhood through the frequent sharing of happy thoughts related to home and school experiences. While this takes place informally on a regular basis in the classroom and on the playground, it is intentionally integrated once a week in Meeting for Worship. The children and the teachers of each class sit together in a circle in their classroom for "gathered meeting" time of about five minutes. During this period the concept of silence is introduced and practiced for a minute or two; then children and teachers may share their thoughts. This basic framework continues into first and second grades (Grades One and Two) with the time periods for gathered meeting extending to twenty minutes and silence to five. We also introduce reflection time-a short period when children are asked to think about specific ideas or topics. Afterwards, children and teachers may share their thoughts.
Students in second, third, fourth, and fifth grades are ready to attend Meeting for Worship at the Matinecock Meeting House. They gather with the Lower School Principal and other adult members of the community in silence, reflection, and sharing for twenty-five minutes every Thursday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Parents are welcome to attend. Our goal is to capture the spirit and atmosphere of mutual respect present in Meeting for Worship and carry it over into the daily life of the school.
Community Meeting
Strating in Grade One, the children take part in a weekly community meeting, where students and teachers participate in open dialogue about their collective triumphs and concerns. When issues of concern arise, the group strives to formulate consensual solutions. There are many opportunities throughout every day for students to practice the peaceful resolution of conflict. It is not uncommon to see teachers huddled with a small group of children (also known as "small g's") as they facilitate a resolution to the occasional conflicts that arise between individuals and among groups of children.
Community Service
Consistent with our Quaker mission that emphasizes "caring service to others," children participate in age-appropriate activities with local organizations, such as the Interfaith Nutritional Network (INN) and Pioneers for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) as well as small fundraising events, e.g., walk-a-thons, for the Muttontown Preserve, and Upland Farms Nature Conservancy. More immediately, the children are involved in daily activities and interactions that foster "caring service" to one another in the classroom and at school. We also include opportunities for older students in the school to participate in community service with the younger ones.
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