Karen
Message from the Head of School:
Growing Together at Chicago Friends School

Karen Carney, Head of School
Greetings during my favorite time of year! As I write this today, the sun is shining, the days are lengthening, and I can see the first tender green shoots of spring popping up outside. Small and tenuous now, these sprouts are rooted in the soil, nourished by sun and rain, and will grow stronger and larger until together, they change the color of the world.
 
This is also what we hope to accomplish here at Chicago Friends School. Each young student, beginning in life's path, has the potential to grow, thrive, and ultimately color the world. One of the great rewards of my job is seeing growth every day. Nourished by the light of excellent teaching, I see children learning to read and calculate as well as imagine, discern, and extrapolate. In this issue, our teachers Renata McAdams and Meghan Brtnik explain how the children explore our annual curriculum theme of Trash and Treasure in both our classroom studies and our school-wide field trips. Teacher Melanie Berlin describes how carefully guided exploration of more complex realities of our world can help children develop empathy and awareness.
 
Just as plants need fertile soil, Chicago Friends School is rooted in our Chicago community, our volunteers, our parent community, and the fertile tradition of Quaker education. A recent strategic planning event called on the strength and wisdom of this larger community as we plan our next stages of development and growth. An upcoming dinner and auction will invite this larger community of friends to support the school financially.
 
I hope you read this newsletter in the joyful celebration of our growth. Every one of you plays a role. You each cast your own sunshine on the school, as we all grow together.

-- Karen Carney, Head of School

Collaborative painting.
Neighbor
Love Thy Neighbor (No Exceptions)
-- Melanie Berlin, Grades 1-2 Teacher

Recently, the kindergarten through second-grade children gathered for a discussion on inclusivity. In light of exclusionary rhetoric in national discussions, Head of School Karen Carney and the teachers determined it was of utmost importance to be sure everyone sees Chicago Friends School as a safe and inclusive environment.
 
Meghan and I began the discussion in the context of recent lessons about the civil rights movement. We talked about individuals or groups of people who have been or are still excluded today, how people from other countries may not feel welcome in our country, and how we might indicate to others that this school is a welcoming place. Together, we decided that a sign welcoming all people would help serve this purpose. We quickly got to work!
 
Our welcoming message.
To prepare for this project, we read the book People by Peter Spier. The children discussed the characters in the story and created their own list of inclusion: all sizes, all colors, all languages, all religions, and even all hairdos. We painted the background of our sign using a variety colors. The students took turns painting and, as their colors touched and mixed, they coped with the fact that a portion they painted might be altered by a classmate. This collaborative painting was, in and of itself, an exercise in inclusivity, understanding, and teamwork. Meghan and I were impressed with the students' cooperation.

Industrial
The Industrial Revolution: Examining New Needs
-- Renata McAdams, Grades 3-5 Teacher

Our ongoing study of U.S. history in the grades 3-5 classroom has integrated our school-wide curriculum theme Trash and Treasure. After studying a period in history, we ask, "What did people at this time need and value that made it different from other times?"
 
To explore this idea with the Industrial Revolution, we started with a short drawing and writing activity with three instructions:  
  • Imagine you just got a job in a factory during the Industrial Revolution. Draw the machine you'll be working with.
  • Imagine you're moving to a city after living in the country all your life. Draw what a city street looks like to you.
  • Imagine you're a news reporter in 1855. Write about an event related to the Industrial Revolution that is happening right now in your city.
Renata McAdams
When we examined their drawings of machines, some were hand-powered, some were electrical, and some were steam-powered. We also noticed that a lot of the machines were metal. This led us to talk about the need for coal and iron, as well as the growth of mining during the 19th century.
 
Drawings of the city streets opened up a conversation about pollution, sanitation, and the transition of moving from the spacious countryside into a crowded city. When we discussed our news stories, we compared the excitement of new inventions with the confusion of changing work conditions and the need for rules to protect workers' rights.
 
Our students come to school with some prior knowledge on many subjects and a lot of ideas and images they don't realize they've picked up. This lesson was especially fun because we got to use that knowledge and those images as the main guide for our discussions. It's always great when the teacher can be an exploration guide instead of an instructor!

Curriculum
The Curriculum Theme Out and About
-- Meghan Brtnik, Grades K-1 Teacher

Practicing the skill of fetching water.
Our Trash and Treasure curriculum theme has guided our school-wide field trips this year, as we have explored how we assign value to skills, resources, or community -- and how what is valued depends on particular circumstances.
 
We recently visited the Naper Settlement in Naperville, where we stepped back in time and experienced what life was like when Illinois was first settled by European-Americans. We were immersed in authentic experiences and environments that bridged the past to present. The students participated in many chores, such as fetching water, grinding wheat, and making butter. They experienced being a student at the one-room schoolhouse, helped operate a printing press, and watched a blacksmith at work.
 
We focused on one question: what did people need and value at this time? We came away with understanding how important it was to live near a water resource and have land to farm, as well as how critical each family member was to the work of daily life.
 
We also visited the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to learn about the business of money. We learned about the Federal Reserve's currency collection and what they do with it -- how they get it, dispose of it, and distribute it. We also learned about counterfeit money and inflation.
 
There were many interactive exhibits for the students: they made their own dollar bills, figured out if money was counterfeit, and learned about the life of a dollar bill. Students saw examples of rare currency and even a large cube containing a million dollars in out-of-circulation bills. We also discovered what happens to a dollar bill when it's ready for the trash, and every student received a bag of shredded bills.

Strategic
Planning for a Strong Future

Participants at visioning meeting for strategic planning.
Chicago Friends School opened in its current location with one teacher, six students, and a cadre of dedicated volunteers. Five years later, we have three classroom teachers, 29 students, a head of school, and six volunteer or contracted subject experts for specialized instruction. The school is out of its infancy and ready to begin its next phase of professionalization and growth.
 
At the 2016 annual meeting, the board started the school's first strategic planning process. A strategic planning team -- consisting of board members, staff, community members, and parents -- has embarked on a deliberative, disciplined effort to map the future of Chicago Friends School. This process will encompass several phases:
  • Visioning, in which the whole community shares their visions for the school's best future.
  • Identification of strategic priorities that can help us achieve that vision.
  • Research and analysis of opportunities and obstacles.
  • Creation of realistic, achievable goals for the next one year, five years, and beyond.
This planning process kicked off in January with a community-wide visioning event. More than 50 participants, including parents, board members, and staff were joined by representatives from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), other independent schools and community organizations, alumni and staff from other Quaker schools, and members of local Quaker meetings. Many of these stakeholders continue to be involved as participants and consultants as the school continues the planning process.
 
Chicago Friends School is also working toward full recognition by professional school communities. An associate member of the Friends Council of Education since 2012, the school has recently completed two further steps towards full membership. The school plans to apply for provisional accreditation from ISACS later in 2017 -- a first step toward full accreditation.

Books
Build a Library, Inspire a Child

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.
  -- Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
 
Chicago Friends School is a community of readers. We read to explore, discover, and enjoy. We read stories of people who teach us how to act kindly, confront injustices, accept challenges, and effect change. We learn from others' stories how to sail our own ships.
 
We invite you to be a Library Builder at Chicago Friends School by donating a biography from our school's Library Wish List . The list includes a variety of stories -- some of famous leaders, some of quiet champions -- but all biographies that inspire children to be curious and courageous.

Events
Upcoming Events

Open House
Saturday, April 22, 2017
2:00-4:00 p.m.
 
Open houses at Chicago Friends School enable families to explore the school, learn about our engaging curriculum, and discover our welcoming community. Children are welcome to attend.
 
We are currently accepting applications for kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2017-2018 school year.
 
Sixth Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction: Growing Together
Thursday, May 4, 2017
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Drinker Biddle
191 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
Please save the date for our annual benefit. We hope you can join us as we celebrate the mission of the school, share our progress over the past year, and discover the school's role in helping our students grow.
 
Petting Zoo and Bake Sale
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Bake Sale: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Petting Zoo: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
 
The Chicago Friends School community is happy to join our neighbors once again in the annual Edgewater Neighborhood Garage Sale. The school will host the ever-popular petting zoo and a bake sale. All proceeds from the bake sale will be donated to The Night Ministry, which serves homeless people in Chicago.
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