Learning and Growing in the Lower School
First through Fourth Grades

At Friends Academy, the Lower School experience is filled with joy, laughter and a love of learning – so much more than academics happens within our four walls everyday! Our philosophy is to teach the whole child. By fostering independence and self-worth in each and every child, our teachers encourage them to grow – emotionally, socially, physically, spiritually and intellectually.

Academics
We give our students the tools to flourish in a rigorous academic environment that includes Language Arts – Reading, Handwriting and Spelling, and Reading Fluency – Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Throughout the grade levels, each subject is taught with the basics in mind. Critical thinking and writing skills are also strongly emphasized across the curriculum. As the school year progresses, students are encouraged to challenge themselves through integrated enrichment activities.

Quaker Values & Service
As a Quaker school, there are many tenets by which we teach, including: simplicity, integrity, community, equality, harmony and peaceful conflict resolution. Students learn that one person can make a difference – and many can change the world!

In addition to a traditional, academic curriculum, our students also learn how to become better citizens and better people – in and out of school. Service is an integral part of who we are at Friends Academy. At the Lower School level, students are taught the joys and rewards of giving through a hands-on approach, interacting with other grade levels and working in groups within the classroom setting. By giving back to the school and the community as a whole, students learn to make good choices and affect the lives of those around them.

Throughout the school year, there is opportunity to become involved in a variety of local, regional, national and international service projects. This year, proposed projects include Heifer International, PAWS Farm, Habitat for Humanity and Crop Walk.

Beyond the Classroom
At Friends Academy, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. Throughout the year, field trips are an important part of our curriculum. Some recent Lower School trips have included the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Point Pleasant Beach, the Franklin Institute, and Palmyra Cove.

In order to engage our students’ minds and spirits, we also enjoy visiting artists and assemblies throughout the year. Recently we’ve hosted the Franklin Institute, Quiet Riot, meteorologists from The National Weather Station, and the Philadelphia Zoo.

At Friends Academy, our curriculum and activities carry through and build upon each grade level, so that when our students reach Middle School they are ready for the challenges ahead of them. If you would like more specific information about our curriculum or activities, please call us at 609-267-8198.