Scott Gratson shares artifacts and slides of art influenced by Greek mythology

Parent, Scott Gratson, visited fifth grade and shared the ways in which Greek mythological gods, goddesses, creatures and symbols have continued to influence art throughout the ages.

He also shared artifacts from ancient Greece with fifth graders.







One of the wonderful surprises was a series of slides showing these changing images as well as how Scott himself had incorporated mythological stories in paintings done on Devon's bedroom walls.

Science Activities in the New Year - Science Room News

Hope everyone is having a great break!  We have such a treasure here in our back yard - Briar Bush Nature Center.  They have just announced a series of family events for the new year that you won't want to miss.  I've included a few for you here, but if you want to see their full calender go to the Briar Bush website.

Sunday, January 8, 1-2pm

Tools of the Trade 

(for adults and youth ages 7+)

 

Animals possess all kinds of "tools" that humans have come to duplicate, from pliers and chisels to heat-seeking missiles and airport sniffers. Come peek inside nature's toolbox with Environmental Educator Katie Fisk.

RSVP to 215-887-6603 by January 6 (no walk-ins)

Non-members: $7/adult, $3/youth

Members:  20% discount

Abington residents: 10% discount

Meets at Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

2955 Edge Hill Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA

Monday, January 9, 7:30pm "Join the Conversation" Space: the Final Frontier with Franklin Institute Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts   Briar Bush is inviting you to a new discussion series called Join the Conversation.  Special guest speakers will guide a topic while attendees increase their knowledge and awareness of timely and important issues.  We have suggested books to pique your interest, but reading is not required. Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director of the Franklin Institute, leads a lively discussion on the marvels outside our atmosphere. For some background on the controversies and conspiracies within the normally sedate world of astronomy, check out How I Killed Pluto by Mark Brown, A More Perfect Heaven by Dava Sobel, or Bad Astronomy by Philip Plait.  Non-members: $3 Members: free (Advance registration recommended, limited seating) RSVP: 215-887-6603 or info@briarbush.org

we made chitons

We did it. Everyone has a chiton. In art, the children are now working on designing their chitons. We're also working on becoming our Greek god, hero or monster. Greek Feast is scheduled for Friday, January 13th.

"Common Threads"

Abington Friends Lower School Winter Program

Friday, December 9, 2011

1:30 p.m ~ Muller Auditorium

Program Dress:
All lower school students should dress in white tops and black pants. Students are welcome to bring their performance clothing to school on Thursday and change at school Friday morning prior to the performance.

Please note that all students will be involved in movement activities on stage and should wear pants.

We look forward to seeing you and celebrating our accomplishments with you this Friday at 1:30 p.m.

People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference

What an amazing day we had today! This morning was the kick-off of the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conference, hosted at the Convention Center in Philadelphia. The day started off with tremendous inspiration from the AFS Choir who used their voices to bring about hope and aspiration for the 4,000 educators, parents, and students in attendance. Click on the videos below to hear their beautiful voices led by Jason and Stephen. (Had a glitch in the editing, so they start the same, but are different. Check out the size of the crowd, by the way!)



This conference is momentous for several reasons, particularly for us here at Abington Friends School. First of all, the conference comes at a particularly salient time in our work, with a critical number of faculty and students engaging in the work of learning about, experiencing, and understanding diversity and inclusion in our community for the past 4-5 years. As a result of that work, we had more than fifteen faculty and student presenters at the conference sharing the lessons that we have been learning and facilitating discussions about race, ethnicity, gender and other core components of our individual identities.


Secondly, our own Crissy Caceres, one of four co-chairs for the POCC/SDLC, has worked tirelessly for the past two years to bring leadership, vision, and direction to this conference. Her efforts to develop the theme, programs, structure, and workshops of the conference allowed everyone to immerse themselves in this important work.
I still remember the Lower School faculty at this exact time a year ago, collaborating with Crissy together in the lobby for hours after school to create the theme of the conference: We the People: Painting a New Mural of Community, Updating Our Status – A Declaration of Interdependence.

Finally (for now), the conference highlights the impact of the work that students are and have been engaged in during the past few years. Led by Toni, Cyndi, and other faculty, Upper School students are taking part in this important work to challenge themselves, develop new perspectives and become the new leaders for our world. Listen to noted author and keynote speaker Wes Moore’s invocation of the meaning of education and what we can do to make a difference in our world.

His writings in The Other Wes Moore serve as a catalyst for reflecting on how our thoughts and actions can impact and change lives. Lower and Middle school students are deeply entrenched in this work as they spoke for two hours about the lessons they have been learning about race and identity in a workshop presented by Jane and Dave late this afternoon.