Our Extended Day Program is a great way for students in grades Pre-K to 8 to be cared for after school in a safe, nurturing environment. On days when school is closed for parent conferences or teacher in-service days, students can come to school for a day filled with fun at Otter Camp.
Whether walking through our hallways, watching children jump from tree stumps at The Nest, or sitting in silence on the benches of the Meeting House, it is clear to see that FFS is a safe and happy place to learn.
Every teacher knows every student, not just as a child in the class, but as an individual with interests, passions, and specific strengths and needs. Our faculty has a unique way of welcoming students’ personalities and backgrounds into the classroom, creating an environment of mutual respect and close community.
Quaker values are at the heart of everything we do. In keeping with Quaker practice, our community meets weekly to worship together with their fellow teachers and students.
Quakers have long known the benefits of reflection and sitting in silence in order to access what George Fox called “the still, small voice.” In addition to its spiritual benefits, the mindful and reflective nature of Meeting for Worship improves attention, helps regulate our emotions, and reduces stress in students and classrooms. Making space for these mindful moments allows students and teachers to take a break from the bustle of the classroom and to bring attention to the present moment.
Meeting begins in silence, so that we may settle, practice reflection and make room for the Inner Light to guide us. Learning to be centered in silence provides an opportunity to shift our focus from doing and thinking, to being. During worship, a community member may feel moved to speak, to raise an idea, or share an inspiration. Following a spoken message, all return to silence to reflect on that message and to greet it with compassion and non-judgmental awareness. The meeting ends when the elders initiate a handshake. Our fifth and eighth graders serve as the elders of our lower school and middle school meetings.
Parents and community members are welcome to join us for worship. For more information, please contact Stephan Heuer, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, at sheuer@frankfordfriends.org for additional information.
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Our outdoor experiential education program offers students at all levels hands-on field studies and opportunities to explore the natural world, integrating mindfulness and reflective practices, a healthy lifestyle, scientific inquiry, and environmental stewardship.
Retreats, hikes, all-school outdoor expeditions, and farm trips allow us to explore together as a community, recharge, and fall in love with nature. On campus, some of the best learning happens through play with water, dirt, and natural materials, or through climbing, crawling, running, jumping, and participating in physical activities at the park or The Nest.
Students at Frankford Friends School raise and care for our beloved chickens while they practice stewardship, collaboration, and responsibility. They collect and track the number of eggs laid daily, feed the chickens grain and water (and occasionally a home grown treat from the garden), keep their space clean and comfortable, and let them out of their coop for daily exercise. Fresh eggs are used in class baking activities and every student in the FFS community has a turn to take some home as well.
Middle School students and teachers spend three days and two nights at a team-building retreat each fall, strengthening connections with old friends, establishing new relationships, and together, building a strong Middle School community. Students take risks with challenges such as navigating a low ropes course, canoeing, archery, team-building games, and playing sports. They also hike, practice yoga and mindfulness, sing and tell stories by the campfire, and attend outdoor Meetings for Worship.
Quaker values are the heart of everything we do at Frankford Friends School. In keeping with Quaker practice, our community meets weekly to worship together with their fellow teachers and students.Volunteerism and community engagement bring our students in contact with local leaders who actively work to make a difference in their communities. Our students observe and learn about the true meaning of community stewardship and develop a genuine interest in being agents of change in the world around them.Our service learning leaders at FFS are interested in building long-term projects with organizations and we welcome your ideas for partnership. If you are connected to an organization who would be a fit for our community engagement initiatives, please contact our Coordinator of Special Projects at jdubrowski@frankfordfriends.org.
The Frankford Library sits just three blocks from the edge of the FFS campus, and serves as a vital link to our classrooms in our effort to prepare students for an increasingly information-driven world.Our students use the library to seek out books for their own joyful reading and to conduct research on a variety of topics. Through this meaningful and regular ritual, we shape a generation of lifelong readers who find joy in making use of the resources that are available to all at the public library.
Among the most treasured memories from a student’s days are the School’s annual traditions. Some, like graduation, mark a rite of passage. Others, like Quaker Week, reinforce the values of the school among students. All-school events, such as the Outdoor Expedition or Otterfest, bring family and school together in the joy of togetherness.
Meet Frankie, the Frankford-friendly River Otter! Our students unanimously chose the river otter to represent their school since river otters possess many of the wonderful characteristics that also describe our students. They’re excellent communicators and have amazing intelligence and skill. They love to explore and they use play as a way to strengthen social bonds. We love otters’ commitment to community and how they find joy in living and learning.
Each year, FFS students and teachers join together in multi-age groups to celebrate community. Everyone participates in team-building activities, community games, and service to the neighborhood. There is also time to worship together, share a meal, and support each other as we reflect on the Quaker values and beliefs that are so important to us. Quaker Week always ends with a full day hike with planned activities in the woods.
Our favorite grandfriends arrive on the Frankford Friends School campus each fall, to experience where their grandchildren learn, explore, play, and reflect. Students introduce their grandfriends to their teachers, show them their classrooms, sit with them during Meeting for Worship, and work together on projects across the curriculum.
Each fall, everyone gathers on campus to celebrate the start of the school year with music, food trucks, games, conversation and fun. Otterfest is a joyous time for alumni to come back to visit, and to renew ties with the community.
Every spring we celebrate the end of the school year at River Otter Field Day. All students play outdoor games in mixed-age groups. It's a day of celebration and togetherness as a whole school. The day culminates with a competitive dodgeball game featuring eighth graders vs. faculty.
Students share their talents and skills in twice yearly showcases, exhibiting their works of art, singing and playing instruments, and presenting their Project-based Learning work from the year. First to Eighth Graders also perform in the All-School Musical each spring, an event that the community looks forward to with excitement.
Families, friends, students and staff celebrate our eighth graders at a final Meeting for Worship. During this time we reflect on each student’s time at FFS and wish them luck as they join the ranks of Frankford Friends alumni.
Frankford Friends School offers after-school care to our students from 2:55 pm to 6:00 pm.
The Extended Day staff supervises indoor and outdoor play and games, while reinforcing the same Quaker values that guide the children during their school day. Our Extended Day Program is a great way for students in grades Preschool to 8 to be cared for after school in a safe, nurturing environment. Under the guidance of our experienced and caring staff members, students have fun learning, growing, and building lasting friendships with kids of all ages from our school community.
After a healthy snack, students have plenty of time to play outside before spending time in both teacher- and student-led centers such as arts and crafts, games, construction activities, science, and dramatic play. Students have use of the outdoor spaces and buildings in the Nest. Specialty Clubs may occasionally be offered and families will receive information on these clubs as they arise. The day ends with quiet activities such as story time with teachers.
Enrollment & Payment:
Payment may be made in the following ways:
1 payment of $3,225.00 due August 31, 2024 ($150 discount)
2 payments of $1,637.50 due August 31, 2024 and January 19, 2025 ($100 discount)
9 payments of $375.00 due monthly, August 31, 2024 through April 30, 2025
NOTE: Fees may take up to 2 weeks to be processed through FACTs.
Those families who would like flexible care after school pay the drop-in rate of $10/day for a 4:00 p.m. pick-up or $25.00/day for a 6:00 p.m. pick-up. Students who can not be picked up by 3:05 p.m. will be escorted to the Extended Day location and billed accordingly.
Register for Extended Day
Students can come to school for a day filled with fun while school is closed for parent conferences or teacher in-service days. Activities include science experiments, arts and crafts, stories, engineering projects, indoor and outdoor sports and games, cooking, drama activities, and trips to the park and library. Snacks are provided, but each child should bring their own lunch.
Otter Camp takes place from 8:00am to 3:00pm on full days and 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm on half days. The Extended Day Program follows until 6:00 pm for students who have pre-registered.
A variety of after school activities are offered throughout the school year, including science and engineering, art, chess club, soccer shots, yoga and more. If you would like to know more about our after school clubs contact our Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning at sheuer@frankfordfriends.org.
Students at Frankford Friends School arrive and depart from school in a variety of ways. Many students are dropped off and picked up by their caregivers. Students in grades 1-6 who live over 1.5 miles from FFS may ride the FFS school bus and students in grades 7 and 8 can access free SEPTA passes for travel to school on Philadelphia trains and buses.To learn more about our transportation options, please contact the Operations Office, at kcox@frankfordfriends.org.
Frankford Friends is pleased to offer van service transportation to students in grades Preschool-8. Registration for a seat on one of our Ottermobiles is accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis to FFS students who live within the range of an existing Ottermobile route. Our vans currently serve families who live in Center City, South Philadelphia, Northern Liberties and Fishtown. There is a $2,800 fee for the first student, and $2,500 for each additional student per family to ride on the Ottermobile for the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about the FFS Ottermobile service, or to be placed on the waiting list, please contact the Operations Office, at kcox@frankfordfriends.org.
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