Message from the Head of School - December 14, 2010

"Breadth? Depth? Both!"

In the days after our wonderful fall musical, Guys and Dolls, I was struck by a comment made by a parent. He mentioned that his son, a Lower School student, not only thoroughly enjoyed the show but had been in awe of the number of male athletes who were in the production, playing significant roles. The parent’s point was that his son had some very well-rounded male role models whom he had watched on the soccer field earlier in the season and could now see performing on stage. Indeed, two boys soccer players played lead roles in Guys and Dolls, three had speaking parts, two were members of the ensemble, and three more were members of the stage crew.

We had many fall athletes participate in the musical — an amazing fact considering the commitment needed to play a fall sport while memorizing lines, lyrics, and dance steps, all while attending to their studies. This level of involvement demonstrates good time management skills and the obvious ability to multitask.

It also is a reminder of our school culture, in which a violinist may sit down for rehearsal immediately after field hockey practice. Or a member of a service club must balance academic work with meeting a deadline for the school newspaper. Or a coach immediately transitions from the activity of the playing fields or gym to the important preparation of students for an off-campus Model U.N. conference.

The tone is set in our Lower School, where the scope and range of the curriculum encourages curious and inquisitive students to develop wide areas of interest both inside and outside the classroom. At any one time when walking through the Lower School, one might see: a prekindergarten class singing a song in Spanish; a kindergarten class observing a robotics demonstration by Upper School students; a second grade class practicing on their violins; another second grade class hard at work creating their own storybooks; first graders working on clay sculptures in the art room; third graders discussing ethics with Mrs. Brick; or fourth graders preparing presentations on states of our nation.  And finally, when peeking outside, one might see our preschoolers intently sketching trees during a nature walk.

Our faculty and staff help develop well-rounded students who are eager to immerse themselves in a wide range of activities. This breadth of experience stands in stark contrast to the norm in many schools, where stereotyping students based on their activities or interests is common, and where students with a particular strength are likely to focus solely on developing that talent.

We also encourage students to give particular focus to a talent, activity, or hobby about which they care deeply, pursuing their passion with energy and purposefulness. Yet this pursuit of excellence is enriched and enhanced by the broad perspective that comes with having been exposed to a wide range of engrossing activities.

As we approach the end of the calendar year, I thank you for your support of Moorestown Friends School and wish you a joyful holiday season.

Warm Regards,

Larry Van Meter '68
Head of School

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