MFS E-News - November 13, 2009

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Moorestown Friends School E-News - November 13, 2009

A Message from the Board Chair | Thanksgiving Happening and Food Drive Information
Quaker Corner | Yearbook Ordering Deadline Approaching | Photos

What's Happening at MFS ...

Tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat are available in the Stokes Hall reception area during school hours.
Pictured above: junior Jake Burbage (Joseph) is surrounded by narrators senior Sami Kay (left) and junior Amanda Barrish.

Sat., November 14
Admissions Open House, 10 a.m. - Tell a Friend!

Mon., November 16
Red and Blue Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Moriuchi Room

Tues., November 17
LAST DAY for Thanksgiving Food Collection, read below for more information

Wed., November 18
NO SCHOOL for MS/US - Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thurs., November 19
Planning Meeting for MLK, Jr. Day of Service, 7 p.m., MacColl Room

Fri., November 20
> NO SCHOOL for LS - Parent-Teacher Conferences
> MFS presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., November 21
MFS presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 7:30 p.m.

Sun., November 22
MFS presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 2 p.m.

Wed., November 25
> Half Day for All Students - 11:45 a.m. dismissal
> Thanksgiving Happening, 10 a.m.

November 26-29
No School - Thanksgiving Break

Fri., November 27
Upper School Winter Sports Practices Begin

View the complete MFS calendar

A Message from the Board Chair ...

The Moorestown Friends School Board of Trustees (also known as the School Committee) conducts an evaluation of the Head annually. The 2008-09 evaluation consisted of an on-line survey completed by the Trustees and the MFS Administrative Council. The survey asked respondents to rank the Head’s performance in meeting the goals Larry Van Meter set out in September 2008. Beyond a simple ranking, each respondent was encouraged to write comments on several questions. All responses were shared with a Board subcommittee, and a summary of the responses was shared with the entire Board and the Administrative Council.

The responses reflected the exceptional work Larry achieved in 2008-09. All respondents noted that Larry successfully navigated a difficult financial climate, retained and recruited outstanding faculty, guided the purchase of the Greenleaf property, and developed a long-term fundraising strategy that will benefit the School for many years to come. In a challenging time, Larry has built on the School’s strengths and ensured its continuing success. We are extremely fortunate to be led by such an outstanding Head of School.

— Bill Guthe, MFS School Committee Clerk

Thanksgiving Happening Brings Students of All Ages Together

An annual tradition at MFS is the Thanksgiving Happening during which students from prekindergarten to 12th grade, faculty and staff join together for two hours of fun and fellowship in celebration of Thanksgiving. Assigned mixed-age groups of students, faculty and staff create crafts such as paper bag turkeys, tissue-paper flowers, leaf wreaths and much more. Groups also create murals that are collectively displayed as part of the concluding festivities. All crafts are delivered to South Jersey nursing homes and continuing care facilities by faculty, staff and parent volunteers. The day concludes with song, prayer, a Thanksgiving story and Meeting for Worship.

Letter to Lower School and Fifth Grade parents from Mrs. Brick and Mr. Curtis detailing food donation and the Thanksgiving Happening.

Food Drive Information

Students also anxiously await the moment when Quaker Education teacher Lynne Brick announces the number of Thanksgiving meals provided to local families thanks to the school's annual Food Drive. In 2008, MFS provided over 100 full Thanksgiving meals to needy South Jersey families. Lower School and fifth grade food donations are coordinated by classroom and Middle and Upper School donations are coordinated by advisor. The deadline for food donation is Tuesday, November 17.

Items needed to complete dinners:
1. canned cranberry sauce,
2. boxed or bagged stuffing mix,
3. muffin mix or biscuit mix,
4. canned vegetables,
5. canned or packaged gravy (no glass, please)
6. boxed instant mashed potatoes or canned yams,
…and the ingredients for pumpkin pie:
7. pumpkin pie mix which contains the sugars & spices…very important! (not plain pumpkin),
8. boxed pie crust mix (not a pre-made or graham cracker shell),
9. canned evaporated (not condensed!) milk.

Quaker Corner – Resilience

"The definition of resilience, from the International Resilience Project, is "...a universal capacity which allows a person, group or community to prevent, minimize or overcome the damaging effects of adversity." Overcoming adversity is dependent on how a person interprets a negative event. We would like to share three areas in which we give our students the opportunity to practice reframing events that at first appear negative. Read more about resilience at each division level...

Order Yearbooks Today!

Order your 2010 yearbook today! Pre-ordering is the only way to guarantee a copy of the book in June. The online ordering center closes on December 11, and orders cannot be accepted beyond that date. To order, please go to the MFS intranet site and scroll down for the link to the online order center. If you have any questions, please contact Debra Galler via e-mail or at ext. 229.

Recent Photos

Lower School Grandparents Day
Girls Soccer NJSIAA Playoffs vs. St. Joseph's

View, purchase or download photos at the MFS Smugmug site.

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