FCS Spring 2026 Magazine

The Magazine of Friends’ Central School

Quaker Works

ON THE COVER

Christie Kapothanasis teaching a fifth grade literacy class in fall 2025

2025-2026 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

James C. Wright, Clerk

Karen Horikawa '77, Vice Clerk

Seth Goldblum, Treasurer

Juan Jewell '68, Recording Clerk

LiRon Anderson-Bell

Natalie Aronson Cooper '05

Earl Ball

Quinn Bauriedel

Elizabeth Cohen '83

Liza Ewen

J. Wilson Felter

David Fryman

Bill Georges '88

Jackie Guynn '89

Jon Harris

Anja Hilliard

Charles King '80

Emma Lapsansky-Werner

Mary McCabe

Chinwe Onyekere '94

Alex Rolfe '01

Aaron Selkow '88

Tom Tritton

Barbara M. Cohen, Emerita

Ken Dunn, Emeritus

Ann Satterthwaite, Emerita

Joanna Haab Schoff '51, Emerita

Koji Shimada, Emeritus

Gardner Hendrie '50, Honorary Trustee

Quaker Works

THE MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS’ CENTRAL SCHOOL

Head of School

Beth Davis Johnson ’77

Editor

Clare Luzuriaga

Director of Communications

Contributors

Lydia A. Martin

Assistant Head of School for Communications, Enrollment, and Strategic Initiatives

Katherine Clayton

Associate Director of Communications

Alba Kupa

Digital Media & Marketing Manager

Frankie Zelnick

Institutional Data Manager & Registrar

Melissa DiNofia-Bozzone

Interim Director of Advancement

Yasmine Fillmore

Director of Alumni/ae Engagement

Hillel Hoffmann

Senior Advancement Director, External Relations

Peter Boyer

Associate Advancement Director, Major Gifts

Cary Snider ’11

Major Gifts Officer

Jennifer Chu Director of the Friends' Central Fund

Matt Thorsheim

Advancement Associate

Janice Leavy

Advancement Assistant

Grant Calder Archivist

Photography

Michael Branscom, Polina Bulman, Jebb Chagan, Alison Dunlap, Jay Gorodetzer Photography, Kristi Kallam, Alba Kupa, Clare Luzuriaga, Caroline Maw-Deis, Alice McBee, Lilian Nelson, Paola Nogueras, Lee Payton, Taylor Salvitti, Ezra Schnoll '29, Deborah Skapik, Mark Tassoni, Megan Tidmore, Andy White '03, Tessa Wrice, Patricia Zaradic

Layout

Clare Luzuriaga

We welcome any comments, letters, photographs, and suggestions for future issues. Please send all to communications@friendscentral.org

Friends’ Central School 1101 City Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096 communications@friendscentral.org

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Read past issues of Quaker Works at friendscentral.org/publications

PLEASE RECYCLE

Letter from the Head of School

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the spring 2026 issue of Quaker Works!

As the seasons change, we’re continuing with this school year’s celebrations of Friends’ Central’s move to Wynnewood 100 years ago, and several pieces in this magazine offer a glimpse into FCS’s past, bringing events to life from across those 100 years. See page 28 for a great article by FCS archivist Grant Calder exploring how student clubs in the early 20th century took the business of constitutions seriously. There’s also a two-page spread (on page 30) revealing some fascinating FCS-themed objects unearthed from the FCS archives.

The many activities and achievements of our current-day students, faculty, and alumni/ae are at the forefront of our thoughts, and we celebrate them in this issue, acknowledging that this is just a sample of the many achievements of our community members. FCS students continue to excel in academics, the arts, athletics, and beyond. We were so happy to welcome a panel of young alumni/ae, recently graduated, who returned to campus in January to speak to our current Upper School students, providing helpful insights into the transition to college (see page 32).

In late February, we hosted our biannual Writers Festival (page 40) featuring a number of poets, playwrights, essayists and novelists, including four New York Times bestselling authors. Jasmine Martin ’08, co-author of The Upcycled Self, which was last year's One Book, One Philadelphia selection, was the festival's keynote speaker. The entire Upper School participated, with student humanities leaders acting as moderators in each of the sessions.

In mid-March, we broke ground on Phoenix Rising, the next stage of the School’s Strategic Plan that reimagines several of our flagship spaces for Athletics and wellness. Visitors to campus will notice plenty of activity already underway on the City Avenue with this exciting project. Read all about that on page 26!

Be sure to check Notes from Friends (page 36) for news and updates from our illustrious alumni/ae community. For in-person news and updates from your classmates, we invite you all to join us for Alumni/ae Weekend 2026 (May 1-2, 2026). I look forward to seeing many of you there!

My very best to all.

Kind regards,

Beth D. Johnson ’77 Head of School

GRADE 3, 4, AND 5 WINTER CONCERT

The Grade 3, 4, and 5 Winter Concert in December was a resounding success! The evening began with self-guided tours through the hallways, giving families a chance to admire the fabulous student art lining the walls, and culminated in outstanding performances by each grade level, the Lower School Chorus, and Rainbow Ensemble.

See page 8 for FCS on the Stage, with more details about the many plays and performances so far this year!

Campus Log

1. Arriving at Lower School on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year

2. Families came together at the Parents with Students of Color (PSOC) Welcome Gathering in September.

3. Beth D. Johnson ’77, Head of School, addressed parents and caregivers at the Evening with the Head of School in November.

4. Preparing for the annual Lower School Harvest Festival in the fall

5. Ashley Opalka Halpern’s eighth grade Latin students visited the Kindergarten class of Tanya Muse ’02 in December to share some stories they’d written with the younger students.

6. In September, Taylor Salvitti’s third grade students created “word” portraits to describe themselves.

7. A rainy day for eighth grade Stream Watch in October

8. In September, Nature Nursery students studying Monarch

Butterfly migration released their first Monarch – raised from a caterpillar – to begin its long journey south to Mexico.

9. In the Light Lab, as part of the Fall Project, Journeys, Kristi Kallam’s Kindergarteners (KB) created a map of Wild Island for their quest to save a baby dragon from the book My Father's Dragon. A few weeks later, the students also learned about circuits, as they made their own “electric sea dragons.”

10. Matilda (Tilly) ’36, a former KBer who had studied dragons two years ago during KB’s “Another Time, Another Place” theme, visited KB – and her sister, Eloise ’38 – to share a report she had created about dragons.

11. Middle School held their fall Clubs Fair in October, giving students a chance to explore the full range of clubs for students.

12. Sixth grade music students made their own shekeres (a percussion instrument) in

Seventh graders enjoying the annual trip to Echo Hill Outdoor School on the upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay

14. In December, the Middle School Phoenix Post staff took a trip to the Inquirer. They met with the Deputy Managing Editor of Live and Breaking News, as well as several reporters who spoke with them about what it means to be a journalist in current times.

15. This fall, ninth grade physics students built egg-crashing devices in the CID. They tested them for crash-resistance from the balcony of the CID.

16. The ninth grade trip to Camp Pinemere in the Poconos in early September provided a great opportunity for the Class of 2029 to build community as they began their FCS Upper School career.

In January, fourth grade students made paper from papyrus in the Light Lab.

Middle School Service Club collected over 2,100 non-perishable food items donated by the FCS community – from gravy to mac and cheese – for families in need at Thanksgiving.

Fourth grade students tested the pH of snow in a January science class.

Upper School Spanish students attended a performance of the ballet Carmen at the Academy of Music in October.

In October, parent Rhonda Hart kindly organized a seventh grade trip to Arasapha Farms. The turnout was great, and they had a wonderful trip, enjoying a corn maze, a hayride, and archery.

Fourth grade Book Club meeting in October

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in October, the Middle School shared traditional foods and danced the afternoon away at a festive Quinceañera.

The first-grade was thrilled to be selected to be part of the Philadelphia Zoo’s “Our Neck of the Woods” exhibit at the annual LumiNature holiday light show! The students had researched, written about, and created the three animal mascot ornaments for this year’s World Cup (the moose, the jaguar, the bald eagle). The FCS ornament-decorated tree was a runner up in the competition!

In early September, the 10th grade took a trip to Ocean City, NJ, to kick off the new school year.

FCS international students gathered to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with a special lunch in October.

Sixth graders shared a presentation on Mid-Autumn Festival.

EXCITING UPDATE FROM FRIENDS’ CENTRAL’S ASTEROID SEARCH TEAM

In September, Upper School physics teacher Deborah Skapik shared the following update: “FAST (Friends' Central Asteroid Search Team) has logged discoveries of around 200 asteroids to the Minor Planet Center over the past eight years. Of these, only two have been designated as ‘Provisional,’ meaning that they have been observed a second time within a fixed period of time since the discovery. But we now have exciting news! In 2022, Andrew Yu ’25 reported a finding which was designated by the Minor Planet Center as provisional asteroid 2022 JU7. Further research shows that this object had been observed in 2013 (but only once). And so this asteroid, re-discovered by Andrew, has now been numbered! It is Asteroid 773885, a main-belt asteroid, 2.3 km in diameter, which would fit nicely between FCS and Center City.”

THREE FCS NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

In September, three Friends' Central students were announced among 16,000 semifinalists in the running for some 6,930 National Merit scholarships worth nearly $26 million. Congratulations to FCS seniors Greta Goldberg, Noah Perot, and Christopher Samuel. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

This winter, FCS Upper School students excelled at the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Abigail Greenberg ’27 received a Gold Key in Speculative Fiction, Peter Hu ’27 earned a Gold Key, three Silver Keys, and three Honorable Mentions in Photography, Moana Zhang ’27 was recognized with a Gold Key and two Honorable Mentions in Fashion & Drawing, and Silas Costa ’27 was recognized with an Honorable Mention in Personal Essay & Memoir.

SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION SUCCESS

Maya Gerstein ’26 and Elijah Teel ’26 competed in the Philadelphia Branch of the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition in February. Maya won second place, and both students made it through to the second round of the competition.

POETRY AWARD FOR JAMES ZHU ’29

This winter, James Zhu ’29 was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Teen Division of the Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest hosted by the Ardmore Public Library for his poem “Carry the Dream Forward.”

100 years in Wynnewood

In October, as part of Friends’ Central’s celebration of 100 years in Wynnewood, a bur oak tree was planted by members of the Class of 2026 on the City Avenue campus, and our youngest students in the Class of 2040 on the Old Gulph Road campus planted another bur oak. Plaques were installed next to both trees to commemorate the event.

Also to commemorate the centennial of Friends’ Central’s move to Wynnewood, a circular window from Friends’ Central’s original three-story building on the 400 block of Cherry Street in Philadelphia was installed last summer above the entrance to Linton Gym. The window had been placed in storage at the School’s Race Street campus in 1857, before being brought to the City Avenue campus around 1925. An accompanying plaque was installed this fall on the same exterior wall of Linton Gym.

FCS on the Stage

This fall and winter, FCS enjoyed outstanding performances by students in all divisions.

Congratulations to the actors, singers, musicians, and tech crews on their talent, creativity, and hard work!

(This page, clockwise from top) The Upper School play in October, The Secret in the Wings; The Middle School musical in November, Mary Poppins Jr.; the Upper School musical in March, Mamma Mia!; the Grades 3-5 Winter Concert; Chorus members at the Middle School Winter Concert; a Pre-K Frog & Toad-inspired performance; Jazz Band performing at the Upper School Winter Concert

STUDENT'S PLAY PERFORMED AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Cai Dunne ’28 (pictured at left, in front) wrote a play titled I Believe You and submitted it to the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Playwriting Festival. It was selected as one of five winners out of 700 submissions. The winning plays were performed by Temple University's acting program this fall. Temple acting program actors were cast in the play, and Cai worked with a professional director to stage the piece at Temple’s theatre.

PIG IRON WORKSHOP

In November, students in Megan Schumacher's Acting II class, along with five students from the fall play, took part in a performance workshop at Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training.

QUAKER NOATS AT A CAPPELLA SING-OFF

The Upper School vocal group Quaker Noats competed in the 13th annual Main Line A Capella Sing-Off in January, earning $500 for The Attic Youth Center! Their customized Quaker Noats t-shirts were created and printed in-house with the assistance of FCS Print Club.

RUBA ABDELGALIL ’26 NAMED A COCA COLA SCHOLAR

This winter, Ruba Abdelgalil ’26 was named a 2026 Coca-Cola Scholar, one of just 150 students out of a nationwide applicant pool of 107,000. It’s a testament to Ruba’s academic strengths, her leadership qualities, and her commitment to making a positive impact on the world that she has achieved this incredible recognition. As a Coca-Cola Scholar, Ruba will receive a $20,000 scholarship, free Coca-Cola products, and the opportunity to join a cohort of other Coke Scholars and alums of the program. She will also attend an expenses-paid summit in Atlanta. “A lot of what my application was centered on,” shared Ruba, “is my experience as a Sudanese-American, growing up in Sudan and witnessing the hyperinflation of the Sudanese pound spiral into an ongoing humanitarian crisis. That's what inspired me to pursue a dual-degree this fall through the Huntsman Program at Penn in International Studies and Business with a minor in Arabic. Long term, I hope to work in post-conflict economic reconstruction.”

MAIN LINE STUDENT OF THE WEEK MICAELA BAILEY ’27

Congratulations to Micaela Bailey ’27, who was named Main Line Student of the Week in November by Main Line Times & Suburban An academically gifted student with a wide range of talents and interests in the classroom and beyond, Micaela is a peer mentor to younger students, an outstanding student-athlete, and an active participant in the Justice Core Team, among many other activities. A Varsity athlete, she was named PHL17 Student Athlete of the Week for swimming in ninth grade. Micaela engages in initiatives that emphasize social justice, equity, and community.

MAIN LINE STUDENT OF THE WEEK

SILAS COSTA ’27

MIDDLE SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

In December, eighth grade students in drama, creative writing, art and music showcased their collaborative project. Students in drama adapted and performed fables written by students in creative writing and inspired by masks created in Art 8. Students in Music 8 composed music to accompany each story.

Silas Costa ’27 was named Main Line Student of the Week in February by Main Line Times & Suburban. Silas is a standout student whose curiosity and dedication span academics, athletics, and the arts. He thrives in challenging courses like Advanced Chemistry and U.S. Literature, explores cutting-edge science, and is active in the School's in the Justice Core Team. Among his many extracurricular activities, Silas is captain of the track team and a longtime musician in orchestra and jazz band, playing cello and piano

LOWER SCHOOLERS WELCOME PARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS

The Lower School was thrilled to open the doors to parents and special friends in (from left) third to fifth grade on November 25, Kindergarten on December 18, first and second grade on January 8, and Nursery and Pre-K on January 15. The vistors, hosted by their students, got a sense of life at Lower School and took part in a wide range of classroom activities. Visitors to Pre-K on January 15 were treated to a performance inspired by The Frog & Toad book series (see page 8)

The Upper School VIBE (Voices for Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity) Conference in November included a keynote address from poet Willie Perdomo (see page 19 for more), followed by a wide range of workshops, including (pictured) candle making in the CID.

In January, FCS students Jonathan Abrams ’27, Phoebe Bonin ’26, Corey Sutton ’27, Kiki Troilo ’29, and Lawrence Wu ’28 attended the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Conference in the Washington, D.C. area.

This fall, students in Middle School Service-thru-ART, guided by Caroline Maw-Deis, decorated the Physical Plant Storage Container Project on City Avenue, at the request of the Physical Plant Team. From a dull grey bin to our student-designed colorful mural, it’s one example of Service-thru-ART art beautifying the environment.

In January, Upper School Mock Trial students competed at both the Benjamin Franklin Invitational at UPenn and the county competition at the Montgomery County Courthouse. They worked hard to prepare in advance for both events. It has been a busy year so far for the students, who went 2-0 at an invitational at Malvern Prep in November.

Sixth graders showcased their fantastic research projects at the Science Fair in January.

Students in Kindergarten B celebrated World Kindness Day in November by dressing up as changemaker Mr. Rogers. Through videos, stories, and quotes, KB discovered how this caring, kind, and thoughtful man helped change the world by encouraging everyone to be themselves and to spread kindness.

In February, Middle School students honored Black History Month with an extraordinary program led by teachers Tahirah Gaillard, Katrina Collia, and Greg Dix. The theme was The Sound of Us: Black Music Through the Years.

The PA Flax Project came to teach the fourth grade about how to process flax into linen as a part of their study of Ancient Civilizations in February.

Seventh grade health classes participated in the American Heart Challenge in February. Students had the option of swimming, jumping, playing basketball, running, or working out in the fitness room. They raised over $650 for the American Heart Association.

This fall, third graders learned all about the US postal system and studied the geography of the 50 states. To combine these units, they sent out a call for Valentines from around the country, and they mapped their progress, receiving over 40 Valentines from half of the 50 states

The Lower School celebrated the 100th day this school year with an assembly in February.

For the fifth grade Cardboard Couture Fashion Show in February, students constructed high-end runway looks from cardboard, recycling-bin scraps, and masking tape. They applied their mathematical skills towards compiling their item’s true surface areas.

In February, Black Student Forum (BSF) leaders celebrated Black History Month at an Upper School assembly followed by a gallery walk in Linton gym with stations on different topics of Black History

FCS welcomed this year's Spanish exchange students from Seville, who arrived in Philadelphia on August 30 and returned to Spain on September 20. Hosted by FCS families, the students enjoyed many excursions, including to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rittenhouse Square, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Ocean City, and Hawk Mountain. They became familiar with life at FCS, attending classes with their FCS host students.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS CONTINUES TO EXCEL

Congratulations to Middle School robotics on another outstanding year so far. Most recently, in February at Palmyra Area High School, the robotics teams, Phoenix 3.0 and Phoenix 3.1, competed as two of the 36 best First Lego League teams in the state of Pennsylvania. Both teams did an extraordinary job in a highly competitive field. Phoenix 3.0 won the Breakthrough Award for their performance. Phoenix 3.1 won third place in Robot Design and received an invitation to the American Robotics Open Championship, a national tournament, in June.

UPPER SCHOOL EARTHQUAKERS GO FURTHER

The Earthquakers, the Upper School robotics team, are achieving great things this year. Most recently, at the FIRST® Mid-Atlantic Robotics Competition (FRC) District Event, they had their best finish ever, coming in second overall and winning the Autonomous Award for having the best programming at the event. The team is currently ranked the third best overall robot in Pennsylvania, sixth in the entire Mid-Atlantic region, and 150/3300 in the world.

DECA SUCCESS

In February, FCS's DECA team had an incredible showing at the DECA State Career Development Conference in Hershey, PA. Over 3,500 students across the state competed in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management events, aiming to advance to the national level. Gemma Chiang ’26 placed second in Accounting Applications, Silas Costa ’26 placed second in Marketing Communications, Shane Heinzenknecht ’27 placed sixth in Automotive Services Marketing, and Alana Laver ’26 placed sixth in Business Services Marketing. Those four students also qualified for the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center in late April.

FCS AT BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

In February, 12 Upper School students from the Biomedical Innovations Club, with faculty advisors Emma Miller and Nora Swift, participated in the kick-off event at Lankenau Hospital for the annual Annenberg High School Science Symposium. This event included observing in real time a robotic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), a Q&A session with the surgery team, and an opportunity to share the FCS team's topics ideas and preliminary research with the other schools participating. The club’s student leaders, juniors Avery Tessler ’27, Elisabeth MacDougall ’27, and Corinne Gorham ’27, presented their chosen topic for this year: Innovations in Bioprinting (as alternatives to traditional transplants). The full presentation will be held in April at the Episcopal Academy.

Conversations With Friends Meet Friends’ Central School Donor

FRANK JAMES ’53

Position: Professor Emeritus, former Chair of Anesthesiology, and former Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Residence: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Born and raised: Philadelphia

Grades attended FCS: first through 12th

Stops between graduating from FCS in 1953 and joining the Wake Forest faculty in 1968: Swarthmore College, Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia General Hospital (internship), the U.S. Air Force (medical service), the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (residency and fellowship), and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (faculty)

Member: The Blackburn Society, friends of the School who have included FCS in their estate plans in the spirit of Eliza E. Blackburn ’22, a beloved faculty member who left her estate to FCS, allowing the School to purchase the Lower School campus in 1990

You’ve been a loyal alumnus and supporter of the School for many decades. What’s the source of your deep connection to FCS?

“You really got to know people at Friends’ Central, and I think we had a particularly close class. We only had 54 students in our graduating class, an average size for that era. Our class has dwindled now – there aren’t that many of us – but we’ve always attended reunions and contributed to the School.”

When you think back to those years, what did FCS faculty provide for you?

“Security, for one. Friends’ Central was a stabilizing anchor for my family when my father was in the Navy during World War II. The teachers knew our situation and were incredibly supportive. Throughout my time at Friends’ Central, the teachers were very caring and interested in the students.”

Is there a connection between those experiences and your support of the School?

“We are who we are because we have observed people and how they interact. In many ways, the kind of person that I am — the kind of person I hope I am — is partly a result of what I saw modeled by the teachers and administration at Friends’ Central.”

What would you say to a member of the School community who isn’t a member of the Blackburn Society or who perhaps hasn’t even thought about estate planning?

“When it comes time to begin to start to think about it, obviously you do what’s right by your family and your children and all that. But in addition to that, wouldn’t you want to support organizations that are meaningful to you? Are there nonprofits that have made a difference in your life as you made your way in the world? Schools like Friends’ Central, they can’t get all their funding from tuition.”

Unplanned appearance elsewhere in this issue: The blue letter sweater on page 31 is Frank’s. His name was discovered on a tiny label stitched into its neck when photographing treasures in the FCS Archives in February.

Blue-footed booby birds created by Kindergarten A as part of their Galapagos study

In February, Middle School artists in Caroline Maw-Deis’ Service-thru-Art stitched Valentines both by hand and using sewing machines, creating 36 unique gifts that were donated to a senior center in Northeast Philadelphia.

KOJI SHIMADA VISITS FRIENDS SCHOOL IN TOKYO

FCS Trustee Emeritus Koji Shimada (pictured center) – a life-long builder of cross-cultural bridges between Japan and the United States – recently visited Friends School in Tokyo, the only Quaker school in Japan, where he met with Masato Yamamoto (left), the school’s Chairman of the Board, and Naoto Aoki (right), its Principal. Friends School in Tokyo was founded by Quakers from Philadelphia in 1887 at the encouragement of famed Japanese agronomist and diplomat Inazo Nitobe.

STUCO AT STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY

FCS Student Council President Alejandro Guzman ’26 (center), Vice Presidents Greta Goldberg ’26 (left), Solomon Stern ’26 (right), and Clementine Lieberman ’26, along with their classmate Carvel Camp ’26 attended Citywide Student Government Day at Philadelphia City Hall in February. They joined other student leaders from across the area for a day centered on civic engagement and leadership in action. The event offered the students a firsthand look at how local government operates, while also celebrating the important role young people play in shaping their communities.

HENRY SNEDEKER ’27 & DEBORAH SKAPIK PRESENT AT AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

In January, both Henry Snedeker ’27 and Upper School science teacher Deborah Skapik went to Phoenix to participate in the American Astronomical Society's 247th meeting, joining astronomers and educators from around the world to present their own current research.

Henry's presentation, which came first, was about the procedure he helped develop at FCS to follow up on asteroid detections. Henry's presentation was well attended. He shared an iPoster, and visitors stopped by to ask questions.

“The AAS meeting was such a cool opportunity to see all the amazing astronomical research happening in the world. I'm thrilled to be a part of that, especially at the high school level. I'm excited to continue contributing in the field, and I look forward to where great science will bring us next,” said Henry.

Henry Snedeker shares his research at the conference

ORAL PROFICIENCY CONTEST WINNERS

In February, FCS world languages students competed in the annual Oral Proficiency Contest at Plymouth Meeting Whitemarsh High School, taking home a number of medals. Margaret Searight ’30 (right) earned a Silver Medal in French Level I, Silas Costa ’27 (center) earned a Silver Medal in Advanced French, and Elijah Teel ’26 (left) earned a Silver Medal in Advanced Spanish. Congratulations to all three!

Later in the week, Deborah presented two posters alongside scientists Yasmin Catricheo (AUI/NOIRLab), Amy Oliver (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory/Whipple Observatory), and Laura-May Abron (Griffith Observatory). Their presentation explored the Astronomy in Chile Educators Ambassadors Program (ACEAP) summer experience and its transformative impact on astronomy educators and public outreach professionals. Deborah's participation in the conference was supported by a grant from the Hendrie Fund.

The conference featured plenary talks from leading scientists and breakout sessions announcing new discoveries. The week concluded with a visit to the Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, 8,500 feet above sea level, where snowy conditions provided a dramatic backdrop to an unforgettable professional experience.

DANIELLE SAINT HILAIRE IS DISCOURSE INSTITUTE PANELIST

In October, Danielle Saint Hilaire, Upper School History Department Chair, participated as a panelist in “Religion, History, and the Nation’s Founding in Philadelphia: A Panel Discussion for K-12 Educators,” hosted by the Discourse Institute. Highlighting historical diversity can be a pathway for K-12 educators to talk about religious diversity in the classroom and deepen understanding of the contemporary American religious landscape and the myriad ways religion permeates understanding of national identity, race, and other domains of human life. This session highlighted Philadelphia's vital role in conversations about the nation’s founding commitments to religious freedom

The Lower School faculty play in January celebrated the fall theme, Journeys.

Tiffany Borsch working with students in the Lower School garden, fall 2024

TIFFANY BORSCH PRESENTS AT SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

Lower School science teacher Tiffany Borsch presented at a sustainability conference hosted by The Lawrenceville School in December. The conference was titled “OASIS and NJ Audubon EcoSchools Conference: School Sustainability Success Stories.” Tiffany's session explored the FCS Pre-K to fifth grade garden program, where science, sustainability, and community intertwine to empower young learners through the simple, hopeful act of growing food.

MICHELE ZUCKMAN PERFORMS & CONDUCTS

Michele Zuckman, Middle & Upper School vocal music teacher, performed as both a singer and a conductor with Chestnut Street Singers, a cooperative chamber choir, in their concert titled “Desire/ Expire” in November at the Church of the Holy Trinity. The concert explored “those feelings of longing that threaten to consume us” and included classic and contemporary pieces from around the world.

“I am saddened to share the news that my good friend, long-time surfing buddy and former FCS teacher, Tom Robinson, passed away last summer.

“I first met Tom on the soccer field in my freshmen year in college. We quickly discovered our shared passion for surfing, and I was impressed with his stories of growing up in Hawaii, the mecca of the sport. We spent spring vacations together, we surfed in Florida, we hitchhiked across the country to surf in California one summer and spent a magical winter living out of a car in Hawaii. I recommended Tom consider teaching at FCS, and he ended up getting a job at the School in the early 80s, teaching English and coaching soccer.

“A deep thinker and lifelong learner, Tom was captivated by the wonders of the world – faith, purpose, and love among them. His sense of humor, intelligence, morality and grit made him a joy to be with. I am a better person for the time I spent with him.”

– Harvey Zendt

Former FCS teacher, coach, and trustee (1973-1992)

REMEMBERING JACK BRIGGS

CHRISTIE KAPOTHANASIS & INDRE PAGE PRESENT AT NAIS CONFERENCE

Christie Kapothanasis, fifth grade teacher, (left) and Indre Page, Lower School librarian, presented at the recent National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Conference in Seattle, WA. Their poster highlighted their work from last year's fifth grade Fall Project on the movement of book banning. During this study, students investigated the issue of book banning and the impact it has on students and their school communities. Indre and Christie collaborated to highlight both the importance of readers' rights and the ways diverse books can provide learners with important windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.

For generations of third grade students at Friends’ Central, learning with Jack Briggs (1947-2026) meant more than reading about history, culture, literature, science, math, and other subjects. It meant living inside them.

Working together with his students, he built magical, life-size worlds in his classrooms: a working water wheel, a Wright brothers flyer with functioning wing controls, an hacienda from Santa Fe with layers of cardboard replicating adobe, the raft Kon Tiki, an ancient Greek ship large enough to hold the entire class, and, every spring, a nine-foot canvas tipi with thick wooden struts – every structure inviting his students to learn actively, with their hands as engaged as their minds.

A member of the FCS faculty for 37 years after stints at Atlantic City Friends School and Greene Street Friends School, Jack was a guiding force behind Friends’ Central’s innovative thematic learning program, a subject that led to invitations to edit study guides and lesson plans and lead workshops for educators at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum and the American Friends Service Committee.

Jack no doubt valued the respect of his peers, but we suspect he’d be more proud of what one of his third graders said about him in 2012: “He’s funny, and he lets you try new things, like sawing and hammering.”

Visitors to Campus

Photo courtesy of daliquartet.com

THE DALI QUARTET

The DEJ Office hosted a beautiful Lower School in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, welcoming the Dali Quartet for the first assembly of the year. Students enjoyed the acclaimed Latin American quartet of three violinists and a cellist.

ACHERÉ PERCUSSION

Upper Schoolers observed the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month in September with a special assembly performance by Acheré Percussion, a Philadelphia-based group committed to preserving and sharing Afro -Latin drum-making traditions through handcrafted instruments, some of which our students got to try out on stage.

STORYTELLER ALYSSA REYNOSO-MORRIS

The Middle School celebrated Hispanic Heritage month with a visit from Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, a queer Afro-Latinx/e Dominican and Puerto Rican storyteller and author of Plátanos Are Love. and Bold, Brilliant, and Latine

FCS welcomed authors, scientists, artists, educators, and leaders who enriched our community in the fall and winter, including the following:

PERCUSSIONIST JAN JEFFRIES

For the second year in a row, percussionist Jan Jeffries visited Michele Zuckman's Upper School World Music Drumming class in October to lead a workshop on African and Latin American drumming.

UPENN PROFESSOR JOE DEVIETTI

Joe Devietti, Associate Professor, Computer & Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania, visited Dan Bobrowski's Middle School Robotics elective in October to talk to the students about an innovation project related to AI.

CLIMATE EXPERT AVA DUANE ’18

In November, Ava Duane ’18, Regulatory Policy Manager at Geronimo Power in Washington, D.C., spoke via Zoom to Alex McDonnell’s International Relations class about the global energy order and how energy security is going to drive the energy transformation faster than climate change fears alone.

SCIENTIST

DANIEL YAHALOMI ’14

Daniel Yahalomi ’14, the Science Core Team’s first visitor in 20252026, returned to campus to speak in November. Daniel earned his PhD at Columbia this spring in Astronomy and is beginning a postdoc at MIT. He is an exoplanets researcher who has studied with Sara Seager, our 2025-2026 Distinguished Visiting Scientist.

ARTISTS & FORMER FCS TEACHERS

KIM PARRIS & SOFIA

SEIDEL ’13

Retired Lower School art teacher Kim Parris (left) and former Kindergarten

B teacher Sofia Seidel ’13 visited in November to create dragon coins with KB as part of the students’ fall theme project. After a quick lesson about coins and where the dragon coins originated, KB students made their own special coins.

CHINWE ONYEKERE ’94 & KORYSE WOODROOFFE EKOUEVI

For their Kwanzaa celebration in December, KB had a visit from FCS Trustee Chinwe Onyekere ’94 (Ngozi’s mother, pictured at left) and Koryse Woodrooffe Ekouevi (Solange’s mother), who came to talk about Kwanzaa and read to the class.

FORMER EXECUTIVE VP RON HARRIS ’73

In February, Ron Harris ’73 paid a virtual visit to speak to DECA, an Upper School student group focused on entrepreneurial pursuits. Ron shared his experiences as a retired broker at Marcus & Millichap and long-term investor. Ron's presentation centered on ways of differentiating yourself in the workplace and the value of being an honest businessperson.

Visitors to Campus

CHIEF BLUEJAY

In November, the Middle School welcomed Chief Bluejay from the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania to campus in recognition and celebration of Native American Heritage Month. Chief Bluejay joined the weekly Monday assembly to present to the students about Lenape history, culture, tradition, and the current lives of Lenape people.

ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR PETER KUPER

In January, Sarah Nourie’s English IV students received a virtual visit from Peter Kuper, who has adapted The Metamorphosis into a graphic novel. Peter was the writer and illustrator of Spy vs. Spy in Mad Magazine, and he has a new book out, Insectopolis, which was imagined into an installation at the New York Public Library in 2022. He is a regular contributor at Charlie Hebdo and The New Yorker

POET LAUREATE WILLIE PERDOMO

Educator, author, and New York state Poet Laureate Willie Perdomo was the keynote speaker at the 2025 VIBE Conference in November, sponsored by the Department of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Justice in conjunction with the student Justice Core Team. Willie is the author of Smoking Lovely: The Remix, The Crazy Bunch, The Essential Hits of Shorty Bon Bon, and Where a Nickel Costs a Dime.

EAGLES' PSYCHIATRIST DR. JODY FOSTER

In February, Dr. Jody Foster, psychiatrist for the Philadelphia Eagles, spoke to the Upper School Sports Psychology Club about elite athlete mental performance.

Athletic News

VARSITY GIRLS' BASKETBALL WINS PAISAA CHAMPIONSHIP!

Friends' Centra’s Varsity girls’ basketball team made history with a breakthrough performance at the Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association (PAISAA) state championship this spring. The Phoenix upset the reigning powerhouse Westtown School in a thrilling 62-54 victory, clinching Friends’ Centrals’ first-ever girls’ PAISAA state title.

Head coach Vinny Simpson, who is in his fourth year building the program, was emotional about the milestone win. “I felt like we could do this,” Vinny

said, celebrating the collective effort and resilience of his team. “This is a special group, and everyone did something in this game to win. Every day in practice, we work on that, and we saw how that translated onto the court.”

The victory snapped Westtown’s run of four straight PAISAA championships and marked an exciting new chapter for Friends’ Central basketball.

VARSITY GIRLS' TENNIS WINS FSL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Varsity girls’ tennis triumphed this fall at the 2025 Friends Schools League Tennis Championship with a 3-2 win over Germantown Friends School! The final was played on October 28, 2025, at GFS, the number-one seed’s home court, and FCS came out on top despite GFS’s strong season performance.

Groundwater, a Grinnell College commit, clinched a pivotal 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win to secure the team title as the final match concluded.

FSL

ALL-LEAGUE HONORS AND NFHCA NATIONAL ACADEMIC SQUAD & HIGH SCHOOL IMPACT SENIOR TEAM

Congratulations to our student-athletes who earned Friends Schools All-League honors and National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Squad recognition during the fall and winter seasons. All-league and honorable mention squads are selected in each sport at the end of each season by the coaches of that sport. In selecting players to the all-league or honorable mention squads, sportsmanship is as important as athletic prowess. NFHCA National Academic Squad honor recognizes juniors and seniors who have achieved high marks in the fall semester. NFHCA High School Impact Senior Team is a highly prestigious award based on athletic performance, character, leadership, and community service.

FRIENDS SCHOOLS LEAGUE ALL-LEAGUE FIRST TEAM

Girls’ Cross Country:

Neenah Trusty ’27

Field Hockey: Sophia Bozzone ’26

Boys’ Soccer:

Oscar Gasga ’27, Charlie Sorg ’26

Girls’ Tennis:

Margot Groundwater ’26, Maddy Jackson ’26, Kiki Troilo ’28

Boys’ Basketball:

Patrese Feamster ’26

Girls’ Basketball:

Ryan Carter ’27, Zya Small ’27, Faith Watson ’28

Swimming:

Micaela Bailey ’27, Oskar Bauriedel ’26, Beah Damrauer ’27, Penelope

English ’26, Ben Hilliard ’27, Evie Watkins ’26

Wrestling:

Mac Cahill ’27, Alejandro Guzman ’26, Harry Kavanaugh ’26

NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL ACADEMIC SQUAD

Frances Adams ’27

Ella Anderson ’26

Julia Bascomb ’26

Sophia Bozzone ’26

Amaya Chin ’26

Alana Laver ’26

Avery Tessler ’27

SPOTLIGHT ON STANDOUT GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYERS RYAN CARTER ’27 & ZYA SMALL ’27

We’re incredibly proud to highlight two outstanding student-athletes: juniors Ryan Carter and Zya Small, who have been making major waves in the high school basketball world this season. The teammates ranked in the Super 60 for the Class of 2027 on SportsCenter NEXT, with Ryan at #12 and Zya at #47. ESPN also ranked Ryan among the top prospects in her class, and she was named to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Underclassman Honorable Mention team. Both players are being actively recruited by elite colleges across the country for basketball.

Ryan and Zya’s chemistry goes beyond school games, they're also teammates on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit, where they’ve competed against some of the best talent nationwide. Following an impressive 2026 season for girls’ Varsity basketball (24-5) and a PAISAA Title, Ryan and Zya, who will be seniors next year, look forward with excitement to what next winter will bring.

FRIENDS SCHOOLS LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION

Girls’ Cross Country: Ilana Wasserman ’29

Boys’ Cross Country: Silas Costa ’27

Field Hockey:

Aarin McIntosh ’26

Boys’ Soccer: Ezra Drakes-Grant ’26

Girls’ Soccer: Leah Van Dyke ’29

Girls’ Tennis:

Annabel Freedman ’30, Lena Jih-Cook ’26

Girls’ Basketball:

Kayla Snyder ’28

Swimming: Marin Katzenbach ’28, Ilan Vogl ’28, Annika Weedon-Miller ’26

NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION IMPACT SENIOR TEAM

ACCOLADES FOR NEENAH TRUSTY ’27

Congratulations to Neenah Trusty ’27, who was voted PA Performer of the Week for January 12-16 for her performance in 400M of 56.47 at the Kristen Marche Memorial invitational, which also earned her PA #4 ranking. Neenah is also ranked PA #9 in the 800M with a time of 2:12.58. In March, she placed eighth at Nike Indoor Nationals, which was held at the Armory NYC, earning All-American status. She ran 2:08.61, which is PA #2 and US #16 time

SWIMMING SUCCESS

FCS swim teams had an exceptional season marked by record-breaking performances and standout individual achievements. Girls' Varsity had an undefeated regular season and went on to earn a second-place finish at the FSL Championships and place 14th at Easterns. Leading the way, Penelope English ’26 captured FSL titles in the 200 Free and 100 Fly, setting a new team record in the 100 Fly (57.83).

Varsity boys' swimming also secured a strong second-place finish at the FSL Championships, highlighted by an outstanding showing from Oskar Bauriedel ’26. Oskar claimed individual FSL titles in the 200 Free and 100 Breast while contributing to a remarkable series of record-breaking swims, including new team records in the 100 Backstroke, 100 Breast, and 200 Free, as well as a team and league record in the 200 IM.

RECORD-BREAKING VARSITY CAREER FOR SOPHIA BOZZONE ’26

Friends’ Central senior Sophia Bozzone has had a spectacular field hockey career, establishing herself as one of the most accomplished players in the program’s history. As a four-year Varsity goalkeeper and team co-captain, Sophia finished her high school career with an extraordinary 809 career saves, the most ever recorded in Friends’ Central field hockey history.. Earning accolades at both the regional and national levels, Sophia was recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as October’s High School Player of the Month, featured on the 2025 NFHCA High School Watchlist, and was named to both the National Academic Squad and the High School Impact Senior Team. She also qualified for the 2026 U19 National Indoor Tournament with her indoor club team, PowerHouse.

Looking ahead, Sophia will continue her field hockey journey at The Catholic University of America, where she is expected to bring her elite goalkeeping talents and leadership to the collegiate level.

STRONG TOURNAMENT FINISHES FOR BOYS’ SQUASH

Members of the boys’ squash team – Solomon Todd ’28, Aaron Sharkey ’26, Liam Brown ’28, Sebastian Soosaar ’28, Noah Klehr ’28, Peter Garin ’29, Jack Weinberg ’27, Hank Wagner ’27, and Cobrin Stanish ’26 – competed in multiple tournaments this season. Now in its second year, the Mid-Atlantic Squash Association District Championships (MASA) has quickly become a major annual event, bringing together 73 teams and more than 500 players. This year, Friends’ Central’s boys’ team finished an impressive third overall. The team also competed at the U.S. Squash High School Championships, where they had a strong showing in Division 7, finishing 3–1 and placing fifth out of 12 teams.

Alumni/ae Athletes in the News

Dan Porter (inquirer.com)

Ty Hawkins (scoopb.com)

DAN PORTER ’84, has turned his digital sports media company, Overtime, into a major platform for young athletes, launching Overtime Elite (OTE) in 2021 to give 17 to 20-year-old basketball players a new path to develop, play and earn money. What began with Dan spotting a gap in how young athletes were represented on social media has grown into a $500 million-plus enterprise and a professional-style league where players receive salaries, training, and exposure beyond the traditional high school model.

TYMIAK “TY” HAWKINS ’07, a former collegiate basketball player, survived a life-changing brainstem stroke that doctors initially gave him only a 25% chance of surviving. Today, Ty has turned his experience into purpose as an author, advocate, and content creator. His book, Becoming the Light: Navigating Darkness After a Stroke, and his brand, 2 The T, aim to inspire others to persevere.

Three FCS alumni –MAX MATTIONI ’23, NICK MATTIONI ’25, and JOZEF CHRISTMAN ’24 –were key to Juniata College’s men’s soccer team’s second consecutive win against Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championship this fall. Juniata clinched the title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Rutgers-Newark.

(Left) Members of the Juniata men’s soccer team (juniatasports.net)

TOP FINISHES FOR FCS WRESTLERS AT PAIS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Varsity wrestling – who went 5-1 in the regular season and hosted the FSL Championship where they placed second – delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Pennsylvania Independent Schools Wrestling Tournament (PAISWT), competing against some of the top private school programs in the state. Held in February at the Academy of the New Church, the tournament brought together wrestlers from nearly 40 independent schools across Pennsylvania and served as a qualifier for the prestigious National Prep Championships. Leading the way for Friends’ Central were Mac Cahill ’27 and Harry Kavanaugh ’26, who each contributed strong performances on the mat, both placing seventh overall, one position shy of advancing. Ninth-grader Asher Gabay placed eighth. For the girls, Ruth Kelly ’27 qualified for the National Preps Wrestling Tournament.

FRIENDS’ CENTRAL LAUNCHES NEW VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM

Friends’ Central proudly introduced its newest Varsity-level sport this fall: girls’ volleyball. Volleyball began as a club and quickly rose to the Varsity level. Now, as a first-year team, the Phoenix already made history by winning their first game against Baldwin 3-1 on September 9. Head Coach Dee Bagarazzi shared, “Our team continues to grow and improve every day, and we are so proud of them and the entire FCS volleyball program.” The development of the volleyball program underscores Friends’ Central’s commitment to providing diverse athletic opportunities that reflect students’ interests and passions and the School’s values of community and sportsmanship. With every practice and match, players are not only honing their game but also establishing a culture that will shape the future of FCS volleyball for years to come.

FRIENDS’ CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NATIONAL TEAM SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Since 2018, FCS has competed at the U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championships, one of the premier tournaments for middle school squash teams from around the country. The tournament is an opportunity for our players to test themselves against new opponents, learn from each match, and grow as athletes, whether they’re seasoned competitors or newcomers to highlevel squash.

While the Phoenix didn’t take home a championship title this year, they were proud to have taken part, and the experience was incredibly rewarding for all the players. The Phoenix demonstrated strong effort on every court. On the girls’ team this season were Milly Garber ’31, Kiran Harhay ’32, Juliana Kapelusznik ’30, Sarah Levy ’30, Sophie Minsky ’30, June Noel ’30, Miya Pines ’31, Kaiya Sheth ’32, and Louisa Weinberg ’30. The boys’ team was CJ Berman ’32, Tony Brown ’32, Teddy Geary ’32, Julian Henry ’31, Marcel Onyango ’32, Connor Quinn ’32, Max Rodner ’31, Alex Shames ’30, and Bran Wickman ’31. Not all players were able to attend nationals.

JAMES ZHU ’29 & SISTER EXCEL IN ICE DANCING

James Zhu ’29 and his sister Katherine have made an impressive mark on the world of competitive ice dancing. Training together at Ice Works in Aston and the University of Delaware, the sibling duo has earned top finishes at national qualifying events and international competitions, showcasing both technical precision and artistry on the ice. They earned the silver medal with 113.73 points at their very first Novice Championship in the U.S. National Championships in St. Louis and were invited to represent Team USA at the Bavarian Open. They also won the free dance with 69.53 points, generating a combined 18.22 points on their Level 4 sequential twizzles and diagonal step sequence.

JULIA EPPS '28 IN ISU FIGURE SKATING JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Julia Epps ’28 (pictured center) and her ice dance partner, Blake Gilman, competed in the International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating Junior World Championship held in Tallinn, Estonia this winter.

This skating year, Julia attended the competitions in Europe every month in order to qualify for the Figure Skating Junior World Championship..

Congratulations to the following Class of 2026 student-athletes who signed their National Letter of Intent to play collegiate sports:

Lucas Abreu, Chesapeake College, Baseball

Caleb Bachman, Lafayette College, Baseball

Sofia Bagarazzi, Beloit College, Volleyball

Oskar Bauriedel, Amherst College, Swimming

Sophia Bozzone, The Catholic University of America, Field Hockey

Penelope English, Ithaca College, Swimming

Margot Groundwater, Grinnell College, Tennis

Oliver Grueser, University of San Diego, Tennis

Madalyn Jackson, Gettysburg College, Tennis

Michael Mamaluy, Stevenson University, Baseball

Ian McLuckie, Gannon University, Wrestling

Aarin McIntosh, Eastern Mennonite University, Field Hockey

Jade Nichols, American University, Track and Field

Evangeline Watkins, Washington College, Swimming

From Dream to Reality: Phoenix Rising Construction Begins

SIX MONTHS after Head of School Beth D. Johnson ’77 announced the first phase of Phoenix Rising – the campaign to reimagine several of Friends’ Central’s flagship spaces for Athletics and wellness on the School’s City Avenue campus, including new state-of-the-art turf fields for the field hockey, lacrosse, softball, girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, and baseball programs – the FCS community is still buzzing.

As heavy equipment begins to move topsoil from the track field and the field adjacent to the Shimada Athletic Complex to the future site of a premiere grass field, what was once a fantasy is now becoming a reality for the student body.

“I’m ecstatic,” says Fisher Haggerty ’28, a member of the Varsity baseball team. “Ever since I found out about the new fields, I talk about it all the time with my teammates, my friends, and my parents. I can’t wait.”

The new, durable, fast-draining fields – a turf surface inside the track for lacrosse and soccer; a turf surface for field hockey and softball; a turf infield and resodded grass outfield for a new baseball facility; and a new, resodded, premier grass field between the baseball facility and the track – will replace fields that no longer can sustain the heavy use they must bear. The result: FCS student-athletes, winners of more than 170 Friends Schools League championships, will be able to play and train year-round, and the number of games and practices that are canceled due to unplayable field conditions will be reduced dramatically.

The new surfaces will allow FCS student-athletes to play their sports the way they were meant to be played: fast, with true bounces and rolls. Baseball players also will benefit from new, covered dugouts (a first for the School); the team’s fans will be protected by new, expanded safety netting.

“The Phoenix Rising Campaign is an essential component of our Strategic Plan,” Beth said. “Athletics and wellness are central to the

School’s mission; I want our students to have Athletics and wellness facilities that live up to the standard of excellence set by the rest of the FCS experience.”

Each of the new facilities will be boldly decorated with school colors and logos, including the new surface of the track, which will be blue.

“We have the school spirit and we have the programs,” Beth said. “We need the facilities to match – facilities that shout our school spirit as loudly as we feel it.”

The benefits of the new facilities aren’t limited to student-athletes. The new fields also will create opportunities for other types of activities and open the door to a broader community of users, from outdoor classes and student club activities to summer camps and alumni/ae events.

When the first phase of Phoenix Rising was announced in October 2025, the School’s Board of Trustees approved a financial plan that included a fundraising goal of $2.5 million toward the School’s total project investment of $5.5 million. With only $237,930 left to raise at the time this story was written, FCS leaders are pushing for the School’s friends and partners to come together and, in Beth’s words, “keep the momentum that we’ve established going and support our students by supporting the Phoenix Rising Campaign.”

“These new facilities will be a game-changer for the School,” said Seth Goldblum P’31, an FCS parent, member of the Board of Trustees, and donor to the Phoenix Rising Campaign. “It impacts the entire City Avenue campus and every student in a big, positive way.”

School leaders estimate that the new track and the two turf fields will be completed in fall 2026; the premier grass field and the new baseball facility will be ready for play next spring QW

Want to elevate Phoenix Athletics, unleash school spirit, and enhance the FCS experience for every member of the School community? Contact Melissa DiNofia-Bozzone, Friends’ Central’s Interim Director of Advancement, at mdinofia@friendscentral.org.

NEXT UP: A REIMAGINED FITNESS CENTER

With construction underway on Phase One of Phoenix Rising, Head of School Beth D. Johnson ’77 announced the next exciting phase of the campaign: the creation of a reimagined fitness center for the entire School community that will more than double the amount of space at FCS devoted solely to fitness.

The School will be remaking half of the existing wrestling room in the lower level of the Shimada Athletic Center into a new space with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, including treadmills; elliptical machines; stationary bikes; rowing machines; machines for legs, lats, chest, glutes, back; and racks with dumbbells, kettlebells, and a variety of balls, bands, and blast straps. Like the existing strength and conditioning room, which will remain in its current space in Shimada, the walls, floor, and machines in the new fitness center will be brightly decorated with FCS colors and logos.

A new retractable wall will be added to separate the School’s wrestling space from the new fitness center. To provide more space for teams and fans, quadrangular wrestling meets such as the Friends’ Schools League championship – an event FCS hosted in March for the first time after the wrestling team’s superb 2025-2026 campaign – will be held in the Shimada gymnasium.

“We, the girl students of Friends’ Central, in order to promote…”

In the early 1930s, the Friends’ Central Students’ Handbook included the texts of four constitutions.

BY GRANT CALDER P’20, FCS ARCHIVIST

“THE GIRLS’ ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION” had its constitution, as did “The Boys’ Athletic Association,” “The Dramatic Association,” and the “Student Council.”

The Girls’ and Boys’ Athletic Association constitutions differ noticeably. The Girls’ uses more Latin nomenclature and includes a preamble. The descriptions of the structures and powers of the two organizations also vary substantially. The Girls’ Constitution stipulates that amendments require a three-fourths majority to carry and approval by the “Faculty Committee on Athletics.” Surprisingly, though the Boys' Constitution includes two amendments in its text, the only reference to the making of them is the line, “Except for amendments, the majority vote of a quorum shall decide an issue.” Both constitutions make it clear that the students played an active role in the administration of the athletic program.

The first Article of Friends’ Central’s Student Council Constitution begins by giving the body its name, the second its “Purpose” (“promoting good fellowship and school spirit among the pupils and faculty…”), the third its “Duties and Powers,” and so on, through to Article 9, which allows amendments by a straight majority vote of the Council. Article 3 states that one of the Council's powers is also “to originate all amendments to this constitution.”

These documents reflect the tremendous impact of the Progressive Era (roughly 1895-1920), which preceded them and which fundamentally altered many aspects of American political culture. It also renewed interest in constitutions. After almost a half century in which no amend-

ments were added to the U.S. Constitution, four were ratified within seven years between 1913-1920, the most active period of constitutional change in our history since the addition in 1791 of the Bill of Rights. By the early 20th century, presidents of both parties identified as Progressives. Progressive members of the educated middle class, in particular, came to see themselves as the protectors and stewards of the republic and to view American society as an engineerable entity with the U.S. Constitution as its modifiable blueprint. Friends’ Central School, the students and the Quaker community in general, leaned decidedly progressive. The American Friends Service Committee, the storied Quaker relief organization, founded in 1917, was also a product of the era.

One of the many Progressive innovations that stuck was the practice of voting in the privacy of a booth. Article 7 of the Student Council’s constitution states that motions, “shall always be decided by majority, by secret ballot when necessary, otherwise by open vote.” This even though Quaker consensus was (and is) arrived at openly. The Council met by division with “one Girl Chairman; one Boy Chairman,” (national woman suffrage was another Progressive Era achievement), though it was noted that “the Chairman of the boys will preside over the joint meeting of the Council.”

Though no longer in possession of its own formal constitution, Friends’ Central's Student Council has been in continuous operation since 1928. Today, curricular exposure to the U.S. Constitution begins in our Lower School in the fifth grade. Seventh graders examine it in more detail, including the Bill of Rights. In the eighth grade, focus shifts to

the later amendments and pivotal Supreme Court cases. All 11th graders spend several weeks in the fall semester of the U.S. History course studying the original text and the document is repeatedly referenced throughout the remainder of the year. An advanced elective, Constitutional Identity, focusing on federal case law is offered to 12th graders.

Most of a century ago, writing and amending constitutions for their student organizations made Friends’ Central students more aware of their ties to the other constitutions and charters under which they lived. In the introduction to the three-volume Constitutions of Nations, published after World War Two, the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Ivan Kerno, wrote that if we are, “in the words of the UN Charter ‘to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors,’ perhaps [there is nothing] of greater importance than an understanding of … the fundamental constitutional principles of government.” The author of Constitutions of Nations, the first comprehensive, annotated collection of the world’s national constitutions, was Amos Peaslee, Friends’ Central Class of 1904.

Since the end of the Progressive Era, the country’s population has more than tripled. The number of federal, civilian employees has quintupled. In this semiquincentennial year, as we contemplate our past and future, Ivan Kerno’s admonition remains essential guidance. QW

(FROM TOP) FRIENDS' CENTRAL JAZZ BAND, 1929-1930 SCHOOL YEAR; FCS GIRLS' FIELD HOCKEY MATCH, 1938; PREAMBLE FROM THE FRIENDS' CENTRAL GIRLS' ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S CONSTITUTION, EARLY 1930S

Treasures from the FCS Archives

For those who love digging deeply into history, there’s a hidden gem in the basement of Friends’ Central’s Middle School building. That’s where you’ll find the FCS Archives, the School’s repository of historical materials, includ ing yearbooks, magazines, photographs, Board minutes, financial records, flyers, and three-dimensional objects, as well as their caretaker, Grant Calder, FCS past parent, longtime faculty member, former Director of Col lege Counseling, and “enthusiastic student of Friends’ Central history.” It’s a modest, neat space, dominated by shelves, cabinets, tables, and a large scanner – the latter an essential tool for one of Grant’s primary missions, the digitization of printed materials. As part of the ongoing celebration of the centennial of the School's move to Wynnewood, we asked Grant to pick a selection of compelling items in the Archives’ collections from throughout the School’s 180-year history, and we had each item photographed for posterity with the same care we’d give portraits of people.

4 1 7 8 5

1. Pictured here are the remnants of two quill pens used by Benjamin Eakins, father of famed painter Thomas Eakins and teacher of penmanship and calligraphy at FCS for the first half-century of the School’s existence. His elegant writing and decorative swirls graced the School’s diplomas.

2. This game ball comes from Friends’ Central’s victory over the St. Andrew’s School, one of seven opponents to fall in the team’s magical 1951 campaign. Coached by David Kirk, it was the only undefeated, untied season in FCS football history. With participation declining, the School dropped the sport in the 1980s.

3. One of several letter sweaters in the School’s collections, this cardigan yielded a surprise during the photo shoot. Sewed into the neck area was a tiny label that read “Francis James”; it belonged to the very same Frank James ’53 profiled on page 13 of this issue.

4. This sturdy handbell likely came to the City Avenue campus when the School moved, making it more than a century old. It rings as loudly as ever. “It’s a high-quality bell that was designed to be used long and regularly,” said Grant, who believes it may have been used to signal class changes or call students to Meeting for Worship.

5. The signatures on this deed, dated July 1, 1925, sealed the purchase of the Green Hill Estate in Wynnewood, the property that became the School’s new home on City Avenue.

6. Pictured are a set of wood-carving tools used in the 1930s and 1940s by FCS 9th graders taught by Hobson Pittman, Director of Art for nearly three decades. He inaugurated an annual art exhibition that drew artists from all over the area and started the School’s art collection.

7. Hidden for many years behind electrical panels in a storage closet in the basement of Shallcross Hall, this gorgeous, heavy, two-foot-wide brass sign was recently rediscovered and brought to the Archives by Thomas Donovan of the FCS Physical Plant staff. When and where did it once stand? After searching old photos, Grant found the answer: A pair of these signs greeted visitors on either side of the entrance to the City Avenue campus as recently as the 1940s. They were gone by the 1950s.

8. As part of the practice of plain dress, Quaker women wore bonnets like this one well into the second half of the 19th century.

9. These five class rings are among the nine in the Archives. The oldest is the Class of 1917 ring (at right); the most recent are from 1985.

10. This manual counter of unknown date was likely used by teachers to count students or keep scores. Each push of a red button at bottom advances the counter above it one click; the wheel on the side resets the counters.

Young Alums Return to Help Students Prepare for College Transition

FOR MANY Upper School students, one of the most stressful parts of the college admissions process – right up there with deciding where to apply, writing essays, and the long wait for decisions to arrive – is thinking about the big change that’s coming in their lives. Am I ready to succeed in college? What’s it like to live far from home? How will I make friends?

“We’re incredibly well-prepared for college. The interpersonal skills –how to talk to professors, advocating for yourself, seeing yourself as part of a community – those are all things that Friends’ Central taught us.”

HELEN POTTS ’25

To help Friends’ Central students prepare for the transition to college, the School turned to the people who understand those challenges better than anyone: recent FCS graduates. This January, the Office of Advancement & Alumni/ae Engagement in collaboration with College Counseling introduced the College Experience: Conversations with FCS Alums, a new annual event that brings young alum volunteers back to

the City Avenue campus during their winter breaks to share their observations about navigating the early stages of their college journeys with FCS seniors and juniors.

“We wanted to create opportunities for Friends’ Central students to connect with young alums so that they can hear what college is like directly from peers who were sitting in their seats only a year or two ago,” said Yasmine Fillmore, Director of Alumni/ae Engagement.

The centerpiece of the event was a panel discussion on the Shallcross Meeting Room stage. Six recent FCS graduates – Mico Carpiniello ’25, a first-year at Bowdoin College; Trina Le ’25, a first-year at Stony Brook University; Maya Morrison ’25, a first-year at Hobart and William Smith Colleges; Helen Potts ’25, a first-year at Amherst College; Grace Schlegel ’24, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania; and Elio Spagnuolo ’25, a first-year at Bowdoin – fielded questions from Director of College Counseling Kimberley Lewis and Associate Director of College Counseling Tyler Clauson-Wolf before the floor was opened up to questions from the student audience.

The alums fielded questions about every imaginable aspect of college life and shared advice about adjusting to bigger campuses and class sizes; developing time-management strategies; taking advantage of advisers and counselors; getting along with roommates; joining clubs; the importance of “putting yourself out there” socially; and setting realistic expectations about how long it will take to, in the words of the recent graduates, “find your people.”

The event concluded with the returning alums sharing words of comfort with the students, especially the seniors in their final semester at Friends’ Central. Their message: Take advantage of your college counselors and their resources, and, most of all, stop worrying and treasure the rest of your time at FCS.

“Don’t miss out on this unique time in your life,” Mico told the seniors. “Try new things. Connect with new people.”

The event’s organizers were delighted that so many young alums were eager to return to campus and help current students – proof of the strong sense of community that binds alums, students, faculty, staff, and parents to each other and to the School.

“I was very excited to come back to Friends’ Central,” said Helen. “This place gave me so much, so I wanted to give back in some capacity.”

“We’re incredibly well-prepared for college,” she added. “The interpersonal skills – how to talk to professors, advocating for yourself, seeing yourself as part of a community with rights and obligations as a member of that community – those are all things that Friends’ Central taught us.”

For Kimberley and Tyler, reuniting with the young alums after years of one-on-one counseling and hearing their stories of college success were powerful validators of Friends’ Central’s college counseling philosophy.

“Our counseling approach with all of our students is very personalized and high-touch,” Kimberley said. “Our primary goals are, one, to prepare them; two, to help them navigate the process; and three, to make sure that they’re off to a college that they feel really good about. So when they come back a semester or a year into their college experience and you see their growth and you hear them talk about how happy they are, how things have worked out, and how their school is a good fit, it’s so gratifying.” QW

(FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT) KIMBERLEY LEWIS, TYLER CLAUSON-WOLF WITH FCS ALUMS (ALSO PICTURED ABOVE) MAYA MORRISON ’25, MICO CARPINIELLO ’25, TRINA LE ’25, GRACE SCHLEGEL ’24, ELIO SPAGNUOLO ’25, AND HELEN POTTS ’25; (LEFT) CURRENT STUDENT ADRIAN BORTHAKUR ’27 POSES A QUESTION TO THE ALUM PANEL

Celebrating Blue/Gray Day on the City Avenue campus in September

Annual Report Corrections

Since the publication of Friends’ Central’s 2024-2025 Annual Report of Gifts – the School’s annual celebration of the generosity of the FCS community – we’ve heard from a few friends who’ve reported errors or omissions among the hundreds of listed names. We’re grateful for catching these mistakes, which are corrected below, and we’re grateful for your support. Spot anything else that needs to change? Please contact us at giving@friendscentral.org.

In the GIFTS IN HONOR section, Christopher Dorrance and Tim Golding should have been among the honorees in the GIFTS IN HONOR section.

Robert Gassel ’69 has been a donor for more than 40 consecutive years.

Marie and Ken Gould should have been listed in the LEADING PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS ($5,000+), PARENTS OF ALUMNI/AE GIVING and GIFTS VIA EITC sections.

HSC Builders & Construction Managers should have been listed in the LEADING PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS ($10,000+), CORPORATIONS, and GIFTS VIA EITC sections.

J.P. Mascaro & Sons should have been listed in the LEADING PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS ($5,000+), CORPORATIONS, and GIFTS VIA EITC sections.

Laura LaRosa should have been listed in the LEADING PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS ($10,000+), PARENTS OF ALUMNI/AE GIVING and GIFTS VIA EITC sections.

Anja Jefferis Levitties ’86 and Matthew Levitties ’85 have been donors for more than 30 consecutive years. Their names should have been included in the PARENTS OF ALUMNI/AE GIVING section.

Cristina Perez and Grant Calder should have been listed together in the LEADERSHIP GIVING TO THE FRIENDS’ CENTRAL FUND, FAMILY GIVING, and PARENTS OF ALUMNI/AE GIVING sections.

Dan Price ’94, a donor for more than 10 consecutive years, should have been in the Class of 1994 section of ALUMNI/AE GIVING.

FCS ALUMNI/AE WEEKEND SCHEDULE

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN WYNNEWOOD!

Friday, May 1

8:20 am-2:15 pm

Join an Upper School Class

8:30 am-2 pm

Tour the Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design

10:05-10:45 am

Campus Tour with FCS Archivist Grant Calder

Noon-12:50 pm

FCS Alum and Student Networking Luncheon

1-1:40 pm

Learn About the FCS Student Engagement Initiative

2-3 pm

100 Years in Wynnewood Lecture with FCS Archivist Grant Calder

3-4 pm

Cosmovision and Telescopes in Chile with Upper School Physics Teacher Deb Skapik

6-7:30 pm

Gather with Friends Reception

Scan the QR Code or visit friendscentral.org/alumniae/weekend RSVP ONLINE

8:30 am

Saturday, May 2

Welcome Breakfast

9-10 am

Alumni/ae of Color Breakfast Reception

9 am-4 pm

Explore Digital Material from the FCS Archives

9-10 am

Campus Tour with FCS Archivist Grant Calder

10-10:45 am

Meeting for Worship

11:30 am-1:30 pm

11-11:30 am

Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards Ceremony Honoring Eve Ellis ’76 and Charlie Price ’66

Class Photos and Luncheons

Noon

Varsity Baseball vs. Lansdale Catholic

12:30-2:30 pm

Tour the Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design

1-2 pm

Alumni/ae Reading with Novelists Tim Chawaga ’06 and Leah Franqui ’05

1-3 pm

Learn About the Phoenix Rising Campaign to Reimagine FCS Athletics and Wellness Facilities

2-3 pm

FCS Robotics Team Demonstration

2-3 pm

100 Years in Wynnewood Lecture with FCS Archivist Grant Calder

Evening: Individual Class Parties

NOTES FROM FRIENDS

SHARE YOUR ALUMNI/AE NEWS

Friends’ Central School encourages all alumni/ae to share news in the “Notes from Friends” section of Quaker Works. Send us your photos! To contribute, visit friendscentral.org/alumniae.

(All alumni/ae notes are edited for length, grammar, and content.)

1948

Virginia Keim Cole celebrated her 95th birthday on October 13, 2025, and enjoyed receiving early birthday cards. Virginia’s five children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren have been dropping by to visit. Virginia notes that she lives with her daughter, Marian, and her two fur babies, Jamie and Ian, who enjoy guarding her. Ian loves to play ball with Virginia.

1955

Daniel Egan noted the recent passing of classmate William Gartner.

Ted Clisby shares, “After college, since I had a draft card, I went to US Air Force pilot training and graduated in January 1961. My first job was as a copilot of a tanker midair refueling of fighter aircraft. After that, I flew a C-130 troop carrier. I was based at Langley AFB and flew in Europe and South America. After six years, I left the Military and got a job flying for American Airlines for 32

years. I lived and raised my family in Connecticut, flying out of NYC. I retired to Florida and live in St. Augustine to be near the Mayo Clinic because I am a cancer survivor.”

Richard Spillman remembers his classmate George “Toby” Walters who passed away in Au-

gust 2025, sharing, “George was responsible for achieving a record Class of 1955 participation in annual giving campaigns for many years. George took great pride in these accomplishments and truly enjoyed maintaining close contact with each and every classmate. He also spearheaded many of the Class of 1955 Reunions with resultant re-

IN MEMORIAM: REMEMBERING GEORGE (TOBY) WALTERS ’55

In an ideal world, every graduating class at Friends’ Central would be lucky enough to have someone who worked as hard to keep them connected to each other and the School as the late George “Toby” Walters ’55, who passed away in Florida last year.

Driven by a fierce loyalty to his classmates and a desire to, in his words, “give back to the School that gave so much to me,” George made sure his beloved friends in the Class of 1955 stayed in touch, shared every milestone in their lives, and participated in every reunion and fundraising campaign. And so they did, with a fervor that matched his own.

“He had a way of caring about people and connecting with people,” says Linda Waxman

Wasserman ’75, who led Friends’ Central’s class ambassador program as Director of Alumni/ae Affairs and Senior Development Officer until her recent retirement. “He was a class ambassador in the true sense of the word – a leader who had relationships with so many people and stayed in touch with all of them – and he did it with grace and style.”

After the Class of ’55’s 55th Reunion in 2010, more than 30 of his classmates signed a tribute to George that was published in Quaker Works

“We wish to acknowledge and thank George ‘Toby’ Walters for all of his tireless work on our behalf,” they wrote. “From far and wide the ‘Great Class of 1955’ shouts out our appreciation of his love for us and our school and send him best wishes and many happy reunions to come.”

cord attendance. George was a dedicated alumnus who provided endless support to his beloved Friends’ Central School.”

1958

Robert Freedman writes, “I retired from a successful and enjoyable career practicing law at a large Philadelphia firm in 2009 and have been busy ever since with family, with playing tennis, and with serving for 20 years as Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a think tank in Philadelphia. My wife of 55 years died six years ago. I am now 70 and married to a wonderful woman I met five years ago. Three of my grandchildren attend FCS.”

1959

Richard Graves shares, “Cathy and I are fortunate to experience good health, which has allowed us to continue traveling. So far, I have visited 48 states and 42 countries. In June, we took a trip to Paris, Normandy, and a cruise of northern Europe. If we're still vertical, we plan a cruise to Iceland in 2027.”

Tim Patterson writes, “I am trying to stay active as I play pickleball at least three times per week, and I am the oldest in the group where I play. I also play doubles squash twice a week – one of those days with a prior national champion who went to the Haverford School and West Point and is over 100! In the better weather, on Saturday mornings I play croquet, which I call ‘poor man's golf.’ Our family is now all back in the USA; our oldest and youngest live close by with their families, and the middle one is back from New Zealand, living in Westport, CT. We are fortunate to have seven grandchildren. The oldest is an F&M graduate looking to go to med school; two are college juniors – one at UCONN and the other at Penn. Our oldest granddaughter is a freshman at Clemson, and the youngest two an eighth grader and a fifth grader at the rival EA. I am able to go to a number of sporting events of the younger two, who play soccer, water polo, basketball, and lacrosse. It's a great joy for me as I have always enjoyed sports. I was able to give some small assistance to Judy Kirk ’74 in her work on providing an exhibit on her father, our great football coach, Dave Kirk. I have been to a number of local basketball games with a fellow alumnus Tom Dean ’64, including an FCS game vs. Shipley, which FCS won.”

Betsy Markland Schwartz shares, “During the month of January, I had a fantastic 17-day adventure with 50 others, cycling in Xishuangbanna, a prefecture in the south western part of the province of Yunnan, China. I went with a group called Cyclists for Cultural Exchange (CCE), a nonprofit global group I have been cycling with since my first experience in Russia, in 1991, when the organization was then called Global Cyclists for Peace. We cycled for 16 days, completing about 400 miles with over 26,000 feet of climbing! It was

a most difficult trip with absolutely fascinating cultural experiences. One of the highlights was the water-splashing festival with the Dai culture. Fully dressed, we entered an arena filled with 12 inches of water, and with a bucket each, we all ran around throwing buckets of water on the 2000+ people enjoying this fascinating cultural experience. Another highlight was dancing with the Dai people around a huge bonfire, and a third experience was crossing a hanging suspension bridge at the Skyview tree canopy walkway. There were so many highlights, including of course, the food! At least 15 dishes appeared on a lazy Susan both at lunchtime and dinner! This was a favorite trip for me among the many, many cycling adventures I’ve enjoyed over the last 40 years.”

Betsy Markland Schwartz ’59

Wetherill Cresson Winder ’58 and her brother, Os Cresson ’59, in the retirement community they share in Iowa City

Bonnie Forster Richards writes, “perhaps you all already know that Steve Jess and I have become ‘life partners.’ I lost Dick in 2017, and Steve lost Wendy early 2020. For the following years, he and I spent six months at his Florida condo and six months at my Maryland home. Tiring of the ‘commute,’ I sold my Maryland place at the end of 2025 and joined Steve as a Florida resident. We both had Africa on our bucket lists, and so, in October of 2025, we booked a 10-day safari with Micato. THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME! We saw lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, cheetahs, spectacular birds, rhinos, buffalos, hippos, hyenas, impalas, one leopard, all kinds of primates, the tail end of the wildebeest migration, and on and on. The highlight of our daily ‘drives’ was witnessing a lion kill – ‘nature taking care of itself.’ We are thoroughly enjoying life together, making light of growing old!

Cheers to you all from us, Bonnie Foster Richards and Steve Jess.”

Dave Branning notes, “My parents made two great lifelong decisions for me when I was young: sending me to FCS in 7th grade and making me take sailing lessons in Avalon, NJ when I was 12 years old. The results were a perpetual affection and connection with our class and a career of sailing small and large boats. At this stage in life, I have embraced remote control sailboat racing as a 19-year hobby introduced to me by classmate, Dick Richards. Evening Jeopardy duels with Elaine at home are for bragging rights. See you at our 70th!”

Osborn Cresson writes that, drifting into his 80s, he started doing reports on his family history by editing his mother's letters and diaries, his own autobiography, “a history of ancestors who were enslavers and abolitionists and – in a few cases – enslaved," and now a history of what his ancestors did during the Revolutionary War as soldiers

and as pacifists. Os adds that he is, “still using lessons learned from Mrs. Woerner and Mr. Burrowes!”

1960

Bruce Woodruff shares that in the spring of 2024, he “played with professional tennis players Kim Clijsters, Leylah Fernandez, Jack Sock, and Sam Querrey in a charity tournament that raised a nice sum for three local Central Florida charities.”

Janice Decker Frohner shares, “The highlight of 2025 for me was traveling to Germany with 18 of my family to share with them where my sister, Fran Decker Hancock ’62, and I lived for one year as exchange students from FCS to Realgymnasium Gräfelfing. The name of the school had changed and it was modernized, but it was

the same structure, and I knew exactly where my classroom was. One of my classmates from 67 years ago actually joined me there, as well as Inge who spent a year at FCS! What a thrill!”

Bob Levin writes, “My most recent book, Messiahs, Meshugganahs, Misanthropes & Mysteries: True Tales of Comics, Conflict and Creativity, was published by Fantagraphics in November.”

1962

Sarah (Sally) Price Lindsay Honey shares, “My biggest news for FCS was a delightful visit with Margery DeArmond Maconachy during last summer’s cruise in the Pacific Northwest. We were able to dock our boat near Margery’s house and catch up on good FCS memories and current news. It was a wonderful highlight of our three months cruising in the San Juan and Gulf Islands. Aside from our cruising, Stan and I have continued serving on various sailing-related organizations: Stan continues with the World Sailing Speed Record Council, and I am a governor of the Cruising Club of America. Stan has also started a third term on the America’s Cup Rules Committee and is still navigating major ocean races.

“I had two delightful weeks with family last year – including sister, Judy Price Waterman ’64, and brother, Charlie Price ’66 – one at our family cottage in Skytop, PA last summer and another over Christmas in San Diego. Daughter, Tamsin, was able to join both family weeks and is doing well in her new home just south of Seattle.

“We continue to enjoy our sweet 2½ year old German shepherd, Scout. She is a good boat dog and travels almost everywhere with us, either by foot, boat or car. She has introduced us to two separate local groups of GSD owners who have become good friends.

“I appreciate the ongoing news FCS sends. It is terrific to hear the School is still doing so well after all these years. My family has benefited tremendously from FCS, from my mother, Mary Elma White Price ’32 – who now has an FCS book fund in her name – through my aunt Helen White Jacobson ’34, my grandfather Barclay White ’03, and all four of my siblings, including Pat Price Paxson ’56 and Sue Price Neal ’58. It was the perfect place for us to gain not only an excellent education, but lasting personal growth and friendships.”

1965

Belle Brett writes, “Twelve enthusiastic classmates and several of our partners attended our 60th FCS Reunion in May 2025, including me, Joan and Jack Battey, Rick Burgess, Bob Gardner, Laura Jackson, Kathy Lane Enscoe, Larry Levin, Jon Moore, Jon Rieder, Fred Samelian, and Judith Seltzer. Our major rendezvous center was the Radnor Inn, but those of us who came to campus enjoyed a delicious lunch for graduates from 1975 and earlier (the old timers!) and mar-

veled at how much the campus has changed since our day (and also at what has stayed the same).”

1966

Charlie Price writes, “Since 2016, my life has seen some major lows and highs. In late 2019, my wife Maria and I moved from outer-suburban San Diego county with a couple of acres and a couple hundred fruit trees, to Cambria in the rural central coast of California, halfway between LA and San Francisco. This is a beautiful spot just south of the Big Sur region, and I still love living there. That was just before COVID hit, but since we were both retired and in a rural community, we weren't affected too badly. Sadly, Maria began to suffer from dementia in late 2020 and passed in March of 2023. I shared this with the class since many of you met her at our 50th. I am still very appreciative of the warm and supportive response I received from so many of you. After a difficult year of introspection and healing, (here comes the high part), I began to reach out for new connections and called my Senior Prom date, Clem [Laurie Clement]! She was open to my inquiry and invited me to Florida for a follow-up. One thing led to another, and here we are, almost two years later, still hanging out. We are dividing our time between FL and CA and have done some travelling including one European trip. Along the way, we have really enjoyed meeting and visiting many classmates, including: Rich Levin, Carter Pottash, Rachel Wolkin Sasser, Jean Duthie Broderick, Dave Sherson, and Lynne Brantly Wilkins.”

1967

Ron Diment shares, “Brian Kunz and I continue to enjoy the friendship we started back in third grade and have also enjoyed connecting with some ‘old’ classmates from near and far: Rob

Wayne Michaud ’67

Madow, Rob Roberts, Scott Miller, Wayne Michaud, Tom Woodbury, Geoff Kerr, Holly Quillen Groom, Dan Carter, Steve “Louie” Richter, and a few other notorious classmates ’67. Happy Trails to us all!”

Wayne Michaud lives in Sacramento County with his wife of 52 years. He is semi-retired but continues to operate Green Driving America, a nonprofit that advocates for and educates on transportation efficiency and clean transportation, featuring coordination of student-led, measured vehicle idle-free studies/campaigns at schools in CA and VT. Wayne is an avid senior softball player, yearround. He still roots for the Phillies, Eagles, and Villanova Wildcats.”

1968

Claire Janosik Griffin writes, “Very excited to report that my new historical novel, The Geisha and the Millionaire, is currently in production and scheduled to come out late in 2027.

1969

Jim Supplee writes that 2025 is the year he retired as a clinical psychologist. Inspired by Clint Ely, Jim has begun to write poetry and joined a local library poetry circle.

1971

Joan Shapiro Alexander is a semi-retired realtor in New Rochelle, NY, and enjoys Zooms with her classmates. She’s a new grandmother of Colin and has fun with her sons, Evan and Justin, and their spouses!

1972

Michael Mersky writes, “Karen and I are enjoying retirement in Lancaster, PA with a focus on family, great friends, and travel. Had these three grands for a week at Thanksgiving and it was wonderful, with one more born in May 2026.”

1973

Ross Puppo Donolow shares, “I ran a 200-meter in 32 flat, age-rated rank 30th in the nation, 7:56 mile – Puppo bringing it and taking no prisoners.”

Louise Schalow Del Vecchio shares: “There once was a gal, Y. Fillmore Who asked for the news from next-door From me (feeling antique) that’s inclined t’ be oblique — I’m still singing from my music score!”

Ron Harris recently spoke to the Friends’ Central chapter of DECA, a student group focused on entrepreneurial pursuits, sharing his experiences as a retired broker of Marcus & Millichap and longterm investor. Ron's presentation centered on ways of differentiating yourself in the workplace and the value of being an honest businessperson.

1976

Robin Rosenfeld Gordon shares, “I have three children. One son, Andrew, was married in Maine in 2024, and my other son, David, was married in Vail in 2025. My daughter, Lindsay, lives in NYC.”

1980

Eileen Flanagan shares that she recently published her fourth book, Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth is Saving Us from Our Illusion of Separation. Eileen was happy to see classmates Joyce Horikawa and Matt Baird at her book launch in Philadelphia and Barrett Caldwell during her tour of the Midwest.

Writers’ Festival Brings

Renowned Authors to Campus to Share Their Passion and Expertise

“It was such a surreal honor and privilege to be on that stage. I loved seeing the students engaged!”

JASMINE MARTIN ’08

IN FEBRUARY, Friends’ Central hosted its second biennial Writers’ Festival, welcoming 20 world-class authors, journalists, and screenwriters – many from our alumni/ae community – into classrooms to mentor Upper School students. Organized by FCS Upper School English Chair Bill Kennedy, the event gave students an immersive, hands-on experience with the professional craft of writing.

The day began with a homecoming as beloved alum Jasmine Martin ’08 gave the keynote speech to the assembled Upper School community. Following the keynote, students moved into concurrent workshops that highlighted the professional success of our alumni/ae and the specialized expertise of our faculty and community members. Each guest writer was assigned an FCS Upper School student to help guide them through the morning's schedule.

“I am delighted our students got to spend time with and be inspired by our fabulous keynote speaker, Jasmine Martin, co-author of The Upcycled Self, who encouraged young people to fight to be themselves, to find their own path and follow it,” Bill Kennedy shared. “Later, in their workshops, students had the rare opportunity to hear from

professional writers of all kinds and to learn more about what writing can do and why it matters. By all accounts, the day was fun and engaging, a bright light ignited by the humanities in an otherwise hazy February.”

Featured Conversation

Bestselling novelist Jennifer Weiner joined her daughter Phoebe ’26 for a candid talk on her career in journalism and fiction.

Screen & Stage

Sam Adams, Adam Cesare, and Ashlee Wellenreiter joined FCS faculty members Megan Schumacher and Andy White ’03 to lead workshops on film, adaptation, and world-building.

Journalism & Non-Fiction

Neal Bascomb joined alumnae Emily Harnett ’09 and Hannah Albertine ’12 to discuss the world of reporting, food writing, and identity.

Perspective & Poetry

Claire Stancek, Michael LoStracco, Dan Wriggins, and FCS faculty members Kyra Spence and Sarah Nourie explored romanticizing the mundane and the tension created by combinations of words.

The Creative Process

John Bosworth and Ali Castleman led sessions on claiming a unique voice, while faculty member Al Vernacchio, alum Tim Chawaga ’03, and FCS faculty member/alum Cary Snider ’11 taught students how to “read like a writer” and start a story with a bang

Throughout the day, students experimented with writing exercises and discovered strategies for shaping stories across different genres. By connecting personal experience to professional practice, our visiting guests helped students see how their own stories can make an impact in the modern world.

“It was such a surreal honor and privilege to be on that stage,” said keynote speaker Jasmine Martin, “I loved seeing the students engaged!”

We are deeply grateful to all participants, and we look forward to the next Writers’ Festival. QW

(TOP) THE ASSEMBLED GROUP OF WRITERS & THEIR FCS STUDENT GUIDES; (BELOW, FROM LEFT) CLAIRE STANCEK, TIM CHAWAGA ’03, JENNIFER WEINER P’26

1984

Ray Lohier says, “I was recently thrilled and proud to read a wonderful new thriller, The Final Protocol, by my dear classmate and friend Chris Murphey. All of us who knew him at FCS aren’t surprised by his ability to tell a great story.”

1987

Jonathan H. Adler writes that in the summer of 2025, he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, to join the faculty at the William & Mary Law School, where he is the Tazewell Taylor Professor of Law.

Mark Levy shares that he and his wife, Brooke, divide their time between Miami and New York City. Mark recently sold his firm, Altman Logistics Properties, to FRP Holdings and joined the company as Chief Investment Officer. Mark and Brooke have three children – two based in New York City, working in private equity and public relations, and one who is pre-med at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Stefan Treatman-Clark notes, “My wife, Kate, and I live near Annapolis, MD. We have two college-age sons, Jamie and Colin, and a high school junior, Matthew. I spend much of my spare time designing, developing, and playing rail games with fellow alumni John Stein and Mo Lotman.”

1988

Sonya Sklaroff held a solo exhibition of her new paintings inspired by travels near and far at the Selima Optique Paris gallery in Paris from June 25 to July 2, 2025.

Sal Pastino shares, “My LinkedIn group, Italian American World Heritage Celebration, has more than 4,600 members. I also have a YouTube channel: ItalianMusic123. We enjoy hearing from everyone.”

1990

Jonathan Ginsberg shares that he can “be seen briefly” in the movie No Currency for the Dead on Amazon Prime, and he also appears in You Done it and as a background/extra in Days of Sodom: A Crow Fan Film, released in 2025.

1997

AnnMarie Thomas writes, “In 2023, after 17 years at the University of St. Thomas, I resigned from my professorship (in Mechanical Engineering and Entrepreneurship) and closed my research group (the Playful Learning Lab.) I was ready to try something new and have since been working as a consultant on assorted education endeavors. I spent the first nine months post-academia on a project for LEGO Education, and I traveled regularly to their headquarters in Billund, Denmark. After that, I returned to my undergraduate Ocean

2026 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI/AE

One of the most popular events on the Alumni/ae Weekend schedule every year is the conferring of Friends’ Central’s Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards, the School’s annual celebration of the people whose lives and work reflect the spirit and impact of an FCS education. This year, nominations for School’s highest honor for alumni/ae were solicited from the people who know the community the best: other alumni/ae.

“We were really excited to involve the alumni/ae community in this process,” says Yasmine Fillmore, Director of Alumni/ae Engagement at FCS. “Our alums know their classmates – they know their accomplishments, their service, their leadership, and the ways they make a difference in the world. It’s never too late to start thinking about next year’s nominees.”

This year’s Distinguished Alumni/ae Award winners (below) will receive their awards at a ceremony at 11 am on Saturday, May 2, in the Meeting Room in Shallcross Hall.

2026 Distinguished Alumna

Eve Ellis ’76

Eve Ellis ’76 will be recognized for her outstanding accomplishments in wealth management and financial advisement.

A pioneer in advancing gender, racial, and social equity in the industry, Eve has built a distinguished career at the intersection of finance, equity, and values-driven leadership. She serves as a Managing Director and Wealth Advisor in Private Wealth Management at William Blair, where she also co-manages two proprietary gender-lens and DEI-focused equity portfolios. At William Blair, Eve serves on working groups that guide the firm’s grantmaking, support emerging wealth creators and female entrepreneurs, and advance sustainability initiatives. In 2018, she received the

Betty Cook Award from The Women’s Bond Club for her commitment to empowering women, and she has been consistently named among Forbes Best-in-State Female Wealth Advisors.

A distinguished athlete and coach whose tennis journey began at FCS, Eve competed on the professional satellite tennis tour, coached women’s tennis at Columbia University, managed the New York City Central Park Tennis Center’s programs, and coached the U.S. Men’s Tennis Team at the 1985 Maccabiah Games. In 2011, she was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Eve’s nieces, Julia Kahana-Ellis ’09 and Samantha Ellis ’11, are FCS alums. Eve lives in New York City with her wife, Annette.

2026 Distinguished Alumnus

Charlie Price ’66

Charlie Price ’66 will be recognized for his decades of service and a multigenerational family legacy rooted in Quaker education.

During his time at Friends’ Central, Charlie distinguished himself academically and as a leader. He excelled in math and science, captained athletic teams, served as Student Council President, and graduated cum laude. He credits FCS for encouraging him to explore widely and think deeply, along with formative mentorship from faculty such as Mr. Stanley Cherim, a chemistry teacher who nurtured Charlie’s curiosity and sense of responsibility to the world. Charlie carried these values into a multifaceted career that bridged science, technology, and humanity. Trained as a marine

biologist, he combined his love of biology and the ocean with an entrepreneurial spirit, ultimately becoming a pioneer in membrane desalination and sustainable manufacturing. His work transforming dairy waste into valuable protein resources helped address significant environmental challenges and reshaped an industry – an example of innovation guided by purpose and stewardship.

Equally remarkable is Charlie’s deep and enduring family legacy at FCS. Spanning more than six decades, four generations of his family have been part of our community. Rooted in faith and a belief in the Inner Light, Charlie and his family have modeled a commitment to education, service, and community.

Engineering roots and have spent the last two years working on a variety of projects for OceanX. A highlight of this work was spending quite a bit of time on the research vessel OceanXplorer (in locations such as Indonesia, Namibia, and Singapore) as faculty in the Young Explorers Program, Early Career Explorers, and hackathon programs.

Since 2017, I have been working with the band OK Go on our education content and website: OKGoSandbox.org and looking forward to filming more with them in 2026. My husband, Chris Thomas, and I are still living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with our teenage daughters.”

Roman Mersie-Hazen Lillie has published her second book, Compromise is Killing You. “This book,” Roman shares, “dismantles the premise that compromise is necessary and helpful, and provides tools to combat the self-defeating habits that chip away at our ability to live the lives we want. How to be uncompromising without being selfish or needlessly stubborn is the focus of Compromise is Killing You.”

2002

C. Jerome Mopsik writes, “I continue supporting veterinarians nationwide by helping them improve and/or transition their hospitals, and this spring, we will open our fifth mental health practice location. Happily living in Saratoga Springs, NY, with Emily and Lillian (6), and looking forward to the upcoming thoroughbred racing season.”

2003

Jonathan Wegener writes, “My wife, Rachel, and I welcomed our baby, Ruby Cuters Wegener-Feinberg, into the world!”

2005

Ellen Hemingway O’Brien shares, “In October, I went to see my mother at Saunders House on a Wednesday at lunchtime. To my surprise, she was on the first floor and was saying goodbye to a group of kids wearing FCS gear. I stopped the

teacher, Ms. Halpern, and asked if they were from Friends' Central. I introduced myself as Joanne's daughter and an alum of FCS (they already knew, though not confirmed, that my mom, Joanne Hemingway, was an alum, Class of 1963). I could see magic working there. We talked for about five minutes; the kids asked me about the teachers I had 25 years ago. I told them that my service every Wednesday for years at Saunders House was magical; it is what led me to make the decision to have my mom live there when I could no longer care for her. I got to tell them that their service really matters, it carries weight beyond their imagination. I loved watching my mom say goodbye. She told them all she was looking forward to their next visit. She was genuinely happy.

“How did my mom know that her high school years at Friends' Central would sow seeds for happiness in her life 60 years later? How did she know that her fight for my brother, Sylvan Hemingway ’03, and me to attend FCS ourselves would allow her to reap the benefits 20+ years later? It's magical.

“Friends' Central is a place that continues to give. It is because of my experience at FCS and the relationships I built with my teachers that I am an educator today. Each World Literature lesson I teach is seasoned with FCS Magic I received from my literature teachers at FCS, Mr. MacFarlane, Mr. Rosengarten, and Mr. Vernacchio.

“I am incredibly grateful for the continued significant impact Friends’ Central plays in so many aspects of my life.”

2006

Tim Chawaga’s book, Salvagia, a sci-fi mystery debut, was released in August 2025. Additional information can be found at bit.ly/4rCIRfG

Alumni/ae Spotlight: Hannah Vickery ’16

From Midtown offices to rehearsal studios and opening nights on Broadway, Hannah Vickery ’16 is helping bring some of today’s most compelling theatrical stories to life. Now an Associate Producer working with Broadway Producer Tom Kirdahy [Tom Kirdahy Productions (TKP)], Hannah is part of a small team guiding productions from early development through opening night and beyond.

No two days look quite the same. “Some days, I’m in the office answering emails and working through logistics,” said Hannah. “Other days, I’m in rehearsals, tech, or previews.” That unpredictability is part of what she loves most about the work. Producing, Hannah explained, often looks glamorous from the outside, but much of the work happens behind the scenes – coordinating details, supporting artists, and making sure the many moving parts of a production come together. “It’s really about relationships, trust, and problem-solving,” she said. “You’re there to support artists and help their vision come to life.”

Hannah has already contributed to an impressive slate of productions. As a part of Team TKP, her recent work includes the smash hit musical Just in Time starring Jonathan Groff, this season's revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center, last season's revival of Gypsy starring Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim's final musical Here We Are, the world premiere of the new play Caroline, Grey House, the international blockbuster Hadestown, and the long-running Off Broadway hit revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Each project has brought new opportunities to grow and take on greater responsibility within the producing team.

“On our last few shows, people I deeply respect told me they felt I’d really stepped into my own,” she shared. “Hearing that meant everything. It made me realize how much I’ve learned and how much I’ve grown since I first started.”

That growth has been grounded in the values Hannah first encountered at Friends’ Central School. Her years at FCS left a lasting impression on how she approaches both work and life.

“Quakerism feels like a way of life to me,” she said. “The SPICES: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship – those ideas still guide how I work and how I treat people.”

One lesson in particular that she remembers learning from former FCS Middle School Principal Ray DeSabato has stayed with her since fifth grade: You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you do have to be friendly to everyone. “I carry that with me every day,” Hannah said. “This industry is built on collaboration. You’re constantly working with new people, and kindness and respect really matter.”

Looking back, Hannah sees clear connections between her time at Friends’ Central and the path she has taken since graduating. The School’s emphasis on curiosity, creativity, and community helped nurture her early interest in storytelling and the arts – interests that ultimately led her to the theater world she now calls home.

Looking ahead, Hannah remains grounded in the passion that first drew her to the arts. While producing can be demanding, she finds deep fulfillment in helping to bring meaningful stories to audiences. “Any meaningful career is hard,” she reflected. “So you might as well choose something you love; something you’re proud of.”

On Broadway and stages around the world, Hannah Vickery ’16 is doing just that: helping to bring stories to life while carrying forward the values that first took root during her years at Friends’ Central. QW

“On our last few shows, people I deeply respect told me they felt I’d really stepped into my own. Hearing that meant everything. It made me realize how much I’ve learned and how much I’ve grown since I first started.”

HANNAH VICKERY ’16

2008

Logan Brenner writes,“I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Barnard College now, and I had an opportunity to share one of my passions outside of my scholarly work (which is climate change research). I recently gave a presentation to the faculty in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance day, during which I shared my Zayde's (grandfather in Yiddish) story of survival. I am active in organizations that connect grandchildren of Holocaust survivors with schools that are interested in having a speaker come to share a personal story. I was thrilled to do this at my own workplace, and there was a nice write up about the event that (at least at this moment) is currently on the homepage. I am very proud of this work and therefore wanted to share this update with you.”

Alec Unkovic shares, “My Quaker meeting (Arch Street Friends in Old City) has a Sunday children's program, and I've been asked to think about outreach for it. We have a fantastic young instructor who leads Pre-K to 8th Graders in the program (there's separate childcare available for toddlers and infants). Usually we have 6-8 kids on the First and Third Sundays when we hold Children's

Meeting – most kids around the 5-9 age bracket – and we'd like to grow the size and ideally add another Sunday in the month. I imagine there might be a number of alumni/ae from the various Friends schools who are in the city, have kids of eligible ages, and might be curious about Quakerism as adults and/or would enjoy having their kids participate.” Alec asks to be contacted if you are interested.

2009

Catherine Weingarten writes, “I had a baby with my husband, Jason, this past summer; his name is Ernest. I am still writing plays in NYC and planning to self produce a play of mine this summer.”

Pat DeSabato shares, “Our family has gone through some big changes: within three weeks, we moved to Narberth, I started a new job, and my daughter, Leanora, started at the Lower School Nature Nursery!”

2010

Olivia Gillison writes, “Hello Friends! I wanted to send a warm greeting to those who I've not

THE MEMORY OF PETER BERNSTEIN ’08

When Peter Bernstein ’08 passed away suddenly in January 2025, he was pursuing one of his great academic passions: the study of history. His goal was to become a history teacher, and he would have been a great one, as anyone who came to know him and his love for the subject at FCS, Penn State (where he majored in history), the University of Chicago (where he earned a master’s degree in international relations), the New School for Social Research (where he was studying for a master’s in history), or the City College of New York (where he was pursuing a teaching certificate) can attest.

“Peter was a beloved student and classmate,” wrote Oz Frankel, a Professor of History at the New School and Peter’s thesis advisor. “Always

soft spoken, he very quickly proved to be a cerebral, erudite individual with a wry sense of humor, and [he was] an unfailingly sharp reader of texts.”

But history wasn’t Peter’s only love as an astute observer of the world. He enjoyed the study of nature and cherished his time on the trails and waters of Pike County, Pennsylvania; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and beyond. In the aftermath of his passing, a campaign to honor his memory by raising funds to support Friends’ Central’s Natural Lands Biodiversity Program was launched. In only 40 days, 46 members of the FCS community contributed more than $13,716 to support science education at the School, a fitting tribute to a man who was determined to channel his love of learning into a career of teaching.

talked to in some time. As the immediate past president of the FCS Alumni/ae Board, and now co-President of my collegiate Sorority and Fraternity Life Alumni Council, I urge each of you to get engaged with the Alumni/ae Office. In a moment where community matters now more than ever, re-engage and connect with the community that helped shape you from the start. It is a rewarding and easy way for the School to reaffirm its strength in networking and career pathways for future generations. I remain a local Philadelphian, going into my 13th year of service with the City of Philadelphia, and, while my positions have changed, my focus has remained the same: CARE. Commit to the community you're in; take Action in the ideas that others share with you; Respect one another in all ways; and lead with Empathy whenever possible. Now is not the time to be silent, nor is it the time to silo yourself. Lead with love and CARE as we hold each other in the light.”

Aaron Reichlin reports, “I'm living in West Mt. Airy with my wife, Emily, our almost four-yearold son, Ellis (who is applying for FCS Pre-K), and our two rather large black cats, Albus and Severus.”

2013

Colin McCaffrey shares that he got married to Lori Riendeau in Florham Park, NJ, on October 19, 2025.

2015

Lauryn Coleman shares, “I recently started a new job as a Post-Conviction Attorney with the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs! In this role, I represent people sentenced to death in the State of Texas on their state habeas applications.”

2019

Dylan Mitchell published a poetry book entitled The Dove Who Became Human in 2025 and has done a book tour in support. Dylan graduated in 2024 with his Master's in Positive Psychology and is working full-time in the field.

IN MEMORIAM: REMEMBERING GRANT McCORD ’15

“Grant McCord ’15 came through our Lower, Middle and Upper School. He was a larger than life figure here, beloved for his warmth, charm, and humor,” shared Tom MacFarlane, Upper School English teacher and Dean for Community Life & Student Leadership.

Grant returned to campus via Zoom last spring, along with other FCS cast members of the Angels in America 2014 production, to speak to 11th and 12th graders who had been studying the play in their Spring Seminar classes. “Many of my students commented on how much they enjoyed hearing his reflections and stories,” said Tom.

Terry Guerin, former FCS Drama Director, was among the many profoundly impacted by his loss. “When Grant came into rehearsal,” said Terry, “the joy in the room went up a notch. He was determined to continue having fun even though there was work to be done. Though he approached the rehearsal process with joy, he was able to create multi-dimensional characters, and I will never forget his poignant portrayal of Belize in Angels in America. I was so moved by the scene called ‘Democracy in America’ that I was guilty of asking him and Lior Wolf ’15 to keep repeating it at one late night rehearsal. That prompted him to say to me, ‘Terry, I think we got it.’ And they did. I am so grateful for the experience of working with Grant, the impish, thoughtful, generous theatre artist. Thanks for the joy.”

2020

Leo Burman writes that he graduated summa cum laude with a degree from Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communications in 2024. In 2025, Leo launched wishemusic.com, a media company helping musicians and local small businesses.

Alejandro López writes, “I’m really happy to share that I graduated with honors from the University of Edinburgh last November with my MSc in Comparative Public Policy. I’ve relocated to Scotland, where my partner and I just purchased our first home! I’m now working at a nonprofit while still moonlighting in live sound and entertainment. Sending love to my FCS friends and teachers from across the pond.”

IN MEMORIAM

Brigitte Solmitz Alexander ’47

Jane Stiefel Bertolett ’43

Jack Briggs

Krail Sibson Brooks ’64

Bob Buckley ’53

Silas Cain

Diane Bault DeMille ’46

James Florant ’58

William Gartner ’55

Wendy Pollock Hallowell ’57

Jo Rice Horn ’61

Benjamin Lehman

Frederica Jacobs Lofquist ’46

Art by Nairobi Cooper ’36

Grant McCord ’15

Dorothy Nelson

Andrew Perrin ’88

Bryan Pokras ’57

Roger Readinger ’61

Tom Robinson

Barbara Ritter Rutenberg ’58

Ralph Scotney ’57

Nancy Warwick Tarlton ’48

George Walters ’55

Robert Weinstein ’63

James Yarnall ’74

Stephen Yarnall ’76

A Memorial Meeting for Worship at FCS on May 17

Beginning this spring, Friends' Central will be establishing a new annual Memorial Meeting for Worship to honor and remember members of our community who have passed away that year, including former students and colleagues. The first Memorial Meeting for Worship will take place on Sunday, May 17, at 2 pm in the Meeting Room in Shallcross Hall on Friends' Central's City Avenue campus.

This gathering will provide an opportunity for reflection and remembrance in the spirit of our Quaker tradition. The service will include a period of shared silence during which members of the community may feel moved to speak and share brief reflections in celebration of the lives of those being remembered.

We hope this annual Meeting for Worship will offer a meaningful way for our community to come together in gratitude for the lives that have helped shape Friends' Central and to hold their memories in the Light.

Celebrate 100 years in Wynnewood.

Fuel the next century with a gift today.

Much has changed over the past century, but the academic excellence, Quaker values, and connected community that define FCS endure. Celebrate what’s timeless about the School you love and spark our next century. Give to the Friends’ Central Fund today at friendscentral.org/giving or use this QR code.