6th graders have been busy following up their tour of St Paul Regional Water Services with a water unit comparing St Paul tap water to commonly purchased bottled waters. Students started with a blind taste test of 10 waters, 8 of which were bottled water, and 2 of which were either St Paul tap water or Minneapolis tap water. They ranked their preferences then tallied the results. Amazingly, St Paul.. Read More
Alissa and Sara Present Conflict Resolution Program at NAIS Conference in Baltimore
Friends School of Minnesota’s Conflict Resolution Program embodies many qualities that reflect our mission, our values and our progressive educational practice. On March 1-2, Alissa Abelson (Jungle Teacher and Conflict Resolution Coordinator) and Sara Wayne (K-8 Spanish teacher and middle school advisor) presented our conflict resolution program at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Baltimore, Maryland at their annual convention. The NAIS theme this year was “From Vision.. Read More
6th Grade Studies Earthquakes
In November, Friends School of Minnesota 6th graders were studying earthquakes. We finished our earthquake resistant buildings (engineering). We practiced earthquake events (by modeling). The students made layers of the earth’s crust out of different colors of modeling clay. They sliced a “fault” through the earth and practiced strike-slip movement, reverse faults, and hanging faults. The next day they modeled different earthquake waves using Slinky springs. They pushed for P waves, shook side-to-side for.. Read More
Interim Head of School Announcement
Dear Friends School of Minnesota Community, The school committee has completed its search for an interim head of school and has hired Joe McHugh to serve as interim head beginning January 3, 2017. We are looking forward to welcoming Joe to Friends School of Minnesota. We believe he will provide the thoughtful and engaged leadership we need through this transition, and help us prepare for a long-term head of school… Read More
FSM’s Good Morning Handshake Tradition
Another school year is beginning and students will soon return! It is Friends School of Minnesota’s tradition is to greet students with a handshake as they arrive at the front door for a new school day. We believe the morning greeting makes students feel known, sets a positive tone for the day, and builds community. One of the wonderful things about a small, intentional community like FSM is that every student,.. Read More
Media Literacy and the Penumbra Theater Company
Friends School of Minnesota 7th and 8th graders wrapped up our Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Media and Pop Culture unit in humanities in May. This unit challenges students to examine the role media plays in their lives, how the media constructs messages about race/ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, and how those messages impact one’s sense of identity. We center the unit around the Center for Media Literacy’s five core concepts.. Read More
All School Crosby Farm Day 2016
It was a glorious day for FSM’s all school Crosby Farm Day! Throughout the year, 7th and 8th grade students traveled monthly to Crosby Farm Regional Park in the Mississippi River Valley. They learned the natural history of the place, measured river height and rates, studied wildlife, and wrote and sketched in a specific habitat. Students went back to the same spot each month of the school year and tracked how the.. Read More
A Parent’s Thoughts About FSM Graduation
Parent Leslie Schiff shares her thoughts as her son nears graduation from Friends School of Minnesota.