Haddonfield Friends School

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the religious basis of the school?
HFS is a Quaker school in which Friends' principles are central. As the Mission Statement points out: "In all that we do, we are guided by Quaker principles of peace and nonviolence, community and the interdependence of the global family, equality and the value of each individual, simplicity, and the stewardship of the earth. Worship, a time of silence without ritual, is a part of the daily schedule of school life."

Each day classes begin with a quiet worship time in the manner of Friends. Once a week second through eighth graders attend Meeting for Worship in the Meeting House; once a month the entire school participates. Meeting for Worship is an unprogrammed formal gathering based on silence, that gives everyone time for reflection and inner listening. Parents are always welcome to attend weekly Meeting for Worship.

How is the school structured?
Classes are organized in the traditional grade-by-grade pattern. Basic work takes place in these autonomous classrooms, but all students regularly take part as well in activities directed by supplemental and special subject teachers. Because the school is small, there are also many opportunities for interaction between classes.

What about annual promotion?
Care in placement at the time of admission usually means that yearly promotion to the next grade occurs routinely. However, the school reserves the right to recommend an additional year at a given grade level should a child exhibit significant signs of developmental youngness.

How do graduates of HFS fare in secondary schools?
When students successfully complete a grade at HFS, they are academically qualified for acceptance into the next grade level at other public and private schools. Because HFS stresses the fundamentals of elementary and middle school education and strives to develop in each child self-reliance, good study habits, and flexibility, graduates are well prepared for their secondary school experience.

What about standards of conduct?
The school encourages behavior that takes into consideration the worth and uniqueness of every individual and asks that parents and students cooperate in maintaining that standard.

Is the school accredited?
HFS is under the care of the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. A School Committee is appointed by the Meeting for the oversight and care of the school.

Besides enjoying active membership in the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the state affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools, HFS is accredited by the Commission on Elementary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Are HFS teachers Quakers?
Some teachers and staff members are members of the Society of Friends; many are not. All are in sympathy with Quaker values. Teachers and other staff members are selected not only for their professional skills but also for their ability to recognize and cherish the essential worth of every human being.

Does the school have an active parent group?
Yes. "Community" is a key word in Friends' education, and the school urges parents to take part. At HFS, parent involvement in the life of the school is vital to the overall learning experience of the students.

What is the school calendar like?
The HFS school year consists of approximately the same number of days as the New Jersey public school calendar, with most of the same traditional recesses such as the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. On certain specified days during the year, the school closes earlier than usual to allow for parent conferences, faculty workshops, and other programs. The parent group circulates a school calendar which includes the dates of vacations, early closings, and special school, parent and family events.

Comments or questions? Please feel free to contact us!

HFS: 47 N. Haddon Avenue; Haddonfield, NJ 08033-2476
Phone: (856) 429-6786; Fax: (856) 429-6376