FriendsMail - 8/16/26

August 16, 2026

Welcome back to another school year, Friends!

Whether your summer consisted of beach days, travels, or moments rekindling with family, we hope that you were able to fill that time with love and joy. Our faculty and staff spent this past week preparing for the arrival of students and we are eager to have our whole community together again!

Read on for some important updates, and let's have an epic 2026-27 school year!!🌳✏️📚

Look at this awesome crew!! On Thursday of this past week, our teachers and admin spent the morning sorting potatoes and Capri Suns at the CENC Food Bank. Together we sorted 5,155 lbs of food! Service learning is a major part of our curriculum, and a concept our students are very familiar with, so it's only right that we kick off the year giving back to our community.

We are especially pleased to begin the year alongside 59 new students, including seven siblings of current students, and to welcome 48 new families into the Friends School community. Our enrollment grew 8% from last year. This growth brings new voices, experiences, and connections that will enrich our shared learning and community life throughout the year.

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Mark your calendars, the first PA meeting of the year is scheduled for
Wednesday, September 9th!

More details to follow

Please review the school’s drop-off and pick-up procedures before the first day of school.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and attention to these routines. Consistent procedures help us ensure a safe, calm, and welcoming start and end to each school day.

Please note: SPARK for PreK students will not be available until the week of August 24th.

It's time to register your 6th, 7th, or 8th grader for soccer with coaches, Santana Jolly & Cameron Fransisco!

Practice begins Wednesday, August 19th from 3:00-4:30pm
Practice and Game Schedule to follow.

Please bring: Cleats, Athletic Wear, Water Bottle

Follow These Steps To Register Your Athlete:

Log in: Sign in to the secure online Blackbaud Tuition Management Parent Site using account credentials.
Select year: Choose the correct academic period from the Session Year drop-down menu.
Open cart: Click on Purchase Optional Items in the top navigation bar.
Choose student: Mark the check box next to the target student's name.
Select program: Pick the desired fee item(Fall Soccer 2026) and quantity, then select Continue.
Accept terms: Check off required agreement terms if the school attached them to the program.
Pay: Enter payment details or use a saved payment method to finish checkout.
Cost: $200.00

Beginning this year, the Main Office will be located in the Garden House.
Please note the following procedures:

The Camellia Gate opens at 7:00 a.m. for faculty and staff arrival.
The Peiffer Gate opens at 7:30 a.m., when students may arrive on campus.
Students should not arrive before 7:30 a.m., as supervision is not available before that time
School begins at 8:00 and students in K-8th who arrive after 8:05 a.m. will be marked late by their teachers or advisors.
At 8:20 a.m., both the Peiffer and Camellia Gates will close.
Families arriving after 8:20 a.m. should park outside the Camellia Gate and enter campus through the pedestrian gate.
A parent or guardian must sign in a late-arriving student at the Garden House. The student will receive a tardy slip to present to their teacher or advisor. Students arriving in class without a slip will be directed back to the Garden House to complete the check-in process.
Students leaving early for appointments must be collected from the Garden House by a parent or guardian. Please notify the school at least one day in advance whenever possible so that teachers and administrators can plan accordingly
All campus visitors must check in at the Garden House, be verified, and wear a visitor badge while on campus.