Friends Select School Celebrates 325 Years of Quaker Education

On Monday, September 8, 2014, the entire Friends Select School student body, faculty and staff gathered in the Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting House to celebrate the school’s 325th opening day, which along with William Penn Charter School traces its roots to 1689.

During the celebration, students viewed a video featuring archival photos of the school with moments and figures in history. A real-life William Penn read the mayor’s proclamation that declares the 325th anniversary of the charter of Friends Select. Lower school students received copies of a specially commissioned 325th Anniversary coloring and puzzle book. A time capsule is planned later in the year. Following the celebration, birthday cake was served.

Also in honor of the school’s anniversary, large banners have been installed along exterior walls of the building that herald Friends Select’s 325 years. A gallery exhibit of artifacts and photos spanning the history of the school will be on display during the month of September.

Friends Select School and William Penn Charter School both trace their roots to the founding of the first Quaker school in 1689 and each are celebrating this milestone year. For more about Friends Select’s history visit http://www.friends-select.org/about/mission-history/index.aspx.

Friends Select School
Friends Select School is a coed, college preparatory, Quaker day school in Philadelphia serving 550 students in grades pre-k through 12. Friends Select believes that education can be fascinating. The school, which traces its roots to 1689, is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, in the cultural heart of Center City Philadelphia. At every age, students visit museums, attend cultural events, participate in community service, and experience the finest educational resources Philadelphia has to offer. For more information, please visit friends-select.org.