School News
- Friends Seminary
- Dec 2
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 4
Beyond the Notes: The Transcendence of Education Through Music
On October 30, Friends Seminary celebrated the art and craft of teaching at the 17th Annual Teri Hassid Art of Teaching Lecture, presented by Middle and Upper School Music Teacher Dr. Brian Levels.
In his talk, “Beyond the Notes: The Transcendence of Education Through Music,” Dr. B reflected on a lifetime shaped by music and the power of music as a universal language. He shared stories from his childhood, moments from the classroom, and the belief that music-making is as much about the process as the final performance. Mistakes happen—and that’s not just ok, it’s part of the learning.
Throughout the lecture, Dr. B showed how music naturally intersects with so many disciplines:
Math (fractions and rhythm)
Science (biology, sound waves, physics)
English (storytelling, structure, poetry)
History (eras of world history and their musical traditions)
World Languages & Visual Arts (expression across cultures)
He also shared the creative strategies he uses to help students listen, reflect, and take risks—like journaling, changing seating arrangements, and shifting their physical orientation to hear and experience music differently.
At the heart of his teaching? Encouraging each student to show up fully as themselves, lean into curiosity, embrace courage, and have fun.
Homecoming in Motion
Friends’ ChoreoLab, led by Barry Blumenfeld, welcomes dancer and image-maker Piper Morrison '19 back to campus this fall. Piper will work closely with students to refine technique, deepen improvisational listening, and translate process into performance ahead of the annual ChoreoShow this spring.
Rooted in Contact Improvisation, Aikido, and contemporary dance, Piper’s practice probes the outside edges of risky weight sharing, the modulation of tension and release, and the places where softness and rigor can coexist. A recent graduate of Oberlin College with a Bachelor’s in Dance and American Studies focused on screen-dance, Piper’s film work spans festivals and commissions: LAPSE (presented by Friends in Alone Together: A Concert of Dance on Video and winner of the 2020 Josiah Media Festival Experimental Film award), a 2021 collaboration scored by Sasha Frere-Jones for Meredith Monk/The House Foundation’s virtual gala, and Up To The Light (Oberlin XARTS recipient; Reason d’etre Dance Film Festival 2023, co-directed with Jonah Belsky).
Beyond the studio, Piper has supported Dances for Solidarity as an organizer and communications coordinator, and currently balances movement direction, teaching Contact Improvisation, and chef work for events and private clients.
Professional Development at Friends: Grounded in Spirit, Growing in Practice
At Friends, professional development is not a pause from teaching—it is a deepening of purpose. It is rooted in Quaker practice, animated by the curiosity of our educators, and shaped by the belief that teaching is, at its best, an act of ongoing transformation. On October 14, 2025, faculty and staff across all divisions gathered for a day of learning that reinforced this commitment—fostering a culture of reflection, dialogue, and shared responsibility for students’ intellectual and moral growth.
Across the School, the day’s programming gave our already exceptional educators the space to deepen their craft, reflect on their practice, and engage boldly with essential questions at the heart of teaching and learning.
“Each division used this PD day to dive deeply into its current priorities, including high-quality literacy and math instruction, truly interdisciplinary project-based learning, and navigating our values around academic honesty and environmental stewardship in an age of AI,” said Hassan Wilson, Dean of Studies. “In February, during our next all-faculty professional learning day, we’ll shift from divisional focus to shared curricular work and deepen our alignment with our newly launched Portrait of a Learner.”
Click here for a look at how each division used this day to grow in practice and deepen their collective vision.
Woods, Wonder, and Witness
Each fall, Friends Seminary fourth graders step away from the classroom and into the woods of the Catskills, embarking on a cherished three-day outdoor education trip to the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. This Lower School tradition—held this year from Monday, November 10 through Wednesday, November 12—offers students a chance to build community, deepen their sense of independence, and explore the natural world through hands-on learning.
Since 1967, the Ashokan Center has welcomed school groups from across the region, guided by the belief that young people learn best when immersed in nature, history, music, and art. Over 385 acres of forest, streams, and trails provide an ideal landscape for inquiry and discovery.
Throughout the trip, students participate in immersive, hands-on activities that challenge them to think critically, collaborate with peers, and step outside their comfort zones. From night walks and forest hikes to forging iron in a working blacksmith shop, the experience invites curiosity and sparks connection—to the land, to history, and to one another.
Guided by faculty and staff members—Dot, Ellen, Kazia, Jonathan, Khairah, Steven, and Tyler—students are thoughtfully and safely cared for throughout every aspect of the experience.
More than just a milestone in Grade 4, the Ashokan trip reflects Friends Seminary’s enduring belief that education is not confined to four walls. It is nurtured in community, grounded in reflection, and rooted in the natural world.
Stop-Motion Storytelling: Collaboration in Motion
In Maya Wainhaus’ Grade 5 Art class, students dive into the art of stop-motion animation—discovering how still images, when thoughtfully composed and carefully sequenced, can tell vivid and meaningful stories.
Working in small groups, students use pipe cleaners, paper cutouts, everyday objects—and sometimes even their own bodies—as characters and props in their animated scenes. From storyboarding to filming, students practice the techniques of visual storytelling: pacing, perspective, and sequence. They also explore how music, voiceover, and sound effects can enhance the emotional tone of their work.
At the heart of the unit is collaboration. Students take on different roles—animator, director, sound designer—and learn how to work creatively as a team. Along the way, they reflect on ideas like community, friendship, and identity, using art as a way to explore personal meaning.
As they prepare their final projects for sharing, students also engage in the practice of “warm” feedback, offering and receiving thoughtful reflections to support each other’s growth. Be on the lookout for their final pieces—thoughtful, funny, and wonderfully imaginative works of student-driven art in motion.
Building Understanding Through Community: A Week of Socioeconomic Reflection at Friends
At Friends, the work of building a more inclusive and empathetic community is never confined to a single moment. It is sustained by ongoing dialogue, critical inquiry, and the courage to engage with complex truths. This work is also guided by Kirsti Peters, Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, and Sanika Shah, Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Specialist for the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice (CPEJ), whose leadership helps shape and support these vital conversations. This month, the Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEB) Committee partnered with the Socioeconomic Diversity Club to lead a weeklong initiative in the Upper School focused on raising awareness and deepening understanding around socioeconomic identity, class, and financial aid—topics often left unspoken in school settings, yet deeply felt.
The initiative began with student leaders from both groups addressing the community during Upper School Meeting for Announcements. Their message set the tone: an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider how socioeconomic diversity shapes our lives and our learning spaces. The DEB Committee and Socioeconomic Diversity Club emphasized that the week was not about shaming anyone for what they did or didn’t have, but rather about cultivating empathy, awareness, and understanding in a school community where students come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. From there, students across all four grades were thoughtfully reorganized into mixed advisory groups, where they engaged in a text rendering activity and query-based discussion. Using excerpts from The Complementary Benefits of Racial and Socioeconomic Diversity in Schools, students read, highlighted, and shared words, phrases, and sentences that stood out—without pressure to explain why. The exercise encouraged both introspection and mutual respect, aligning with the Quaker practice of listening without judgment.
Click here to learn more.
Welcoming Friends School of Baltimore to the Skyspace
Friends Seminary was honored to welcome faculty, staff, and students from Friends School of Baltimore to Leading: The James Turrell Skyspace on Friday, November 7. Jesse Pasca, Visual Arts Teacher, thoughtfully introduced the installation and lead reflective programming.
Bridging Communities: Barcelona Exchange Launches at Friends
Friends Seminary recently welcomed five intrepid exchange students from Colegio Sant Ignasi in Barcelona, Spain—marking the third year of this global connection between our two schools. During their three-week stay, 10th graders Beth, Lucía, Pau, Cloe, and Rita are immersing themselves in the life of the School: attending classes, engaging in school activities, and sharing meals and traditions with their Friends host families.
Outside the classroom, the visiting students are also experiencing the vibrancy of New York City. From walks through Stuyvesant Square to visits to cultural landmarks—including an upcoming trip to the United Nations—they are exploring the intersections of civic life, global citizenship, and community connection.
In March, the exchange will continue as Friends students Wave '28, Dominique 28, Teddy '28, Sofia '28, and Tyler '28 travel to Barcelona to attend Colegio Sant Ignasi and live with host families there. The reciprocal structure of the program invites students to step out of their comfort zones and into new ways of learning, living, and seeing the world.
“This program is about so much more than travel,” said Kara Kutner, Director of the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice. “It’s about building relationships, cultivating empathy, and beginning to understand our place in a global community.”
As the partnership between Friends Seminary and Sant Ignasi continues to evolve, so too does the School’s commitment to experiential learning rooted in curiosity, courage, and connection.
Owl Sports
The Owls have taken flight for the fall season!
Congratulations to the Varsity Tennis Team on winning the ACIS Championship this season at USTA!
3x Champs!! 🏆🏆🏆
*Undefeated in ACIS
*Regular Season Champions
*Playoff Champions
For the most up to date sports news, follow Friends Athletics at www.instagram.com/friendsathletics for weekly team and senior features! Please enjoy live video from Friends sporting events here: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ny/new-york/organization/80015/friends-seminary-hig-high-school/video