Partnering with Parents to Raise a Teenager
At every level of Preschool – 12th grade education, the parent/school partnership is vital, but perhaps never more so than in high school, as it’s the time when teenagers’ independence…
A Heart Full of Gratitude
I am writing this with a full heart, knowing that the school year is coming to an end. Here at the High School, we are through Advisee Games, halfway done…
Community Service: A Core Tenet of Progressive Education
The following article (and the photo above) reflects how we incorporate community service into the curriculum and student life in a normal, non-COVID school year. We expect to resume our…
Hellos and Goodbyes
The cyclical nature of high school is one of the many things I love about my job. It’s always hard to say goodbye to the graduating class, but that emotion…
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: How We Do the Work
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central themes at St. Francis, woven into our values, philosophy, and everyday life. Our official Diversity Statement reads: At St. Francis, we believe there is…
The Power of Student Voice
Student voice is an essential part of a Progressive school — and certainly St. Francis students never disappoint on that score. (With an office adjacent to the Commons Room, some…
Turning a Corner
This feels like a week of contrasts. On one hand, I’ve been reflecting on the full year that has passed since we closed school last spring; I remember thinking then…
Reflecting on Black History Month
Today we finish the official celebration of Black History Month. We proudly commemorate this special month, though we also endeavor always to weave a multidimensional, full, inclusive approach throughout our…
Looking Ahead to College
While you are currently focused on the process of choosing your child’s high school, we can personally attest to the fact that the high school years go by incredibly quickly,…
Lunch, the Sign-Out System, and Safety
What do our high schoolers do for lunch? What is the Sign-Out System? How does it work? Do kids just wander around downtown? Is it safe? These are all good…