• Home
  • About
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Head of School
    • History
    • Quaker Education
    • Diversity
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Press Releases
    • Head of School Search
  • Admissions
    • Why FSMH?
    • Request a Tour
    • Applying
    • Tuition
    • Tuition Assistance and Scholarships
    • Evergreen Contracts
    • Early Room/Extended Day
    • Food Allergy Policy
    • Beyond FSMH
  • Academics
    • Early Childhood
    • Lower School
    • Middle School
    • Essentials
    • Curriculum
    • Hands-On Learning
    • Service Learning
    • Teaching with Technology
  • Activities
    • Calendar
    • Media Gallery
    • Music School
    • Athletics
    • Drama
    • After-School Clubs
    • Summer Camp
  • Support FSMH
    • Annual Fund
    • Online Giving
    • Auction
    • Friendship Quilt
    • Award Winners
  • Parents
    • Parents’ Association
    • Medical Forms
    • What is Quaker Meeting for Worship?
    • Notes to Friends
    • 2024-2025 Important Dates
    • Lower School Summer Reading
  • Blog
  • Alumni
    • Stay Connected
    • Alumni Newsletter
    • 50th Anniversary
  • Contact
  • CONTACT US 856-478-2908

Friends School Mullica Hill

  • Request a Tour
  • Apply Now
  • Parent Access to RENWEB
  • Calendar of Events

February 21, 2020

50th Timeline: Spring 1982 – Creating the Middle School

In the last entry we discussed the appointment of a new Head of School, Alex Horsley.  One of his early initiatives was to task Hanshi Deshbandhu with the creation of a separate Middle School.  Up to this point in time, students had either been in the Lower School (up to 6th grade) or in the Upper School (7th to 12th grades).  Horsley and Deshbandhu recognized that the challenges of the “middle” years had always been significant but that the modern world, from computers to increased alcohol and drug use, was only making these years more difficult.  As Hanshi wrote in a letter to parents of sixth grade students, “Sixth grade is a very important as well as a very difficult year for students…. The Middle School is the proper place to give support to these young adolescents who are making the transition both academically and socially from childhood into adolescence…. The teachers will help the students learn skills and proper behavior in school, and you as parents will help them develop good study habits and to learn to be responsible at home.”  One of the most important elements of the Middle School under Hanshi, one that has continued ever since, is an emphasis on field trips both to local and international destinations. During the 1980s, Hanshi led students to England, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.

Article by Erica Salmon / blog

Follow/Contact Us

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on LinkedInemail
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Facebook Posts

On Tuesday, our entire student body participated in our Day of Play! Classes rotated through various free play stations located around our campus. This was a partner class event which provided some open ended activities for students to engage in. ... See MoreSee Less

21 hours ago
On Tuesday, our entire student body participated in our Day of Play! Classes rotated through various free play stations located around our campus.  This was a partner class event which provided some open ended activities for students to engage in.Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes love 16
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

1 CommentComment on Facebook

The sound of the students playing are a source of great pleasure to this neighbor.

Tomorrow night, May 22, 2025, our Middle School is presenting “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition” at Rowan University’s Tohill Theater at 7pm. All are welcome to attend and tickets are available at the door for $5. Come out and support our talented students! ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
Tomorrow night, May 22, 2025, our Middle School is presenting “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition” at Rowan University’s Tohill Theater at 7pm.  All are welcome to attend and tickets are available at the door for $5. Come out and support our talented students!
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes love 17
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Our Middle School traveled last week to Baltimore, MD where they visited the National
Aquarium and enjoyed an Orioles baseball game.
... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago
Our Middle School traveled last week to Baltimore, MD where they visited the National
Aquarium and enjoyed an Orioles baseball game.Image attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes love 14
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Calendar

Follow and Contact Us

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on E-mail

Quick Links

Calendar
Why Friends School Mullica Hill?
Applying
Quaker Education

Contact FSMH

For additional information or to schedule an appointment please contact us at admissions@friendsmh.org or (856) 478-2908.

Location

15 High Street
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062

info@friendsmh.org

Our campus is situated on the Indigenous territory known as Lenapehoking, the traditional homeland of the Lenni-Lenape.

© Copyright 2024 Friends School Mullica Hill