A Caring Community at FSMH

By Isha Strasser,
Director of Enrollment & Communications

The rhythm of a new school year is upon us and we flow right into our annual Fall Festival to gather in the spirit of Community–one of the core Quaker testimonies which are commonly referred to as the SPICES. 

For those of us who don’t practice Quakerism in a formal sense, perhaps you are like me, drawn deeply toward ideals of goodness that serve as signposts along the way. The SPICES do just that. 

One of my early tasks here was to define the SPICES for a tour brochure. This felt like a sacred task of word whittling, and after a few rounds of edits, we settled on the following definitions: 

• Simplicity: focusing on what is truly important. 
• Peace: being a source of love, light, and goodness in the world; resolving conflict with nonviolence. 
• Integrity: aligning our thoughts, words, and deeds. 
• Community: caring, supporting, and sharing with one another; recognizing the Light in all. 
• Equality: knowing that all persons are equal and treating everyone with respect. 
• Stewardship: valuing creation by caring for all of our shared resources.

When I’m searching for an answer or pondering a problem, the SPICES help direct my attention. Streamline my thinking. I turn back to these definitions regularly to replenish or expand my perspective. I hope they do the same for you.

At our upcoming Fall Festival, we’ll have an opportunity to embody the spirit of our theme of the year: Caring Community. 

We have partnered with the Making Caring Common Project, offered through Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Last year a survey was given to students, faculty, and staff. We’re collating the data to inform how we will continue to improve school relationships and student well-being to build a caring community.

So far this year, our weekly queries have circumambulated this theme: How can we show new members of our community that they are welcome? How do we get to know each other in our community? 

Our Project Based Learning approach will help expand the idea of community to cultivate a sense of global citizenship and responsibility. Under the skillful expertise of Teacher Flo Carrano, the Global Learning Coordinator, our students will lead the way to many new insights.

And I wonder, how might we continue to upbraid our theme of Caring Community with the foundational SPICES to embody these ideals everyday? I look forward to seeing you at the Fall Festival to hear your thoughts!