Buckingham Friends School
Buckingham Friends School, a private Quaker school in Lahaska, Pennsylvania was founded in 1794. The current Quaker Meetinghouse was built in 1754. The school started out as a small schooolhouse. An addition was put on in the 1930s, followed by the gymnasium in 1955 and the lower school building. Another addition was built in 2002/2003. The school provides for grades K-8. Upper School curriculum includes: Advanced algebra, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, American History, Model Congress, Art, World Religion, Biology, Sex Education, and Music.
Philosophy
The school emphasizes growth of the students academically, intellectually, spiritually, and ethically by engaging students, their families and the Quaker community in the educational process. Students are given the opportunity to become well-grounded in core Quaker values such as non-violence, integrity, simplicity, mutual respect and trust. The school does this by offering activities that promote clear and careful thinking, accountability, the value to one-self to be found in serving others, the value of creativity, and a love for learning. This prepares them to seek and achieve greater success in life.
The warm atmosphere and small classes provide for a community in which children can grow, learn, and become their own person, with room to make decisions for themselves and find their own individual views. Although each class attends a forty minute meeting for worship on Thursdays, there are a wide range of religious views within the school community.
The JEM program
The JEM (Joint Environmental Mission) program started in 1991. It is a foreign exchange program with an environmental theme. The exchange includes schools in St. Petersburg, Russia; Belgaum, India; Honolulu, Hawaii; Ngong Hills, Kenya; Melbourne, Australia; Nanchang, China; Montmorillon, France; and Rio Blanco, Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador. The first school partnership began with School #213 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Every 4-5 years a gathering of all JEM partner schools occurs to discuss one of the five environmental themes: Water, Soil, Light, Air, and peace. All JEM partner schools will participate in the next Earth Summit which will occur at Buckingham Friends School this April, 2013. This program has sustained itself over decades connecting with of students and families from around the globe.
General information
Base Religion: Quaker
Students: approx. 175
Grades: K-8
Classes Per Grade: 1
Extracurricular Activities: Music, Art, Woodshop, Photography, Acting, and many others.
Sports: Basketball, Softball, Field Hockey, Yoga, Soccer, and Lacrosse.
Head of School: Lucretia M. Wells
Website: http://www.bfs.org
Coordinates: 40°20′41″N 75°02′20″W / 40.34481°N 75.03878°W