Ask an FSH family what makes the school special and you might hear about a favorite teacher, a beloved tradition, a moment when a child felt particularly understood, or simply the feeling of walking into the building each morning.
Our teachers notice those things, too.
We recently asked several Friends School Haverford teachers what they love most about teaching here. Their answers capture many of the things that can be difficult to explain about FSH but easy to recognize once you’ve experienced them: the warmth of the building, the wonder children bring to learning, the feeling of being truly known, and the traditions that become part of a family’s story.
A Place That Feels Like Home
For Art Teacher Kim, it begins with the school itself.
“There is something really, really special about the physical space of our school and our campus. We’re tucked back off this quiet road amongst these beautiful trees. The floors are wooden and old and creaky, and the building is worn, but in a really good way.
By the time you add in the colorful artwork and the voices of the kids and the happenings of a regular school day, it feels magical and almost like home. There’s just something really special.”
For young children, the places where they learn become part of how they experience school itself. A building that feels warm, familiar, and full of evidence of children’s lives sends a quiet message: you belong here.
Over time, children begin to develop a sense of ownership over the space. They know where things are, recognize the work on the walls, and move through the school with the confidence that comes from being somewhere that feels like theirs.
Seeing the World Through a Child’s Eyes
Literacy Specialist Marie finds inspiration in one of the simplest pleasures of teaching young children: sharing something wonderful with them and seeing where their curiosity takes them.
“Anyone who has had the good fortune to introduce a young child to a beloved character or an unforgettable story knows why we choose to walk alongside these young learners each day; their enthusiasm, curiosity, and wonder fill us with inspiration and hope. We are the lucky ones.”
Young children have a remarkable capacity for wonder. A story can become an entire world. A question can lead somewhere completely unexpected. Something an adult has encountered hundreds of times can feel brand new when experienced alongside a child.
Stories are also one of the ways that curiosity begins to grow into an interest in reading and literacy. Children start wondering what the words say, recognizing familiar letters and sounds, predicting what might happen next, and asking to hear favorite books again and again. Reading becomes connected to the pleasure of discovering something new.
That curiosity isn’t something to rush through. It is something worth protecting and encouraging. And as Marie points out, the relationship works both ways. Teachers help children discover the world, but children continually remind their teachers how extraordinary the world can be.
A Community Where Children Are Known
For Kindergarten Lead Teacher Lauren, what stands out most is the way people are regarded within the FSH community.
“What I love most about teaching at Friends School Haverford is being part of a community where every child and staff member is truly seen and valued. The Quaker belief that there is something special in each person really resonates with me, and I love being in a place where kindness, curiosity, and care for one another are woven into each day.”
For young children, being known matters.
It means teachers learning not only what a child can do academically, but what makes them laugh, what captures their attention, when they feel confident, and when they might need reassurance.
The belief that there is something valuable within each person can be expressed in big ideas, but children experience it through small moments: being listened to, being invited into a conversation, having their ideas taken seriously, and learning to extend that same consideration to others.
The Traditions Children Remember
Some of the strongest school memories come from the traditions that return year after year.
PE Teacher Sharon sees children’s enthusiasm every day in the gym.
“The children are always enthusiastic about PE class, which makes every class fun and unique. They come to the gym ready to participate and learn, full of energy and enthusiasm!”
But when asked about her favorite part of FSH, Sharon also thought immediately of Grandfriends Day.
“Having grandparents spend the day with their grandchildren is special. It concludes with a sing-along and Meeting for Worship. This day is my favorite day of the year and super special to those grandparents who attend.”
Grandfriends Day gives children the chance to welcome someone important to them into their school world, whether that person is a grandparent or another special older adult in their life.
For the adults who come, it is an opportunity to see the classrooms and teachers they have heard so much about and to experience a little of what a child’s days at FSH are actually like.
And for children, there is something exciting about getting to share a place that belongs to them with someone they love.
What Children Learn About School
Long before children can explain what makes a school feel special, they are forming ideas about what it means to learn and what kind of place school is.
They notice whether their questions are taken seriously, whether adults are genuinely interested in what they have to say, and whether there is room to experiment, make mistakes, and try again. Over time, those everyday experiences help shape how children see themselves as learners.
The most meaningful parts of an education are not always the easiest ones to measure. Sometimes they show up in a child who runs into school eager to begin the day, who becomes absorbed in figuring something out, who proudly shares something they created, or who knows that the adults around them are paying attention.
That may be one of the most important things a school can give a child: the sense that learning is something joyful, that their curiosity has value, and that school is a place where they are known.
