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Our Campus
New Campus Ribbon Cutting
Remarks by Martha Bryans
Since 1885, young children have found a safe and welcoming environment, attuned to their innate interests and desires. The sheltering campus, tucked behind pale yellow stucco walls on Buck Lane in Haverford, PA, has opened horizons for young children as they explore and learn about the world.
The campus consists of three main structures: the Meeting House, School House and Heritage House. The Heritage House gym is available to outside groups to rent. For more information, contact the Business Manager: Cheryl Hammond Hopewell,
610-642-2334, x113, chopewell@friendshaverford.org,
The Fields for Friends Campaign addressed four major aspects of our campus: an expanded environmental science education program; enhanced play and gathering spaces; improved fields for physical education and recreation; and better stewardship of our campus through improved infiltration and on-site drainage.
Environmental Education–The Greening of the Friends School Haverford Campus and Curriculum
At Friends School Haverford, the outdoor space is an extension of the classroom and is integrated into the curriculum. Our campus is a certified National Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat indicating that our students and teachers have completed projects that demonstrate commitment to wildlife conservation and the environment.
Heritage House Bio-swale – An Intentional Ecosystem
The Heritage House Bio-swale, engineered to manage storm water runoff, will create a natural habitat for student observation. The upper border of the bio-swale will be designed as a site for the kindergarten gardening program. The bio-swale is planted with native species and is home to butterflies and hummingbirds. In addition to the water management role the swale plays, it is also an official butterfly way station for migrating monarchs. Conveniently located near the campus gardens is the greenhouse, potting shed and compost container.
Gardens
Classroom garden projects are an important part of the kindergarten, second, and third grade curricula.
The Picnic Grove
Classes at Friends School Haverford meet outside for a variety of intentional activities. The new Picnic Grove is used for picnic lunches, poetry writing, journal reflection, and art sketching.
Playgrounds
The Fields for Friends Campaign included a complete reorganization of the playgrounds for our youngest students and has provided areas for additional games and activities for students through sixth grade. Just south of the School House, a pervious surface is installed with a large sandbox, hopscotch, foursquare and other sidewalk games that make this a favorite destination. It is also a welcoming gathering place for students and parents and for School social functions.
Heritage House Green
The Heritage House Playground Green includes a large tricycle/jogging track and new and refurbished playground equipment. The center of the track is planted with grass for running and ball games. At the perimeter of the Playground Green there are swings, climbing structures, and a sand pit.
Nancy’s House
An important component of the Campus Master Plan was the inclusion of a “Nancy’s House”. The original Nancy’s House, a memorial to a beloved FSH student, played an important role in the lives of FSH children. The structure had become dangerous and was taken down in 2004. The new Nancy’s House is custom designed to support the same kind of magical, imaginative play that the original structure engendered.
Buck-Schmader Field
Recognizing the need for all-weather playing surfaces that support daily physical education classes and free play, a new synthetic turf field and appropriate under-drainage was installed on the Oakley Road field
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Fields for Friends On a beautiful late fall morning, students welcomed Nancy’s House and enjoyed hot chocolate and donuts to celebrate the occasion. Sixth graders, the first students to explore the new structure, were joined by Sally Bleznak, whose daughter Nancy was the inspiration for the original structure, taken down in 2005, as well as the newly completed version. Student drawings, like the one at right by William Verdeur ‘08, provided the architects with ideas for the design. |
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