Our goal is to deliver restorative and invigorating programming that provide opportunities for peer and community support & connections. 

Heads of Friends Council Elementary, Secondary & Early Childhood Annual Spring Gathering 2025

April 24-25, 2025

Historic Arch Street Meeting House

320 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
[Thu] 12-9pm to [Fri] 8:30-12pm

The opportunity to gather is always cherished, and gathering at this time feels particularly important. We look forward to seeing those who can join us.

Thursday - April 24

Our Spring Heads Gathering, sponsored by Schoolhouse Pictures, begins with a delicious lunch provided by Culinart Group, with Friends Council membership and board of directors. Following lunch is our Annual Meeting, sponsored by ConnectOne Bank, where we will affirm a slate of new trustees, honor departing trustees, and hear a report on this year's work from our Executive Director. We will also honor Rich Nourie with the Leadership in Service to Friends Education Award at a special presentation and reception. 

During our meeting and conversations with Heads of School this year, we have heard how important it is to engage in ongoing discussion together about the impact on our schools of current changes in law and national climate.

Thursday evening, hosted by Germantown Friends School, will be a panel of leaders from faith-based schools and associations to learn how they are thinking about navigating our current economic, social, and political environment.
Panelists: Rasha El-Hagan, Friends School of Baltimore, Associate Head & Board member Islamic Schools League of America,  Jalene Spain Thomas, Head, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, John Barnhardt, President & CEO, Bishop McNamara High School. The panel will center on leadership at the intersection of religion and education in an era of reform. After, we’ll share dinner and table talk with our honoree, Rich Nourie. Dinner includes optional van shuttle to Germantown Friends School.
 

Friday - April 25

Friday morning, we’ll gather for a hot breakfast at the Arch Street Meeting House. Conversation lead by Pete Commons and his team from Commons & Commons LLP, around issues around our bylaws and policies and their connection to Quaker faith and practice. How can our identity as Quaker schools offer us legal protections and rights, and what are the limits of those protections? We’ll also spend time in affinity groups and all together as we wrestle with the important queries facing us as leaders today. We will conclude our time together with an opportunity for worship sharing.