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Quaker Values

Sidwell Friends is a place where students and faculty thrive on deep and imaginative inquiry—both intellectual and ethical.
Silent Reflection
Sitting together in shared silence is the cornerstone of a Quaker education. Our students and faculty gather each week to listen and reflect.
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Service
Students at all grade levels do their part to build community, both within our School and in the wider world.
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Environmental Stewardship
From the food we eat each day to the design of our buildings, we instill in our students an awareness of the earth’s limited resources.
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Global Citizenship
By studying cultures and languages from around the world, students develop perspective on their own beliefs.
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Equity, Justice, and Community
The belief that there is “that of God in everyone” is at the heart of our commitment to equity and social justice.
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Queries

Students develop questions that guide self-examination.
As the end of the school year approaches, what choices can we make to keep friendships that will last a lifetime?

– 2nd grade students

How can we spread peace, love, and kindness and make a positive impact on the world?

– 1st grade students

As the flowers bloom, how can we inspire others by showing them that kindness wins?

– 1st Grade Students

How are we caretakers of the earth? How do we respect all its inhabitants?

– 4th Grade Students

As we reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., how can we encourage others to speak up and stand up for what is right?

– 4th grade students

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What are ways that we let our lives speak so that our actions reflect our values?

– 7th grade students

At Sidwell Friends, we are supportive of the LGBTQ community. How can we share our support of the LGBTQ community in the larger world?

– 7th Grade Students

In a community that encourages activism and awareness, spreading your personal opinion is important, but when does sharing opinions become hurtful?

– 7th Grade Students

In a world where academic success is prized, how can we balance our work with our relationships with other people?

– 7th Grade Students

It is not enough to just talk about our values. How do we live and demonstrate the respect, kindness, and compassion that we value at Sidwell Friends, both when we are at school and also in the larger community?

– 7th grade students

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As a community, what are we doing to encourage members to embody integrity and simplicity in their everyday lives?

– Upper School Students

How do we take measure of past and present inequalities? How do we mend them?

– Upper School students

How can we comfort others during hardship when we ourselves need comfort?

– Upper School Students

Do we know how to ask for help?  Do we offer it enough?

– Upper School Students

How do we celebrate individuality and cultivate a sense of community?

– Upper School Students

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Community Voices

Lower School

The joy of inquiry and exploration is instilled in our youngest learners.

Middle School

Growth and discovery take place in a supportive learning environment.

Upper School

Students are empowered to pursue their interests, both in and out of the classroom.

Alumni

The impact of a Sidwell Friends education extends beyond graduation day.

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