The Month Ahead

10/12: Pet Day for 2nd, 5th, & 8th Grades, 8:15am

10/14: Early Dismissal, Parent-Teacher Conferences

10/15: No Classes, Parent-Teacher Conferences

10/17: Buckingham Meeting All-Community Meeting for Worship, 10:30am

10/26: Admissions Open House, 10am

11/6: Fall Frolic
Welcoming new faculty for the
start of the 227th school year!
The excitement of the new year is evident in so many ways and places! It has been wonderful to reconnect with our community as we return to our bucolic campus for the start of BFS’s 227th year. As we continue to live our mission and embrace the promise of each learner, we are excited to welcome new faculty, administrative, and board members - some of whom you may already know!
Rossana Zapf arrived this summer as our new Associate Head of School. Rossana received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Temple University, and a Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. During the search process last winter, it was abundantly clear that Rossana possessed many strengths. We can all look forward to the promise of her leadership and voice.
Returning to campus this year in their new roles are BFS graduates:
Simrit Lynch ’03, Reading Specialist and Teacher
Annette Miller '73, Trustee
Dan Holton-Roth '91, Trustee
Welcome back and thank you for working to strengthen our School with your time and talents!
Buckingham Friends School Receives Largest Gift in History of the School
School Launches Transformational Capital Campaign
As we start a new school year — the 227th year for our beloved school — we do so with gratitude for the BFS community. The insights and perspectives of our supportive community (including so many of you, our valued alumni) helped to shape the bold vision of our Strategic Plan and Facilities Plan. We are delighted to announce that —thanks in part to the extraordinary generosity of a grateful graduate — we are ready to “realize the promise” of those plans. 
It's that time of year again - PET DAY! BFS's one-of-a-kind, not-to-be-missed annual community-building event was spread out over three days to allow for physical distancing, but don't worry... it's just as wonderfully chaotic as always! This year's highlights include goats, chickens, geckos, hamsters, rats, cats, dogs, fish, turtles, stuffies, and even a pet carrot!
PET DAY 2021
Buckingham Friends Meeting Annual Community Meeting for Worship
Sunday, October 17th at 10:30am via ZOOM
Buckingham Friends School was established in 1794 by the Buckingham Monthly Meeting and the Meeting continues to own and hold the school under their care.

Meeting for Worship is one of the central experiences of a Friends education. It is where each individual can learn to listen, reflect, and ultimately share their unique voice as a contributing community member and where a culture of respect, trust, and advocacy can be built. Once a week students gather for Meeting for Worship, where they sit together in gathered silence. 

Each year, Buckingham Friends Monthly Meeting invites the BFS community to join them for a Community Meeting for Worship. Building off of the successful event last year, students, their families, faculty, staff, board members, and alumni are all invited to share worship with us via Zoom. Worship begins at 10:30am, and lasts 45 minutes.

We hope you can join us for this special community event!
Meeting ID: 774 395 8188
Passcode: 516666
Admissions Open House
Tuesday, October 26th &
Saturday, November 6th
at 10 am
Did you know that most prospective families hear about BFS from word of mouth? Please help us spread the word about our upcoming Admissions Open Houses on Tuesday, October 26th and Saturday, November 6th, both at 10am.

Encourage interested families to register at www.bfs.org/register or contact Directory of Admissions and Financial Aid Melissa Clayton directly for more information at mclayton@bfs.org.
Tree Planted In Honor of Jim Dunn
Alumni parent and Physical Plant Committee member Ozzie Oswald and former teacher Judy Heggestad were on campus in September to oversee the planting of a white oak tree in memory of former Facilities Director Jim Dunn. This tribute was made possible by the many friends of Jim.

Jim Dunn, who worked at BFS for over 20 years, passed away in April 2020. "Please know that he was loved, thoroughly enjoyed and revered. To know the measure, breadth and uniqueness of a man all you have to ask yourself is - "How many custodians do I know to be asked by an 8th grade class to be Graduation Speaker?'" -Linc Merwin former teacher and alumni parent.
Thank you for sharing your news – you’ll see it under your class year in our Spring 2022 Edition of Seedlings!
We want to keep in touch with you! Have you recently moved – changed email or phone number? Please update your contact info here.
Contact Katelynn Connolly, Director of Advancement, with any questions at advancement@bfs.org.
The Friends Education Equity Collaborative
(Friends Collaborative)

Increasing Access to Friends Education for More Families
BFS has recently joined the Friends Collaborative! Interested participants in the EITC program will have easier access to enrollment and benefit from the Collaborative's support team, streamlining this process for you and for BFS! Now is the time to contact Katelynn Connolly Director of Advancement to secure your place on the waitlist today.

Qualifying individuals and businesses have the opportunity to receive tax credits for supporting financial assistance for BFS students. Individuals and businesses in Pennsylvania can participate in the Friends Collaborative by making a minimum contribution of $3,000 per year for two consecutive years to support tuition assistance at BFS and fellow Quaker schools. In turn, participants receive a PA state tax credit for 90% of their contribution amount. As an example, a $10,000 Friends Collaborative gift to support tuition assistance has a net cost of just $1,000 to the donor – making this truly a win-win for donors and BFS! BFS receives at least 75% of every contribution from BFS donors, and the remainder supports scholarships at other Quaker schools in our area. 

Learn more by contacting Katelynn Connolly, Director of Advancement at 215-794-7491 or kconnolly@bfs.org
Remember When?
It would be spooky if you could list all of these BFS alums from the class of 2019!
Do you have a shirt like this? Send us photos of your vintage BFS apparel!
Can you name the students whose woodshop projects are featured here? Hint: they are from '09 and '10
Can you name this BFS Alum and current trustee?
Let's keep the conversation going...
Buckingham Friends School | www.bfs.org