For a small school, community is a big deal. 

We go all out and all in for this core Quaker value, purposefully woven into the fabric of PFS life from curriculum to calendar. At drop-off, administrators greet each student by name with a handshake/fist bump. Prospective and longtime families are all welcomed warmly. They pay community forward by sharing their heritage and engaging enthusiastically in cherished traditions, from fall’s Hoopla to spring’s faculty and family camping trip to Blairstown. Parents value their connectedness to each other and to teachers, partnering enthusiastically to raise each child. But when it comes to students, community gets an exclamation point. Because the entire school community interacts regularly, children know and are kind to everyone, not just their classmates. As meeting partners, older kids mentor younger ones, who rise to the occasion when it’s their turn. New students join in seamlessly, and because all are accepted, and celebrated, for their diverse gifts, no one has to try to fit in to fit in. In this intentionally small pond, big fish and little fish come together in one amazing school.

Our meeting partners program is a longstanding and treasured tradition that brings together younger and older students, tapping into the transformative power of relationships across age groups. 

Each fall, faculty thoughtfully pair every student in preschool through third grade with a middle school meeting partner. These pairs meet every Friday for Community, which includes Settling In in our Meeting House followed by all-school dancing and singing. Through this regular practice, students develop deep cross-grade friendships grounded in empathy, curiosity, and mutual respect. Younger students see themselves as important and respected members of the community, building confidence and comfort in gathering spaces while older students experience pride as they grow lifelong leadership skills. 

Families often remark on the confidence and compassion this program nurtures—how younger children look up to their older peers with admiration, and how older students grow into patient, thoughtful mentors. These relationships encourage leadership, kindness, and a real sense of responsibility, while helping our students recognize the beauty of every age and stage in the learning journey.