Spiritual life has been central to Sandy Spring Friends School since its founding in 1961 by S. Brook Moore, who took his concern for the need to start a Friends school in the historic Quaker town to the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Today, spiritual life at the School continues to be focused around traditional Friends testimonies, referred to as Quaker values. These values include Simplicity, Peace, Equality, Stewardship, Honesty, Service, and Community.

As a Quaker school interested in personal and spiritual growth, Sandy Spring Friends Middle School believes that its Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Business are extremely important. Meeting for Worship is held twice per cycle for 30 minutes in the historic Meeting House on our campus, and is a time for students and faculty alike to share the power of silent worship and reflections growing out of it. As part of their advisory curriculum, students are introduced to the basic tenets of Quakerism through discussions, readings and visitors. All students have an advisor who oversees discussions of Quaker values and tenets as part of their regular advisory curriculum. Examples of topics covered include compassion, trust, resilience, courage, and humility.

Students also participate in committees that are modeled on those used by Quakers in their Meeting for Business. These Middle School committees help direct activities such as community service, environmental care, solutions to problems, diversity education, and technology use. Committee reports are presented and community issues are discussed in a monthly Middle School Meeting for Business, clerked by student leaders.

Our morning collection provides a brief opportunity for the entire Middle School community to gather and hear announcements about past and future happenings, schedule changes, athletic contests, community service, clubs, and any other special events relevant to the Middle School. This gathering is run by student leaders and provides them an opportunity to practice their public speaking and organizational skills.

Various field trips, assemblies and community service activities provide opportunities for students to experience and put into practice the school motto of "Let Your Lives Speak." Field trips expose students to the various cultural, ethnic, spiritual, and social aspects of the curriculum. Throughout the year, students attend a variety of theatre productions, dine in ethnic restaurants, visit various museums and participate in extended field trips. Examples of the assemblies include outside speakers discussing diversity from different countries and cultures, and presentations by students in music, movement, drama and theatre.