Sandy Spring Friends School

 

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SSFS Weekly and Bi-Weekly Newsletters

Gnu Stories, the SSFS all-school newsletter, is sent bi-weekly on Mondays during the school year, and features stories that provide families with a snapshot of school life at SSFS and connects them to the wider community. 

Learn More: Weekly Division Newsletters

Wildebeest Statue

Building Connections & Community

Gnu Stories: Highlights from the SSFS Community

Earlham College and Sandy Spring Friends School Partnership
Sandy Spring Friends School Enters Direct Admissions Pathway Partnership with Earlham College

Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) is pleased to announce a direct admissions pathway partnership with Earlham College, a private, liberal arts Quaker college located in Richmond, Indiana. SSFS is part of a consortium of Friends Schools in the United States who are participating in the partnership, which is “designed to connect academically talented students educated in the Quaker tradition with a U.S. News & World Report Top 100 national liberal arts college.”

See More about Sandy Spring Friends School Enters Direct Admissions Pathway Partnership with Earlham College
Farm Blog - Companion Planting
September 2026 Farm Blog: Companion Planting

To start off the year in the Lower School, students learned about Companion Planting. The idea is that planting two or more plants together creates favorable conditions for each plant that allows them to grow better than if the plants were to be grown alone. Farmer Franny explains the benefits, and adds: "All that academic stuff aside, there’s an embedded lesson in here that’s probably even more important. If plants grow and mature better with companions, just imagine how important it is for people."

See More about September 2026 Farm Blog: Companion Planting
Preschool Butterfly with Text
Sandy Spring Friends School Launches Expanded Year-Round Preschool Program

New flexible scheduling options, extended care, and summer programming offer families more choices for early childhood education
Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) is launching an expanded Preschool at Sandy Spring program with new year-round offerings for 3- and 4-year-olds beginning in Fall 2026. Families will now have access to a variety of scheduling options, including full-day, half-day, extended care, partial-week, 10-month, and year-round enrollment. The expanded preschool program is designed to meet the needs of today's families while providing young children with a nurturing, play-based learning environment rooted in outdoor exploration, discovery, and community. A nutritious hot lunch and healthy snacks are included as part of the program.

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Beginning of Year All-School Assembly 2026
Beginning of Year All-School Assembly 2026

The first all-school assembly of the year brought our full community together for a "peace"-themed gathering. Highlights included remarks from US Torch Clerk Benji C. and Acting Head of School Meredith Shankle; presentations by the Hispanic/Latinx Affinity Group and the Upper School Difference Makers Club; performances by the MS/US Vocal Ensemble group, the Upper School Dance class, a 4th and 5th grade instrumental music performance celebrating peace; and a beginning of the year slideshow. And of course, no all-school assembly is complete without singing the George Fox Song together! 

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LS Faith and Play
"Faith and Play" Stories Bring Quaker Practices Into the Classroom

As a Friends School, SSFS is committed to integrating Quaker principles and practices into the daily lives of our students. One way we do that with our younger students is through "Faith and Play" Stories. SSFS Lower School Learning Specialist Franni Cannizzaro has been trained in Faith and Play, and she brought the practice to our Preschool classroom on Sep. 10, 2026. Using the lesson's signature storytelling, simple materials, and a collaborative approach, the group learned about and shared their thoughts on the lesson "Gifts: A Story About the Gifts God Gives Each of Us."

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SSFS Community Art Show 2026
SSFS Community Art Show Opening Reception: Oct. 1

The Arts faculty is thrilled to celebrate our community's creativity and artistic talents this Thursday, October 1, at 6:00 PM in the PAC Lobby. Please join us for an evening of art, conversation, and connection as we celebrate the many creative voices that make our SSFS community so special.

  • 6:00 PM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • 6:10 PM – Artist Introductions and Exhibition Viewing
  • 6:30 PM – Reception and Community Celebration
See More about SSFS Community Art Show Opening Reception: Oct. 1
SSFS Board Announces New School Leadership
SSFS Board Announces New School Leadership

As shared in an email to the community sent July 27, 2026, the SSFS Board of Trustees has announced that Brooke Carroll '83 P '20 will lead our school’s next chapter as the new Head of School. Brooke will officially begin her headship in January 2027. During this transition period, Meredith Shankle P ’22 will serve as Acting Head of School. Meredith joined the SSFS community in 2014, has served as the Head of Upper School since 2024, and was recently named Assistant Head of School. Read more about Meredith and Brooke online! 

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QQQ Web page
"Quotes, Quirks, and Quakerisms" Web Page

When we ask students, staff, alums, and families to share what makes SSFS unique, they overflow with enthusiastic reflection. In fact, the phrase, “delightfully quirky” comes up regularly! What does “quirky” mean, anyway? One definition is “unusual, especially in an interesting or appealing way.” Sounds like SSFS! We invite you to visit our "Quotes, Quirks, and Quakerisms" web page and see how our identity as a Friends school meaningfully shapes every aspect of school life, giving us shared purpose, a deep sense of belonging, and joy!

See More about "Quotes, Quirks, and Quakerisms" Web Page

Upcoming Dates: SSFS All-School Events

Oct. 2

All-School Fall Athletics Pep Rally

2:15-3:00 PM | Preuss Field

Oct. 16

SSFS All-School Community Day

8:10 AM - 3:10 PM

Oct. 22

Head of School Forum & PA Meeting

5:30-8:00 PM | Yarnall Library

GnuStories: Previous Articles

Division-Specific Newsletters: The Week Ahead

Division-specific newsletters are emailed to SSFS families each Sunday afternoon during the school year and posted on the division-specific pages of the Parent Portal. These newsletters provide messages from division heads and "must-know" calendar information about upcoming events for the week. 

Parents and guardians must log in to the Parent Portal to access the division-specific pages where the newsletters are posted.

Please Note: Only SSFS parents have access to the links above. SSFS employees may access the division-specific newsletters via the Faculty/Staff Portal.