At Sandy Spring Friends School we believe in a diverse, collaborative, nonhierarchical community and put an emphasis on affirming and empowering the individual and examining all points of view. Forging strong connections among members of our school community is conducive to both intellectual growth (for understanding complex ideas) and social growth (for instilling respect for others and enabling all students to have an active voice and influence). This culture is guided by our abiding commitment to Quaker values—and a sense of belonging to this community remains with our alumni throughout their lives.
At A Glance
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Peer mentorship programs in the Lower, Middle, and Upper School
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Annual All-School All Day Events: Community Day & Our People, Our Planet (OPOP) Day
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Community Groups made up of faculty, staff, and students from across all three divisions.
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All-School Assemblies: Beginning of the Year, Winter, and End of Year Assemblies
Throughout the year, we offer a number of opportunities to build community connections. Below are examples that bring our community members together:
Lower & Upper School Senior Buddies
Preschool (Age 4)-1st grade students are paired up with a Upper School "Senior Buddy” who helps them become familiar with the SSFS community. “Buddies” attend all-school assemblies and Community Day events together, and have several lunches and recess play dates together throughout the year.
All-School Community Day
Community Day is a day when when all students, faculty, and staff set aside a day to serve, play, and reflect together. As a school, we divide into cross-division "Family Groups" made up of faculty, staff, and students from all three divisions.
SSFS Community Friends Day
Every September, the Parents Association hosts Friends Day—a fun-filled day for all SSFS parents and students to gather on the SSFS campus to enjoy live music, meet new friends, enjoy good food, and have fun!
Alumni Alumni Weekend
Each year, our alumni are invited back to campus for Alumni Weekend. The weekend is full of activity including a Strawberry Cowbake, Meeting for Worship, an Alumni Art Show & State of the School, Beestball, Lacrosse,
alumni parties, and more!
SSFS Community MLK Jr. Day
On the third Monday of January, SSFS families and friends gather together on campus to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, through a full-day of service and fellowship.
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OPOP Day
Our People, Our Planet Day (OPOP Day) is a day dedicated to a dual focus of environmental literacy and greater understanding of the unique social, global, and cultural composition of all SSFS community members.
"SSFS students are good citizens; they’re well educated, of course, but more importantly, they’re people who care about the world around them and want to make it better."
“At Sandy Spring, they really emphasize community—and community means everyone. As a senior, I had a Kindergarten buddy, and the cross-divisional and inter-grade relationships were really special. The connections with adults at SSFS are also something I’ll always value. Relationships like the ones I had at SSFS are something I seek as I go forward. SSFS helped me discover who I am—all the layers of me—down to my core.”
"During Community Day, on the way back from the Meeting House, a young student fell down on the wooden bridge and started crying. Immediately, about ten kids helped her cross the bridge and then clustered around her in support, tying her shoelaces and patting her on the back. Not a single person walking by complained about the bottleneck the group created. This school teaches kids to be kind. And that is so deeply meaningful to me."
"Community Day feels like an explosion of ‘Sandy Spring-ness.’ Getting to know students in different grades is great, and being able to walk through the woods with them to historic Sandy Spring is amazing."
"With dedicated teachers, a thoughtfully designed environment, and unique programs like the senior buddy system, children feel supported, inspired, and truly seen. Rooted in Quaker principles, SSFS fosters not only academic growth but also kindness, curiosity, and a sense of belonging. It's not just a school—it’s a place where young learners thrive, feel at home, and develop a lifelong foundation for success."
"Community Day is my favorite thing in the world. There are students who I’ve met through my family group as 1st graders who I’ve watched go all the way through…it’s an incredible gift to get to know kids outside of your own division."
"Community Day is one of the most joyful and meaningful traditions I have experienced at SSFS. Each person is part of a cross-divisional “family group” [consistent K–12 groups that include students, faculty, and staff from across the school] and spends the day engaged in activities, relationship-building, and community-focused service. Once I became a Pink Panther, I'm a Pink Panther forever! The entire school also walks together to the Meeting House as a whole community and gathers for a special Meeting for Worship [a Quaker practice of communal quiet reflection in which individuals speak as they feel led]."
"When I helped to start OPOP, on a personal level, I was trying to share my own experience of cultural acceptance and curiosity with the whole community, making it something collectively transformative. I carried this passion—as well as my interest in sustainability and stewardship—with me to Boston College, which inspired me to lead Bike BC, an organization that encouraged students to travel in more sustainable ways, as well as to code an app to help fellow students explore student activities and connect with others who share their cultural identity. I feel I made an impact at SSFS and BC, and I want to keep doing that. OPOP was the first step!"
