Letter to Parents from Randy Milden, Clerk of the Board of Trustees
September 2009
Dear Parents,
San Francisco Friends School began as a conversation among parents and grandparents who care deeply about the education of young people in our city. We are educators, business people and volunteers who are familiar with the strength and depth of Quaker schools. Some of us attended Friends schools; others of us have ties to Friends Meeting and Quaker service organizations. We all believe in the value of an education that combines a rigorous academic program with a daily school life that encourages reflection upon and connection to larger concerns, such as spirituality, community, and the natural world.
We opened the school in Fall 2002 with the hard work and support of our teachers, administrative staff, and families. Our Founding Head, Catherine Hunter, has led us with extraordinary wisdom and cheerful spirit. We are grateful for the encouragement of our peer schools, whose teachers and Heads note that by bringing Friends education to the Bay Area, we will, over time, strengthen teaching and learning in our community.
As we move forward, we support our Head of School and staff by thinking strategically about growth, finance, hiring, site, and development. For the last few years, we have been hard at work, renovating the old Levi Strauss factory at 250 Valencia Street to be our permanent home. Last fall, we celebrated the first day of school in our new building. We are especially proud to be a part of the Mission community. We are committed to a financial plan that supports families of varied economic means. We consult with Friends schools across the country and work with members of the Friends Meeting community to bring the values embodied in Quakerism into all of our work for the school. Above all, we keep in mind that the children and teachers are at the heart of our mission.
Please read our website and come for a visit. We would love to answer your questions and talk with you about our work and vision for San Francisco Friends School. We hope your family will become part of our shared endeavor.
Sincerely,
Randy Milden
on behalf of the Board of Trustees