The Growth We See by June: Reflections on a Year of Learning and Connection

As the school year winds down, we find ourselves reflecting, not just on what our students have accomplished, but on how they’ve grown in ways that can’t always be captured on paper. Often, it’s the quiet moments - the ones rooted in connection, perseverance, or newfound confidence - that reveal just how much a child has grown.

It’s in the way a child begins to trust their voice. The way a friendship deepens after a disagreement. The way a student keeps trying, even when something feels hard.

At United Friends School, we believe that educating the whole child means honoring all the ways children grow—academically, emotionally, and socially. As we close the school year, we’re pausing to reflect on that growth and share what it looks like in real life.

Growth You Can See and Feel

This year, UFS students dove into rich, hands-on learning that sparked curiosity and built skills. Our preschool and TK students explored foundational literacy with Learning Without Tears, while K–3 friends strengthened phonics and reading through Fundations. Lower School friends created life-sized volcanoes, hatched chicks, and investigated the natural world through project-based science. In Middle School, students built 3D models of the human body, explored Ancient China, and brought their studies to life on a learning trip to Costa Rica.

But what stood out most wasn't just what students learned… it was how they learned: with persistence, creativity, and a growing sense of confidence.

Emotional and Social Growth, Woven In

Every academic breakthrough was paired with growth in self-awareness, empathy, and connection. Friends reflected during class circles, practiced restorative conversations, and shaped class agreements together. They supported one another through group projects and recess disagreements alike. They listened and felt heard during Meeting for Worship and weekly announcements. These moments helped students build emotional vocabulary, develop compassion, and understand their role in a caring community.

As one of our community themes this year, belonging was more than a word. It was a lived experience. Each month, students explored one of the SPICES testimonies—Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship—considering how these values guide their choices and relationships.

A Community That Grows Together

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation, it’s shaped by the people we learn with and the traditions we share. Events like Fall Fest, Grandfriends Day, Earth Day, and our Spring into Summer Celebration brought our whole community together in joyful, meaningful ways. Weekly partner time fostered friendships across grade levels, giving students chances to care for and learn from one another. The K–8 creek study and outdoor classroom offered not just discovery, but a sense of shared wonder and connection to the natural world.

These moments wove our community closer, helping students understand that they’re part of something bigger than themselves. And in that shared belonging, real growth takes root.

Why It Matters

In a world that often focuses on speed and performance, it's easy to overlook the slower, deeper kinds of growth. But at UFS, we see every day how that kind of growth leads to stronger learners, kinder classmates, and more grounded young people.

As we close the year, we’re not just honoring what our students have accomplished. We’re honoring who they’re becoming: thoughtful, curious, compassionate people - rooted in community, and ready to meet the world with integrity and heart.

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If you're still exploring school options for fall, we’d love to connect and share what makes United Friends School a place where every child can grow, inside and out. A few spots remain in select grades. Inquire here to schedule a tour or learn more.