Gathering in silence, Meeting for Worship plays a special role in the school’s religiously diverse community. Meeting for Worship is the Quaker form of worship, in which the assembled group meets in a silent, communal search for Truth; those who are moved to speak rise to do so out of the silence.  Students write and present queries for the group to reflect and speak on:

• Today is Hanukkah. During Hanukkah, the Jewish people took back their land from the Greek rulers, who forced them to worship their Gods. How can we celebrate religious freedom in America?
• Veterans Day was a couple of days ago. The veterans fought to protect our country in war. If there was more peace in the world, there wouldn’t have to be any wars. How can we try to promote peace within the community?
• One of the Quaker spices is stewardship, which includes taking care of your own clothes and toys. There is a LOT of stuff in the “Lost and Found,” is not showing good stewardship. How can we improve this and show good stewardship in the future?
• One of the Quaker Spices is Equality. The actual definition of Equality is: the state of being equal in status, rights, and opportunities. The kinds of equality are social, civil, political, and economic equality. What does equality mean to you?
• One week after Hurricane Michael, residents are starting to return to their homes, only to find that their homes and possessions are destroyed. How can we be good stewards and help them in their road to recovery?
• We sit in Meeting for Worship to reflect about ourselves and see how we can improve and spread happiness. What does Meeting for Worship mean to you?
• Today is National Stop Bullying Day. How can we raise awareness and stop bullying?
• Today is National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work or School Day. Many of you have brought a teddy bear or stuffed animal today. What does your teddy bear or stuffed animal mean to you?
• The middle school recently went to Camp Dark Waters where we learned important skills such as teamwork and communication. How can we use teamwork and communication to create and maintain peace in the world?
• Today is National Family Day. How can each of us in the HFS community show appreciation for our individual families?
• How can we create peace in our community as American citizens?
• How can we keep our community clean?
• Do you respect everyone’s opinions?
• Friday is the hundredth day of school. What is your favorite memory from the first 100 days of school?
• This month is National Bullying Prevention Month. The 4th graders are standing against bullying with their kindness wall project. What else can we do if we see bullying or to help prevent bullying in our community peacefully?

Raising Resilient Girls, by Girls Leadership Co-Founder and Executive Director Simone Marean. Simone recently delivered her acclaimed talk (Parents Magazine) to over 400 parents at the HFS Meeting House. Simone shared insights on the challenges girls face today, the reasons why we see girls struggling, and what we can do to help them. Simone spoke about helping girls practice assertive self-expression, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships, preparing them for a life of personal and social leadership. Her engaging presentation covered the development of girl dynamics beginning in preschool through high school.

E.B. Lewis, the illustrator of over 70 children’s books, gave three presentations to groups of students. He spoke about his life as well as the process of illustrating and living a Purpose Driven Life. He encouraged students to identify their own passions and purpose. E.B. Lewis and Jacqueline Woodson, Author, used HFS as the setting for their book Each Kindness.

• All students, from 2 years to Grade 8, sing and play instruments in a Winter Concert to celebrate the holiday season
• HFS faculty and students collaborate to present original plays and favorite musicals twice/year
• From karate to singing, interpretive dance to poetry, HFS students from 2 years to Grade 8 share their talents in our Annual Talent Show

Class Presentations – Classes utilizes the Meeting House to present their project work to the community:

• Grandparents & Special Friends Day Activities
• Monarch Butterflies Parade 
• Thanksgiving Presentations
• Violin Performances
• Author’s Celebration

A memorable tradition, Frolic is a celebration of our 8^th Grade graduates.  All of our graduates deliver speeches and all HFS classes perform songs and dances to mark this beloved occasion.

Our Middle School students, along with parent volunteers, prepare a delicious Italian meal for all to enjoy.  This is a wonderful opportunity to parents, students and faculty to connect with one another.