Version 3.2 12/16/09
Building on the Core Principles of our mission...
Quaker Values of Simplicity, community, responsibility, peaceful resolution of conflict and finding that of God in everyone
Academic Excellence
Diversity along many dimensions
Accessibility and Affordability
Financial Sustainability and Stewardship
A rich educational experience and its transformational impact on our students
We want to maintain and enhance our…
- Intimacy through a one school feel and limited class sizes
- Teacher-student relationships
- Intimate, caring and supportive relationship with Green Street Meeting
- Sense of community, within the school and our neighborhood
- Commitment to security, safety and welcoming to the community
- Commitment to environmental stewardship and education
Priorities affecting facilities when considering these enhancements…
Offer students higher quality facilities with more choices and interactive technologies
Collaborate with Green Street Monthly Meeting in the care of shared space
Develop a strong visual representation of the campus through functional, appealing green spaces for play; re-designed the traffic patterns, parking, and drop-off areas
Add facilities that will allow us to become a two section per grade school
Create spaces that meet our students needs first, serve our families, and can also function as gathering spaces that will enhance our relationship with the Germantown community, as well as attract outside groups and generate revenue
Offer a summer program that can generate revenue and enhance offering to kids
Proposed Buildings/Spaces that we believe will drive us toward our goals…
Top Priority
- Multi-purpose facility, encompassing gym, auditorium and performing arts spaces
- Play area/field with enough space to support organized sports (e.g. soccer)
- Center for The Learning Community (non-classroom space for students’ intellectual and extra-curricular activities, encompassing a library/media and technology center)
- Additional classrooms to house two sections/grade PK-8
- Enhanced campus feel and external presentation, with improved passageways, more green space, access to parking for meeting/parents and hard surface play/PE areas
Closely following
- Lower School Science Lab
- Larger cafeteria with commercial kitchen
Desired attributes of these facilities, as well as our existing facilities…
- Plentiful square footage per student
- Good acoustical separation between learning spaces and good acoustics within them
- Low allergens, quiet, efficient air flow with AC
- Bright, inviting learning spaces with natural and artificial light that is energy efficient
- Spaces constructed with teacher collaboration in mind
- When possible spaces are green, carbon foot-print minimized, energy efficient
- Large bathrooms that are safe and close to classrooms
Aesthetics/Ethos we believe are critical accompaniments to any facility changes…
- Natural light, quiet air flow, soundproofing where needed
- Germantown character and architecture
- Borders defined with green protection with North-South Gateways
- Presentation to neighborhood and outside world is attractive not showy
- Campus feel is evident, curb appeal improved… our slice of heaven in Germantown
- Less concrete, more green spaces that bring people together to learn, play, have fun
- Pedestrian pathways distinct from play spaces, natural and structured play equipment
- Simple, clean, functional
- Emotionally appealing
- Continue to visually unify the campus
Obstacles we need to alleviate or overcome…
Limited available acreage
Parking and drop-off space and their logistics
Cafeteria/lunchroom needs
Campus boundary ambiguities
Bottlenecks in pedestrian, play and auto flow
Financial resources to implement these initiatives
