A Friends school hopes to offer a community that cares deeply about what kind of persons its members, young and old, are becoming, what goals and motives are effective in their lives, what their response is to the high calling of being human. They hope to be communities of those who have, not only techniques and knowledge, but also a vivid relationship to reality, a hunger for worship, a passion for truth, and the experience of growth in the Light.
- Friends Council on Education
Officially, Quakers belong to the Religious Society of Friends (hence, we are a "Friends" school, a religious school). Quaker religious practice extends from a core acknowledgment that there is "that of God in everyone," also referred to as the Inner Light.
This central belief leads quickly to two main implications. First, that every individual is endowed with inherent goodness - in fact, an inherent divinity -- and that every individual should therefore be addressed with respectful attention to his or her unique expression of this universal, indwelling spark. Second, that the presence of "God within" constitutes an inner teacher
which may be accessed through quiet contemplation and to which one may refer for clarity, strength, and guidance throughout life. The seal of Alexandria Friends School bears the motto, "Nurturing the Inner Light".
Students at Alexandria Friends are led to be respectful and accepting of both themselves and others. The school is a community wherein individual expression and caring for others are valued alongside academic growth. The faculty and staff at Alexandria Friends School seek authentic relationships with students and promote non-violent, discussion-based approaches to conflict resolution. The intended result is to cultivate students who are self-aware and concerned with the welfare of others, confident and compassionate.
The school body meets twice a day - first, before classes for Morning Gathering, and then again at mid-morning for Announcements. At these times, students have an opportunity to share news from their personal lives and observations about the world at large. The school also gathers twice a week for Meeting for Worship, a period of silence affording participants time to reflect, and, when so moved, to share insights which an individual determines may be valuable for the community to hear.
The school also embarks on two overnight camping trips, one in the fall and one in the spring, to strengthen community ties and to give students a chance to experience the rejuvenating benefits of time spent in nature.
We also ask students to commit to upholding certain values or commitments as part of their experience at AFS. Click here to view the student commitments.
Community Service
Quakers believe in working together with others to create a better world for everyone. Activities that promote peace and understanding, community development, and well-being lie at the heart of Quaker service. For each year of attendance at Alexandria Friends School, each student is asked to perform forty hours of community service to people in need (through an approved organization), as a requirement for graduation. We also engage as a school in a variety of short-term service projects over the course of the school year. Not only is such work helpful to the recipient organization, it is often transformative for the individual as well.