HISTORY AND STRUCTURE
FWS History
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Friends Western School was founded in 2001 by Robin Durant, a longtime educator and member of Pasadena's Orange Grove Quaker Meeting. She was the moving force in the school, weaving Quaker values with other humanistic and pedagogical traditions, fostering the idea of parents and children growing together within the group, respecting each child’s diversity of experience, and learning through balance of discovery and direct instruction.
In 2010, FWS families were given the opportunity to become a parent-teacher run cooperative. This earned the school the distinction of being one of the only cooperative elementary schools in California and the first Quaker cooperative elementary in the United States. No longer Quaker-administered, yet still a member of the Friends Council on Education, we are a dedicated group working together with the common goal of creating a positive educational experience for our children. In 2019, FWS elected to bring on a Head of School and Director of Education in order to help guide the school into its next phase. These two roles act as guideposts for our teachers and parents, and steward our educational practices. The combination of our varied professions, temperaments, and talents creates a community that works together as an inspiring example of our holistic, projected-based curriculum for the students, as we enhance our own lives alongside of our children’s through being consciously involved in their education. Parents, teachers and other supporters have worked extremely hard to forge and sustain this lively community. The result is an incredible educational experience for all and the creation of an innovative model for elementary education. |
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FWS Structure
Friends Western School is operated by parents and teachers. Our community is run by committees and each committee is led by a chair. Oversight for operations of the school is provided by a governing board that is nominated from, made up of and elected by the membership. Art, music, theater, movement and outdoor education are part of our regular curriculum and are taught by specialty teachers.
How Are Parents Involved
Parents help out with the educational program by supporting teachers, participating in hikes and field trips, and supervising on the yard with conflict resolution.
Parents help out with the functioning of the school, helping keep the school clean and safe, fundraising, serving on the Board of Directors, overseeing admissions, marketing, and the finances of the school.
Parents participate in decision-making: voting on the budget, co-op rules and obligations, future strategic planning, and other major decisions.
Parents are part of a community of children, faculty and families, learning and growing together. This includes everything from ordinary daily events, to supporting families in need, to annual whole-school celebrations. For families, being a part of the Friends Western community is often a deeply valuable, unique, and transformative experience.
Read more about the importance of parental involvement at FWS.
How Are Parents Involved
Parents help out with the educational program by supporting teachers, participating in hikes and field trips, and supervising on the yard with conflict resolution.
Parents help out with the functioning of the school, helping keep the school clean and safe, fundraising, serving on the Board of Directors, overseeing admissions, marketing, and the finances of the school.
Parents participate in decision-making: voting on the budget, co-op rules and obligations, future strategic planning, and other major decisions.
Parents are part of a community of children, faculty and families, learning and growing together. This includes everything from ordinary daily events, to supporting families in need, to annual whole-school celebrations. For families, being a part of the Friends Western community is often a deeply valuable, unique, and transformative experience.
Read more about the importance of parental involvement at FWS.