Back to School 2024-2025

List of 6 items.

• Welcome Letter from Brenda 8/2024

  Welcome PMFS Back to School: 2024-2025

  
  Dear PMFS Families, 

  
  

  Here we are in late August and just days away from the start of our 2024-25 school year! Seedlings Camp wrapped up last week and the shift to back-to-school mode is underway. Every space and place on campus is getting ready for the return of our PMFS students and families. 

  
  

  Somehow, the summer months seem to be much shorter! I hope you had the opportunity to play, relax and rejuvenate with family and friends. My wife and I enjoyed some “stay-cation” time, as well as some time reuniting with friends and family in Maryland. Though the Philly weather included some relentlessly hot and humid days, there was plenty of time to squeeze in some gardening, reading and the celebration of our 32nd anniversary. As (almost) empty-nesters, we’re embracing the fact that we can squeeze in one more visit to the Chesapeake Bay before the school year begins. I’m looking forward to enjoying the beautiful, calm views of the Bay, the shore birds, and yes—authentic Maryland crab cakes! 

  
  

  New PMFS Families are invited to New Family Orientation at 1:45 on Thursday, August 29. We will start in the Steinbright Gym with a welcome and introductions of all faculty, staff and administrators. Then new families (and new students) are invited to visit their classrooms and connect with teachers from 2:15 to 3:00pm.  

  
  

  Our 2024-25 school year officially begins on Wednesday, September 4, which will be a full school day. By now, you have received a welcome letter from your child’s teachers with specific information about the start of school. The school day for all grades is 8am to 3pm; and we suggest a 7:45 am arrival to allow time for community building and settling in. The day starts at 8am. Early care is offered (at no charge) from 7:30 to 7:45am daily. Early care will be located in the Corson Lobby, in the Gym; and parents must walk their child into the Corson and check in with the teacher on duty. 

  
  The return to the school routine can be challenging for both children and adults. If you haven’t already done so, we suggest that you start working on that transition and how it affects your household. The beginning of every school day is valuable community-building time that helps establish comfort with daily routines; and we want your child to arrive in time to connect with their classmates. 

    

  This year, we welcome a talented new group of educators to our faculty community at PMFS. Keep an eye out for their photos and bios in a Back-to-School edition of the VRF (Virtual Red Folder) next week. In the meantime, I am delighted to share the following staffing structure for the 2024-2025 school year:

  • Pre-Kindergarten (Little House): 
    • Alyssa Maley, Lead Teacher 
    • Beth Ann McCabe, Assistant Teacher
  • Pre-Kindergarten (Upstairs: Journey’s End): 
    • Jessica Brady, Lead Teacher
    • Lauren Stenberg, Assistant Teacher
  • Kindergarten (Downstairs: Journey’s End): 
    • Courtney Singer, Lead Teacher 
    • Sarah Hudson, Assistant Teacher
      
      
  • First Grade (Emerson Building): 
    • Susan Holt, Lead Teacher 
    • Nicole Gilliland, Assistant Teacher 
  • Second Grade (Emerson Building): 
    • Genevieve Schmidt Camacho, Lead Teacher
    • Gabrielle Viscounte, Assistant Teacher
  • Third Grade (Main Building): 
    • Emily Wagner, Lead Teacher 
  • Fourth Grade (Main Building Extension): 
    • Will Starr, Lead Teacher
  • Fifth Grade (Main Building Extension): 
    • Varley Paul, Lead Teacher 

  Our Pre-K through Grade 6 Specials teachers are: Christy Devlin (Drama & Library), Kara Durant (Art), Lisa Finley (Science), Dan Harrop (PE), Dani Lamaison (Spanish) and Madeleine Smith (Music). 

   

  The Educational Care Team members are Jayme Krauss (Learning Support Coordinator), Sara Terry (School Counselor) and Brenda Crawley (Head of School). We are happy to welcome Audrey Henninger back to PMFS in the role of part-time Learning Support Teacher.  

   

  Joining me on the senior leadership team are Natalie Coney (Director of Development), Mike Agosto (Director of Admission & Enrollment Management), and Jonathan Perry (Director of Operations). Administrative Support staff members include Linda Metzler (Development Coordinator), Markia Inge (Office Administrator), and Patsy Morningstar (Bookkeeper). Beyond the Bell will be under the co-direction of Genevieve Schmidt Camacho and Varley Paul. 

  
  

  I am excited about the energy, enthusiasm and expertise that this phenomenal team brings to PMFS. Plymouth Meeting Friends School is the fifth oldest Quaker school in the country; and it is a privilege to start the school’s 244th year with this gifted group of educators. I look forward to partnering with them and with you, as we continue to build the connections and relationships that make us uniquely Plymouth. 

   

  See you soon!

  
  

  In peace,

  Brenda

  
  

  Brenda C. Crawley (she/her)

  Head of School

  brendac@pmfs1780.org

• Complete Your School Forms

  If you have not already done so, be sure to turn in any required medical forms and complete your school forms in the Parent Portal as soon as possible.
  
  Especially important is the "End of Day Transportation" form. Contact the Main Office (610.828.2288 or office@pmfs1780.org) to make any changes after you've submitted forms.

• Register for Beyond the Bell: Before- & After- Care

  
  

  Before & After School Care at PMFS
  
  

  Plymouth Meeting Friends School offers a before and after-school program to provide a low-key, safe, and fun environment for children outside of school hours.

  
  

  Early Care

  Early Care is provided before classrooms open, beginning at 7:30 am. There is no fee for this service and registration is not required. Early care is located in the Corson Lobby; families will need to walk their child in and check in with Early Care staff.

  
  

  After-School Care (Beyond the Bell)

  PMFS’s after-school program is called “Beyond the Bell”, or “BtB” for short. BtB is designed to provide children across all grades with a less structured after-school experience, similar to living in a community with a big backyard and many neighbors with whom to play. 
  
  

  The program includes an afternoon snack and a mix of organized and free play activities, such as: pick-up games of soccer or basketball, crafts, board games, and nature play. Students can also choose to complete their homework during an optional, supervised period of homework help.
  
  

  There are two sessions of BtB. The first runs from September to late January, and the second from the end of January to the end of the school year. Students can register for one to five days of regular attendance during each session. Days are not interchangeable from one week to another; enrollment is for set days only. Students who are not registered to attend BtB may also “drop-in” on any given day for a fee.

   

  After-School Classes

  The school also offers a number of six week, structured after-school classes. These may be attended as either stand-alone activities or in conjunction with the regular Beyond the Bell program. A student does not need to be enrolled in BtB to enroll in a class.

  
  

  There is a fee for each class. Past classes include: architecture, beekeeping, clayworks, gardening, mixed sports, science, and yoga.

  
  

  Vacation Care

  Vacation Care is offered on some school holidays, professional development days, and during parts of Winter and Spring break. In order for Vacation Care to be held, the minimum number of students must be enrolled for a given day. On the days it is run, Vacation Care is available 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. Vacation Care dates will be sent out in the August communication.

  
  Similar to After-School care, Vacation Care provides unstructured, supervised playtime, indoors and out, in a multi-age grouping. Morning snack is provided; children bring their own lunch and an afternoon snack.

  
  Registering for Beyond the Bell

  In early August, you will receive an email with information and a link to register for the regular Beyond the Bell Program. Once you have electronically submitted the form, you will receive:

  • Confirmation of your registration
  • An invitation to register with Procare, our billing and attendance app. Returning BtB families will not need to re-register.
  • Children who register for 3-5 days a week will receive a bill for 50% of the fee, due before the first day of school.  If you sign up for 1 or 2 days of regular attendance, you will be billed through Procare weekly at the drop-in rate.

  
  

  Pricing

  Regular Attendance

  
  5 days a week: $1550 

      Sibling Rate: $1475

  
  4 days a week: $1425

      Sibling Rate: $1350

  
  3 days a week: $1250

       Sibling Rate: $1175

  
  Drop In Fee: $35 per day

  
  

  Communicating With Beyond the Bell Directors

  Beyond the Bell is directed by Varley Paul and Genevieve Schmidt Camacho.Varley teaches 5th Grade during the school day and oversees the afternoon programming at BtB. Genevieve teaches 2nd Grade and takes care of billing and enrolling students in BtB and BtB classes.

   

  
  
  Questions? Please reach out to Varley or Genevieve at btb@pmfs1780.org

• Visit the Resource Board in the Parent Portal

  See the MyPMFS button at the top right of this page? Use it to login to the Parent Portal and use your Resource Board:

  • RedBook 
    • Your go-to for all things Plymouth, the RedBook is our School Handbook. It will answer many of your questions before you have time to ask!
  • Volunteer Clearances
    • We want to have you on field trips, classroom visits, and more. There are just a few legal checkboxes to tick first. Get all the information about Volunteer Clearances here.

  • Nurses Office 
    • All the medical forms you might need are located in the Nurses Office. Note: All students must provide the school with proof of up-to-date vaccinations, or risk exclusion from school.
  • 2024-2025 At a Glance Calendar
  • and more!

• Check out the Student & Family Directory

  Connect with other parents! You can now access the student/family directory in the Parent Portal; it appears at the top of your home page once you are logged in, and you can filter by grade, zip code, or home town. 
  (Login at MyPMFS, above right).

• Sync the PMFS Calendar with Your Personal Google Calendar

  Don't miss another update or event!
  

  1. Go to your Google calendar or open the app.
  2. Click the + icon next to "Add a friend's calendar," and click From URL in the dropdown menu.
  3. Under URL of calendar, paste the following link: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/pmfs1780.org_cvsskpgrn8rs9b938s31safoes%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
  4. Click Add calendar at the bottom right

  
  Take a look at the At-a-Glance Calendar here