Back to School 2025-2026

List of 6 items.

• Welcome Letter from Head of School, Matt Bradley

  Welcome PMFS Back to School: 2025-2026

  
  

  Dear Plymouth Families,

  
  

  Our beautiful campus is abuzz with activity as teachers have been arriving to ready their rooms and make preparations for the opening of the 2025-2026 school year – just two weeks from now!  They are excited to welcome all of the students as we begin another year of learning and growing together.

  
  

  The start of every school year brings change and “newness,” whether it be welcoming new students and families, moving up to a new grade, or purchasing a fresh backpack and pair of sneakers!  It also often brings an opportunity to welcome new members of our faculty and staff.  With that in mind, I am very pleased to introduce the following wonderful teachers and staff members who are joining (or re-joining) the Plymouth Community.

  
  

  Derek Adams - Physical  Education

  Derek recently graduated with honors from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education.  In addition to student teaching experience at the elementary level, Derek worked this summer as a sports specialist at Breezy Point Day Camp in Langhorne.  His supervising professor at WCU heralds him as someone with a positive presence who relates well with students and colleagues, and we certainly found that to be the case when he worked with our Seedling campers.  Derek is passionate about sharing his love of physical activity with children through teaching and welcomes “the opportunity to inspire students to enjoy physical activity and healthy living.”

  
  Jamie Diemidio - Pre-Kindergarten Assistant in Little House

  Jamie joins the PMFS faculty after an extended career as an early childhood assistant at Wilmington Friends School.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Philadelphia College of Art, a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts, and Outdoor Certification from Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS).  An avid naturalist, artist, knitter, and collector of children’s books, she says she was drawn to PMFS by the gracious welcome she received from colleagues and students, her love of Quaker values, and “a beautiful outdoor campus that screams fun!”

   

  Jane LaFata - Pre-kindergarten Assistant in Journey’s End

  Jane LaFata is very familiar with PMFS having first started in this role over 20 years ago.  She returned last spring and is “thrilled to be back after a five-year hiatus—it truly feels like coming home.”  Jane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Language and Literature from George Washington University.  She and her husband are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, and love spending time with their sons, daughters-in-law and, of course, their amazing grandchildren. A lover of the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, and the beach, Jane was drawn back to PMFS by the warm, welcoming community of colleagues and families. She says, “I love working with Pre-K age children and am excited to be part of their early learning journey.”

   

  KaeLynn Hixson - Beyond the Bell Director and Science Teacher

  KaeLynn is also already a familiar face at Plymouth having worked at BtB for part of last year and Seedlings Camp this summer.  A native of Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science where she enjoyed a wide range of field experiences, including as a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation volunteer, and educational outreach volunteer for the Fish & Wildlife Service.  KaeLynn enjoys “inspiring curiosity and creativity in my students” and strives “to create a welcoming and engaging environment where every student feels encouraged to grow.”  Outside of the classroom, she enjoys scuba diving and visiting aquariums.

  
  Lisa Stone - Third Grade Teacher

  Lisa brings extensive experience in lower school education, shaped by more than 20 years as a homeroom teacher (grades 3 and 5), literacy coach and consultant, reading interventionist, and assistant principal of curriculum, instruction and assessment.  A native of Canada, she earned a Bachelor of  Education from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the State University of New York and has pursued her career in education from Canada, to Mexico, and now the United States.  After moving to Philadelphia with her husband, Joe, Lisa worked with an Ed Tech company supporting teachers nationwide, but soon realized how much she missed the daily energy and connection of school life.  She says that she is “drawn to the values and spirit of a Quaker school and feels profoundly grateful to have found her place as the Third Grade Teacher at PMFS.”  Beyond the classroom, Lisa enjoys reading, exploring her neighborhood, and “happily catering to every whim” of her beloved rescue dogs, Benny and Luna Grace.
  
  

  Some Friendly Back-to-School Advice for Families

  It can be challenging to switch gears from the relaxed pace of summer to the more demanding expectations of school-oriented routines.  Here are some suggestions to make the transition as smooth as possible:

   

  Bedtimes and wake-up times:  Has your child been staying up late and sleeping in?  Start making incremental adjustments of 15 minutes a day until you get back to the school year schedule.

   

  Morning routines:  Practice getting out of the house and walking to the bus stop or driving to school to make sure you will get there on time.  Make a game out of it (but don’t speed!).

   

  Daily chores:  Completing chores builds a sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic.  Helping with the dishes sets the stage for cleaning up projects at school.  Having your children set out their clothes, make their lunches, and place their backpacks near the door before going to bed can also help the morning to go smoothly.

   

  After-school and evening routines:  Discuss with your child how the afternoons and evenings are going to work.  Agree on how much free time they will have when they get home (which is important -- they’ve had a full day at school) and when and where homework will get done.

   

  Set goals:  Talk with your child about the opportunities they will have in the year ahead and what they would like to accomplish.  Learning to read? Improving a skill?  Set your own goals, too, and post them together on the refrigerator.

   

  After taking these steps to ensure a smooth start, your child will soon settle into the rhythm of the school year.  Above all else, get ready to enjoy the coming months of learning and growth for your child and for you, too!

   

  (If you are hungry for more advice and enjoy listening to podcasts, you may appreciate this list of curated episodes about back-to-school season from NPR’s Life Hack.)

   

  Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

   

  In peace,

   

  Matt

  
  
  

• 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

  

  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 runs from 3-6 pm daily (except on half days) and 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.

  
  

  Session 1: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Friday, January 23, 2026

  
  

  Session 2: Monday, January 26, 2026 - Monday, June 8, 2026

   

  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.

  
  

  Session 1a: Sept. 15th - Oct. 31st
  Registration opens September 3

  
  

  Session 1b: Nov. 17th - Jan. 23rd
  Registration opens October 24

  
  

  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. 

  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.

  
  

  Vacation Care Dates for 2025-26

  • Friday, October 10, Professional Development Day
  • Monday, October 13, Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Thursday and Friday, November 6 & 7, Conference Days (Drop in Conference Care also provided)
  • Winter Break: TBD
  • Friday, January 16, Faculty Work Day
  • Friday, February 13, Professional Development Day
  • Monday, February 16, Presidents Day
  • Spring Break: TBD
  • Thursday and Friday, April 9 & 10, Conference Days (Drop in Conference Care also provided)
  • Friday, May 22, Faculty Work Day

  *Please note that Winter and Spring Break days will be confirmed closer to time.
  
  **All Vacation Care days are dependent on sufficient enrollment to be able to run.

  
  

  Registering for Beyond the Bell

  When registration opens for each session, 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 the fee. Fifty percent of the total is 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.

  Fees are billed and paid through the Procare app with a small set fee.
  
  

  Checks are also accepted and should be made payable to PMFS and addressed to Patsy Morningstar’s attention in the Main Office.

  50% of the total amount is due by 9/3/25. The balance must be paid by 10/31/25.

  
  

  Pricing per Session

  
  

  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 (This is also the fee for 1-2 days/week regular attendance.)

  
  

  Classes: $125-$130 for 6 week classes 

  A discount is applied for students already enrolled in BtB on the class day.

  
  

  Vacation Care: $75 early registration - $90 Late registration - $100 day-of drop-in

  
  

  Click here to register for BtB on the Google Form.

  
  

  Communicating With Beyond the Bell Directors

  Beyond the Bell is directed by KaeLynn Hixson. KaeLynn is an assistant teacher for 1st Grade during the school day and oversees the afternoon programming at BtB.  
  
  

  Questions? Please reach out to KaeLynn 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.
  • 2025-2026 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