Sad News from PMFS: Celebrating the Life of Anne Javsicas.

Dear Friends,

 

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to share the sad news that former Head of School, Anne Javsicas, passed away on October 11. Anne served Plymouth Meeting Friends School for 22 years, a remarkable tenure through which her devotion to Quaker education and the people of this community had a lasting impact that is ever-present today.

 

Anne arrived at Plymouth in the summer of 1989, after already helping to establish a new Quaker school in central PA (Greenwood Friends School), to take on the leadership of one of the oldest Friends schools in the country at PMFS. From that moment forward, her infectious enthusiasm, collaborative spirit, and belief in the Light within everyone, inspired growth not only in the school as an institution but, most importantly, in the lives of its students.  

 

As the School Committee wrote on the occasion of her retirement, Anne demonstrated “total commitment to our community . . . inspirational leadership and tireless energy in helping craft a vision and strategic direction that has helped PMFS become a beacon of Quaker education and academic excellence.”  Along the way, she shared unwavering warmth, compassion, friendship, and devotion to students, their families, alumni, and colleagues.

 

Under Anne’s leadership, Plymouth Meeting Friends School experienced significant change, including expansion of the curriculum and programmatic offerings; extension and improvements to the campus, including thoughtfully designed buildings and spaces for learning, play, the arts, athletics, gathering, and performance; and growth in fundraising to support the school’s mission and growth. 

 

At the same time, the core components that are at the heart of Plymouth remained the same, including a passionate faculty who foster a nurturing learning environment and honor the sanctity of childhood; a devoted community of alumni and their families; and the steadfast commitment to Quaker values and the mission of the school.

 

So much more can be said about Anne and her legacy than can be adequately described in this space. I encourage you to take time to read these excerpts from the Spring/Summer 2011 edition of the school’s newsletter that captured wonderful tributes and images on the occasion of Anne’s retirement (as well as a lovely final column that she wrote for the publication).

 

In closing, I invite you to join me and the entire Plymouth Meeting Friends School community in holding Anne’s spirit, her children Laura and Aaron, and her entire family in the Light.

 

In peace,

 

Matthew Bradley

Interim Head of School