Quakerism & SPICES
There is That of God in Each of Us
West Chester Friends School is an independent, Quaker, early childhood and elementary school.
The school educates students of many faiths with an approach rooted in Quaker values, including respect for one another, self-discipline, peaceful conflict resolution, and responsibility to the community.
Friends believe that there is that of God in each of us. The central tenets of Quakerism are called testimonies, and are often remembered with the acronym SPICES:
Simplicity
Peace
Integrity
Community
Equality
Stewardship
Each week, we slow our pace and make quiet our lives to gather for Meeting for Worship, a time of silent reflection and meditation. Both children and adults may speak from the silence to share thoughts and reflections. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. The meeting ends with a handshake, an expression of friendship from one to another. About once a month, Meeting for singing, a joyful musical gathering of the school community, is held in the Meetinghouse.
Students meet with the Quakerism teacher once a week. In addition, a trained Faith and Play teacher meets with students in Pre-K through fifth grade each month, bringing stories of Quaker faith, practice, and witness, as well as Bible stories told in a manner that reflects Quaker sensibilities.
