Harford Friends School » HFS In The News: Archives

HFS In The News: Archives

THINKING “GREEN”
Harford Friends School students celebrate this theme with a specific study program titled “Agriculture Applied to the Deer Creek Watershed.” To date, they have visited three sites in the Deer Creek watershed for some hands-on learning opportunities: Emory Knoll Farms, Eden Mill Nature Center, and the Holloway farm in Darlington.

As quoted from their science teacher, Chris Howells: “Agricultural and ecological themes including stewardship of natural resources, conservation of ecosystems and envisioning an energy independent future are resonating enthusiastically with our students and our school community!’

Harford Friends Hosts Ben’s Ball Field Fund
On Father’s Day, an unimaginable accident took four-year-old Benjamin Huxtable’s life when a stray baseball struck him in the chest, stopping his heart within moments. In his short life, Ben had already shown strong promise as a player and had a great love of the game. In his memory, his parents, Head of School Jonathan Huxtable and his wife Christine worked with Harford Friends School’s Board of Trustees to establish Ben’s Ball Field Fund. The school will serve as a repository for contributions to the fund, providing donors with a tax-deductible contribution. At the request of the Huxtables, HFS will release funds to another certified non-profit agency in order to build a ball field in memory of Ben. HFS has also offered to host the field on its campus once a permanent location is found. The fund has received more than $77,000 from over five hundred contributors. A September 10th fundraising effort entitled Ben’s Big League Bash hosted by Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, MD (the site of Ben’s pre-school, Chestnut Grove Child Development Center), raised $18,000 of that total.

HURRICANE KATRINA: HFS AND FRIENDS OFFER HELP
A Friend of the school has offered $2,000 toward tuition expenses to any student and his/her family displaced from an independent school by Katrina. HFS is but one of the many Friends Schools in the state seeking to assist. Schools offering help are listed on the NAIS website. As Jonathan Huxtable, Head of School says, “Our capacity is limited, but our desire to assist is large.”

The scholarships seek to recognize students who maintain a level of academic achievement, a love of learning, and embody the Quaker tenets of integrity, simplicity, harmony, community, and equality. The Babikow Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a capacity for and appreciation of the arts, visual or performance. The Robert and Julie Hockaday Merit Scholarship is awarded to up to three students who demonstrate a commitment to family, school, and community.

Paul and Beth Babikow, benefactors of the Babikow Memorial Scholarship, contributed the award to honor Paul’s late mother, Ethel Plack Babikow. “She loved new ideas and encouraged all of her children to have an understanding and appreciation of the arts,” stated Paul Babikow, a Harford Friends School Trustee and owner of Babikow Greenhouses in White Marsh.

Mr. Hockaday, owner of Spenceola Antique Center and a commercial and residential developer in the Baltimore metropolitan area, cited Friends schools’ high academic standards, philosophy of education, and dedication to building and strengthening a sense of community as reasons for his gift to Harford Friends School.

“Julie and I are very excited about the new opportunities that Harford Friends School presents for the families of Harford County. The philosophy of the school’s curriculum, combined with the interaction of the community, is a refreshing approach to education,” stated Mr. Hockaday.

“Both of these scholarships are tremendously generous gifts to Harford Friends School, its students, families, and future,” said Head of School Jonathan Huxtable. “The school is honored by the Babikow’s and Hockaday’s confidence in the school’s ability to make a positive difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the generations of students and families to follow.”

Harford Friends School will open its doors to its first class on September 8^th. This year’s sixth grade students will be the first HFS students and will include the first recipients of the Robert and Julie Hockaday Merit Scholarship and the Babikow Memorial Scholarship.

Harford Friends School is the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Thomas H. and Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund.

In announcing the award, Samuel Caldwell, a Distributing Trustee of the Foundation stated. “We firmly believe that a Friends educational program enriches the lives of all children and their families, and we commend you [Harford Friends School] for providing that academic program for middle school students in your community. It is such a crucial age for children and Friends schools have a unique opportunity of providing a nurturing environment for them. We are happy we can have a small part in your work.”

“Harford Friends School is delighted to be recognized by the Shoemaker Foundation as an organization adding value to the educational landscape in Harford County,” said Head of School, Jonathan Huxtable. The Shoemaker Fund, in keeping with the interest expressed by the donors, was established to assist Friends organizations with a particular focus on education and social service.
Pictures below: HFS participation in the Darlington Fourth of July Parade. HFS won an award for children’s participation.