Horizons at Greene Street Friends School

Welcome back! We can’t wait to see everyone! Please note important dates and times. See you soon, Wolfpack! 💙

At Horizons, we believe learning should be immersive, joyful, and rooted in real-world experiences that help students see themselves and the world around them in new ways. 🖼️

Last week, students in Prek, K and 1st grade, along with our 5th-8th graders, traveled to Woodmere Art Museum to explore the museum's permanent collection and participate in a creative workshop centered around the theme of family. Inspired by their experience, students created beautiful textured collage pieces that reflected their interpretation of the workshop theme. 🖼️

Students also visited the Arc of Promise exhibit, created in celebration of America's 250th anniversary, which explores themes of American identity and freedom through the work of Philadelphia artists. 🖼️

That same day, our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classes visited African American Museum in Philadelphia to explore the popular Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design exhibit featuring the work of Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, and later designed creative textiles using patterned fibers. 🧵

Special thanks to both museums for creating meaningful learning experiences our students will carry with them long after their visits! 🎨

Counting down to Horizons Philadelphia REGIONAL THRIVE DAY at University of Pennsylvania!!! 🏊‍♂️💦🎨🖌️

Each summer, HGP brings together students from across our region for a culminating celebration of growth, confidence, and community. This is the only regional event where students demonstrate both a life-saving skill and creative voice in the same day, through our regional partnership with National Arts Program.

In preparation for the event, Horizons students across all four regional sites were asked to submit artwork and to design letters that spell out THRIVE and today our students spent some time working on our assigned letters: V & I which just so happen to be the first two letters of VICTORY (a little swim race premonition perhaps?? 👀🤭)

Counting down to Thursday!!! ⏰ Drop a 👏 in the comments to join our virtual cheer section! 😊 Let's go HGSFS!!!

Our 1st grade class spent some time visiting our neighbors over at Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library! 📚😊

Horizons students are assessed at the beginning of each summer session, and again at the end to highlight their growth in early literacy, reading, and math during their 6 weeks with us. 📚📈

Having a fun and cozy library our students look forward to visiting just steps away from campus has been wonderful and we are so grateful. THANK YOU Joseph E Coleman Northwest Regional - Children's Department, for opening your doors to our students and helping make reading an exciting part of their summer! 📚☀️

📷: Photo Credit: Teacher Jane - Grade 1

This summer, our 4th graders are learning that strong communities are built through shared responsibility. 🌱💚

As part of a hands-on lesson in civic and community engagement, students helped harvest, clean, bag, and stock fresh spinach grown right here Greene Street Friends School, an effort led by beloved local gardener, visual artist, and our GSFS friend, Rocio. The harvest was later delivered to the Germantown Community Fridge housed here at GSFS, where it’s available for neighbors to take as needed. 🌱🫶

Through experiences like these, students are discovering what it means to work together, share resources, and contribute to something larger than themselves and that even small acts of care can have a meaningful impact. 💛✨

If you’re in the neighborhood, we encourage you to visit . Whether you’re taking what you need or leaving what you can, every contribution helps strengthen these beautiful connections and our community. 🌱💚

What a STEM-tastic time we've been having this summer! Every week, our students dive into hands-on STEM experiences that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, encourage teamwork, and build confidence. 🧪🪁💡

Here's what students have been working on and how science is coming to life this summer through hands-on learning:

🎈 Air-powered racers fueled by balloons 🏎️💨

🌈 Colorful rainbows using water to distribute colors

🎨 Our 2nd-4th grade students created new colors using cochineal shell (a dried up bug that makes red dye) and butterfly pea flower (which makes blue dye) and added baking soda and vinegar which affects the pH, changing the original colors!

🖍️ Mixing primary colors to create entirely new colors!

👷 Putting their engineering skills to the test using building blocks to create the tallest towers they can build!

Before welcoming students and families last week, we spent time investing in the people who make this work possible: OUR EDUCATORS! 💙📚🍎

The joy and energy our students experience each summer are made possible by an incredible group of educators, enrichment specialists, and support staff who show up each and every day ready to share their talents, expertise, and passion with our students. Their dedication, care, and commitment to our students are at the heart of everything we do and we are deeply grateful for all they bring to this work. 💙

Simply put, it wouldn't happen without them, and together, we’re ready for another summer of collaboration and connection! 😊

Drop a clapping emoji in the comments to help us celebrate these incredible (not to mention super cool) educators and amazing humans! 👏👏👏👏👏

Last week, our classrooms, hallways, and gathering spaces were filled with excitement as we welcomed new and returning families for the start of our 2026 program season, and WOW, what an incredible start it’s been! 😊🤩☺️

It was truly heartwarming to see families connecting with one another, sharing experiences, asking great questions, and helping to create the warm and welcoming community that Horizons is known for. 💛

We're so grateful for the trust, partnership, and support of our families, who play such an important role in making this work possible. 🧡

Special thanks to Onassis Table LLC for the yummy treats and refreshments and for the celebratory balloon column! 😊

Week 1, Year 11 is officially underway! 🙌 Stay tuned! More to come!