I get
a thrill every time I walk onto the Ramallah Friends campuses. It’s the joy of
getting a glimpse into the world in which my three children spend their days –
playing, learning, and making friends. It’s also the joy of being welcomed as a
member of the RFS community. I have been a RFS parent for 10 years now, and –
in that decade – I have happily spent many hours as a volunteer parent, working
alongside teachers and the school administration, to help give our students the
best experience possible. Now, after years of volunteering in the library,
helping to organize school events, and being part of the PTA, I am part of a
large group of parent volunteers helping the school celebrate the anniversary
of its founding 150 years ago.
This
year, let’s all celebrate being part of this historic and amazing school
community. Since 1869, generations of Palestinians have played, studied, and
made lifelong friends in its rambling campuses. In the words of my 7th grade
daughter, the Ramallah Friends School has become the wise old woman in the
village, who teaches and cares for the children of the community. Now, it’s our
children's turn to be nurtured by the school and inspired by its history,
Quaker values, and amazing graduates to find their own way into the
future.
2019 gives us
all an amazing chance to be part of the school and help prepare our children
for their future, by volunteering in some way during the 150th anniversarycelebrations. Parents have started signing up to volunteer in the
School's Field Day, April
19th, under
different committees (this link leads you to
a survey if you would like to sign up).
Another
exciting project I am a part of is the 150th
Tree Planting project, set to make both RFS campuses greener in a large community
effort to plant hundreds of trees during the next two years (if interested
please email us at communications@rfs.edu.ps).
If you
are interested in participating and helping out please do not hesitate to
contact RFS Communications Department, lmurra@rfs.edu.ps or bjaawan@rfs.edu.ps *
By Elizabeth Price
