Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - January 15th

Dear Friends,

We are a singing, musical community. All year, students of all ages are learning songs for us to sing together from perennial favorites like “Lean on Me” and “As We Leave This Friendly Place” to rounds like “Building Bridges” and “Shalom Chaverim”, to new-to-us songs like “Sing Children of the World” and “Ke Ao Nani.” We sing in Meeting for Worship, we sing in our monthly Meeting for Singing, and we sing in classroom morning meetings. 

Under the leadership of music teacher Eddie McKeown, our youngest students are joyfully learning about melody and rhythm through whole-body singing of seasonal songs.

Elementary-age students are currently engaged in a unit on Music Appreciation. This week, they are learning about Strauss and the rhythm of the waltz. Through the winter, children will experience a number of different musicians from around the world. 

Middle School Students are focused on music theory this month. They are learning to hear and distinguish the minor, major, and perfect intervals. This theory and ear training will serve them well as they continue singing together and begin working with musical instruments later this year. I sat in on the seventh-grade class and was impressed by their ability to correctly identify the intervals Teacher Eddie played for them on the piano. 

Singing and music are one way we make sense of our lives; another is through the stories we tell. Today, 5th and 7th-grade students traveled to the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Their tour and workshop focused on the exhibit “Ruth E. Carter presents Afrofuturism in Costume Design.”  A number of the students commented on the many costumes from movies they knew. These costumes helped to tell the stories in Black Panther, Malcom X, and Coming to America. 

Our Friend Melinda Bradley shared with Prek, Kindergarten, and First Grade students the story of Quaker Mary Fisher, who in 1658, traveled to Turkey to speak to the Sultan. At the end of the story, Melinda wondered aloud what part of the story they liked best.  Children shared that they liked that Mary learned to read in prison, that she got out of prison, how she traveled, and that the Sultan agreed to meet with her. Melinda then said, “I wonder what you think is important from the story.” Children observed how the people in Boston had been afraid of her, while the Sultan and his people wanted to meet with her and hear her message about Love. Many of them, in different ways, shared that Mary’s listening to the Spirit, the voice inside, Allah, or God was the most important. One of the last students who spoke believed it was important that she waited, then listened, and then traveled.  

Children always amaze me with their wondering, clarity of thought, and perception.

Holding you in the Light,

Margaret

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MLK Day Happenings for you and your family:

• There are many service opportunities in our communities designed to honor Dr. King 
• The 20th Burlington County MLK Challenge hosted at the BCLS main branch. 
• Philadelphia Orchestra Free MLK Concert January 19 at 3:00
• Complete List of Events Sponsored by the NJ Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission
• Baking for our Neighbors with Moorestown Monthly Meeting
• Breakfast with the Evesham Youth Advisory - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026

Our January Queries focus on the Quaker Testimony on Integrity. 

• Do we do the right thing when no one is watching?
• Do we wait and listen and then act on the voice/Spirit within each of us?
• Do we do what we say we will do?

Announcements:

• 1/12-1/16 Family Council Coat Drive
• 1/19 WFS closed for MLK Day. Think of doing service with your child
• 1/22 Step Up Night Preschool-8th Grades - meet your child’s teacher for the 26-27 school year and learn about that grade’s program
• 1/25 Family Council Roller Skating Party