Why a Friends School?
Friends schools are known for academic strength, but their purpose reaches further. At the heart of a Friends education is the belief that who a child is becoming matters as much as what they know. We believe that every child carries an "Inner Light" - a spark of divine potential, intellect, and goodness.
At Westfield Friends School, we tend to that Light, allowing it to shine through purposeful inquiry, joyful discovery, and a deep sense of belonging.
A Foundation for Life
Westfield Friends School supports each student in developing their fullest potential through active learning guided by Quaker values. Here, creativity is the way we approach the world. Students are encouraged to think independently, ask meaningful questions, and engage deeply with the world around them.
Hands-on learning is central to the Friends educational model. Whether it’s a kindergartner marveling at the lifecycle of a butterfly or an eighth grader engineering a solution to a local environmental challenge, academics come alive through exploration.
We prioritize the joy of discovery, fostering a classroom environment where students feel safe to take risks, ask "why?", and find wonder in the everyday.
Meeting for Worship: The Power of Silence
Each week, the school community gathers for Meeting for Worship, a defining element of Friends education. This Meeting for Worship is a time for learning, reflection, and shared silence. It welcomes people of all faiths and spiritual backgrounds.
Students, faculty, and families gather in expectant silence, listening inwardly and reflecting deeply. Anyone may speak if they feel moved to do so. Through this practice, children and adults learn to connect inward reflection with outward action. Because the community has listened and reflected together, actions are thoughtful, grounded, and purposeful.
Meeting for Worship offers students a powerful tool for personal and spiritual growth and reinforces the importance of community, reflection, and integrity in daily life.
Academic Excellence with a Social Conscience
From Preschool through eighth grade, we nurture creative thinkers and resilient problem solvers. Our curriculum is anchored by the Quaker "Testimonies" (SPICES): Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. Faculty work intentionally to bring out each student’s individuality, nurturing creative thinkers, problem solvers, peacemakers, and engaged citizens.
By connecting intellectual growth with a social conscience, we prepare students to lead with empathy and to see themselves as peacemakers in a complex world.
We Are All Different
Westfield Friends School is a diverse and inclusive community. Our strength lies in our difference - ethnicity, family structure, gender identity and expression, learning ability, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic experience.
As affirmed by the National Association of Independent Schools, we maintain an environment where every child is seen, safe, and celebrated. Friends believe that there is that of God - Light within every person. From this belief grows a commitment to respect, affirmation, and the protection of each individual’s dignity and worth.
Our Students Know Who They Are
Westfield Friends nurtures self-confidence and an authentic voice. Quaker belief in continuing revelation means that truth may come from anyone, and the words of a young child are given the same respect as those of an adult.
Students learn to listen attentively, think reflectively, and communicate with clarity and care. They grow into confident speakers who understand when to share their ideas and when to listen deeply to others.
We Are Family
Community is central to life at Westfield Friends. The Buddy Program pairs younger students with older ones, creating meaningful relationships that foster connection, responsibility, and belonging across age groups.
Families are an integral part of the school community.
Parents and guardians are active participants through classroom support, library involvement, fundraising and social events, the Family Council, and guest speaking opportunities. These shared experiences strengthen relationships and reinforce that Westfield Friends is a community that grows better when we grow together.
