Speaking of Integrity in the Middle School

Sara Keller, Admissions & Communications Associate
As a Quaker school, parts of FCS’s mission and values are rooted in Quaker practices and testimonies. Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship—commonly referred to as SPICES—are key values that are studied, embraced, and practiced by the entire FCS community, students and teachers alike. This year, the SPICE that all FCS students are exploring is Integrity. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Middle School Spanish teacher Daniela Rivadeneira and Middle School Art teacher Casey Collier partnered to provide an interdisciplinary opportunity that expanded on an annual research project of notable Hispanic and Latino figures through the lens of integrity. 

Before beginning research on the notable figure of their choice, Middle School students engaged in discussions about integrity in their advisory classes as well as in Spanish class with Daniela. After partnering up, they conducted initial research on a list of figures provided by Daniela to determine who they were interested in studying. The list spans from musicians, artists, athletes, activists, scientists, to journalists and more. After coming to a decision as a group, the students researched the life and achievements of their chosen figure. In addition to gathering background information, they were tasked with finding a quote from their figure that exemplified integrity. They searched thoughtfully and came up with an inspiring list: 

  • We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we’re put on Earth for. - Dolores Huerta
  • The true meaning of being a leader is being able to deal with the consequences and take the responsibility for it. - Devin Booker
  • Embracing diversity means valuing each individual’s unique background and perspective. - Sylvia Mendez
  • If you don’t make mistakes, you really aren’t trying. - Luis Diaz
  • The pursuit of knowledge should always be guided by ethics and respect for life. - Dr. Severo Ochoa
  • The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. - Rosario Dawson
They also created an artist label, similar to a short description of an artist you might see at a museum exhibit, to accompany the work they were about to begin in Art and provide contextual information the students learned during their research.

 
Following their research, Casey facilitated conversations about visual representations and symbols in Art. She challenged her students to think about what symbols could represent the life, legacy, and quote of their notable figure. Using a variety of materials, students spent several sessions thoughtfully planning, drafting, and detailing their collages. Each collage featured the quote of their notable figure and several symbols and images that displayed the students’ knowledge of the person they studied and their understanding of how integrity shaped their words and actions.

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Located in College Park, MD, Friends Community School is a progressive Quaker K-8 day school, founded on the belief that every child is a valued member of our community. We offer a challenging curriculum imbued with strong values of equality, integrity, community, environmental stewardship, simplicity and peaceful conflict resolution, rooted in our Quaker heritage.
Friends Community School
5901 Westchester Park Drive
College Park, Maryland 20740
301-441-2100