Three Frederick County private schools form collaborative
The Banner School, Friends Meeting School and Lucy School collectively make up the Frederick Independent School Alliance (FISA), the schools announced on March 12.
The schools are also scheduled to host an admissions fair to provide prospective students and parents with information about several private school options in Frederick County and beyond.
St. John's Catholic Prep near Buckeystown, New Life Christian School near Frederick and Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences in Montgomery County are also scheduled to attend and provide information about their programming.
Some of the ways the schools intend to collaborate through FISA include having teachers from one school visit the others to broaden the education perspective, and sharing resources for academic programming like foreign languages.
The three schools that make up FISA prioritize different types of learning and offer a variety of programs.
The Banner School in Frederick, which is one of the first independent schools in the county at over 40 years old, serves students in pre-K through 8th grade and provides a global perspective through studying various cultures.
Friends Meeting School in Ijamsville was founded in 1997 and serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school is focused on project-based learning to enhance education, and carries Quaker values.
Lucy School near Middletown is an arts-based school serving students in pre-K through eighth grade, and the school integrates discovery and the outdoors into its academic programs.
Dan Buck, head of school for Lucy School, said in an interview on Monday that administrators from the three institutions get together about every two months to catch up with each other.
He said from those discussions, the schools talked about holding a joint admissions fair.
'It was like, 'We could do that. Why don't we do that?'' Buck said.
Chris Kimberly, head of school for Friends Meeting School, said that as an educator, he has 'benefited so much from collaboration.'
'Whether that's a co-teacher in the classroom, or visiting other schools, or as an administrator teaming up with schools, even those with whom we have some competition, because I think ultimately, we're all drawn to this for the right reason,' he said.
Ann Wagner, head of school for The Banner School, added that FISA discussed holding a joint service learning project with each other's students.
She said combined service learning projects, as well as sharing resources between the schools, 'are some of the ways we can see connecting and having a bigger impact with our schools collectively.'
Wagner, who additionally teaches a sixth grade math class at The Banner School, said one of the benefits of an independent school is that students are known individually because of smaller class sizes.
'We really do get a lot of time just to be out and about and see what's going on,' she said.
Buck added that public schools have 'a lot more bureaucracy' with district leadership.
'Sometimes, people have to do things and you don't even necessarily know why because it's just written down,' he said. Buck said the independent schools have 'a lot more flexibility' and can adjust rules or regulations more quickly and easily.
Kimberly said the COVID pandemic threw off young students' naturally emerging ability to connect with each other and 'I'm not sure we've fully restored our balance since then.'
'I think you'll find in all of our schools a little bit more intentionality on the part of programs and teaching,' he said. 'But part of me is also wondering, how do we get back to that moment where it won't be necessary to be so intentional about cultivating that?'
Buck said the admissions fair, scheduled for April 28 at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick, will be a chance for prospective students and parents to meet administrators of private schools and 'to say what we have that maybe they don't have in the public schools.'
Kimberly said the fair was an opportunity 'to help people learn that there's some great non-public options for families in Frederick County that are accessible — both geographically but also financially.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘There's something beautiful in that': Native Centre's legacy of creating belonging
For many Indigenous children and youth in Niagara, an Indigenous friendship centre can be more than just a place to go and hang out — it can be where they first feel seen. During National Indigenous History Month, the Niagara Regional Native Centre is celebrating that legacy, and so is director of programming Michael Buck: He grew up in its programs, started playing lacrosse there at just three years old and now helps lead the next generation, including coaching the sport himself. The Niagara centre has served the region for more than 50 years and currently serves about 2,000 Indigenous people annually. Buck began his journey there nearly 30 years ago. As a child at the centre, Buck played lacrosse, a sport deeply embedded within Indigenous cultures, and was in the Li'l Beavers of Ontario Program at the Niagara centre — a program he says shaped his life. 'The generosity was there to explore who you want to be,' said Buck in an interview. 'When you feel safe and you feel comfortable, then you can be confident in who you want to be,' he said. 'And I think that foundation came from Li'l Beavers.' The program gave Indigenous children and youth the opportunity to build relationships and celebrate cultural identity through group-based social, recreational and cultural activities, he said. It was more than just a program, Buck said — it was a foundation of belonging, free from stigma. That foundation is something he's passionate about maintaining, he said. 'We just want to give them the confidence to navigate the spaces that they already belong to,' he said. 'They just need the confidence to explore them and be themselves.' Buck said the centre stopped offering Li'l Beavers in 1995 due to a loss of funding. Over time, more structured programs were introduced, including Akwe:go, for children aged 7 to 12 and Wasa-Nabin, for youth aged 13 to 18, offering one-on-one support and other services. 'I am excited for my child to start to be at the centre,' Buck said. 'My grandmother was a big part of the centre growing up, so we were always there. My mother, and now me, and now my child.' The centre runs a suite of other children and youth services, Buck said, including the Indigenous Child & Youth Mental Health program, the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program and the Healthy Living Kids program. Programs differ from mainstream programs because of the access to Indigenous culture and tradition, 'teaching folks, at the start, just to be proud of who they are and see other folks who are proud of who they are,' Buck said. 'And then eventually start to decolonize some of their own spaces,' he said. 'I think that's the core to our programming.' He said the children and youth team also actively participates in and organizes community events, like its youth and elders conference, March break and summer camps. The centre also works with EarlyON and Family and Children's Services advocates to ensure wraparound support, he said. The focus on children and youth shapes the centre's broader offerings since it emphasizes the life cycle approach, Buck said, naturally fostering intergenerational engagement. 'There's constant coordination and collaboration,' he said. Buck said the youth and elders conference is designed to foster this intergenerational engagement to create ongoing relationships beyond the centre itself. 'So that when they see each other out, or they're at another event, or they're just at the grocery store — they can say hi and it's a little bit more casual,' he said. Buck left Niagara for Toronto in 2010 and later served as senior program advisor for children and youth at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres from 2019 to 2024. 'There was a lot of folks (at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres) that were in Li'l Beavers as well,' he said. 'You can see yourself and your own success there.' Still, his connection to Niagara never faded — a bond that played a part in bringing him back to the region and the centre, he said. 'There's this real opportunity for four generations of people — just from my family — engaging with the centre,' said Buck. Now back in Niagara, Buck is proud to support Indigenous children and youth, helping them find the same sense of belonging that shaped his own path. 'We all are there together, working together, ultimately for good. I think that's what most people want when it comes to job satisfaction,' he said. Buck said jobs can sometimes make you feel like two different people — one at work and another at home or with friends — but he's found something different at the centre. 'At the centre, it really lets you just be one person. I don't have to disconnect,' he said. 'I'm an Indigenous man working at an Indigenous organization in my own community. I think there's something beautiful in that.' paigeseburn@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
How to Tyranny-Proof America's Future
COMPARED TO HIS PREDECESSORS, Donald Trump has moved faster and on a much larger scale to target individuals, categories of people, and organizations for reasons personal (think 'revenge tour') and political (think mass deportations, attacks on law firms). If a future Congress ever wants to prevent a repeat of these kinds of abuses, there are many specific reforms that should be enacted. But it's not enough to focus narrowly on Trump's actions. The presidents who came before him set their own precedents and examples—often affirmed by Congress and the courts—that have also contributed to the present breakdown of our constitutional order. If Congress and the courts had not ceded so much raw, coercive power to the presidency, we might not now be facing a chief executive busily subverting the few remaining meaningful constitutional safeguards separating a republic from a tyranny. To think more clearly about how Congress must act to provide independence to both law enforcement and the judiciary, let's start with a turbo-speed history lesson. In my new book, The Triumph of Fear, I catalogue a sixty-year period from William McKinley through Dwight Eisenhower in which, with perhaps the sole exception of Warren Harding, every man elected to the presidency misused the power handed to him to spy on and even politically persecute his political enemies—real or imagined. Share Following the exposure in the 1970s of many unconstitutional government-run surveillance and subversion programs, Congress passed multiple reforms to try to prevent future presidents from engaging in such abusive conduct. Unfortunately, every one of those 1970s-era reforms—be it the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the Inspector General Act, or the creation of the House and Senate intelligence committees—has failed to prevent presidential misconduct. The underlying assumption when they were adopted—that future presidents would find it difficult to work around or subvert them—was false. Trump's attacks on the federal judiciary stretch back to his first term in office and have only increased during the first months of his second term. His invocation of the two-century-old Alien Enemies Act (AEA) for lightning-fast, due process–free mass deportation operations is best thought of as a 'proof of concept' of his playbook for authoritarian consolidation in the presidency at the expense of Congress, the courts, and ultimately the Constitution itself. Trump's ongoing defiance of court orders in the AEA cases is reinforced by the willingness—if not eagerness—of federal law enforcement agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and even federally deputized state and local law enforcement officers to carry out his deportation orders despite multiple federal court rulings to the contrary. Which brings to mind one area where Trump hasn't yet abused his power—but he might. Let us help you see around corners: Sign up for a free or paid Bulwark subscription to get our independent journalism delivered to your inbox. Under current law, all federal law enforcement officers fall under the control of the executive branch, including the United States Marshals Service, which is charged by statute with protecting both court facilities and staff (especially judges). But what if Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi, elected to declare that statute unconstitutional? What if Bondi asserted that Trump could, at his discretion, order the marshals to leave their judicial-protection duties and instead join ICE, HSI, FBI, and other law enforcement on mass deportation operations? An Office of Legal Counsel opinion, written during the Jimmy Carter administration and updated during the Obama administration, asserts that, 'While there is no general privilege in the Executive to disregard laws that it deems inconsistent with the Constitution, in rare cases the Executive's duty to the constitutional system may require action in defiance of a statute. In such a case, the Executive's refusal to defend and enforce an unconstitutional statute is authorized and lawful.' That OLC opinion, accepted by every one of Trump's predecessors over the last forty-five years, could provide Trump and Bondi with at least a fig leaf of bipartisan political and legal cover to reduce or eliminate marshals protection for judges Trump deems 'radical' or otherwise objectionable. This threat has prompted some members of Congress to propose a solution designed to provide protection for judges that Trump or any of his successors could never remove. Shortly before the Memorial Day holiday, Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Cal.), and Adam Schiff (D-Cal.), along with Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Cal.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), introduced the MARSHALS Act, legislation that would move the Marshals Service out of the executive branch and place it under the control of the federal judiciary. It's a great idea that has zero chance of becoming law this session—but it demonstrates that at least some Senate and House members are willing to remove some of the armed, coercive law enforcement power currently under presidential control. That alone is a mental and political breakthrough that all those loyal to the constitutional republic should embrace. Share The Bulwark THE MARSHALS ACT IS JUST ONE example of the kind of legislative action that needs to be taken to prevent future presidential domestic political repression. Many other changes are needed as well; law professors, political activists, and commentators on constitutional matters are all likely to have their own lists of needful reforms—most of which will boil down to taking away the tools that make repression possible. My preference, as someone who has closely studied the abuses arising from presidential control of law enforcement, would be for a constitutional amendment that would move all but two federal law enforcement organizations from the executive branch to the control of the federal judiciary. The Secret Service (which protects the president and vice president) and the Federal Protective Service (which secures most federal buildings) would remain in the executive branch, but all other federal law enforcement would come under the control of the federal judiciary . . . and thus outside the control of an inherently political branch of government. Such a constitutional amendment should also modify current law to ensure that no president can call up a state's National Guard units for 'civil disturbance,' immigration enforcement, or any other domestic mission without the express written consent of the state's governor. This would safeguard against a future president calling up National Guard troops to shoot political protesters, as Trump wanted to do in the summer of 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests. Such an amendment would go far to restore and preserve our constitutional republic. But it would unquestionably be a very heavy political lift, to put it mildly. In the meantime, advocates should start laying the groundwork—doing the necessary research and drafting legislative language—for congressional action on other reforms, such as strengthening search and seizure protections, setting national training standards for all law enforcement officers, and creating a meaningful private right of action for police misconduct. Absent a dramatic (perhaps tragic) major political event, it's all but impossible to imagine any of these proposals becoming law while Trump is still in office. But introducing them now is critical for building support for them so that once he's out of office and a new Congress committed to preserving the constitutional order is in place, it can act quickly, while the memory of Trumpian abuses is fresh, to prevent a recurrence. We owe that to ourselves and to generations to come. Share
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Wonderful tributes to Stroud legend as hundreds pack venue
WITH a colourful procession of several hundred people, John Marjoram was laid to rest in the June sunshine, surrounded by a circle of family, friends and the many people who had been inspired by the 'fearless and feisty' former mayor of Stroud. The funeral of John Marjoram, held in the heart of the town in the Subscription Rooms on Monday, was a perfect celebration of a man who lived life as a campaigner for peace and his community. With around 450 people sitting in an intimate semi-circle in the Sub Room's ballroom, with more sitting on the stage and balcony and standing at the back, it was no surprise that the venue reached capacity. Outside on the forecourt a further 50 people stood in the sun coming together to remember and celebrate John. The service opened in the Quaker tradition with a silent contemplation. Fiona Meadley, of Painswick Quakers invited the gathering, to sit in silence and 'reach the peace that lies beyond words.' The eulogy was given by Aaron Mirkin of Stroud's Christian Community who invited us to remember our 'feisty and fearless friend John Marjoram.' He recounted John's 'deep humanity, kindness and courage and his capacity to offer up everything he had for what he believed was right, and doing this by 'thinking globally and acting locally.' 'He had a natural and instinctive vision for a better world - the world how it could be - a vision of the world of peace of love and brotherhood and sisterhood.' The eulogy described John's love of nature, his lifelong pacifism and his commitment to the community of Stroud, and beyond. John grew up in rural Essex in the 1940s, the start of his enduring love of nature. The experiences of his two uncles - one of whom was a conscientious objector during World War One and the other a veteran of the war who told John of the horrors he'd seen - inspired John to campaign for peace throughout his life. He became involved with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Peace Pledge Union, and was twice arrested for breaking into American military bases. John moved to Stonehouse in 1967 and then to Stroud in 1970. He worked as a gardener at Wynstones School and then at the Home Farm Trust in Frocester where he worked for 29 years until he retired. In 1975 John co-founded the Stroud district branch of the Ecology Party, which later became the Green Party. In 1986 he became one of the first Green councillors in the UK and represented the Trinity ward seat on Stroud District Council for 35 years. He was also one of the first councillors elected to Stroud Town Council when it was formed in 1990. He campaigned to save many important landmarks of Stroud - Hill Paul, Woodchester Mansion, Uplands Post Office, Lansdown Hall - and to save the Subscription Rooms from private ownership and Stroud Maternity Hospital from closure. In 2023 John was honoured with the first Honorary Freeman of the Town in recognition of his services to the community. 'We're going to miss our feisty and fearless friend very much,' Aaron told the gathering before encouraging us 'to take up the weighty baton he passed on to us' and remember his mission that; 'if we don't do the impossible, we will be faced with the unthinkable.'' (Image: Annabel Richmond) John's wife Laura Ridolfi read the poem 'I Love You,' by Mario Benedetti which was followed by a prayer and a short song for peace. It is believed to be the first time the Subscription Rooms has ever hosted a funeral, and it was a fitting venue for the funeral of Stroud's former mayor whose life was lived at the heart of the community. John's simple coffin adorned with flowers was carried out into the sunshine on the forecourt and onto a hand cart for a slow procession to Stroud Cemetery. Stroud's Red Band accompanied the colourful procession of several hundred people - some carrying rainbow Peace flags - which made its way up Stroud High Street, past John's home on Castle Street and along Horn's Road to Stroud Cemetery. The procession arrived at the cemetery to the band's gentle playing of Wonderful World and He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother. John was laid to rest in the beautiful June sunshine, surrounded by a circle of family and friends, the sound of birdsong, wood pigeons, the scent of elderflower, and ending with a rendition of Kahlil Gibran's words on the nature of death, from The Prophet. It was the perfect remembrance of a man whose lifelong work had inspired so many. Following the burial, friends were invited to return to the Sub Rooms for a bring-and-share lunch, and a relaxed memorial gathering to share memories and celebrate John's life. (Image: Annabel Richmond) (Image: Annabel Richmond) Well over 100 people came to remember and share their memories and stories – with contributions from such Stroud icons as Jehanne and Rob Mehta and Will Mercer (aka Earthwards), who performed Jehanne's evocatively beautiful song 'This Place'; the Green Party's Molly Scott-Cato and Lucas Schoemaker and Elvis ('The Poet') McGonagall. Adrian Keefe, music therapist from Mindsong, played some of John's favourite songs. Political and more personal memories were woven with humour, love and a great sense of loss. The assembled gathering also shared CAKE, Lisa's remarkable sugar-free, gluten-free vegan cakes, for John was a great lover of good cake. And perhaps inevitably, the wonderful sharing of memories and stories about John was ended with the old crooner, Frank Sinatra, singing 'I Did It My Way': so often a coarse karaoke cliché, these days, of course, but in the case of John Marjoram and his great life's work, an entirely fitting ending to a memorable day in Stroud's history.
