Friends School of Portland could not function as it does without the generous, thoughtful, and consistent investment of time and energy on the part of parents. The ways families are involved with FSP change over time and each year we invite you to help reimagine and create new ways for families to be involved. You’ll find that each teacher at FSP invites parents to be involved in the classroom in different ways. As a school, we look for creative and simple ways for parents, caregivers, and families to be involved.

Parents have shared their interests and time in many ways: shared family traditions, expertise in their field in the classroom, co-led an afterschool Podcast club, assisted with building our new wing as part of our Capital Campaign leadership, created FSP car magnets, led annual fundraisers like Hats Off & Close Buy Catalog sales, attended morning coffees around Quakerism, and prepared appreciation lunches for teachers and staff.

All parents are encouraged to attend and sign up to help with a few annual parent-initiated traditions.

Parent Coffees are informal but themed meet and greets organized on the first Wednesday morning of each month. Past parent coffee topics have included conversations with Friends Camp Director, Quakers from Portland Friends Meeting, New Teacher meet and greet. We look forward to more ways to lift up and share the work of students and their families at FSP.

Valentine’s Day Winter Potluck is held annually in February. Families are invited to bring a breakfast dish to share, make valentines for one another and to share with our local Meals on Wheels program, and of course sled!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation End-of-Year Lunches are a wonderful FSP tradition to share appreciation for the hard work all year of FSP’s faculty and staff. Families are invited to bring baked goods, main dishes, and desserts during June Teacher Work Days.

School Committees

In addition to these opportunities that come around each year, each school year offers different events in which to become involved. There are many School Committees that keep FSP a healthy, thoughtful community. Committees vary by membership: parents, students, faculty, staff, board members, community members. There are both committees that meet regularly and reoccur each year to groups as needed. Often, volunteer committee help is solicited in re-enrollment forms, by classroom teachers, in the e-bulletin, and in conversation.

Here are a few examples of committees and volunteer groups parents often support: Parenting for Peace Planning Committee, Admissions Ambassadors, Hours in the Flowers/Grounds Keepers, Visiting Artists Planning Committee, Grandfriends’ Day Planning Committee, Quaker Life Committee, Auction Planning Committee, School Merchandise Committee, and Classroom Point Parents.

Additional needs are publicized in the weekly e-bulletin and classroom emails.

Classroom Point Parents:

All classes have a designated point parent. Point parents meet together with the HOS once a month to help facilitate class social gatherings, coordinate classroom volunteer opportunities, and foster class community. This might look like:

  • Arrange a fun fall social gathering to build community within classes (ie) an all-class afterschool/weekend playground visit or outdoor potluck

  • Coordinate library book pick-up/drop-off

  • Field Trip chaperone and ride coordinating

  • Coordinating a classroom service project/activity

  • Attending monthly Point Parent Meetings

Point Parents 2023-2024

Preschool: Emily and Lucia

Kindergarten: Larissa

Sally & Aila’s 1-2: Kiah and Elizabeth

Xanthe & MC’s 1-2: Melanie

Lindsay’s 3-4: Melissa, clerk

Rachel’s 3-4: Mirolee

Aliza’s 5-6: Vanessa

Colin’s 5-6: Heather

Pete’s 7-8: TBD

Nicole’s 7-8: Sarah Griffiths

Racial Justice Accountability Group (R.J.A.G)

This is a mixed-constituency, ever-evolving group that will meet this school year four times. Clerked by the head of school, the mission of R.J.A.G. is to keep channels of communication open between administration, parents, and teachers when it comes to areas of progress, areas of block, incidents or discouragements, signs of hope, need for further study, and ideas for change. 

Meetings are designed to stand alone. Meetings are usually 4 pm in person, in the conference room. You are welcome to attend any of the meeting times below.


Wed., Sept. 27 at 4 pm 

Tues., Jan. 23 at 4 pm 

Tues., March 5 at 4 pm 

Fourth Meeting: TBD

Please email Sara Primo (sara@friendsschoolportland.org) if you are interested in being on the email list that receives the agenda ahead of time. Past topics have included “Talking to Young White People About White Fragility” and “Conversation with the Director of DEI at Germantown Friends School.”

Families of Color Affinity Group

Affinity groups allow space for people sharing identifiers to feel specifically supported. At FSP, the Families of Students of Color have formed a group for families who have students that identify as being a person/ child of color. This group meets to support our children of color and families of color and provide a safe space that affirms and celebrates their identities.

The Families of Color Affinity Group aims to meet four times a year for a social, play-based gathering. If you would like to join the Families of Color Affinity Group, please contact Eliza Robinson (eliza@friendsschoolportland.org)

If you would like to begin another Parent-Led Affinity Group… please talk to Head of School, Sara Primo.