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The idea of giving witness to fundamental truths of existence is essential to the Quaker philosophy of the school.

One of the ways that Friends Meeting School of Ijamsville has chosen to exemplify this is by constructing a new building that will be able to serve not only current students, but students who will soon be of high school age.

Currently, the school serves pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students, but there has long been a desire in the school's community to expand.

Jennifer and Erik Eden, whose children have graduated from college, were among the first parents involved in the Friends Meeting Community. The have been instrumental in fundraising for the new building. Both the Edens said that they thought the school was important because it prepared students to take the lead in a diverse world.

"As human beings we are characterized by change," Jennifer Eden said at the new school's groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 12. She said that she hoped she would have the "good sense" to follow the students of Friends Meeting School when they were grown up and ready to take on the mantle of leadership.

Friends Meeting School has concluded a campaign to raise money for a new building that will allow the school to begin teaching classes at the high school level. The new building is being constructed on the school's 54-acre property adjacent to existing facilities, and Breiling expects the building will be constructed by August, in time for next school year.

"It has always been part of the founding vision for this school to serve grades pre-K through 12," wrote Head of School Annette Breiling in an e-mail to The Gazette. "We simply haven't had the space before."

Breiling said options for alternative education for high school-age children are limited in Frederick County.

"I believe firmly that no one school is right for every student, and that we serve the public by making available other options," Breiling wrote.

The school's fundraising goal is $600,000. Donors have so far contributed more than $415,025 toward the goal, including 67 students who have contributed more than $9,700, according to a hand out presented at the groundbreaking. To completely fund construction, the school has taken out a $3 million loan and a $200,000 line of credit, Breiling said.

She said the new building would greatly expand not only the capabilities of the school, but its square footage – the current buildings only cover about 12,000 square feet. The new 21,000-square-foot building will be built in two stories, with the second story constructed as a shell for future classroom space, Breiling said. Half of the first floor will be taken up by a gymnasium, and the remainder will house a performing arts space, a cafeteria and four classrooms. Breiling wrote that school officials project that the building will eventually hold a small high school of 70 students on one floor and a middle school of 70 students on the other floor.  "Ultimately, this building can accommodate 18 high school students per grade, although we've budgeted for only half that in our first year," she wrote.

Breiling said that the school, and all schools associated with the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers as they are more commonly called, have a reputation for respecting and promoting diversity. Not only do the schools offer creative ways to educate people of different learning styles, but a definite spiritual perspective is nurtured, she said.

"Friends schools are known for offering quality education in the context of important values to live by," she wrote.

However, Friends Meeting School also considers itself a "Quaker school for all faiths," and counts Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist children among its students.

"It is important to us to honor spiritual seeking from all faith traditions, and to be respectful of a variety of backgrounds and perspectives," Breiling wrote.

Even at the groundbreaking ceremony last week, members of the Friends Meeting School community found a teaching moment. Lorne Garrettson, the capital campaign chair, explained to the younger students gathered at the school on Nov. 12 that the shovels and hard hats they would be using during the ceremony were symbolic. Of course there was no danger on the field yet – construction had not begun – but it was important to always remember to be safe on a job site, he said.