Elevation Feature:

Elevation Feature Ep 6: Virginia Beach Friends School

Elevation Feature Ep 6: Virginia Beach Friends School

Episode Overview

In this episode of Help 100 Schools, we shine the spotlight on Virginia Beach Friends School, a remarkable institution that blends values-based education with a strong sense of community. Join us as we speak with Anna Facemire, Advancement Director and parent at the school, to explore how their unique approach to education nurtures both academic and character development in students from ages 2.5 through eighth grade.

Meet Virginia Beach Friends School

Guest: Anna Facemire, Advancement Director at Virginia Beach Friends School
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Website: vbfschool.org
Social Media:

Anna shares her unique perspective as both an administrator and a parent of three students, discussing the school’s mission, values, and the sense of belonging it fosters among families and staff alike.

Why Families Choose Virginia Beach Friends School

  1. Community: A close-knit environment where every child is known by name and families actively participate in school life.
  2. Values-Based Education: Grounded in Quaker principles, the school emphasizes kindness, mindfulness, and character development alongside academic success.
  3. Special Programs: From an early age, students participate in enriching activities such as art, music, gardening, and buddy programs that foster connection across age groups.

Unique Aspects of Virginia Beach Friends School

  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): A dedicated guidance counselor and the school’s unique “happiness program” equip students with tools to cultivate gratitude, mindfulness, and resilience.
  • Meeting for Worship: Weekly gatherings for silent reflection and meaningful prompts, helping students build mindfulness and a sense of gratitude from an early age.
  • Educational Philosophy: A balanced focus on strong academics and character development, preparing students to be thoughtful, confident, and kind citizens.

School’s History & Mission

Founded in 1955, Virginia Beach Friends School is celebrating nearly 70 years of providing a distinctive Quaker education. Their mission is to graduate students who are mindful of their choices, actions, and responsibilities while fostering happiness and community.

Contact and Learn More

To learn more about Virginia Beach Friends School, visit their website or connect with them on social media:

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for tuning into this episode of Help 100 Schools. If Virginia Beach Friends School’s story inspired you, consider sharing this episode to spread awareness about their incredible work. Visit help100schools.com to learn more about our mission to elevate deserving schools and subscribe to never miss another inspiring story.

Together, we can make a difference—one school at a time. See you in the next episode!



Host: Karl Boehm 0:01
Music. Welcome to Help 100 Schools. Today’s episode features a wonderful school as part of our elevation initiative designed to highlight and support worthy schools like the one you’re about to meet. If you wish to learn more, support, or subscribe, please visit help100schools.com for additional information. Now let’s move on to today’s featured school. Hello and welcome everybody to this elevation feature of the Help 100 Schools. I will formally introduce Anna Facemire from Virginia Beach Friends School. Anna, please give us a proper introduction.

Anna Facemire 0:32
Sure, absolutely. My name is Anna Facemire. I am the Advancement Director at Virginia Beach Friends School. I wear an admin hat here at the school, but I am also a parent. I have three children here: my youngest is in the kindergarten program—she started at two and a half years old—and I have children all the way up to fifth grade. My three children go here, so I often represent the school both as a parent and an administrator. I’ve been here for about four and a half years. I started working here at the height of COVID, which is also when my children started attending. Initially, we thought it would be temporary, but we fell in love with the community and the values-based education, and we never left.

Host: Karl Boehm 1:32
Anna, as the Advancement Director, you wear many hats. Tell us a little more about your role at the school.

Anna Facemire 1:40
As the Advancement Director, I focus on a lot of different areas at the school. We wear many hats here in administration. I handle marketing and communications, events, and fundraising. I also greet every single one of our students in the car line in the morning. I’m very well-rounded and knowledgeable about the school. I’m excited to be here, and I appreciate the opportunity to share more about Virginia Beach Friends School. Thank you for featuring us.

Host: Karl Boehm 2:10
Excellent, Anna. I can see why you would choose a values-based education. It’s really just a head nodder, isn’t it?

Anna Facemire 2:20
It really is. I truthfully see a swing in that direction in educational philosophy among many schools today, based on the world we live in. That’s one of the reasons I chose this school for my kids, and I think it’s becoming more and more popular.

Host: Karl Boehm 2:34
Perfect. Well, let’s get into it. Why do families choose your school for their students?

Anna Facemire 2:40
There are a lot of reasons why families choose Virginia Beach Friends School. Two key reasons stand out when families visit and tour the campus: our community and our values-based education. Our community is unique. We have 165 children, from ages two and a half through eighth grade. Everyone knows everyone here. The eighth graders know the preschoolers, and vice versa. We host wonderful community events, and families are deeply involved. Faculty members recognize the inclusivity and individual qualities of each child. Our culture, grounded in Quaker education values, is another key draw.

Host: Karl Boehm 3:55
That’s excellent. Let’s talk about the captivating story behind your school.

Anna Facemire 4:00
Virginia Beach Friends School was founded in 1955 and is about to celebrate its 70th anniversary. It’s been a staple in the Hampton Roads educational landscape. While we used to have a high school, we now focus on offering a special experience through eighth grade, acting as a feeder school to other competitive programs in the area. One of the standout aspects of our school is its Quaker foundation, which is unusual in the Virginia Beach area.

Host: Karl Boehm 5:00
What other unique aspects of the school should the world know about?

Anna Facemire 5:10
We offer programs called “specials” for all students, including art, music, and gardening. For instance, two-and-a-half-year-olds participate in the same art and music programs as eighth graders. We also pair younger students with older buddies for mentorship. Another unique program is our happiness curriculum, led by our head of school, Greg, who designed his own curriculum to teach social-emotional skills. It’s a wonderful addition to our school.

Host: Karl Boehm 6:45
That sounds amazing. Can you tell us about your school’s mission and vision?

Anna Facemire 7:00
Our mission is to graduate students who are confident, mindful, and kind. We want them to understand that success isn’t just about academics—it’s about being happy and being a good friend. These are the qualities that will serve them well in life.

Host: Karl Boehm 8:20
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add about your educational philosophy?

Anna Facemire 8:30
Yes, one thing we haven’t touched on is our practice of Meeting for Worship. Every Wednesday, students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade gather in silence to reflect on a meaningful prompt. For example, before Thanksgiving, we reflected on gratitude. It’s a beautiful practice that fosters mindfulness and thoughtfulness.

Host: Karl Boehm 9:00
That’s wonderful. Where can listeners learn more about your school?

Anna Facemire 9:10
Our website is vbfschool.org. We also have active Instagram and Facebook pages. Feel free to reach out to us anytime.

Host: Karl Boehm 9:30
Thank you, Anna, for sharing your story. It’s been a pleasure.

Anna Facemire 9:40
Thank you. It’s been an honor.


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