An overview of Ramallah Friends School, a ministry of Friends United Meeting

1. Ramallah Friends School
a ministry of Friends
United Meeting

2. Sybil
Jones, the
New
England
Friend
who
founded
the school
in 1869

3. Sybil was responding to a request from
the community for education for girls

4. Founded in 1869 by Sybil Jones from
New England Yearly Meeting, at the
request of the local community, which
asked for a school for girls.

5. The school has
three divisions
on two
campuses,
originally for
girls and for
boys. The
entire school is
now co-ed.

6. The lower
school is Pre-
K through 5th
grade. It
meets on the
former “girls
school”
campus

7. The middle school is 6-8th grades. We are
in the midst of building them a new
complex within the “boys school”
campus

8. The upper
school is
grades 9-12.
It uses the
historic “boys
school”
campus

9. The IB
curriculum
is used
through all
levels of
the school

10. There are about 1,200 students, all
Palestinian, both Christian and Muslim

11. Joyce
Ajlouny,
the
Director
of the
Schools

12. Joyce’s
husband
Ziad works
for a
Palestinian
charitable
foundation

13. The Lower School

17. The senior staff leadership of the lower
school: Frieda, Ken and Duha

18. The only program for children with
severe special needs in all of Palestine

21. The new Kindergarten building

27. Community Service

30. Lower school playing field

36. One of our
most
famous
alumnae,
Hanan
Ashrawi

39. Teachers’ lounge

40. The Upper School

41. Riyam (standing), the new Principal, in a
workshop with teachers

43. An Israeli settlement is visible on the
ridge.

46. Students learn traditional Palestinian folk
dancing, called Dabke

47. A professional Dabke troupe performing
at the separation wall

48. Many modern buildings, including this
gymnasium, have been built with USAid
“ASHA” funding

50. The science labs are scheduled for
renovation this year

52. Upper School soccer field

53. Construction has just begun on a commercial
building next to the playing field

54. The student council

55. RFS hosts the only Model UN in Palestine

62. Ramallah Meetinghouse … then

63. … and now!

64. Today, the meetinghouse and schools are
in the center of this bustling city

65. Volunteers are always welcome

66. Thank you for your
prayers and support