Foster BAHÁ’Í School
Foster Bahá’í School is not a traditional school but currently a bi-weekly spiritual education opportunity for all ages. Through arts, intellectual inquiry, worship and fun, our school community strives to nurture one’s noble spirit and to inspire world-embracing thoughts and goals. Unity in diversity is one of our core beliefs. We welcome and celebrate people of all backgrounds and religious traditions. Introductory classes as well as more intensive study sessions are also offered for adults.
History
Foster Bahá'í School traces its beginnings to 1985 when a few parents and children gathered after school to learn about the Bahá'í Faith. Wendy Kvalheim and Evelyn Grammar were the first two teachers; the location moved from home to home. As more families joined their efforts, the school changed to Sunday mornings and to larger facilities. Foster Bahá'í School is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Princeton, NJ.
The school attracts families from the greater Mercer County area and is held in Princeton, NJ. The Foster Bahá'í School is named after Bill and Ruth Foster, one-time residents of this area. The Fosters came to Princeton in the 1970s after many years of pioneering in Liberia, West Africa, and Casablanca, Morocco. Bill also spent three months in Haifa, Israel in 1952, directly serving Shoghi Effendi, the appointed head of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. Bill assisted in the design and engineering of the some of the features found at the Shrines of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. Bill and Ruth Foster were an inspiration and left a profound impression on the Bahá'ís in this area.
While he and Ruth were here, Bill hosted many study classes, training many of the area Bahá'ís to become teachers and host classes themselves. He constantly exhorted the friends to study the Bahá'í Writings. It is this spirit that permeates those Bahá'ís who had the opportunity to study with him. And it is in this spirit that this school is dedicated to Bill and Ruth Foster.
Children
Foster Baha'i School offers dynamic spiritual programming starting with our toddler group and working all the way up through middle school and high school. All curriculum is based upon the Ruhi Institute. For the smallest ones we have been adapting our Ruhi Grade 1 materials to be pre-school friendly. Our smallest ones begin their spiritual education with short lessons each focused on a different virtue; virtues such as love, patience, kindness, honesty, gratitude, humility... just to name a few. Once children reach kindergarten or first grade age they move onto a more formal Grade 1 which continues their understanding and exposure to spiritual virtues through age appropriate songs, stories, crafts, games and prayers. Children then progress into Ruhi Grade 2 which offers students the space to learn about and understand the importance of personal healthy habits such as prayer, true friendship, living in harmony with others, the importance of consultation and the value of choosing life goals that help others progress and being of service. Our Grade 3 class delves into the beautiful relationship that humanity has with God and investigates the lives and stories of each of the major Manifestations of God and the awe inspiring thread that unites all major religions. It provides an overarching understanding of how mankind has been progressively growing and the joy of being alive in this special day. Our Grade 4 then delves deeply into the early history of the Babi and Baha'i Faith starting with the radiance that comes in the darkest of days and continues to work through the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. Once children are of middle school age they graduate to the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program.
Junior Youth
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program channels the surging energies of 11 to 15 year olds to develop their character. The group studies material that includes stories of junior youth around the world in which they can relate and apply the concepts to their own lives. Service is a key part of the Junior Youth program as well as creative endeavours and art. There are currently 13 different books and we are working to move our JY through all of them by the time they have begun high school.
Youth
Youth lead the direction of their study. They bring real life situations to class, identifying the positive and negative influences operating in their everyday environments. Through study and discussion they learn to draw on the spiritual and positive social forces to direct their actions. We are working hard to help our youth move through the Ruhi Curriculum by the time they graduate from highschool that they they are able to become children's class teachers, junior youth animators, study circle tutors and to feel comfortable leading devotionals - all while forming deep friendships and strong spiritual bonds with each other and their fellow community members.
Adult
The adult class uses an eclectic approach, starting with polling the group on the topics for which they have interest. Recent sessions focused Ruhi Book 12 - Marriage and Family Life.
LOCATION & DIRECTIONS
Directions
Waze and Google Maps will work for this address but all other forms of GPS will get you lost.
FOSTER BAHA'I SCHOOL at the Kvalheim home:
4225 Province Line Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
For more details, please write to Wendy or Grant Kvalheim to: wendy.kvalheim@gmail.com