WHAT IS A CLERK AND WHAT DO THEY DO FOR THE MFS COMMUNITY?
The responsibility of a clerk in the Upper School is to create the most inclusive and productive environment for the entire high school community. Clerks are selected by an annual Nominating Committee, composed of student members from all four grades of the high school. This year's nomination process occurred on April 9th, 2024. This nomination process is extremely thorough and conscientious using the Quaker Process to lean into the Quaker values of our community. Selected clerks have the responsibility to organize weekly meetings, and serve as the communication between faculty and students. The application to be clerk asks students to describe their qualifications for the position, prior experience they have with leadership, what challenges they might face in their position, and the impact they hope to make on the Upper School overall.
A successful clerk has...
- "Desire to help others and build relationships within the MFS community
- Attentiveness to the perspectives, hopes, and needs of the entire student body and the faculty
- Commitment to actively seek new ideas and opinions
- Interest in learning about DEIB work in peer schools
- Ability to create inclusive spaces where all members in the community feel they belong
- Passion for working collaboratively with other clerks, student committees, and faculty advisors
- Dedication to self-reflection, identifying personal biases and and mitigating partiality in their work
- Enthusiasm for leading and developing their skills using Quaker process".
Cited from Mr. Miller's Clerk Application email.
Read below to meet this year's talaneted group!
AGENDA CLERKS - ALI SABIR '26 & MAYA DEANDREA '25
The Agenda Clerks are responsible for holding Agenda Committee, which currently meets every Thursday in Mrs. Galler's room 115. The goal of this committee is to create an environment that gives community members an opportunity to speak on issues that are prevalent within the school. These clerks will facilitate discussions and provide a space for new business to be talked about and addressed in a group setting open to anyone in the Upper School. Clerks also connect student voices to faculty by communicating concerns brought up during meetings to receive further aid in addressing these issues.
DIVERSITY CLERKS - MILES WILKINS '25 & SOPHIA LALANI '25
The Diversity Clerks are responsible for facilitating Diversity Committee, which currently meets every Wednesday in the D’Olier room. Diversity Clerks have the responsibility of supporting the community by leading regular conversations about issues related to diversity and current events, while working in partnership with the DEIB directors, Mary Anne Henderson and Chanelle Walker; the Head of Upper School, Noah Rachlin; and the Upper School Dean of Students Will Miller, to strengthen the Diversity program in the Upper School. Diversity Clerks strive to create a comfortable environment for community members to share a variety of different opinions, voice concerns, and create change within the Upper School.
MEETING FOR WORSHIP FOR BUSINESS - MASON LEVENS '25
The Meeting for Worship for Business (MFWFB) Clerk is responsible for conducting a successful MFWFB, which occurs during the MFW block during the last Wednesday of each month. Also, the MFWFB Clerk must simultaneously respect the Quaker process as it relates to the community. This clerk must guide the Upper School community through the process of group decision-making. The MFWFB Clerk is also responsible for conducting the Agenda Committee meetings if the Agenda Clerks are unavailable.
RECORDING CLERK - LIVIA KAM '26
The Recording Clerk is responsible for taking notes, otherwise known as minutes, at all Agenda Committee meetings and Upper School MFWFB. They must read the minutes from the previous MFWFB and ask for corrections and approval during the current MFWFB. The Recording Clerk must be able to listen carefully to speakers and take effective notes. The Recording Clerk ensures that there is a sense of organization and communication throughout all the clerks and that all meetings run smoothly.
The 2024-25 Clerks started their term during the week of May 20th, 2024.