Moorestown Friends School (MFS) held a dedication ceremony for its new school sign last month.
“The sign faces the world,” said Mark Baiada, founder and chair of Bayada Home Health Care. “It’s there not for us, it’s for the other people in the community to see that sign, to identify the school. Architecture has meaning. It’s brick; all the buildings are brick.
“Brick is permanent. Brick is strong.”
“It’s showing that the school is continuing those rooted foundations on a long-term basis,” Baiada continued. “It’s not a temporary sign. It’s a strong sign which connects with the past and now reaches out to the larger community.”
Head of School Julia de la Torre explained in her remarks that in the winter of 2021-’22, Baiada and his wife Ann noticed that the school’s sign was not making a great first impression. They brought it to de la Torre’s attention, and those initial conversations led to a collaborative effort to re-envision the Main Street marker.
They researched other landmark signs at schools and colleges and started working with designers Stacy Kent and Craig Morgan – of Aegis Property Group – to build their vision. Baiada provided critical guidance and suggestions about the new sign. During the summer, the school’s construction partner, ThinkGreen, began setting a foundation, steadily layering in each row of bricks, then adding plantings to surround the sign. It was completed just in time for the opening day of school.
Baiada has been associated with MFS since the ‘80s, and he shared his thoughts on the importance of the sign.
Ivy Brown (left to right), Ann Baiada, the fox, Mark Baiada and Julia de la Torre prepare to cut the ribbon for the school’s new sign.
“We have to reach out and help bring people here so we can be a beacon and a model for others in the world,” he explained. “I want our students to get a wonderful education, feel strong and in touch with the beauty within themselves and the spirit of love. I think the sign reinforces that, and also tells the world what this is about and hopefully brings them here so more people are clamoring to come to Moorestown Friends School.”
Following Baiada’s remarks at the ceremony, de la Torre pointed out three things on the sign: Underneath the name of the school is MFS’ founding year, 1785; on the back side there are 15 white bricks in three rows, each inscribed with a class year, starting at the top left with the class of 2024 and ending with the class of 2038 on the bottom right to represent the 15 classes at MFS this year; and an inscription recognizing the generosity of the Baiada family.
De la Torre then thanked Mark and Ann with a gift, a brick from the school more than 150 years old and a plaque.
Mark and Ann Baiada are presented with a 150-plus years old brick from Moorestown Friends School, as thanks for the new Main Street sign they supported.
“When you look carefully at the brick, you’ll see that this is not a modern brick,” de la Torre pointed out to the Baiadas. “It’s thinner and wider than a modern brick, and you can easily see the many layers within the brick … This brick came from the sidewalk in front of the Meetinghouse on Main Street. The school collected them years ago when they were pulled up in favor of new bricks.
“So this brick has been in the ground, just steps away from the New Main Street sign, for at least 150 years if not more,” de la Torre continued. “It’s just a small memento to note the lasting impact of your special gift.”
The dedication ceremony also included a reading from Ivy Brown, school committee clerk, and a performance from the Upper School choir. De la Torre and Brown also addressed groups in the audience, including members from the classes of 2024 and 2038, the school committee, the extended Baiada family – including the Kirchhoff and Lovequist families – alumni and parents.
“ … Our parents and guardians are integral to this school community and have entrusted us with the care of educating their children,” de la Torre noted.
