On Monday, May 16, 2011, Friends Select School student app and game developer Arman Dezfuli-Arjomandi launched the Friends Select Mobile 2 app to upper school students and faculty during morning devotions in the school’s Blauvelt Theatre.

After teaching themselves Objective C programming language, Dezfuli-Arjomandi, a junior at the time, and his business partner Haydn Dufrene, senior at the time, wrote the code, beta tested it with other classmates, bought a development license and submitted the app to Apple for approval. The advanced computer science students launched the first version of the app on February 1, 2010, to a rapt audience of uppers schoolers.

The Friends Select app enables upper school students to see their daily schedule, e-mail classroom teachers, add and monitor assignments and due dates, access the Online Learning Center and school calendar, even check SEPTA bus and train schedules--all at the touch of their fingertips on their mobile iPhone or iPod touch. Wow! Life just got simpler in upper school.

On Monday during the unveiling of the second version, Dezfuli-Arjomandi ’11 presented a PowerPoint presentation which describes his company’s game offerings and background on Friends Select Mobile 2 app. He skyped his business partner, Dufrene, a freshman at Stanford University, to say hello to former classmates.

After his presentation, Dezfuli-Arjomandi invited students to download the app while seated in the theatre. Students who own iPhone or iPod touches downloaded the new app all at the same time.

On Tuesday, May 10, the Center City District celebrated the groundbreaking of Sister Cities Park at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Friends Select School upper school choral group kicked-off the event with an a cappella performance of Sweet Dreams by Annie Lenox. Mayor Michael A. Nutter, former Governor Edward G. Rendell, and Councilman Darrell L. Clarke were among the featured speakers. The Academy of Natural Sciences, another Parkway neighbor, also brought animals.

Sister Cities Park on Logan Square will be transformed into a richly planted, well-illuminated and welcoming civic space for people of all ages as part of the $20.9 million makeover of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The renovations will include an attractive new café, a new fountain that will pay tribute to the Sister Cities program, an active, educational play garden for young children, and a boat pond.

A video montage of students of all ages using technology at FSS.