diff --git a/docs/data.md b/docs/data.md
index 64ec022..7008c2f 100644
--- a/docs/data.md
+++ b/docs/data.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ One record per person, all roles in one shape:
 - **Key**: school email, lowercased. Everyone has one, including the youngest students (their addresses exist but they don't have access yet).
 - **Names**: full name, legal name, preferred name.
 - **Roles**: student, parent, and staff booleans — combinations are valid (staff members are often also parents). Display strings derive from the flags.
+- **New to Helios**: flag marking people who just joined the community; drives the matching filter toggle.
 - **Pronouns**: optional; a curated list plus a freeform escape hatch.
 - **Pronunciation**: optional audio recording of the person's name.
 - **Photo**: official portrait or personal upload; people may opt for an illustrated avatar instead.
diff --git a/docs/dev.md b/docs/dev.md
index 723da0f..6e9c63f 100644
--- a/docs/dev.md
+++ b/docs/dev.md
@@ -31,3 +31,4 @@ switches the directory app to the Google Sheets source. At startup the directory
 - `internal/directory` — directory app handlers
 - `web/directory` — directory app page templates and static assets
 - `tools/screenshot` — dev-site page capture, see [screenshots.md](screenshots.md)
+- `tools/columns` — print the column names of each directory table in the configured source
diff --git a/docs/directory.md b/docs/directory.md
index 99a4b47..ba69290 100644
--- a/docs/directory.md
+++ b/docs/directory.md
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ Share the app by SMS or link, an explanation of why photos and facts are collect
 ## Behaviors
 
 - Everything is cross-linked: parents ↔ kids ↔ families ↔ classrooms; any person reference navigates to that person.
-- Search is per-list and immediate; filters cover grade and classroom.
+- Search is per-list and immediate; filters cover role, class, grade, city, pronouns, and new-to-Helios.
 - Favorites/bookmarks mark people and feed the email list's bookmark tab.
 - Photos lazy-load; full-size view on click where the photo is the subject (family pages).
 - All data is community-only, behind sign-in; opt-out removes a person on request.
diff --git a/docs/plan.md b/docs/plan.md
index 290977b..8537b33 100644
--- a/docs/plan.md
+++ b/docs/plan.md
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ What remains to build. Current behavior is documented in `docs/dev.md`, `docs/da
 
 - Remaining sections: My Family, Map.
 - Mobile chrome: brand-teal top bar and bottom tab navigation on narrow screens (see `docs/directory.md`); today only the desktop chrome is faithful.
-- Filter button behavior — currently visual only; the original filters by grade and classroom.
-- Favorites: per-account storage; hearts on person pages and email-list rows feed the bookmarks tab, saved per-device in the browser.
 - Installable-app plumbing: manifest, icons, and meta tags per `docs/pwa.md`.
 - Self-service flows: photo and pronunciation upload, address update, opt-out.
 
diff --git a/internal/directory/load.go b/internal/directory/load.go
index 3c34b26..2b90d7c 100644
--- a/internal/directory/load.go
+++ b/internal/directory/load.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func LoadModel(source data.Source) (*Model, error) {
 			IsStaff:          row["Is Staff?"] == "TRUE",
 			IsParent:         row["Is Parent?"] == "TRUE",
 			IsStudent:        row["Is Student?"] == "TRUE",
+			IsNew:            row["Is Totally New"] == "TRUE",
 			Pronouns:         row["Pronouns"],
 			Facts:            row["Facts"],
 			PronunciationURL: blobURL("people", email, "pronunciation", row["Pronunciation"]),
diff --git a/internal/directory/model.go b/internal/directory/model.go
index 0821b31..3d2214d 100644
--- a/internal/directory/model.go
+++ b/internal/directory/model.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ type Person struct {
 	IsStaff             bool     `json:"isStaff"`
 	IsParent            bool     `json:"isParent"`
 	IsStudent           bool     `json:"isStudent"`
+	IsNew               bool     `json:"isNew,omitempty"`
 	Pronouns            string   `json:"pronouns,omitempty"`
 	Facts               string   `json:"facts,omitempty"`
 	PronunciationURL    string   `json:"pronunciationUrl,omitempty"`
diff --git a/tools/columns/main.go b/tools/columns/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73cbc4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/columns/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+// Command columns prints the column names of each directory table in the configured source.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"sort"
+
+	"heliosian/internal/data"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	sheetID := os.Getenv("DIRECTORY_SHEET")
+	var source data.Source
+	if sheetID == "" {
+		source = data.Dir{Root: "sampledata"}
+	} else {
+		s, err := data.NewSheet(map[string]string{"directory": sheetID})
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("[ERROR] load directory sheet: %v", err)
+		}
+		source = s
+	}
+	for _, name := range []string{"Basic Directory", "Staff Details", "Classrooms", "Schedules", "Grade Lookup", "Room Parents", "Departments"} {
+		rows, err := source.Table("directory", name)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("[ERROR] table %s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		if len(rows) == 0 {
+			fmt.Printf("%s: no rows\n", name)
+			continue
+		}
+		seen := map[string]bool{}
+		columns := []string{}
+		for _, row := range rows {
+			for column := range row {
+				if !seen[column] {
+					seen[column] = true
+					columns = append(columns, column)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		sort.Strings(columns)
+		fmt.Printf("%s:\n", name)
+		for _, column := range columns {
+			fmt.Printf("  %s\n", column)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/web/static/directory/app.js b/web/static/directory/app.js
index 9624473..a1b6eb5 100644
--- a/web/static/directory/app.js
+++ b/web/static/directory/app.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const state = {model: null, tab: 'everyone', classTab: 'by-classroom', rosterTab: 'students', q: ''};
+const state = {model: null, tab: 'everyone', classTab: 'by-classroom', rosterTab: 'students', q: '', filterGrades: new Set(), filterClassrooms: new Set(), filterRoles: new Set(), filterCities: new Set(), filterPronouns: new Set(), filterNew: false};
 let byEmail = {};
 const favorites = new Set(JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('favorites') || '[]'));
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ function renderEveryone(grid) {
   const q = state.q;
   const matches = state.model.people.filter(p => {
     const family = state.model.families[p.familyKey];
-    return `${p.fullName} ${family ? family.name : ''}`.toLowerCase().includes(q);
+    return `${p.fullName} ${family ? family.name : ''}`.toLowerCase().includes(q) && matchesFilters(p);
   });
   for (const p of matches) {
     grid.append(personCard(p));
@@ -179,17 +179,21 @@ function renderEveryone(grid) {
 
 function renderStudents(grid) {
   grid.className = 'student-grid';
-  const matches = state.model.people.filter(p => p.isStudent && p.fullName.toLowerCase().includes(state.q));
+  const matches = state.model.people.filter(p => p.isStudent && p.fullName.toLowerCase().includes(state.q) && matchesFilters(p));
   for (const p of matches) {
     const card = el('a', 'student-card');
     card.href = personLink(p);
-    if (p.photoUrl) {
-      const img = el('img', 'student-photo');
-      img.src = thumbUrl(p.photoUrl);
-      img.loading = 'lazy';
-      img.alt = '';
-      card.append(img);
+    const head = el('div', 'student-head');
+    const family = state.model.families[p.familyKey];
+    if (family && family.photoUrl) {
+      const bg = el('img', 'student-family-photo');
+      bg.src = thumbUrl(family.photoUrl);
+      bg.loading = 'lazy';
+      bg.alt = '';
+      head.append(bg);
     }
+    head.append(photoOrInitials(p.photoUrl, p.fullName, 'student-photo'));
+    card.append(head);
     card.append(el('div', 'student-first', firstName(p.fullName)));
     card.append(el('div', 'student-last', p.fullName.replace(firstName(p.fullName), '').trim()));
     card.append(el('div', 'student-line', gradeChain(p)));
@@ -222,6 +226,7 @@ function familyEntries() {
         members: [firstName(p.fullName)],
         photoUrl: p.photoUrl,
         href: personLink(p),
+        email: p.email,
       });
     }
   }
@@ -232,7 +237,8 @@ function familyEntries() {
 function renderFamilies(grid) {
   grid.className = 'family-grid';
   const matches = familyEntries().filter(f =>
-    `${f.name} ${f.members.join(' ')}`.toLowerCase().includes(state.q));
+    `${f.name} ${f.members.join(' ')}`.toLowerCase().includes(state.q) &&
+    (f.key ? familyMatchesFilters(f.key) : matchesFilters(byEmail[f.email])));
   for (const f of matches) {
     const card = el('a', 'family-card');
     card.href = f.href;
@@ -248,7 +254,7 @@ function renderFamilies(grid) {
 function renderStaff(grid, autoFit) {
   grid.className = '';
   const staff = state.model.people.filter(p =>
-    p.isStaff && `${p.fullName} ${p.jobTitle || ''}`.toLowerCase().includes(state.q));
+    p.isStaff && `${p.fullName} ${p.jobTitle || ''}`.toLowerCase().includes(state.q) && matchesFilters(p));
   const departments = state.model.departments || [];
   const groups = new Map();
   for (const p of staff) {
@@ -322,9 +328,7 @@ function renderPeople() {
     renderGrid();
   });
   search.append(input);
-  const filter = el('button', 'filter-button');
-  filter.append(svg('filter'), el('span', '', 'Filter'), svg('chevron'));
-  controls.append(search, filter);
+  controls.append(search, filterControl(renderGrid));
   header.append(controls);
   content.append(header);
 
@@ -342,6 +346,150 @@ function renderPeople() {
   input.focus();
 }
 
+function personFacets(p, field) {
+  if (p.isStudent) {
+    return p[field] ? [p[field]] : [];
+  }
+  if (p.isParent) {
+    const family = state.model.families[p.familyKey];
+    return ((family && family.kidEmails) || []).map(e => byEmail[e]).filter(Boolean).map(k => k[field]).filter(Boolean);
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+function cityOf(p) {
+  const family = state.model.families[p.familyKey];
+  if (!family || !family.address) {
+    return '';
+  }
+  const parts = family.address.split(',').map(s => s.trim());
+  return parts.length >= 2 ? parts[parts.length - 2] : parts[0];
+}
+
+function anyFiltersActive() {
+  return Boolean(state.filterGrades.size || state.filterClassrooms.size || state.filterRoles.size ||
+    state.filterCities.size || state.filterPronouns.size || state.filterNew);
+}
+
+function matchesFilters(p) {
+  const gradeOK = !state.filterGrades.size || personFacets(p, 'grade').some(g => state.filterGrades.has(g));
+  const classOK = !state.filterClassrooms.size || personFacets(p, 'classroom').some(c => state.filterClassrooms.has(c));
+  const roleOK = !state.filterRoles.size ||
+    (state.filterRoles.has('Student') && p.isStudent) ||
+    (state.filterRoles.has('Parent') && p.isParent) ||
+    (state.filterRoles.has('Staff') && p.isStaff);
+  const cityOK = !state.filterCities.size || state.filterCities.has(cityOf(p));
+  const pronounsOK = !state.filterPronouns.size || state.filterPronouns.has(p.pronouns);
+  const newOK = !state.filterNew || p.isNew;
+  return gradeOK && classOK && roleOK && cityOK && pronounsOK && newOK;
+}
+
+function familyMatchesFilters(key) {
+  const family = state.model.families[key];
+  if (!family) {
+    return !anyFiltersActive();
+  }
+  const members = [...(family.kidEmails || []), ...(family.adultEmails || [])].map(e => byEmail[e]).filter(Boolean);
+  return !anyFiltersActive() || members.some(matchesFilters);
+}
+
+function gradeOptions() {
+  const present = new Set(state.model.people.filter(p => p.isStudent).map(p => p.grade).filter(Boolean));
+  return state.model.grades.map(g => g.name).filter(n => present.has(n));
+}
+
+function cityOptions() {
+  return [...new Set(state.model.people.map(cityOf).filter(Boolean))].sort();
+}
+
+function pronounOptions() {
+  return [...new Set(state.model.people.map(p => p.pronouns).filter(Boolean))].sort();
+}
+
+function filterControl(rerender) {
+  const wrap = el('div', 'filter-wrap');
+  const button = el('button', 'filter-button');
+  button.append(svg('filter'), el('span', '', 'Filter'), svg('chevron'));
+  const panel = el('div', 'filter-panel');
+  panel.hidden = true;
+  button.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    panel.hidden = !panel.hidden;
+    button.classList.toggle('open', !panel.hidden);
+  });
+
+  const sections = [
+    {label: 'Role', values: ['Student', 'Parent', 'Staff'], set: state.filterRoles},
+    {label: 'Class', values: state.model.classrooms.map(c => c.name), set: state.filterClassrooms},
+    {label: 'Grade', values: gradeOptions(), set: state.filterGrades},
+    {label: 'City', values: cityOptions(), set: state.filterCities},
+    {label: 'Pronouns', values: pronounOptions(), set: state.filterPronouns},
+  ];
+  for (const s of sections) {
+    const head = el('div', 'filter-section');
+    head.append(el('span', '', s.label), svg('chevron'));
+    const body = el('div', 'filter-options');
+    body.hidden = true;
+    head.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      body.hidden = !body.hidden;
+      head.classList.toggle('open', !body.hidden);
+    });
+    for (const v of s.values) {
+      const row = el('label', 'filter-option');
+      const box = el('input');
+      box.type = 'checkbox';
+      box.checked = s.set.has(v);
+      box.addEventListener('change', () => {
+        if (box.checked) {
+          s.set.add(v);
+        } else {
+          s.set.delete(v);
+        }
+        rerender();
+      });
+      row.append(el('span', '', v), box);
+      body.append(row);
+    }
+    panel.append(head, body);
+  }
+
+  const toggleRow = el('label', 'filter-toggle-row');
+  toggleRow.append(el('span', '', 'New to Helios'));
+  const toggle = el('input', 'filter-switch');
+  toggle.type = 'checkbox';
+  toggle.checked = state.filterNew;
+  toggle.addEventListener('change', () => {
+    state.filterNew = toggle.checked;
+    rerender();
+  });
+  toggleRow.append(toggle);
+  panel.append(toggleRow);
+
+  const footer = el('div', 'filter-footer');
+  const clear = el('button', 'filter-clear', 'Clear all');
+  clear.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    state.filterGrades.clear();
+    state.filterClassrooms.clear();
+    state.filterRoles.clear();
+    state.filterCities.clear();
+    state.filterPronouns.clear();
+    state.filterNew = false;
+    for (const box of panel.querySelectorAll('input')) {
+      box.checked = false;
+    }
+    rerender();
+  });
+  const done = el('button', 'filter-done', 'Done');
+  done.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    panel.hidden = true;
+    button.classList.remove('open');
+  });
+  footer.append(clear, done);
+  panel.append(footer);
+
+  wrap.append(button, panel);
+  return wrap;
+}
+
 function referrerCrumbs() {
   if (!document.referrer) {
     return null;
@@ -915,9 +1063,7 @@ function renderStaffPage() {
     renderList();
   });
   search.append(input);
-  const filter = el('button', 'filter-button');
-  filter.append(svg('filter'), el('span', '', 'Filter'), svg('chevron'));
-  controls.append(search, filter);
+  controls.append(search, filterControl(renderList));
   header.append(controls);
   content.append(header);
 
@@ -1166,9 +1312,7 @@ function renderEmailListPage() {
     renderTable();
   });
   search.append(input);
-  const filter = el('button', 'filter-button');
-  filter.append(svg('filter'), el('span', '', 'Filter'), svg('chevron'));
-  controls.append(search, filter);
+  controls.append(search, filterControl(renderTable));
   header.append(controls);
   content.append(header);
 
@@ -1179,7 +1323,7 @@ function renderEmailListPage() {
   function renderTable() {
     holder.replaceChildren();
     const rows = emailEntries(state.emailTab)
-      .filter(r => r.p.fullName.toLowerCase().includes(state.q) || r.p.email.toLowerCase().includes(state.q));
+      .filter(r => (r.p.fullName.toLowerCase().includes(state.q) || r.p.email.toLowerCase().includes(state.q)) && matchesFilters(r.p));
     if (!rows.length) {
       holder.append(el('div', 'empty', state.emailTab === 'bookmarks' ? 'No bookmarks yet.' : 'No matches.'));
       return;
@@ -1291,12 +1435,26 @@ document.querySelector('#user').addEventListener('click', e => {
   e.stopPropagation();
   userMenu.hidden = !userMenu.hidden;
 });
-document.addEventListener('click', () => {
+function closeFilterPanels() {
+  for (const panel of document.querySelectorAll('.filter-panel')) {
+    panel.hidden = true;
+    panel.parentElement.querySelector('.filter-button').classList.remove('open');
+  }
+}
+
+document.addEventListener('click', e => {
   userMenu.hidden = true;
+  for (const panel of document.querySelectorAll('.filter-panel')) {
+    if (!panel.hidden && !panel.parentElement.contains(e.target)) {
+      panel.hidden = true;
+      panel.parentElement.querySelector('.filter-button').classList.remove('open');
+    }
+  }
 });
 document.addEventListener('keydown', e => {
   if (e.key === 'Escape') {
     userMenu.hidden = true;
+    closeFilterPanels();
   }
 });
 
diff --git a/web/static/directory/style.css b/web/static/directory/style.css
index f723aae..02c98bd 100644
--- a/web/static/directory/style.css
+++ b/web/static/directory/style.css
@@ -246,6 +246,148 @@ main {
   margin: 0;
 }
 
+.filter-wrap {
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+.filter-button.open {
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--sidebar-active);
+}
+
+.filter-panel {
+  position: absolute;
+  right: 0;
+  top: calc(100% + 8px);
+  width: 300px;
+  background: #fff;
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);
+  z-index: 20;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.filter-section {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  padding: 15px 18px;
+  font-size: 15px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.filter-section svg {
+  width: 18px;
+  height: 18px;
+  stroke: #9aa4ab;
+  fill: none;
+  stroke-width: 1.8;
+  stroke-linecap: round;
+  stroke-linejoin: round;
+  transform: rotate(-90deg);
+}
+
+.filter-section.open svg {
+  transform: none;
+}
+
+.filter-options {
+  max-height: 250px;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
+}
+
+.filter-option {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  padding: 10px 18px;
+  font-size: 14px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.filter-option:hover {
+  background: #f6f6f7;
+}
+
+.filter-option input {
+  width: 17px;
+  height: 17px;
+  accent-color: var(--brand);
+}
+
+.filter-toggle-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  padding: 15px 18px;
+  font-size: 15px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.filter-switch {
+  appearance: none;
+  width: 40px;
+  height: 24px;
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  background: #d5dadd;
+  position: relative;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: background 0.15s;
+}
+
+.filter-switch::before {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2px;
+  left: 2px;
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: #fff;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+  transition: left 0.15s;
+}
+
+.filter-switch:checked {
+  background: var(--brand);
+}
+
+.filter-switch:checked::before {
+  left: 18px;
+}
+
+.filter-footer {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 12px;
+  padding: 14px 16px;
+}
+
+.filter-footer button {
+  flex: 1;
+  padding: 11px 0;
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 14px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.filter-clear {
+  border: 1px solid var(--line);
+  background: #fff;
+  color: var(--ink);
+}
+
+.filter-done {
+  border: 0;
+  background: var(--brand);
+  color: #fff;
+}
+
 .email-hint {
   color: var(--muted);
   font-size: 14px;
@@ -459,8 +601,9 @@ div.person-photo {
 
 .student-grid {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
-  gap: 24px;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(280px, 1fr));
+  gap: 28px 24px;
+  align-items: start;
 }
 
 .student-card {
@@ -468,16 +611,43 @@ div.person-photo {
   border-radius: 10px;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-align: center;
-  padding-bottom: 20px;
+  padding-bottom: 28px;
   background: #fff;
 }
 
-.student-photo {
+.student-head {
+  position: relative;
+  height: 150px;
+  margin-bottom: 50px;
+}
+
+.student-family-photo {
   width: 100%;
-  aspect-ratio: 1.35;
+  height: 100%;
   object-fit: cover;
   display: block;
-  background: #fff;
+}
+
+.student-photo {
+  position: absolute;
+  left: 50%;
+  bottom: -50px;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+  width: 100px;
+  height: 100px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  object-fit: cover;
+  border: 4px solid #fff;
+  background: #eef1f3;
+  color: #fff;
+}
+
+div.student-photo {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  font-size: 1.8rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
 }
 
 .student-first {