Fifth graders Mariah, Isaak, Mary, Giana, Nura, Alexander, and Sofia, along with their choir directors, Emily Fareed and Katie Martinenza '99, attended UD ChoralFest Junior. ChoralFest is an honor choir experience for local upper elementary, middle, and upper school students from the greater Delaware region. Students from Friends joined over 160 singers for singing workshops throughout the day and an evening performance under the direction of UD choral faculty. It was an outstanding choral experience!
The digital landscape plays an essential role in the lives of students and adults, and at Wilmington Friends School, we want to equip our students, families, faculty, and staff with the necessary tools to ensure that they make positive and safe decisions online every day.
Students from the WFS middle school Youth in Government club recently traveled to Dover to participate in the State Junior Youth in Government Model Legislature.
Early years students participated in a fall festival today planned by early years assistant teachers which included an obstacle course, the Quaker Bakery and Friends Farm Stand, fall-themed sounds, leaf painting, and lots of dancing!
Students in 7th and 8th grade band, as well as upper school symphonic and jazz bands recently spent time with composer Brian Cox helping to craft a special 275th Anniversary commissioned piece!
Wilmington Friends kicked off the 275th Webinar Series on Thursday, November 9, with "How Networking Enhances Your Brand," featuring Andy McEnroe '04, Managing Director for Raymond James; Monterry Luckey, Deputy Director of the Delaware Workforce Development Board; and Lynne M. Williams, Executive Director of Great Careers Group & BENG; and moderated by Connor Dalton ’08.
The upper school Modern Women's Club recently hosted a guest speaker, University of Delaware Professor of English and Director of the Center for Material Culture Studies Sarah Wasserman.
The Quaker Cares Committee is back in action for the 23-24 school year, continuing its mission of creating a safe space for students to talk about mental health and to spread awareness about mental health support and resources.
Upper school students recently had the unique opportunity of spending time with Jon Bell, Director of Business Relations and Outreach at Better Business Bureau Delaware.
As part of our 2023 Homecoming and 275th anniversary celebration, Emily David Hershman ’09 joined WFS Head of School Ken Aldridge on Saturday morning to deliver a proclamation from Governor John Carney's office.
With 35 years of collective experience leading Wilmington Friends School, Ken Aldridge (2015-present), Lisa Darling (1994-2005), Bryan Garman (2006-2015), and Bill Goulding (1973-1976) provided insights at the October 20 Heads Panel that reminded the audience that our Quaker school, with two campuses tucked away in Alapocas and serving children in preschool through 12th grade, does indeed seem to have a “secret sauce” that makes us unique.
Voices of Friends: Enterprise Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research Administration and Scientific Affairs for ChristianaCare, Dr. Omar Khan ’90.
Students in grades 3-12 spent time over two days with composer Jim Papoulis helping to craft the lyrics and shape the mood and energy of our 275th Anniversary commissioned piece.
Using the WFS Design Lab, students in the upper school SMART Machines class are introduced to programming and engineering concepts related to interactive robots.
As part of our special 275th year celebration, the entire WFS middle school community traveled to the Wilmington Monthly Meeting House at 4th & West--the original site of Wilmington Friends School--for a special Meeting for Worship.
During our faculty and staff professional development day, two faculty members shared the rich and fulfilling experiences they had during their sabbaticals in the Spring of 2023.
One of our beloved WFS community traditions is seniors and first-grade buddies. Today, seniors met with their buddies for the first time. After some quick introductions, it was time to play!
Middle School Bonding Day is an important WFS tradition that gives students a chance to participate in games and activities to foster a sense of community among their peers and grow as a grade!
Kindergarten students recently listened to a read-aloud of "The Skin You Live In" by Michael Tyler and explored the diversity and the variety of skin tones of the children in the story before creating their own self-portraits!
The Upper School Club Fair is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the variety of clubs available at WFS, from the Steminists to Random Acts of Kindness and Robotics!
Congratulations to WFS seniors Evan Jones and Maddie Miller who were recognized by the College Board with the National African American Recognition Award!
Earlier this month, WFS administrators received an email from three women who had recently been walking the Camino in Spain, a hiking route known across the world.
From preschoolers to fifth graders, our lower school students had a blast this week at their Field Days! They played soccer, ran through obstacle courses, practiced their archery skills, and stayed cool with plenty of water games!
Lower school students again participated in Big Bang of the Books, a reading club shared across WFS, Tatnall, and Tower Hill that includes more than 170 students! The year culminates with a fun spring gathering where students participate in challenges, and this year they got to Zoom with author Gordon Korman, who wrote "The Fort," which was voted favorite book by the students.
Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade band and choir members who traveled to Hershey Park for the Music in the Parks Festival, where they received a first place, superior rating for band and a first place, excellent rating for choir!
The middle school Asian Affinity Group traveled to the lower school to read stories to students that highlighted Asian history or protagonists. Lower school students loved meeting the middle school students, listening to the stories, and learning more about Asian heritage.
The future of Friends looks very bright! Look at the smiles as our preschool kangas, roos, and joeys waited for the bus for their final field trip of the year to the Can-Do Playground!
Members of the Eco Team met with representatives from Practical Energy Solutions, who had recently completed an energy audit and assessment at WFS, to review their recommendations on how as a school we can improve lighting and internal loads, plumbing and hot water use, our HVAC systems, and increase our solar energy potential. The Eco Team will use these findings to help implement energy solutions across the school.
Aubrey Nisbet ’23 captured her third State Championship at 1st Singles! Congratulations to Aubrey on an incredible high school career and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish at Wake Forest.
One of the favorite traditions of senior year at WFS is time spent with first grade buddies. Juniors got a jumpstart on this before the school year ends, meeting with their buddies (current kindergarteners) and having a blast! They can't wait to spend more time together next year.
As part of his "Quaker Quest" for Quakerism class, Ryan Hill '25 recently spoke to lower school students about his reptile collection, including a spiny tailed iguana, ball python, and isopods.
The WFS fifth grade choir recently won first place in the Delaware Music Educator Association's Youth Composers Contest for the piece they composed, "Live Your Life."
Congratulations to Jillian Farley '25 and Ellie Driscoll '25 who were awarded the Chapter President Community Service Award from Best Buddies Delaware!
Noah Gibbons '25, Steven Kozikowski '25, and Avery Martinenza '25 recently traveled to Dover Speedway to compete in the 35th Annual Delaware Driver Safety Competition.
All International Baccalaureate diploma candidates are required to undertake an independent research project on a subject of their choice, with supervision by a faculty mentor, culminating in an essay of approximately 4,000 words.
It was great to have so many grandparents and special friends join us at the lower school last week...They enjoyed partaking in classes, learning more about the school, and simply having fun with their student!
In April, upper school students Maddie Miller '24, Tess Wolf '24, Jalen Stewart '24, Pablo Charriez '24, and Collier Zug '24 attended the Delaware Youth Congressional Conference at Delaware State University. Sponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons, the goal of the conference is to provide an opportunity for student leaders to join together to discuss important issues and learn how to make a difference in the local community. Students met and attended workshops with Senator Coons as well as Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, and also engaged in a community service activity to benefit the Food Bank of Delaware.
WFS is again hosting students from the city of Kalmar, Sweden. Kalmar is Wilmington's sister city, a "broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries." (sistercities.org)
Congratulations to our IB Art and Visual Arts Major artists who welcomed friends and family to the opening of their exhibition showcasing works from portfolios they produced over the last two years.
The end-of-year senior traditions have begun, with the Class of 2023 signing the Senior Scroll and receiving their WFS laundry bag. This tradition has been a part of the senior class spring for more than 20 years!
Lower school teachers noticed a swarm of bees on one of the fences last week and called WFS parent and beekeeper George Datto to ask what they should do.
Upper school students participated in two lunch and learns this week. The first was WFS parent Matthew Heckles who is the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. He spoke to students about homelessness in America and Delaware and what they can do to help. Next was Leslie Porter '76, who spoke about our dependence on healthy eco-systems and shared several non-profits that focus on the health of the planet, wildlife, and animals well-being.
Darlene Amobi, vice president of the Hockessin Historical Society, parent of EJ Amobi '99, and grandmother of Taj '32 and Tavin '34, presented to the third grade about Henry "Box" Brown, a man who escaped slavery by having himself shipped in a crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia, and his connection to the Underground Railroad in Hockessin.
Seventh graders recently traveled to two Material Resource Centers in Pennsylvania, both run by the Mennonite Central Committee, which help to provide hygiene kits, canned food, educational supplies, and other resources to refugees and other displaced people throughout the world. Students sorted, organized, packaged, and even helped assemble quilts on this valuable service day.
Congratulations to fifth graders Ishani and Drew who both earned first place in the qualifying round contests for the Delaware Math League competition! They now have an opportunity to compete at the next level in May. Good luck!
It's the last few busy weeks of senior year for the Class of 2023, but everyone took a break yesterday to gather for lunch with their first grade buddies outside Jones House.
Fellow students and family members were treated to a fantastic performance at the First Grade Circus! The student-performers wowed the audience with their skill and coordination in events including hula-hooping, juggling, walking the balance beam, and plate-balancing! This WFS tradition is not inly fun, but it helps children with hand-eye coordination, strength, and balance.
WFS teachers Carlos Charriez, Kelley Cox, Karen Horikawa, and Tim Dalby attended the National Science Teaching Association Convention in Atlanta. During the three-day event, they took part in workshops and refreshed their best practices using Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) targets, technology, inquiry lessons, and sensemaking.
During middle school activity period this year, a group of students dubbed "Lower School Helpers" have been traveling to the lower school to assist in different classroom activities, including: reading to classes; packing up canned goods for a food drive; practicing math facts and word problems with second and third grade; playing soccer with kindergarten students; and helping organize the music closet with Teacher Katie.
Congratulations to WFS Director of College Guidance, Kathleen Martin, who received the Apperson Award from the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC).
Throughout the school year, Assistant Head of School Eddie Gallagher, who is in his first year at WFS, has been visiting lower school classes to, as he puts it, "see some of the 'magic' I've observed from afar while I walked the hallways." Below is his most recent reflections sent to lower school faculty and staff.
Congratulations to the 29 middle school students who are representing WFS at the 2023 DAIS Middle School Art Show! Their work will be displayed throughout this week at Ursuline Academy's Fusco Hall. Click here for more information and hours: https://tinyurl.com/mrxwk3a7
Congratulations to Lorne McDonnell '25, who represented WFS as one of five percussionists in the Delaware All-State Senior Band, performing under the direction of Dr. Patricia Cornett. Lorne and his fellow 10th-12th grade musicians from across the state spent three days planning their performance.
Beth McClelland Lutostansky '88 recently presented to a packed house of upper schoolers––including those in the Environmental Science class and the STEMinist Club––on her career in the energy industry.
Lower school music teacher Katie Martinenza and nine students from fifth grade participated in the 2023 Delaware ACDA Children’s Honor Choir Festival at Newark High School.
Reverend Karla Fleshman and her colleague, Finn, presented to seventh graders a long-awaited and much-requested workshop on gender identity, gender expression, and creating “affirming and safer space for LGBTQIA+ students.”
The upper school World Affairs Club welcomed New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer '90, who spoke to students about the role of the state/county legislature, with a focus on the HOPE Center in Wilmington, whose mission is to house and support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and the GreeNCC initiative, a county-wide program aimed at improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life in New Castle County.
International Baccalaureate art majors and higher level visual arts students traveled to Washington, D.C. to view artwork at the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of Asian Art.
Last week, our preschool Kangas explored the Delaware Art Museum. Students spent time in the children's area and went on a special color scavenger hunt throughout the galleries!
Happy Panda Day is such a great send off to Spring Break--lower school students met with Ivy the therapy dog, made friendship bracelets, hunted for leprechauns, and practiced yoga, all in the comfort of their pajamas!
As part of their unit on the constitution, eighth grade students recently met with WFS parent Eliza Hirst, an Assistant Public Defender in Delaware's Office of Defense Services.
Last week, the Class of 2025 visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture as part of their continuing study of American history.
Last week, middle and upper school students participated in a happiness challenge organized by the Quaker Cares Committee, which focused on positive relationships with family and friends.
As organizations continue to rely on ever-changing technology, computer science has become increasingly more popular in high school and college curricula.
Fourth and fifth grade students enjoyed their visit with Adam Perry, author of The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books, The Magicians of Elephant County, Ghost Come Rising, and more!
To highlight Black historical figures that lower schoolers learn about throughout the year, students created posters based on biographies to present what information they learned.
Thank you to all who came out and supported the Home & School Used Book Sale! Over 55 volunteers - adults and students alike - moved, sorted, and sold books, games, CDs and DVDs, and had a great time in the process. Shoppers found new books to add to their libraries, with one staff member saying it was her favorite day of the year!
Fifth grade students have been enjoying "Girls Who Code," a national program for students that serves as a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models using computer science to change the world.
As part of Black History Month celebrations, middle school students met with Delaware’s Twin Poets Laureate, Representative Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (also a WFS parent) and City Councilman Albert Mills.
Second graders celebrated the 100th day of school this week with lots of 100-day activities, including writing what life might be like 100 years from now, finding all the ways to make 100 in math, making 100 day glasses, and brainstorming 100 reasons to love school!
Thank you to the middle and upper school members of our Black Student Union who visited with lower school classes to read stories to students that highlighted Black history or protagonists.
Eighth grade history/social science students recently visited the East Side Charter School APEX program, currently housed at the Teen Warehouse in Northeast Wilmington, to participate in a "pop-up" debate with APEX students about gun control legislation.
It was a record-setting day for the WFS indoor track & field day at the 2023 DIAA State Championship meet on Saturday afternoon. Two WFS relay teams posted new school records and another four relay teams recorded season best times!
Congratulations to the cast and crew of "Original Sin," this year's Student Run Production. The original horror story was written by Jack Hebert '23 and directed and led by Jace Boland '23 and Maddie Schaen '25. Photo credit: Helen Liu '23
Michael Anello, Executive Director of the Haiti Reforestation Partnership, visited upper school Peace and middle school social studies classes to speak about the organization's work and how reforestation has led to incredible environmental and community development in Haiti.
The H&S Used Book Sale is coming on February 24 and 25! We sell used books (adult, children, textbooks and everything in between), puzzles, music (CDs and vinyl), movies, games, and video games.
Thank you to everyone who attended last week's Home and School Parents for Multiculturalism Potluck, celebrating family traditions and cultural dishes from Nigeria, Turkey, Brazil, Kenya, China, Jamaica, and Argentina!
Congratulations to Ethan Halaby '27, Adelaide Nourie '23, Piper Roskovensky '26, and Jemima Smith '24 who were accepted into the 2023 Delaware All-State Choirs!
Kindergarten students celebrated El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) by wearing their "coronas" and leaving their shoes outside of the Spanish classroom in anticipation and hopes that the Three Kings would swing by WFS and leave treats!
Many of us are interested in volunteering, but with the demands on our time and attention these days, community service can easily be placed on the back burner.
Many of us know of Advanced Placement or “AP” courses in high schools, and often see “AP” grouped with “IB” in references to more challenging coursework.
If your child is pursuing higher education, at some point you might feel compelled to step into, and perhaps even manage, their college application process.
Ben Osbun ’66 has been involved with several non-profit organizations in and around Wilmington, including Wilmington Friends School, for the past 20 years.
Ellie McGinnis ’14, who earned her M.Ed. in Special Education from National University, has spent the past two years as a Teach for America corps member in the Bay Area.
Ikechukwu Daniel Adebi ’18 graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this past spring with his degree in Computer Science and Engineering
Robert R. Hoopes, Jr. ’85 is a successful entrepreneur and nationally recognized leader in the field of public policy, reputation, and business management.
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.