When the Class of 2020 gathered for its commencement ceremony on July 18, they knew the day would be far from traditional. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of their senior year, but there was one tradition that would live on - the senior class composite photo, which dates back to 1890.
Jeff Hughes ’79 whose daughter, Madison, was a member of the Class of 2020, came up with a plan on how to safely produce their class photo. “Because Friends is such a small, close-knit community and goes back so many years, traditions like this one carry even more significance and are a much bigger part of this school than many other schools. As an alumnus of a graduating senior, I think it probably meant even more to me personally,” said Jeff.
“What became abundantly clear throughout the months of preparing for the graduation is that this class is a family and they wanted to be represented as one,” photographer (and WFS parent) Elisa Morris said. “So much was taken from these extraordinary kids: their senior prom; their last concerts; plays; sports seasons; time with friends and teachers to bond with one another in school; and their traditional graduation and celebrations. I think the administration, teachers, parents and the WFS community were truly committed to find a way to make at least one thing seem ‘normal, joyous and traditional.’ Everyone wanted the kids to feel special. They wanted to be represented that way for posterity and in the historic photos that line the hallways of Friends graduating classes. We were committed to making that happen.”
With the help of staff members (and Class of 2020 parents) Linda Jaworski and Margaret Ann Butterfield, and with Elisa’s incredible photography and Photoshop skills, Jeff's idea on how to create the class composite became a reality. “Because they knew the Class of 2020 so well, they were able to imagine and arrange all 71 students where they would have likely been standing had they all been able to be together. Truly amazing!” said Jeff.
Using a previous senior class photo as a guide, Elisa and Jeff worked to “stitch” together eight different photos of the students posing socially distanced so it appeared that the class was all together as one. Below is the amazing end result!
Max Leffler ’22 recently hosted his 5th Annual Disc Golf Tournament, raising $5,200 in support of The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and its mission to fight childhood cancer.
At the start of summer break, 15 Wilmington Friends Upper School students traveled to El Paso, Texas, as part of a QUEST Term Service/Leadership Trip. This immersive experience combines global education, leadership development, and community engagement.
The mastery program in middle school is a semester or year-long, student-initiated and student-produced project designed to develop that student's talents, interests, and skills. The emphasis is on achievement and completing a finished product that is either presented or displayed publicly in a polished, masterful way. Mastery projects may include academic research papers, visual and performing arts projects or performances, special teaching units, and physical projects.
Thank you for joining us for the Alumni & Friends baseball, lacrosse, and soccer games this past Saturday! It was a fun day of friendly competition, school spirit, and reconnecting with the WFS community—whether you were back on the field or cheering from the sidelines.
We hope you'll stop by campus to catch a game or say hello next year!
So much laughter and fun (for the grown ups, too!) at this week's lower school field days. Bring on summer! For more photos, visit our Smugmug page (password can be found in the Friends on Friday message). Photos courtesy of WFS Yearbook
For Mental Health Awareness Month, middle and upper school students answered the question "How will you take care of your wellness this summer?" The Quaker Cares committee then created a vision board with the many responses!
Celebrations for the Class of 2025 have begun, and last night was Senior Exploration Night, where members of the Class of 2025 presented the projects they’ve been working on for the last month.
Our final Lower School Culture Quest was a celebration of Juneteenth! Students explored the significance of Juneteenth through hands-on activities, music, food, and arts and crafts. It was a fun and meaningful way to learn about and honor this important day!
We wrapped up our spring concert series today with a preschool "informance," where our youngest students showcased their singing, dancing, and instrument playing!
One of our most beloved spring traditions...the middle school 5K! Costumed students (everything from the cast of Scooby Doo to famous athletes) walked and ran the Alapocas neighborhood all to benefit a good cause.
L-T Alleyne '26 sparked a chain of kindness in our upper school with a simple idea: write a thoughtful note to someone you don’t usually talk to—and pass it on. Thanks to everyone who took part, this sweet gesture made its way through our community, one kind message at a time.
Our Pre-K students took the stage last week with their performance of "Zog and the Flying Doctors" by Julia Donaldson! Each spring, pre-kindergarteners put on a play to celebrate how much they have grown since September. From choosing their own roles to working as a team, our young performers showed that you're never too small to be part of something big.
We’re proud to share that WFS middle school Chinese teacher Jianglin Shi recently attended the 2025 Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA) Annual Conference in New York City. Jianglin co-presented a session titled "Gamifying the Chinese Program With AI-Enhanced Learning and Hands-On Games," highlighting innovative approaches to language instruction!
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.