Last week, students new to the upper school participated in a diversity orientation session.
They worked on exercises to find their similarities and differences, and were introduced to the concept of microaggressions. Students were briefed on the upstander concept (which was introduced to all upper school students last year), which encourages students to disrupt bullying/microaggressions. Faculty and staff then role played situations, and students gathered in groups to discuss the scenarios and identify which "D" (distract, delegate, document, delay, or direct) they would use to respond to the situations, which included religious intolerance, racism, homophobia, ableism, and sexism. Our WFS students mentored and led the small groups of new students.
For several years, Michael Anello, Executive Director of the Haiti Reforestation Partnership, has visited with WFS middle schoolers to speak about the organization's work and how reforestation has led to incredible environmental and community development in Haiti. We were recently forwarded this email from Michael, which speaks to our students and the power of even the smallest acts.
Kindergarten students celebrated El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) by wearing their "coronas" and leaving their shoes outside of their classroom in anticipation and hopes that the Three Kings would swing by WFS and leave treats! They were in luck!
Lower school students enjoyed a special Books and Breakfast this morning, where they connected with students from our middle and upper school affinity groups. Together, they explored stories about multiracial identity, engaging in discussions and reading books such as We Are A Garden, I Can Be All Three, and Take Me Out to the Yakyu, among others.
Our community had a blast at Lower School Family Night at the Quaker girls' and boys' basketball games where we also celebrated the 2024 WFS Field Hockey team!
The whole school, preschool through 12th grade, gathered together in the West Gym to celebrate the holidays at the annual "Thing in the Gym." Musicians from every grade level along with our faculty and staff choir shared their talents with music representing many different cultures and holidays. There was even a surprise visit from Santa and Buddy the Elf!
As upper school Spanish 2 students learn to communicate about vacations and celebrations this unit, they debated which is better: summer or winter vacations?
Upper school students and WFS faculty/staff attended two concurrent National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conferences in Denver, Colorado.
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.