As part of our most recent professional development day, faculty and staff were then joined by Emmy award winner Mark Scharenbroich, who has visited more than 3,500 schools in his career.
He stressed the importance of people feeling connected in a caring community where everyone is valued, and where everyone is acknowledged, honored, and connected. Teachers should "Make a deposit in student's memory bank, large or small."
Faculty and staff also had the opportunity to hear from fellow colleagues Micheline McManus and Kate Hendrix regarding the trips they were able to take as part of our O'Reilly Travel Grant program.
Micheline, who teaches upper school English, traveled to Paris where she studied five authors who lived in and wrote about Paris from Richard Wright to Jean Paul Sartre. While studying Sartre, Micheline stayed in the hotel where he lived, visited the cafe where he would do his writing, and went to his grave. She is excited to introduce some of the new texts she studied into her curriculum.
Kate, who is the middle and upper school head librarian, traveled to Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh where she attended the International Librarians Conference. There, she was able to share what we are doing at school with librarians across the world. "We're doing a great job here at Friends," Kate said. "Talking at round table discussions, people were taking notes and really interested in the programs I was describing." Kate was also able to participate in some sight-seeing activities including hiking, where she connected with a stranger and learned, "The power of telling our stories to another person is part of our humanity. Being on the receiving end of that is a gift."
Last week, our 10th- and 11th-grade students had the opportunity to participate in meaningful college guidance activities that reflect Wilmington Friends School’s personalized, student-centered approach to the college process.
Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Senior Parent Reception, and a special thanks to our Annual Fund Senior Fund Clerks, Margaretta Hershey and Amanda Singleton Hay '95.
Each month during the school year, Wilmington Friends School continues its long-standing tradition of providing home-cooked meals to the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room.
Last week, WFS 9th through 11th graders participated in a day of service, volunteering at Delaware organizations from the New Castle County Hope Center to Friendship House Clothing Bank, and also helping to clean and prepare the WFS garden and greenhouse.
“Everything works out,” is the perspective Kiera Patterson ’20 carries with her from her days at WFS through her time at the University of Michigan and MIT, which she recently shared with the WFS upper school Steminist Club.
Now that most of our seniors have completed their college essays and the Common Application, they are meeting with their WFS college counselor to finalize their college list and plan next steps.
The WFS volleyball program honored the life and legacy of Coach Bob Trinsey last night. Since 1999, Bob and the Trinsey family have shaped Wilmington Friends School volleyball into one of the state’s most respected programs.
Last week, Jimmy Butterfield’s ’20 band (second from left), Butterfield, played in Eakins Oval in front of the Philly Art Museum. They were the first band on the R&B After Dark Series that night. Mark McMillan ‘20 (far left) and Jack Hanson ‘18 (far right) came to hear them play and had a blast together!
Thank you to our incredible Building Services and Grounds teams for all the behind-the-scenes work that makes our campus ready to welcome students back!
Members of the WFS Class of 2026 gathered this morning for a Senior Breakfast before their last first day of school! Special thanks to the Senior Class Reps for hosting and the delicious food.
The first day of school is here, and lower school students were so excited to greet their friends and teachers on this beautiful morning! Welcome back, friends!
It was a beautiful day to welcome our lower school students and families to "Friends Village" as they explored their new learning cottages for the very first time!
Thank you to all of the new families who joined us for last night’s New Parent & Guardian Reception! Guests were welcomed by Head of School Ken Aldridge, connected with members of the Home & School Association, and learned about the many ways to get involved in our community.
A big thanks to our Home & School Association for helping organize this event, greeting families, and sharing the numerous ways they help enhance life at WFS. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to all that we will do together!
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.