Big Scissors, the Band, and Bubbles: Celebrating Our Reimagined Lower School 

Fourth and fifth grade student musicians hyped up the crowd with “Let’s Go Friends” and led guests in a countdown from 10. Head of School Ken Aldridge was ready with very big scissors, and with a snip at the sound of “one!” bubbles filled the lobby along with cheers and applause.

Earlier, Board of Trustees Clerk Jennifer Brady expressed gratitude to everyone who made the project possible. “The real magic of the Lower School is what happens between students and teachers every day, and not the physical surroundings. But teaching and learning in a beautiful environment like this can only enhance the magic, and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’d like to express our appreciation to everyone in our community who helped to make this transformation possible.”

The theme of the morning celebration was “be a kid again,” and Ken remarked, “There is something wonderful about being given permission—even for a moment—to be a kid again. To be curious. To play. To explore. And to believe that almost anything is possible. That spirit is what this project has always been about."

In this spirit, the morning included a scavenger hunt with stickers and prizes along with sweet treats. Despite the rain, some guests couldn’t resist exploring the new playgrounds, while others enjoyed grabbing a book in the inviting, refreshed library. 

As Ken described in the newest issue of Quaker Matters magazine, “Our reimagined lower school is simply magical. A two-story lobby filled with natural light, bright colors throughout the hallways, a cozy reading nook in the library, and play spaces that invite climbing, swinging, movement, and joy are just a few of the transformations that now reflect the creativity and energy of the program within. Watching our youngest students thrive in these spaces reminds me of the thought, care, and generosity that made this project possible. From the very beginning, the heart of this work has been our students.”

About the new spaces, Head of Lower School Chris Loeffler ’00 said, "Having the opportunity to help transform this space for the future of Friends School is an honor. We wanted a space that would complement and highlight the magic that our community brings to it. We wanted a space that would blend simplicity and joy, peace and opportunity, learning in the classroom and the inspiration of nature. I am so proud to say that we’ve accomplished that goal."

Among the many alumni who now work for Wilmington Friends, Katie Wolf Martinenza ’99 and Alex Mellow ’01 both teach at the lower school. “There is something really powerful about that continuity. The buildings change. The spaces change. The ways we teach and learn change. The school grows and evolves. But the heart of the experience remains. The same curiosity, energy, and joy we felt walking these halls as kids, we now get to witness every single day in our students,” said Katie. Alex remarked, “Children still enter these doors curious and full of possibility—forming deep friendships, asking big questions, and discovering who they are becoming. What a gift it is to have walked these halls as students, and to now continue growing here as teachers.”