One of the traditional sixth grade right of passage lessons at WFS is writing community profiles. Looking for a more pandemic-friendly lesson in writing longer essays, sixth grade English teacher Sean Kerrane thought of the idea of having each sixth grader write a “how-to” essay. This was a manageable way for the students to tackle longer-form writing while focusing on something they already knew well or loved doing.
The how-to essays included life lessons in taking photos and making friends; practical skills like organization and stretching; artistic skills like how to draw a person’s eye; and athletic skills like how to beat a defender in soccer. Also, just in time for Thanksgiving, there were plenty of delicious how-to essays, like how to make a double berry custard pie. “Ahh, the sweet smells of custard and berries. Baking pie isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but the taste is what makes people want to make it,” sixth grader Jared wrote.
Looking to clean and organize your space? According to Pam, there are three steps you need to take to improve your room: cleaning, organizing, and decorating.
The students offered practical advice and also encouragement to their fellow students. “Remember there is no such thing as success or failure when you illustrate. But as long as you like it, it is a success!” Joss wrote about drawing the human eye.
“You have completed a plie combination. Hate to break it to you, but it only gets harder. Keep it in mind that ballet is extremely difficult to master, and you've made an outstanding first effort!” Liza wrote in her essay about how to position your feet in ballet.
Once their how-to essays were completed, each sixth grade student signed up to complete another student’s essay. They were asked to then leave a video response on Flip Grid (a website that facilitates video discussions) answering the following questions: What was fun? What was challenging? What was surprising?
“A byproduct of this project is the community we are building and the learning we get to do from each other,” Kerrane said.
This is just one case of the teachers at WFS constantly looking for new ways to engage students while developing their academic skills.
Upper school environmental science students built model carbon capture algae farms as part of their study of climate change mitigation. They developed ways to measure algae growth using microscopes and a spectrophotometer.
Congratulations to our community members who performed at last night's Informal Concert! This concert is designed to showcase the talent of our students, parents, and faculty in an informal, yet serious, chamber concert or recital format.
Wilmington Friends School hosted its second 275th Anniversary Webinar series on Monday, April 8, titled “Leadership, Teamwork, and Quaker Values from the World of Sports."
Congratulations to eighth graders Maya Dobson, Lindsey Forman, Cooper Miller, Victor Montejo, Levi Sawdon, and Sofia Velastegui-Fratticci who contributed to IMAZINE 2023, the annual Delaware Libraries teen literary and artistic magazine! Click here to check it out.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the upper school play, Radium Girls! This fast-paced ensemble piece featured 14 student actors playing multiple roles to create more than 30 characters. Bravo!
WFS welcomed Drew Smith, the Executive Director of Friends Council on Education, to campus to lead a discussion among our community members titled “275 Years of Quaker Education: What's it all about? Quakerism 101 for Parents.”
Each year, 3rd grade students utilize computer-aided design software (CAD) to replicate a renowned landmark from the various states that they are studying in Social Studies
Join us for a special birthday celebration commemorating the past 275 years of Wilmington Friends School and looking forward to all that's ahead. 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the Lower School. Tours will be given, live music, & party favors! Heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine. $25 per person or $40 per couple.
Preschoolers visited the middle/upper school garden to learn more about what is grown there and had the chance to transplant their own basil plants to take home!
Pablo Charriez '24 recently presented about redlining and discriminatory housing practices to 10th grade English classes who are studying the topic while reading Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.
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.