Ellie McGinnis ’14, who earned her M.Ed. in Special Education from National University, has spent the past two years as a Teach for America corps member in the Bay Area.
“My time as a WFS student built a foundation of curiosity, empathy, and determination that I will always carry with me, but the most important lesson I learned as a WFS student comes from the George Fox quote in the front entrance of school: ‘Let your life speak.’ At so many personal and professional crossroads in my life, I’ve come back to that quote for guidance. Because of my time at WFS, I’ve been able to choose a path that reflects my values, do work that represents what I believe in, and find so much happiness in helping others find their own voice…
To the Class of 2022, Don’t be afraid to take a different path, even if you don’t know where it will lead. WFS graduates don’t just know how to study for a test; they know how to learn, and that is a skill that can take you anywhere. I never taught special education before I started my current job. I also didn’t speak any Vietnamese before I moved to Vietnam, and I had never really hiked before I trekked to Everest Base Camp. Trust that you have the skills to learn what you need to know, because taking those risks and veering off the path I thought I needed to take brought me so many opportunities, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.”
Ellie McGinnis ’14 graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2019 where she double-majored in Psychology and Political Science and minored in Public Health. Before she transferred to University of Colorado, Ellie contributed to twelve published reports as a research assistant for the United Way ALICE project, led by Dr. Stephanie Hoopes ‘82. A recipient of the East Asian Studies Scholarship, Ellie spent two years in Vietnam while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Boulder. During her time overseas, she studied Vietnamese, conducted economic development research in rural villages, and worked as a Translation and Fundraising Assistant for the Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam. As a Translation and Fundraising Assistant, Ellie taught at Sapa O’Chau and worked with local government officials to develop an English language curriculum in rural Ha Giang Province.
It was there, working with the small, community organized nonprofit Sapa O’Chau, where she got her first taste of the teaching profession. In this small mountain village, Ellie was conducting a research study on economic development among ethnic minority communities and began teaching English to a group of 26 students between the ages of 15 and 27. After finishing her research, Ellie stayed in Vietnam, traveling to many remote, rural villages where she learned Vietnamese and worked for different nonprofit organizations and local schools as a translator, teacher, advisor, and curriculum developer.
Ellie, who earned her M.Ed. in Special Education from National University, has spent the past two years as a Teach for America corps member in the Bay Area. Currently, she is a 3rd Grade Special Education teacher in an inclusion classroom at Los Arboles Elementary. The best part of her day? “Watching my students make themselves proud. It is so exciting helping a student who barely knows the alphabet learn to read, and when that lightbulb goes off for them, when they look around and can read the words on signs or can write a letter to a friend, I feel like I helped them open a huge, heavy door to a world of new things to explore.”
As for where she continues to draw inspiration from? “Being in a classroom with dedicated, inspiring teachers for ten years at Wilmington Friends School was the best possible training I could have had when I started teaching. I can’t even count the times that I’ve modeled a lesson plan on my memories of Mrs. Scott’s 3-4 vertical class or Ms. Bulk’s French class. When I’m worried about my students, I think about the times my teachers supported me- whether it was the perfectly hopeful quote Ms. Kenney wrote on my paper in 11th grade or a book recommendation from Annie Monari or a pep talk from Coach Paul or a new idea to explore from Mr. Ergueta. So many teachers modeled how to be a supportive, passionate educator.”
During Earth Day at WFS, preschoolers worked on beautifying their playground and fourth graders picked up trash around the athletic facilities. We thank these students for their stewardship!
The lower school recently received soil from WasteWell, a local company that collects the lower school's compost. Students used the soil to re-pot classroom plants and will also contribute soil to the school garden!
Before the Class of 2024 heads off on their senior explorations next week, they attend a series of seminars ("Senior Seminars") aimed at giving them tools for adulthood.
The WFS Model UN Club, accompanied by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently sent a delegation of five students to the inaugural Tower Hill Model UN Conference.
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
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.