Wilmington Friends Head of School Ken Aldridge Receives Proclamation from Wilmington Mayor Marking School's 275th Anniversary
WFS Receives Proclamation from Mayor For School's 275th Anniversary
WFS Head of School Ken Aldridge was recently presented with a Proclamation from Wilmington's Mayor recognizing our 275th anniversary.
WFS Head of School Ken Aldridge was recently presented with a Proclamation from Wilmington's Mayor, Mike Purzycki, recognizing our 275th anniversary and for being a leader in education in Delaware. The proclamation reads:
"Whereas, Wilmington Friends School, the State's oldest existing school and first college preparatory school, has provided a well-rounded education for its many students since being founded in Wilmington in 1748, and
Whereas, Wilmington Friends School has a reputation for challenging students to reach their potential as lifelong learners by emphasizing individual attention from teachers and coaches, and by investing in student development and success, and
Whereas, Wilmington Friends School has a passion for creating a learning environment of peace, creativity, and independent thought while holding students to high standards and motivating them to become well-regarded members of the community; and
Whereas, Wilmington Friends School models its mission around Quakerism and core Quaker principles - integrity, community, equality, peace, stewardship and simplicity - while honoring a variety of faith traditions and placing importance on diversity of thought, identity, and experience as essential parts of becoming a leader, and
Whereas today, we congratulate Wilmington Friends School on 275 years of providing a quality education here in Wilmington and throughout the State of Delaware and beyond."
First Grade Grub Hub is open for business! After visiting the Sunday Breakfast Mission last week, WFS first graders were inspired to create their own restaurant to support the community pantry.
Seventh grade Chinese students visited Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library to learn more about its Chinese wallpaper and book collection, helping the students gain valuable insight into Chinese history and culture.
WFS Middle and Upper School Learning Resources Coordinator Stella Mask recently presented to a packed house at the MCRC@ADVIS (Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools) DEIJB Conference.
Congratulations to sophomores Easton Martinenza, Teagan Grubb, and Decker Reitemeyer for earning spots in this summer's prestigious Delaware Governor's School for Excellence (DGSE) Program.
WFS 6th and 7th graders recently traveled in their service groups to different locations: the Delaware Food Bank; Faithful Friends Animal Society; Guardian Angels Daycare; Rockland Place Assisted Living; the Materials Resource Center in Ephrata, Pennsylvania; and Alapocas State Park.
The end-of-year senior traditions have begun, with the Class of 2025 signing the Senior Scroll and receiving their WFS laundry bag. This tradition has been a part of the senior class spring for more than 25 years!
Congratulations to our IB Art and Visual Arts Major students, who welcomed friends and family to the opening of their exhibition, showcasing works from the portfolios they have developed over the past two years.
From St. Louis to Boston, our College Guidance team is on the move! Director Kathleen Martin connected over lunch with Aaron Hockstein ’24 and Devin Wallace ’24 at Washington University in St. Louis, and with Nick Winchell ’24 at Hampden-Sydney College, while Associate Director Rose Gnade caught up with Alex Saville ’21 at Gettysburg College. We love seeing our alumni and supporting our current students on their college journeys!
The WFS Model UN Club, accompanied by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently sent a delegation of four students to the Tower Hill Model UN Conference.
WFS Lower School assistant and associate teachers participated in a professional development retreat at Pendle Hill last week, focused on deepening instructional practice and strengthening team collaboration.
Last night, WFS honored the Class of 2025 International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates during the annual Celebration of Scholarship. Each student delivered a 3–5 minute presentation reflecting on their growth through the program’s core components: Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay. The evening highlighted the depth of thought, dedication, and inquiry that define the IB experience at Wilmington Friends School.
Megan Hegenbarth’s Quakerism class took a mindful journey into Alapocas Woods with middle school Spanish teacher Laura Pardo ’90, who studied forest immersion on her sabbatical earlier this year. Guided sensory exercises—listening to rustling leaves, feeling tree bark, noticing the movement of water—helped students support their well‑being by connecting with the present moment, their natural surroundings, and themselves.
Congratulations to our community members who shared their talents at this week'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.
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.