275 Years of Quaker Education: What's it all about? Quakerism 101 for Parents
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.”
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.” He opened the conversation by speaking about his own experience as a practicing Quaker in Meeting for Worship and the discovery process that occurs when no one is talking over one another in Meeting; the origins of Quakerism and George Fox’s spiritual vision in 1652; and how Quaker education has been influencing the world for the past five decades, constantly trying to build “truth” that is reliable and finding the “light of God” in everyone.
After this discussion, Drew asked those in attendance to study and reflect on the Quaker Testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship (SPICES). More specifically, Drew wanted the members of the WFS community to determine, after working in small groups with one another, which Quaker testimony was the most important of them all. Once they gathered back together, the audience shared some of their reflections and concluded that one testimony could not be more important than another. Using soup as their example, one group noted that when you take an ingredient out (i.e., one of the SPICES), the soup does not taste as good, for it is incomplete. He noted this is a typical response from Quakers; each testimony has its own importance, allowing the community to build meaning together and develop a reliable truth.
Reflecting on that evening’s gathering–and the testimony of Community–another group spoke to the power of Meeting for Worship and bringing people together through Quakerism. They noted that if we are all to have “the light” within, then coming together as a group can only allow us (and our world) to shine even brighter. Moreover, by connecting with different community members and optimistically engaging with people, we learn to stand with others and their diverse beliefs, creating a more peaceful and accepting world through our respectful listening.
As part of our annual Wellness Day, organized by members of the Quaker Cares Committee, WFS middle and upper school students participated in various activities facilitated by faculty and staff members. Students enjoyed yoga, playing multiple sports, and jamming out in the band room.
Dr. Tracey Dennis-Tiwary, author of the book, Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad) recently visited with WFS parents and faculty members. In her talk on anxiety in the context of education, Dr. Dennis-Tiwary, who is an anxiety researcher and bestselling author, discussed new perspectives on child anxiety.
The WFS boys’ lacrosse team defeated St. Andrew’s School on Saturday afternoon, 9-3! With their victory over the Saints, the Quakers finished undefeated in conference play and captured the DISC Championship for the second consecutive year.
Kathleen Martin and Rose Gnade from the WFS College Counseling office were presenters at the April 2024 Potomac Chesapeake Association of College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC) annual conference.
Students, faculty, and staff gathered for an all-school Meeting for Worship on Mellor Field and sat in a 275-configuration to commemorate the School's anniversary! Click here to download the photo.
The WFS boys' lacrosse team was invited to run a clinic with students at Ferris School. The Delaware Lacrosse Foundation and several members of the WFS community helped found the lacrosse team at Ferris seven years ago, and players have found the exchange very rewarding as they share their love of the game.
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.
Sixth graders recently spent time off campus for a morning of service activities in the local community. These trips included volunteering at the Food Bank of Delaware, Faithful Friends Animal Rescue, Rockland Place, Guardian Angels Daycare, and Alapocas State Park.
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!
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.