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AI @ WFS
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a part of our lives for many years, with people relying on tools such as chatbots, facial recognition, and digital assistants (e.g. Siri and Alexa) in their daily lives.
Students have had access to educational aids such as Grammarly for editing and Duolingo for world languages for many years as well. But the release a little over a year ago of ChatGPT––a tool that can create text, images, code, and video based on prompts–– introduced a new variable to the conversation that educators consistently have regarding the pros and cons of AI tools in learning and teaching.
Upper school faculty have had many discussions about AI in the classroom. Our current policy is that teachers can experiment with using AI through their departments, and each department has a designated teacher who is open to creatively experimenting. For all classes, students are not to use AI without explicit permission from their teachers.
Head of Upper School Rebecca Zug recognizes that students are eager to learn more about AI. “Students really got excited by an AI piece of artwork on the NYC art trip in October. Several reflected in the Theory of Knowledge course on what originality and authorship signify when art is AI-generated.”
Rebecca is meeting with students to get their input into how teachers might utilize AI in teaching and learning, and how teachers who want to eliminate inappropriate use of AI by students can do that.
To help guide us in our discussions regarding AI, WFS has an ongoing relationship with Katie O’Shaughnessy from Princeton Day School as a consultant to the upper school this year.
Kindergarten students celebrated El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) by wearing their "coronas" and leaving their shoes outside of their classroom in anticipation and hopes that the Three Kings would swing by WFS and leave treats! They were in luck!
WFS archivist and longtime teacher Terry Maguire recently enjoyed tea and conversation with alumnus John Bonifaz ’84—reconnecting over shared history and a lifelong commitment to purpose-driven work.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Alumni & Friends Holiday Singing Meeting for Worship last week. It was wonderful to welcome so many familiar faces back on campus and to share in a meaningful time of reflection and song.
During a recent middle school Forest Time (Shinrin-yoku) experience, students embraced learning and reflection in the woods following a light dusting of snow.
10th-grade chemistry students tackled electrochemistry with a hands-on copper-plating ornament project, discovering how chemical reactions deposit metal onto objects.
After our annual “The Thing in the Gym” celebration, seniors and their first-grade buddies connected by playing games, sharing holiday plans, and creating festive cards together. These moments highlight the special cross-grade relationships that are a part of life at Wilmington Friends School.
The 8th grade choir traveled to Kendal-Crosslands to spread holiday cheer through music! Singing for the residents of both communities, the student musicians enjoyed sharing their talents and celebrating the holiday season with this special group.
Thanks to middle school parents Inna Snyder and Julia Morse Forester '00, working alongside Jewish Student Union (JSU) advisor Shoshana Kaplan, students enjoyed a meaningful and delicious Hanukkah celebration.
Thank you to all the WFS community members who came out to Charcoal Pit on Wednesday night to try Coach T’s “Quaker Shake” on his birthday and celebrate our 2025 State Champion Field Hockey Team!
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.