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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.
First-grade students gathered for the annual monarch butterfly migration, a beloved tradition in the lower school that connects science, Spanish, and art classes.
Have you been to the Quaker Closet (QC) this year? For those new to the Friends community or who may have missed our announcements in the Friday Message, the QC is the clothing consignment store located on the ground floor of the middle/upper school campus.
After learning about El Día de los Muertos in Spanish class, first graders brought the tradition to life by decorating colorful calaveras—sugar skulls that honor and celebrate loved ones.
WFS 6th graders had an incredible opportunity to connect via Zoom with Earth science researchers from the University of Delaware, who are currently on a research expedition in the Atlantic Ocean near the equator off Cape Verde!
Kindergartners visited Ramsey's Farm! Students engaged in five stations–– enjoying a hayride, feeding the cows and goats (and steering clear of pecky chickens!), picking pumpkins, navigating a corn maze, and playing on the combine playground. We love getting out into the fresh air for hands-on learning!
Upper schoolers learned about the School Year Abroad (SYA) program at WFS, hearing from a representative from SYA along with Rose Mulveny ’26 and Abbie Thurlow ’26 who participated in the program last year.
8th graders enjoyed Fright Night, a fun event in the WFS Library Learning Commons featuring pizza and snacks along with one scary and one not-so-scary movie!
During our recent professional development day, faculty and staff had time to participate in an activity to have fun and connect with colleagues. Choices included forest bathing; AIKIDO; pickle ball; volleyball; Meet and Greet; and Read and Relax. Here are photos from "Walk and Connect" in the neighborhood and Alapocas Woods.
Kindergartners visited Ramsey's Farm! Students engaged in five stations–– enjoying a hayride, feeding the cows and goats (and steering clear of pecky chickens!), picking pumpkins, navigating a corn maze, and playing on the combine playground. We love getting out into the fresh air for hands-on learning!
Upper schoolers learned about the School Year Abroad (SYA) program at WFS, hearing from a representative from SYA along with Rose Mulveny ’26 and Abbie Thurlow ’26 who participated in the program last year.
Adrian Burston, a former Friends teacher and Vice President of the Kennett Underground Railroad Center, and Debbie Burston, board member of the Kennett Underground Railroad Center, presented to 10th grade American History students about the local history of the Underground Railroad and the involvement of Quakers in the local abolition movement.
Lower School Spanish teacher Lara Munch spent her sabbatical exploring the intersection of culture, history, and language—both within the United States and abroad.
Middle School Spanish teacher Laura Jersild Pardo ’90 explored nature and the brain in a de-natured culture, asking how embodied, real-world experiences shape mental health, creativity, and problem-solving.
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.