News

Lower school students sang their hearts out at this week's pre-kindergarten/kindergarten and first/second grade concerts!

Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate the release of Mrs. Willie's book, Liberian Rice Bread!

Upper school students got in the holiday spirit this week, using chemistry concepts to make ornaments! 

As upper school Spanish 2 students learn to communicate about vacations and celebrations this unit, they debated which is better: summer or winter vacations? 

The Quaker Cares Committee has been hard at work creating a calm and supportive environment for upper school students as they enter midterms! 

Congratulations to our student musicians for a wonderful performance at last night's upper school instrumental concert! Photos courtesy of WFS Yearbook.

The Quaker Cares Committee recently visited lower school classrooms to lead discussions on the theme of gratitude as we approach the holiday season.

8th Grade U.S. history students traveled to the East Side Charter Apex Program for a workshop on public speaking and human rights law. 

A beloved holiday tradition at WFS is our sixth grade pie bake for Wilmington's Sunday Breakfast Mission. Students lovingly peel, slice, prepare, box, and finally deliver more than 30 apple pies for those in our greater community.

Congratulations to our community members who shared their talents 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.

WFS students L-T Alleyne '26, Sofía Hasse-Mas '25, Charlotte Kass '26, and Kayla Turman '26 recently attended the Baltimore Student Diversity Leadership Conference (BSDLC) at Sandy Spring Friends School. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Home & School Engagement, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee's potluck! 

Congratulations to the cast and crew of this year's phenomenal musical performance, Disney's Beauty and the Beast!

WFS 7th and 8th graders hit the road this week with trips to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.  

Members of the Wilmington Friends Model UN Club, led by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently attended the St. Andrews Model UN Conference and participated in various simulations. 

Lower school students are again participating in the Traveling Mural Project, which began in 2018, allowing students to connect with other schools, classrooms, and libraries. 

Middle school students recently took place in a collection where the topic was internet safety, sponsored by the Beau Biden Foundation. 

The Upper School Quakerism and Thee class recently welcomed three guest speakers to deepen their understanding of prison reform and Quaker contributions to the movement. 

Five WFS students recently participated in Share the Stage, a benefit concert for the Autism Research Foundation, where neurodiverse musicians perform and collaborate with professional and student musicians to create truly inclusive, inspiring, and fun performances. 

The lower school held its second Culture Quest this week to explore Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. 

First grade students recently gathered for the annual monarch butterfly migration, a beloved lower school tradition which connects science, Spanish, and art classes. 

The After School Program is partnering with Delaware Nature Society and its Chicken Tender program to help raise two baby chickens. 

WFS was pleased to present three Alumni Awards at Homecoming 2024 to Carol Bancroft Morley '68 (Outstanding Service Award), Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 (Distinguished Alumna Award), and Stephanie Bonnes ’04 (Young Alumna of the Year Award). The three were honored for their dedication to their professions and community service. They are the embodiment of what a Friends education stands for.

Adrian Burston, a former Friends teacher and Vice President of the Kennett Underground Railroad Center, and his wife Debbie Burston, recently presented to 10th grade American History classes about the local history of the Underground Railroad and the involvement of Quakers in the local abolition movement. 

Lower school students enjoyed spending time with middle and upper school student-athletes today. During their visit, athletes discussed the strategy behind their respective sports, demonstrated various drills that students could practice at recess and home, and excited everyone in the lower school by leading them in some of their favorite cheers!

The WFS middle school concluded its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month last week with an educational and interactive performance by Los Bomberos de la Calle. 

WFS recently hosted a workshop for the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA), gathering kindergarten through college Chinese educators to exchange ideas and experiences on organizing summer study abroad tours. 

Gavin Jefferson '26 became involved with the Jester Artspace for a project in his Quakerism class, and continued helping the organization even after his project was complete. Click here to read more.

Every year, fifth grade students volunteer to help with early morning care at the lower school, ensuring a smooth start to each day! 

“I always mention Wilmington Friends as having an incredible influence in my life as preparation not only for college but well beyond. Acceptance and curiosity in understanding sound simple enough, but as I get older, I realize the world would benefit greatly if more people were taught those lessons at a young age.”

Upper school students visited with Lindsay Rademaker Reinhold '94 during a Lunch and Learn hosted by the Service Committee to hear more about the work she does with Canine Partners for Life and how they can become involved with the organization. Students also got to meet Lindsay's current puppy-in-training, Abby!

Seniors loved getting the chance to hang out with their first grade buddies at the lower school playground! 

Yesterday was our first lower school Culture Quest, an exciting opportunity for students to learn more about other cultures. This first event in this school year-long series explored the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah through reading, crafts, and food! 

Nearly 50 members of the WFS community participated in last weekend's Friends of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute 5K Run/Walk!

Middle School Bonding Day is an important tradition at the beginning of each school year where our middle school grades take a day away for fun games and activities to help them bond as a class. 

Parents and guardians were treated to performances by the Jazz Band and Chamber Singers at yesterday's upper school back to school night. #WFSArts #WFSUpperSchool

The annual upper school Clubs and Committees Fair allows students to learn about the many clubs and committees at WFS. From the Economics Club to Quaker Cares, there's something for everyone!  #WFSUpperSchool #WFSBeyondtheClassroom #WFSLeadership 

Congratulations to lower school teacher Sia Willie on the publication of her book, Liberian Rice Bread!

Members of the WFS Class of 2025 gathered this morning for a Senior Sunrise Breakfast, hosted by the Senior Class Reps and Senior Fun Club (held inside due to inclement weather!)

#WFSupperschool #WFSbeyondtheclassroom

Congratulations to WFS seniors Logan Scott, Gabe Fletcher, and Gigi Facciolo, who were named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program!

Last week, WFS 9th through 11th graders participated in a day of service, volunteering at Delaware organizations from the New Castle County Hope Center to Friendship House Clothing Bank, among others. 

We were so excited to host alumni, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, parents of alumni, and friends at our strategic planning Community Design Day! 

Delaware's First Spouse, Tracey Quillen Carney '80, visited with PreK and Kindergarten classes to read her newly published book "Books for Blue," which is also illustrated by WFS alum Emily David Hershman '09!

#WFSLowerSchool

WFS juniors who are beginning the International Baccalaureate Diploma program gathered for dinner last week to learn more about what's next in their academic journey.

Congratulations to Nife Shoyinka '25, Conner Verbanas '25, and Lulu Cochran '25, who received National Recognition from the College Board!

Upper school fall sports captains welcomed lower school students this morning at carline! They also played soccer and basketball with them on the playground before classes started. 

Yuanyi Zhao '26, Ava Kolodczak '26, Lulu Cochran '25, Cora Lohkamp '26, Gianna Cottone '26, and Ella Fontanazza '26 recently participated in The Perry Initiative, a non-profit organization that partners with the University of Delaware to inspire young women to pursue careers in engineering and orthopaedic surgery. 

It was a beautiful day to welcome our students and families back to campus for our lower school open house, middle school and upper school orientations, and the senior ice cream social. #WFSlowerschool #WFSmiddleschool #WFSupperschool 

As we welcome our faculty and staff back to campus, early year teachers created bouquets after discussing what they plan to bring to their classrooms this year to make them grow and flourish.

#WFSlowerschool
#WFSearlyyears

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is often considered the highest standard for college preparatory education. This year, 40 members from the Class of 2024 were IB diploma candidates.

“There’s no need to be modest about your ambitions or your hopes. If there is something that you want to do or something that you want to see happen in the world, move toward it one little step at a time, and you can be a part of how things change.” 

The WFS football team recently hosted athletes from Special Olympics Delaware! WFS student-athletes and Special Olympians participated in drills together and enjoyed water ice together.

“Most of all, we want our Reading Tour to be about kids, about our responsibility to them, including our responsibility to nurture their promise, to see each of them for who they are, and to listen and talk with, not just to and about them.”

As part of our comprehensive College Guidance program, we welcomed the Class of 2025 back to campus for Application 101. Students worked on completing the Common App, refining their personal essays, and scheduling their 1-on-1 college counseling meetings for September. Afterward, seniors gathered for a pizza lunch. It was great to see them excited and engaged about the college process! #WFSupperschool #WFSCollegeGuidance

On the latest episode of the Quaker Matters Podcast, hosted by Piper Roskovensky ’26, Josh Galperin ’00 discusses what it’s like to work in environmental law, what he enjoys most about teaching law, and shares advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in law.

Laura Jersild Pardo ’90 joined the Quaker Matters Podcast. 

Tripp Young ’25 was presented with a 2024 Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award in March. Starting in 1946, the Good Citizenship Award recognizes high school students who demonstrate good citizenship and encourages them to stay actively engaged in their communities. This annual program recognizes and awards nearly 300 high school juniors from the Greater Philadelphia region.

Ellie Driscoll ’25 and Jillian Farley ’25 traveled to Indiana University in Bloomington to attend the Best Buddies Leadership Conference 2024. They spent three days learning how to become better leaders, how to spread awareness and kindness, and how to promote inclusion through sessions, classes, and guest speakers. They also met  students from all over the country and world to share ideas. #WFSbeyondtheclassroom

Temi Lufadeju '25, Elizabeth Pisano '25, Tripp Young '25, and Avery Martinenza '25 participated in the Congressional Delegation Youth Conference at Delaware State University, where they met with Senator Chris Coons, Senator Tom Carper, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. They learned about their roles as the next generation in government and engaged in conversation about ongoing issues such as pollution, climate change, and women's rights. During the afternoon, they broke into small groups and met with experts in fields ranging from World Peace to social justice in Wilmington. #WFSbeyondtheclassroom

Inspired by their mothers’ entrepreneurial spirits, Anya Agarwal ’25 and Layla Baynes ’25 founded the Entrepreneurship Club at WFS during the 2023-24 school year. 

Wilmington Friends School has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy and Schoolyard Ventures, an organization that develops university-level, real-world learning opportunities for high school students, to offer the Social Innovators Program to upper schoolers.

#WFSbeyondtheclassroom

Alex Stan Mellow ’01 joined the Quaker Matters Podcast.

Coach Bob Tattersall joined the Quaker Matters Podcast.

WFS faculty and staff members traveled to Bryan Stevenson's Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, on Juneteenth to attend the unveiling of Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park. This new park uses art to honor and remember the ten million Black Americans who were enslaved in America.

In late June, 11 WFS upper school students traveled to Acadia National Park in Maine with teachers Kelley Cox and Sara Woodward for a QUEST service learning trip in partnership with Earthwatch.

Recently, 4th graders held their annual electric convention, an opportunity to showcase their electric projects to lower school students and faculty.

Earlier this month, teachers Courtney Miller, Lara Munch, and Rodri Saldana led 17 WFS upper school students on a trip to Panama as part of Vámonos Tours. Students spent time visiting with the indigenous people of the Emberá-Wounaan community, engaging in service work on the San Blas Islands, assisting older adults at Hogar Bolivar, exploring the Panama Canal, learning how to salsa dance, and touring the Sergio Perez Delgado Bilingual School.

We did it! Volunteers from the WFS community assembled 27,500 shelf-stable meals in just over two hours.

Service learning is a foundation of Quaker education, linking the classroom to the world and building our students’ sense of responsibility as members of communities, large and small.

Bravo to all who performed in last week's 275th Anniversary Band and Choral Concert at The Playhouse theater in downtown Wilmington, close to the School's original home at 4th and West.

Higher Level International Baccalaureate biology students recently visit the ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute where they worked in the learning lab to perform a CRISPR experiment (a technology used for editing genes) and toured the gene editing lab!
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSIB

Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade band and choir who traveled to Hershey Park for the Music in the Parks Festival, where they both received a first place, excellent rating!

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.
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSMiddleSchool #WFSWellness 

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.

#WFSCommunity

Sarah Schenck Maheshwari ’91 joined the Quaker Matters Podcast.

Voices of Friends: Dick Kittle

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.

So much laughter and so many smiles at yesterday's pre-kindergarten/kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade concerts!
#WFSArts #WFSLowerSchool

8th grade students recently completed their “A Tower for Wilmington” projects with MS Visual Arts teacher Paulo Machado!

Fourth grade students inspired and amazed with their passion for learning when they recently presented their TED Talks.
#WFSLowerSchool

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.

Several middle school teachers and administrators recently had exciting professional development opportunities!

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.
#WFSMiddleSchool #WFSSpices

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! #WFSLowerSchool #WFSSpices

WFS recently hosted the Delaware ACDA State Choral Festival, led by co-chairs Sara Gaines and Margaret Anne Butterfield.

The middle school "helping forest group" recently visited Alapocas Woods to learn how to identify and help remove invasive plants!
#WFSMiddleSchool #WFSSpices

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!
#WFSLowerSchool #WFSSpices

Congratulations to our senior athletes who plan to play at the next level!

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.

#WFSUpperSchool

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.
#WFSCommunity #WFSArts

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.
#WFSMiddleSchool #WFSBeyondtheClassroom

This year's second grade wax museum featured athletes, astronauts, musicians, and scientists (among others!)

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!
#WFSArts #WFSUpperSchool

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

Our upper school Chamber Singers performed the National Anthem before yesterday's Wilmington Blue Rocks game!
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSArts #WFSBeyondtheClassroom

Upper school spring sports captains and middle school team reps recently visited the lower school to teach students more about their sports!

#WFSAthletics #WFSCommunity

WFS seventh graders traveled to Material Resource Centers in Ephrata and Souderton, Pennsylvania, operated by the Mennonite Central Committee.

Join us for a special birthday celebration commemorating the past 275 years of Wilmington Friends School and looking forward to all that's ahead.  6 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the Lower School. Tours will be given, live music, & party favors!  Heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine. $25 per person or $40 per couple.

Third graders kicked off their U.S. National Park unit with a Zoom with rangers from Zion National Park in Utah!

Preschoolers celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, which marks the start of spring! #WFSLowerSchool #WFSOurCommunity #WFSSpices

April 8, 2024 
Join us at 6:30pm for the "Leadership, Teamwork, and Quaker Values from the World of Sports" webinar.

April 5, 2024
Featuring "American Revolutionary" on  at 6:30pm in the Friends Theater.

Pablo Charriez '24 recently presented about redlining and discriminatory housing practices to 10th grade English classes who are studying the topic while reading Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.
#WFSUpperSchool 

April 7, 2024

Our students and faculty supported World Down Syndrome Day today by rocking their socks!

Chefs in our after school program made chapati, a meat sauce, and a veggie sauce as they explored foods from different cultures!
#WFSLowerSchool #WFSCommunity

Jordan Carter ’17 is a Health Promotion Specialist for the American Lung Association.

Kindergarten students traveled to the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and had a blast learning about the dryptosaurus (Delaware's dinosaur), seeing fossils, meeting a ball python, and more!
#WFSLowerSchool #WFSBeyondtheClassroom

Earlier this week, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Science classes visited Incyte labs to speak with chemists and biologists and learn more about the drug development process. Thank you to Scott Larsen, parent of Emma '25, for arranging the presentations and tours.
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSIB #WFSBeyondtheClassroom

Lower school students had the opportunity to meet with author Sarah Weeks, who has written more than 60 books for young readers including the best-selling novels, Pie, Save Me a Seat and So B. It, which is now a feature-length film. Our 5th grade students shared and got feedback on first lines and stories based on picture prompts and writing techniques.

4th and 5th grade students participated in an interactive drumming workshop with Papa Demba Samb, also known as Paco, a drummer from Senegal.

Congratulations to Katie Bryan '24 who, after winning the WFS Shakespeare competition in January, qualified to compete in the Philadelphia English Speaking Union's branch competition at the Museum of the American Revolution. Katie's Shakespearean monologue and sonnet earned her third place and a $500 scholarship!
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSBeyondtheClassroom

Congratulations to Jemima Smith '24, who participated in the Senior All-State Choir event at Cape Henlopen High School last weekend!

Seniors and their first grade buddies had a blast spending time together and making Valentine crowns!
#WFSUpperSchool #WFSLowerSchool #WFSCommunity

Preschool students have been busy spreading Valentine's cheer, delivering Valentines to upper school students, faculty, and staff, and also at their Valentine "informance" this morning which gave family and friends a glimpse into the exciting activities that take place in their music classroom each week. #WFSLowerSchool #WFSArts #WFSCommunity

As part of their studies on Ancient Rome, sixth graders recently traveled to Philadelphia for a guided tour and workshop at the Penn Museum.

Middle and upper school Chinese language students helped the WFS community celebrate the Chinese New Year by decorating the cafeteria, performing a dragon dance during lunch, and enjoying Chinese cuisine.
#WFSMiddleSchool #WFSUpperSchool 

When Kaylea Ann Donaghy, age 3, walked into Wilmington Friends Lower School in January, 2021, she was not aware that she may well be the ninth generation and 38th member of her family to attend or be involved with the oldest school in Delaware.

Please join us on Thursday, February 22 from 6 - 7 p.m. in the MS/US Library Learning Commons to participate in our second All Community READ (Read and Educate ourselves on Anti-racism and Diversity) event of the year. 

Andrew McKenzie ’24 won the Mini Max award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club.

WFS upper school students recently competed in the annual Delaware Valley Regional Ethics Bowl competition at Villanova University.

Chris Loeffler ’00 currently serves as the Interim Head of Lower School.

Jayna Jones ’17 works for Mathematica as a Health Research Analyst.

Voices of Friends: John Bonifaz ’84, Co-Founder and President at Free Speech For People

It was a great day for WFS athletics as both swim teams placed second at the DISC meet and two school records were broken at the 2024 DIAA Indoor Track & Field State Championships!

Voices of Friends: WFS Director of Technology, Gregg Miller

The WFS boys’ and girls’ basketball teams hosted athletes from Special Olympics Delaware! WFS student-athletes and Special Olympians participated in drills together and had a blast.

#WFSBeyondtheClassroom #WFSspices 

Middle school students had a blast on the slopes of Blue Mountain during one of our beloved WFS traditions, the middle school ski trip.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Parents for Multiculturalism potluck! Adults and students gathered to enjoy board games, arts and crafts, and food from various cultures.

#WFSOurCommunity 

Following last week's presentation on the life and work of Bayard Rustin, a Quaker and close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., upper schoolers met virtually with Walter Naegle, Rustin's life partner, who answered questions submitted by students.

WFS sixth grader Elvira Madiman (pictured with Performing Arts Department Chair, Sara Gaines) was recently chosen to participate in the ACDA Eastern Division Elementary Honors Choir!

The WFS fifth grade choir had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Brandywine Museum of Art and Fairville Friends School last week and share the pieces they have worked so hard on!

The WFS Best Buddies Delaware club recently organized both a fundraiser and bonding event that were both successes!

Voices of Friends: Cynthia Stan Mellow, Former WFS faculty member and parent of alum