News Detail
Trying New Things in Tasmania
This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Hobart, Tasmania for a month-long exchange trip. The program included classes at The Friends School (TFS), a fellow Quaker school in Hobart, as well as weekend excursions throughout the island.
I traveled with three other sophomores from Abington Friends in Philadelphia. The trip began with 24 hours on a plane to fly from New York to Hobart with layovers in Los Angeles and Melbourne. Upon landing, we met our host families and started settling into the laid-back Australian lifestyle.
School at TFS was significantly different than WFS. There were more options in elective courses such as sports science, dance, and cooking, which gave me the ability to try new classes. Classes there were slightly larger in comparison to those here which took a little bit of getting used to, but eventually, I came to enjoy having so many opinions in one room. They also didn’t have homework which was surprising to me. One of the major differences was that the school was split into four “houses.” The houses competed against each other in various competitions including drama, athletics, and more. The winner of each event earned points for their house. This was really interesting because the students were all very devoted to their house and wanted to earn as many points as possible. They also offered other sports, such as Aussie rules football, netball, and crew, that aren’t available at WFS. I took advantage of the fact that they only practiced once a week and tried them all. While I don’t think that I’ll be taking up any of these sports in the near future, I appreciated being able to try things that I would not have the opportunity to try here. It was really interesting to me that sports were a lot more low-key and relaxed.
Each weekend I was able to take trips to see some of the most memorable parts of the island. Some of these included hiking through Shipstern Bluff, visiting the MONA museum, and exploring the top of Mt. Wellington. We also took a day trip to a local animal conservatory so I could see all the native wildlife including kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, and echidnas. All of these places were very different from each other, but I noticed that they all value nature a lot. During these trips, I also noticed some cultural differences, including a lot of colloquial language and a relatively relaxed way of life in comparison to the constant busyness many of us experience daily.
This winter, I will have the opportunity to reconnect with a member of my host family, Eloise, who will stay with us for a month. She will be involved in the WFS culture both academically and athletically. We also expect to do trips to Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC to show her some of the highlights of the East Coast. I’m definitely looking forward to reconnecting with both my host family and the other exchange students.
Please Note: Our news items are grouped by calendar year.
More News
-
IB Art and Visual Arts Major Exhibit on Display
Read MoreCongratulations 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. -
College Guidance Office Visits with Alumni on the Road
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!Read More -
WFS Model UN Attends Conference
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.Read More -
Lower School Assistant and Associate Teachers Participate in Professional Development Retreat
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.Read More -
Honoring IB Diploma Candidates
Read MoreLast 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. -
Quakerism Class Participates in Forest Immersion
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.Read More -
Spring Informal Concert
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.Read More -
Upper School Talent Show
Our students and faculty took the spotlight at today's upper school talent show... From music to poetry reading, our community wowed the crowd!Read More
Photos courtesy of WFS Yearbook -
WFS Day at the Blue Rocks!
Our community had a blast at WFS Day at the Blue Rocks where the Chamber Singers performed the National Anthem! Thank you to all who attended.Read More -
Baseball Team Visits with Corie Priest, Community Outreach Officer at Delaware DOJ
The WFS baseball team had the opportunity to hear from Corie Priest, Community Outreach Officer at the Delaware Department of Justice.Read More -
Award-Winning Slam Poet and Author Andre Bradford Visits WFS
Read MoreWe were honored to have award-winning slam poet and author Andre Bradford visit all three divisions at WFS! Through his "On Purposeful Empathy" programming, Andre stresses the importance of empathy, vulnerability, and the power of storytelling. He encouraged students to find strength in their own voices and embrace the impact of their own stories. -
8th Grade Chinese Students Visit Le Shio
Read More8th grade Chinese students recent visited Le Shio restaurant in Wilmington to practice their Chinese speaking skills and to learn how to order food in a restaurant! -
Peace and Justice Students Learn about Alternatives to Violence Project
Rick Grier Reynolds, who created the Global Peace and Justice course at WFS, returned today with Brian Winward, a returned citizen and long-time AVP facilitator, to discuss the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) with 9th grade students.Read More -
PRISM Night 2025
It's always great to see so many of our student and faculty's talents on display at PRISM Night!Read More
Photos courtesy of WFS Yearbook -
Upper School Students Hear Inspiring Story of Ricky Singh
Read MoreRicky Singh, the first person to summit Mount Everest and complete 50 marathons in 50 states, recently visited the Asian Student Union Club to share how he got into running and the mindset that fueled his journey. -
Upper School Arts Trip to Washington, D.C.
Upper School Power and Performance English classes, International Baccalaureate Higher Level Visual Arts students, Visual Art Majors, and 3D Design students traveled to Washington, D.C., for a research field trip that took them on a cultural odyssey!Read More -
College Case Studies Program
Read MoreThe WFS College Office recently hosted a Case Studies program for juniors and their grownups. Prior to the program, students and adults were given three college applications to read. -
Upper School French Students Perfect Language Skills
Read MoreUpper School French students have been perfecting their language skills in the most delicious ways—French 2 students competed in a Top Chef Crêpes competition, while International Baccalaureate HL French students created a tarte au citron! -
Happy Panda Day 2025!
Happy Panda Day 2025! A new and beloved Lower School tradition on the day before Spring Break, students enjoyed a variety of activities, including visiting with a therapy dog, making special panda bookmarks and bird feeders, buddy reading, practicing Aikido and yoga, and completing several service projects.Read More -
IB Recital
Read MoreTuesday night’s International Baccalaureate recital showcased the talents of IB Music HL1 and HL2 students in an evening of vocal performances. Soprano vocalists Ella Morton ’25 and Piper Roskovensky ’26 presented a program of diverse repertoire featuring contemporary, traditional, and musical theatre selections.
1
/
20
101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 19803
302.576.2900 | info@wilmingtonfriends.org
Preschool - 12th Grade
302.576.2900 | info@wilmingtonfriends.org
Preschool - 12th Grade
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.
