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.
Students enjoyed their time with the indigenous people of the Emberá-Wounaan community. They helped community members clean Lake Gatún as the Emberá people are part of efforts to keep Panama free and clean from the trash and plastic that lands in the water. They also danced, played football, and ate a traditional lunch with the Emberá people. The Emberá community leader also remarked that, while interacting with many American groups, they had never seen a group who spoke Spanish as well as this group of WFS upper school students.
During their time in the San Blas Islands, WFS students were led by their tour guide, Toto. Toto introduced them to his family, the village leader, and took them to their village meeting space. Speaking in Guna, the village leader informed students about their traditional land, its importance to their community, and why they do not wish to move to housing on the mainland, for it is where they belong. WFS students also helped Toto paint a school with the children. Afterward, they swam together in a natural swimming pool in the Guna Yala Archipelago and played volleyball on the beach. The archipelago consists of 365 islands, of which only 49 are inhabited.
Students enjoyed visiting the Sergio Perez Delgado Bilingual School in Monagrillo. They spoke Spanish, played various sports and games with the children, and helped clean the school. Afterward, students learned from two artisans. The first artisan created devil masks, which were used for specific dances. He demonstrated his mask-making process and explained how many hours it takes to create various types of masks. The second artisan they learned from made drums and walked them through the process of making one drum. After lunch, WFS students joined the locals and learned how to salsa dance.
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!
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
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!)
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thank you to all who joined us for Saturday's Home & School picnic and to our volunteers for making it possible! From bouncy houses to face painting, everyone had a blast!
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
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.