April 11, 2025

Did you know honey never spoils? Archaeologists have found pots of it in ancient tombs still perfectly good after thousands of years! While we’re not aiming for millennia, we are packing in some sweet memories this spring. With GrandFriends Day, Earth Day, Evening with Friends, ERBs, and end-of-year trips coming up, there’s a whole hive of excitement buzzing around campus. Read on for all the details!

4th grade's trip to Cape Fear Museum this week was so energizing (pun intended)! The Pelicans had fun exploring magnets and magnetic energy and creating electric circuits. They also tested items to see if they were conductors or insulators and powered a light by holding hands in a circle...Did you know that human beings are electricity conductors, too?!

There’s been much talk this week about who’s a friend or foe of the United States. While I try to steer clear of most media noise (though I did love the Brandi Carlile/Elton John special on CBS), I got to thinking about how Australia and America have always had a pretty friendly relationship.

My connection to America came through the TV. I can still hear Dallas and Days of Our Lives in the background (shows my parents would chat about, though I didn’t really watch). For me, it was all about Mork and Mindy, The Cosbys, The Fonz, and Full House. Later on at uni there’d be watch parties for Friends, Seinfeld, and 90210. It’s funny now to think about how much those shows shaped the way we saw American life.

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Our Lower School playground has some exciting new additions! Thanks to a generous family donor, students are now enjoying a tiered balance beam that promotes coordination and spatial awareness, a slack line for core strength and focus, and new picnic tables for outdoor connection and work. We’ve also added repurposed tires—perfect for climbing and imaginative play—courtesy of the wonderful folks at RNR Tire Express on Oleander. These enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to creating joyful, enriching outdoor spaces where children can learn, grow, and play together!

Friends, we're less than one week away from one of the brightest, busiest days of the year—GrandFriends Day! If you haven’t already, please visit our dedicated website to RSVP, explore the day’s itinerary, take a virtual campus tour, and preview some of the incredible classroom experiences planned across grade levels. All confirmed GrandFriends will also receive a personalized schedule via email on Monday.

We absolutely can't wait to welcome you to campus for this joyful celebration!

Let’s party, FSW-style! We’re closing out the year in style—and you’re invited! Join us for an unforgettable evening at Bourgie Nights in downtown Wilmington on Saturday, May 10th, featuring delicious bites, a cash bar, music, and some good old-fashioned trivia, all in support of the FSW Annual Fund!

Dress code? Creative cocktail. Think festive, fabulous, and totally you. (Sequins? Jumpsuit? Flamingo tie? Yes, please.)

Please note each guest must purchase a ticket which includes entry, food, and 2 complimentary drink tickets! (Gifting a ticket? Let us know the name(s) of the teacher or staff member you’d like to celebrate with your generosity).

We can’t wait to raise a glass with you! 🥂

After placing 3rd at the Wilmington Regional Tournament, our Middle School Science Olympiad team is headed to Raleigh at the end of the month for the North Carolina state competition! To help offset costs, the team is hosting a Movie Night Fundraiser for all 1st-8th graders.

Join us Friday, April 11 from 5:30–8:30 PM in the PE Room for a great evening of fun featuring Big Hero 6 and wacky science experiments!

$40/student. All proceeds support the team’s state competition journey including lab equipment, travel, hotel, and t-shirts. 

Join us Friday, April 25th from 12:15-2:15PM (rain date Monday, April 28th) for a jam-packed afternoon of hands-on learning and environmental celebration at our Longleaf Center. Students will rotate through stations with their buddies, exploring everything from climate justice to composting! Here’s a peek at what’s in store:

This event is a student favorite and a powerful reminder that caring for the Earth can always be creative, collaborative, and fun!

ERBs

Students in grades 3-8 are gearing up to complete their annual comprehensive assessments from the Educational Records Bureau, or what we refer to colloquially as ERBs. They’re a series of tests required by our accrediting organizations that cover the areas of mathematics, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, vocabulary, writing concepts and skills, and writing mechanics. While our students are so much more than a numeric or alphabetic value, ERB data does provide us with valuable metrics to evaluate whole-school curricular depth, breadth, and rigor. Wish our students luck as they prepare for the tests ahead!

Support Our 3rd Annual Earth Day Festival!

Our Earth Day Festival is just around the corner on Friday, April 25th, and EE Coordinator Karen is looking for a few extra hands to help make it a success! If you're available to volunteer that afternoon, we’d love your support. Sign up HERE.

Can’t make it that day? Why not use Earth Day to make a resolution to reduce single-use plastics at home, at school, and on the go. The average plastic bag is used for just 12 minutes—but takes up to 1,000 years to decompose. (Yikes). Shop for reusable totes, baggies, and more with your preferred eco-friendly vendor! 

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