Tony's Graduation Welcome Address:

Good morning Friends, and welcome to the 2024 Friends School of Wilmington 8th Grade Graduation.

Only 5 weeks ago, this amazing group of students were in Philadelphia. One of their activities was to visit the Arch Street Meeting House. This amazing building, built in 1804, is better known for what it meant to the Quakers of Philadelphia, rather than for its architectural beauty. In truth, Arch Street Meeting House, like most Meeting Houses in the World, is plain in design, free from stain glass windows and symbols found at many facilities of other religions. This was to carry the Quaker traditions of simplicity and equality. Currently in the foyer of Arch Street there are banners recognizing this July, the 400th birthday of the founder of the Religious Society of Friends, George Fox. 

Fox was a controversial figure who was often jailed for dissenting against the Church of England. He would travel around England preaching a new approach to the Christian faith, such as that anyone can be a preacher and that practicing faith does not require a church building, but can truly be practiced at any time, any place, and by anyone that is guided by the Spirit. Indeed, it is believed that the term "Quaker" comes from Fox admonishing a magistrate by proclaiming he should tremble in the presence of God.

In the year 2024, while the number of Quakers in the world continues to decline, those of us who seek the values of the Society of Friends has never been stronger. 

As these soon-to-be high schoolers leave behind this community as students, my hope for them is that their personal values are strong, rooted in a sense that there is something bigger in this world than themselves. As you embark on the next stage of your journey, remember to stand up for human rights and promote social justice. Sometimes this may be difficult and unpopular, but if you act with a freedom of conscience, you will find peace in your decisions by knowing you did so with integrity.

My dear Friends, I look forward to following your journeys.

We are thrilled to congratulate our 18 remarkable 8th graders as they conclude their time at Friends School of Wilmington. Each of these students, whether they've been with us since they were 18 months old or joined less than 10 months ago, has left an indelible mark on campus. Their unique contributions, talents, and spirits have enriched our community in countless ways.

As they embark on the next chapter of their educational journeys, we are proud to announce their high school enrollments at Ashley High, Lyceum Academy at New Hanover High, IB program at Hoggard High, Wilmington Early College, and Cape Fear Academy. We are confident that they will carry forward the values and lessons from their time at Friends, and we look forward to witnessing their continued success and impact on the world.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Your FSW family celebrates you and wishes you all the best in your high school adventures and beyond.

Learn more about each graduate below by reading the haikus written for them by our Middle School teaching team. 

Class of 2020

The FSW Class of 2020 has just graduated high school and will soon be entering their freshmen year of college! Two of North Carolina's top rivals--NC State and Chapel Hill--will welcome upwards of 7 FSW grads, along with other NC schools like East Carolina, Meredith, and Guilford. Out-of-state institutions include Savannah College of Art & Design, University of Miami, and New York University! Well done this exceptional group of high schoolers!

Class of 2016

If you can believe it, the FSW Class of 2016 are now college grads and entering into the world as young professionals! 1 student leaves UNC-Chapel Hill, while 5 depart NC State. Elsewhere in North Carolina, graduates matriculate from UNC-Wilmington and CFCC. Out-of-state schools include places like Virginia Tech, Mississippi College, Grinnell College, and University of Portland! What incredible work, college graduates! We can't wait to see where your life journeys take you. 

Do you or someone you know have an exciting life update? Please drop us a line so we can share the good news with our community!

Drumroll, please...The 2023-2024 yearbook is HERE! Well, the digital version at least. Click on the cover to check it out, and be sure to read more about each cover collage element taken from every Lower School and Middle School class! 

Here's the not-so-fun-making-lemonade-out-of-lemons-news: We heard from our printer last week that the Memorial Day Holiday has slowed production, so physical copies have been delayed for shipment. What does this mean?

The countdown to summer camp is ON! It's just 1 short week until we welcome almost THREE HUNDRED old and new friends to campus for the months of June and July. Haven't secured your spot yet? We have a few openings for select camps, like Bonkers for Board Games, Beginner Martial Arts, and Drafting Academy, and we just added 2 weeks of Tippi Toes dance camp. Check out the registration portal below, and get ready to spend your summer with Friends!

Well, folks, that's a wrap on PA meetings for the year, but that doesn't mean the calendar is empty! Thanks to Audrey Hammond's efforts in partnering with Good Shepherd Center, we are part of the monthly volunteer schedule, assisting in the kitchen to prepare dinner for up to 118 overnight guests.

Every third Thursday we meet downtown, with Audrey or Tony as Leader + 1 faculty/staff member + 1 member of Wilmington Friends Meeting + 2 FSW parents. There's still 7 opportunities remaining in the 2024 calendar, so sign up below! 

Happy Pride Month

This month and every month, we at FSW are proud to uplift the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Quakers have a celebrated history of social activism as abolitionists, feminists, and environmentalists, and our core guiding principles uphold the equality rights of ALL people ALWAYS. We continue to stand in solidarity with marginalized groups, advocating for justice and inclusion across all areas of society. There is still much work to be done, but we take heart in the changemaking process and the roles our students and teachers take in the journey.

City of Wilmington Text Alerts

"With the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season starting June 1st, New Hanover County Emergency Management is encouraging all area residents to register for a new emergency alert system to stay informed and prepared for all emergencies. Residents can sign up to receive timely and critical alerts by texting READYNHC to 24639. This service will provide subscribers with essential information directly to their mobile devices, including updates on severe weather, hazardous conditions and safety alerts that could impact the area." Read more >>>

City of Wilmington Juneteenth Celebration Calendar

Follow along with the City of Wilmington this month to recognize and uplift the history of Juneteenth and the important political work and cultural contributions of our region's Black community. 

"Martina, you do a wonderful job you do as our Spanish teacher. Your passion for the language and culture is infectious, and it's amazing to see how much our kids have learned and grown under your guidance. You bring the language to life in such a meaningful way. Thank you for your dedication, enthusiasm, and genuine care for our children's education."

- Anonymous Friend