FriendsMail 05/22/2025

Can you count all the awards mentioned in this week's FriendsMail???

May 15, 2025

One week to go! Welcome to the penultimate edition of FriendsMail, with just 6 short school days to go before summer! A quick reminder that campus is closed Monday for Memorial Day, and if you haven’t reserved your yearbook yet, now’s the time. Hang in there, Friends! We're almost there.

Crayons worn to nubs
Backpacks full of sandy dreams
June is calling us.

A tremendous congratulations to Middle School Social Studies teacher Glen Schubert who was named Sylvan Learning Center’s Educator of the Month for Wilmington! Glen was nominated by 7th grader Mollie Himmel, who shared how his passion, patience, and creativity have made a lasting impact on her learning. Way to go, Glen!

What a bittersweet day yesterday was.

The morning began with Coffee & Conversation in Longleaf Cottage, where I had the pleasure of welcoming many new families to our community. The energy was contagious with much excitement about joining this truly special place. It was a joy to connect with them and hear the unique paths that brought each family to Friends.

We ended the day with one of my favorite traditions: the beginning of our 8th Grade celebrations, known as “Haikus & Gratitudes.”

It’s been a week of reflection, joy, and celebration for our graduating 8th grade class! Yesterday, the entire school gathered for our final Meeting for Worship of the year, which included a longstanding Middle School tradition: Haikus & Gratitudes. Our 6th-8th teaching team penned personalized haikus for each graduate, read aloud while younger students tried to guess which 8th grader the poem described. Each student then shared a heartfelt note of appreciation with a teacher or staff member and received a yellow rose from their 3rd grade buddy as a symbol of friendship and the bonds that grow across grades.

Today, the entire class took to the Intracoastal Waterway for the Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta at Wrightsville SUP, racing vessels they designed and built themselves while testing their knowledge of Archimedes' principles of density and buoyancy. Some sank, some shredded, some bent, but all made it across the finish line in style!

And next Friday, we’ll celebrate their final milestone: Graduation. This is an all-school event, and families of any grade level are warmly invited to attend. Unlike traditional ceremonies, each 8th grader gives a speech in their own voice, followed by a teacher presenting them with a hand-selected book and personal dedication. It’s a ceremony full of meaning, heart, and hope for what’s ahead (and one of the most symbolic ways we show that we know and care deeply for each child here).

We’re thrilled to share that 5th grader Mackenzie Francis has won the regional Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest, hosted by the American Immigration Council! This nationwide contest challenges fifth graders to reflect on themes like “Why I Am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants” or “What Does It Mean to Be a Welcoming Nation?” Mackenzie’s thoughtful and powerful writing earned her the top regional honor, and she now advances to compete at the national level!

We’re also proud to recognize Ella McIntosh and Lucy Bouknight, both of whom received honorable mentions for their inspiring submissions.

We are incredibly proud of these young scholars for their bright minds, open hearts, and commitment to justice for all Americans, regardless of origin. That, Friends, is the power of Quaker values in action.

An awards ceremony is scheduled for next Wednesday, May 28th, at 12:00PM. Local immigration attorneys from Eastern North Carolina will join us on campus to present the awards and to speak with students about the importance of advocacy, justice, and welcoming communities. Families are warmly invited to attend!

We’re so excited to announce that yearbooks have officially arrived (and unlike last year, they’re early)!!! With nearly 200 pages of photos, memories, and highlights from the year’s best moments, this keepsake is one your child won’t want to miss.

Dedicated signing time for Lower School and Middle School students will take place next week, so be sure to reserve your child’s copy while supplies last!

We want to hear from you! Our Parent Feedback Survey is now open through the end of the month. Your input is so important. Not only does it help shape day-to-day operations, but it also plays a big role in long-term planning and visioning for the school. Plus, your feedback helps us meet an important accreditation requirement through the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).

Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us continue growing stronger!

Summer's Just Around the Corner! Are You(r Kids) Ready?!

Summer break is just over 2 weeks away which means summer camp preparations are already well underway! Thinking about enrolling your child in one of Ash's incredible offerings? DON'T WAIT! 3 new Preschool camps were just added as well as a second week of Brooks Koff's Art Potpourri class. Register HERE and spend your summer with Friends!

Honor through Stewardship 🇺🇸

As we pause for Memorial Day, we hold space to reflect on the lives affected by war and to recommit ourselves to building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Quakers have long upheld the testimony of peace, not only by opposing violence, but also by nurturing communities and ecosystems where all can thrive. This week, consider honoring the day through quiet acts of stewardship:

🌱 Tend a garden or plant a native flower in remembrance

🌍 Spend time in nature and reflect on what peace looks like—between people and with the planet

🕊️ Learn about organizations working for peace and environmental justice, such as Friends Committee on National Legislation or Quaker Earthcare Witness

Sustainability isn't just about preserving the earth; it's about cultivating the kind of world we hope to leave behind.