January 8, 2025

Welcome back, Friends, and Happy New Year! It’s been a busy and exciting start as students return to the classroom and dive back into some exciting work. This newsletter is packed with updates, including important details about our upcoming MLK Day Celebration. We’re so glad to kick off the new year with you!

Neither wind, sleet, snow, nor 40-degree temperatures could keep our Stepping Stones friends from the playground! After two long weeks away for winter break, recess has never felt so fun!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had some fun, surrounded by family and lots of yummy treats and surprises.

I spent some time on the Delaware shore, a long-standing New Years tradition with longtime family friends. Skimming through social media I learned that January 2nd was “World Introvert Day.” Those who know me well (and even those who’ve only encountered me sporadically) understand that I am a type 1 extrovert. I truly didn't appreciate what that meant until I met my wife. Anne has this incredible capacity to socialize in various circles, lead classrooms as a college professor, act in stage productions, and perform on national television shows like Jeopardy. But what introverts will understand most is that following all these circumstances, significant periods of quiet, and especially sleep, are necessary to sustain her health. 

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With the weather forecast trending towards chilly--alright, COLD--conditions, we're excited to announce that our January PA Teacher Appreciation event will be a hot oatmeal toppings bar for all faculty and staff on Thursday, January 23rd. More details and volunteer sign-ups forthcoming!

Don't forget that next Wednesday, 01/15, from 8-9AM is our next PA meeting. David Hoolahan will join us for a re-enrollment Q&A, Rachel Presley will talk about our upcoming spring auction, and our "Parent Resource" series continues with Ciara Goins who will spotlight our Preschool program. Have something else you'd like to share? Please submit it by following the link below. We'd love to hear from you!

Since our founding 30 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a cornerstone of the FSW community. While our physical campus is closed, this is an official school day where students and families gather for a meaningful program honoring Dr. King.

This year's MLK Day Program will take place on Monday, January 20th, from 10:00–11:00AM at the Brooklyn Arts Center (516 N 4th Street). Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade will perform songs, poems, and essays celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy. Preschool families are warmly invited to attend, though our youngest friends do not have formal roles in the program.

Afterward, we invite you to visit the City of Wilmington's Family and Multi-Cultural Celebration Event at the Wilmington Convention Center, featuring live entertainment, vendors, and more.

Please visit the link below for all event information and answers to important questions like where to park, when to arrive, and what other happenings are taking place throughout the week.

Please note: Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from the Brooklyn Arts Center and staying for the program. Students will join their teachers upon arrival and reunite with their families in the audience after the program concludes.

This week, we were delighted to officially welcome Caroline Conolly as our new 1st Grade Lead Teacher!

With seven years of early childhood education experience, Caroline brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to FSW. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a degree in Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. Caroline has taught K-2 at an environmental education charter school in Virginia and most recently spent three years teaching Pre-K for New Hanover County Schools. Her dedication to hands-on learning, environmentalism, and social-emotional growth makes her an exceptional fit for our community.

Both within and beyond the classroom, Caroline is a ray of sunshine. Born and raised in the foothills of Virginia, she’s passionate about homesteading, gardening, and antiquing—always on the hunt for unique treasures. She shares her life with her fiancé, Chase, and their 20 pets(!) including chickens, two cats, and a senior pug named Mister B. Caroline and Chase enjoy collecting vinyl records and classic films, and she’s a fan of Twin Peaks and Gilmore Girls (fun fact: they share some of the same writers!). Be sure to say hello and help us make her feel right at home!

Friends, we're excited to remind you of our ongoing partnership with Good Shepherd Center working as dinner shift volunteers for approximately 120 unhoused people every third Thursday of the month. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, share kindness, and make a difference for those in need.

Where: Good Shepherd Center, 811 Martin Street

When: Arrive by 4:30 PM; we’ll wrap up by 7:00 PM

How to Help: Ring the buzzer at the back of the building and staff will let you in

Please use the link below to sign up as a volunteer. Together, we can make a real difference. Thank you for being part of this ongoing effort to lift up our community!

In just three short weeks, 14 of our Middle Schoolers will embark on an unforgettable journey to the Dominican Republic! Led by trip leaders Martina Jonsson, Amy McGlinn, and Kaylie Saidin, the students will engage in a weeklong cultural exchange program at La Cienaga Primary School. Through language lessons, collaborative classroom projects, and community-building activities, they'll explore what it truly means to be a global citizen in this beautifully interconnected world.

But it’s not all work and no play—students will also enjoy exciting excursions to El Choco National Park, Saari Chocolate’s cocoa farm, Rugama Eco-Park, Cabarete Beach, and Playa Caleton. We can't wait to follow along with their adventures and reflections! Check out last year's blog for a sneak peek of the excitement to come.

Native Tree Nursery Planting Next Week

Next week marks a big milestone for our Native Tree Nursery! Classes will be spending time with Karen Linehan and FSW parent Jen Biringer to help plant hundreds of seeds collected during last fall's collection drive. Pictures and video updates to come, so be sure to follow along with the project's progress! This work is generously funded by Friends of the Arboretum in collaboration with the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees and the NC Cooperative Extension. 

Re-Enrollment Packets Forthcoming

A friendly reminder from the Admissions and Business Offices: re-enrollment packets for the 2025-2026 school year are scheduled to be sent out next week (fingers crossed!). Families receiving financial aid will also receive details about their awards at this time. With many classes at full capacity, we strongly encourage you to return your materials by the February 5th deadline to secure your spot for next year!

Summer Camp

I know, I know, the holidays are still in our rearview mirror, but summer camp planning is full steam ahead! We're working hard to finalize this year's brochure, update the website, and open the registration portal. Tentatively mark your calendars for a February 1st grand opening and spread the word! We had 400+ attendees last year. Can we make it to 500???

Tree Recycling 

Welcome to Sustainability Spotlight--a new, standing section in FriendsMail where we connect with the PA's Green Team to share eco-friendly tips and tricks each week.  Today we're highlighting how to properly discard of those Christmas trees we know are still glowing in your living room. 🎄

Last Week's FriendsMail (12/18/24)

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