February 15, 2026

February is Black History Month, and Wilmington has a significant place in African-American history. The 1898 Massacre is just one major example of the horrific injustices that took place in our town, and there is so much more to the story. 

It's always important to learn from the mistakes of those that came before us, but this month we have more opportunities to be intentional with how we are learning, healing, and standing up for what is right. There are many events happening around town to help acknowledge the African-American history of our area. Check it out here! 

Spirit Week was a smashing success! From monochrome, to mis-match, to decades, our Friends went all out, so shout-out to y'all!!
Read through the end of the newsletter for more photos of our fun week.  

Each February, our nation pauses to honor Black History Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. At Friends School, this month offers a meaningful opportunity for our students to explore stories of courage and perseverance, and to see how these lessons continue to shape the world around us. Last week’s 2nd and 3rd Grade Joy and Justice Museum presentations were a wonderful example. I had the opportunity of talking with students about their research projects, which ranged from artists to activists, inventors to athletes. Two figures who particularly resonated with me, perhaps because of my own interests, were Jackie Robinson and Harriet Tubman.

Anyone who knows me knows my love of sports, and how I see athletics as a unifying force. Sport has a remarkable ability to bring people together, whether it’s the shared excitement of watching UNC sink Duke at the buzzer last weekend, or gathering as a team to work toward a common goal. Yet when we think about Jackie Robinson, his story reminds us that the playing field has not always been level. Robinson bore unimaginable pressure and faced open hostility as he broke baseball’s color barrier in the 1940s. What strikes me most is his grace under fire. The courage to compete, excel, and lead with dignity despite hatred and threats to his life. 

Help us celebrate our amazing teachers and staff with a bagel breakfast! 
Please review the available slots in the Sign-Up Genius below,
sign up by February 18th, and drop off items on the 19th.
Thank you for your generosity!!

Join the PA this Wednesday, February 18th! 
Agenda items? Send them to pa@fsow.org

Does your daughter want to join the team? Practices start this week, and all that's needed is a water bottle, cleats, and athletic wear. 

Want to cheer our girls on from the bleachers?
Check out the game schedule below! (Home games are bold)

GAMES:
March 19th- @ St. Mark - 4:00pm

March 23rd- @ FSW - 4:00pm vs. MGCS.

March 26th- @ MGCS - 4:00pm.

March 30th- @ FSW - 4:00pm vs. CFA.

April 8th-  @ CFA - 5:15pm 

April 14th- @ FSW - 4:00pm vs. St. Marks.

April 20th- @ Emereau Bladen Charter School - 4:00pm.
995 Airport Rd, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 

*Two more games will be added, TBA*

Reach out to tracyt@fsow.org with any questions.

Environmental Education happens across our campus and beyond as we learn in the field and take time for fun adventures along the way!

During this month's Friday field trip series, middle school students visited a variety of Wilmington locales including Halyburton Park, Fort Fisher Recreation Area, Cardinal Lanes, Cameron Art Museum, and CFPUA water and wastewater treatment centers. 

What do you get when you mix together pine trees, primitive photography techniques, and exceptional works of art? An amazing all-day sixth grade adventure!

Our sixth grade students joined their pen pals from DC Virgo Preparatory Academy for an exciting art and science program featuring the longleaf pine. In collaboration with Cameron Art Museum, UNCW, and Halyburton Park, students learned about the life stages of the longleaf pine and collected items at the park to create beautiful cyanotypes with their pen pals.
They concluded their adventures with a visit to Cameron Art Museum's current exhibit, "From Mountains to Sea." 

Many thanks to September Krueger of CAM, James Farley of UNCW, and Andy Fairbanks of Halyburton for their leadership in our program. Thanks also to teachers from DC Virgo and our FSW leadership team: Jennifer Barfield, Amy McGlinn, Skip Walter and Karen Linehan.

The students' cyanotype prints will be showcased during a Community Day at CAM on March 21st at 10am - 1pm. 

7th grade students took to Cardinal Lanes to practice their bowling skills, but mostly just had a ton of fun. After a quick stop back at campus for lunch, they headed down to Fort Fisher where they hiked the Basin Trail - sometimes called the “Hermit Trail”.

This trail leads to the WWII ammunition bunker where Robert Harrill (a.k.a. the Fort Fisher Hermit) lived for 16 years beginning in 1956. Robert spent his days living off the land by foraging and fishing in the marsh, and occasionally with the help of the many people who would come there regularly to talk and visit with him. 

Click on the image to be taken to the registration page

We're always looking for volunteers to help with our monthly dinner shifts at Good Shepherd Center! Follow the link HERE to sign up for any of the upcoming shifts, now through August!
We serve on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 4:30-7:00 PM at 811 Martin Street.
Come lend a hand and be part of this meaningful community effort! 

Click on the image-link above or scan the QR code.
Use your current login or create an account to enroll in our auxiliary programs