April 24, 2025

Y'all, tomorrow is a BIG day at FSW! We’ll be cheering on our Middle School Science Olympiad team as they head to the North Carolina tournament in Raleigh, while also welcoming dozens of community partners, volunteers, and incoming FSW families to campus for our 3rd annual Earth Day Festival. From environmental education to STEM exploration, it’s sure to be a day full of hands-on learning all across the state! 

Wishing our Middle School Division B Science Olympiad team the very best of luck at the North Carolina state tournament tomorrow and Saturday! Their focus, curiosity, and months of hard work have already set them apart, and we’re so proud of the way they've supported one another, tackled challenges head-on, and grown as a team.

Go out there, stay steady, and do your best—You’ve earned this!

On Monday morning, we woke to the news that Pope Francis had passed away at the Vatican. Pope Francis will be remembered by many progressive Catholics for changing the tone of the Church. Instead of focusing on rules and judgment, he emphasized compassion, mercy, and inclusion, especially toward people who’ve often felt left out, like LGBTQ+ individuals or divorced Catholics. He also spoke out strongly about caring for the poor, welcoming migrants, and protecting the environment. His message about social and economic justice really resonated with people like me, who want the Catholic Church to be more open and engaged with the world’s challenges.

His impact goes far beyond just the Catholic Church. As a global figure, Pope Francis used his voice to speak out on major issues like climate change, inequality, and peace. A lot of his values lined up with those of Quakers. Things like simplicity, equality, nonviolence, and caring for others. Both traditions believe in living out their values and standing up for justice, even when it’s hard. That’s part of why so many people, not just Catholics, saw Pope Francis as a powerful moral voice in today’s world.

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We were absolutely thrilled to welcome nearly 200 GrandFriends and family members to campus last week for a sunshine-filled joyful celebration of connection and community. Guests spent time in their child's classrooms with teachers, enjoyed special musical performances led by music teacher Anna, created patchwork quilt art, learned about the role of pollinators and native gardening, and even had professional portraits taken! A tremendous thank you to everyone who joined us—We loved sharing a glimpse of school life with you! Be on the lookout for an email tomorrow with information about our new GrandFriends Social Club and upcoming events—Let's keep the good times going!

8th grade families, double check your inboxes for a message from Middle School Director Amy McGlinn about all things graduation celebrations! Kindly follow the link below to let us know if you can attend:

🎤 Dylan Linehan Mad Gallica – Cinematic Rock Star with a Local Soul

2004 alum Dylan Linehan, now performing as Mad Gallica, is turning heads with her genre-defying “cinematic rock opera.” Her debut EP, Enter the Vortex: Act One, features the Czech Studio Orchestra and explores themes of transformation and healing—born from a near-death experience. After touring with icons like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, Dylan brought her visionary sound home with a sold-out show at Bourgie Nights—the same venue where we’ll host Evening with Friends in just a few short weeks! You can find Mad Gallica's music on streaming platforms or join her creative community on Patreon for behind-the-scenes content.

🏃 Aedon Schroeder – More Than a Comeback

After a terrifying accident left him with a fractured neck, 2022 alum Aedon Schroeder wasn’t sure if he’d ever run again. But true to form, the Hoggard junior met the challenge head-on—staying connected to his team, adjusting his training, and rebuilding with patience and grit. Now he’s back on the track and faster than ever, with new personal bests in the 800m (1:57), 1600m (4:23), and 3200m (9:36). His journey is a testament to resilience, heart, and the power of mindset. Read more in this incredible feature, written by none other than 2021 alum Connor Andrews!

🎭 Katie McCudden – Beetlejuice Breakout

2024 alum Katie McCudden brought sharp wit and perfect timing to her role as Sky the Girl Scout in New Hanover High School’s production of Beetlejuice. As the ONLY freshman in the cast, she brought depth, presence, and a strong sense of craft to the show. We can't wait to see where she'll go next in Wilmington’s theater scene and beyond!

👓 Andy & Abby McIntosh – Vision in Action

Big things are happening thanks to Andy McIntosh ’22 and Abby McIntosh ’25! This dynamic sibling duo helped launch Wilmington’s first-ever Blindfold Mile Challenge—a bold, youth-led event where participants ran or walked a mile in blindfolds, guided by partners, to raise awareness about visual impairments. The fundraiser brought in over $2,700 for local organizations and hundreds of old glasses to be repurposed. Inspired by their cousin Bobby, Andy founded the Wilmington Leo Club in 2024 and teamed up with Abby and fellow FSW 8th graders, Lola Joh & Sylvie Alper, to turn vision into action, literally! We love to see alumni leading the way!

Hey alums! Got good news to share? We’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s a new job, a creative project, a big move, or something that just makes you smile—submit a Class Note and let us celebrate with you! Follow the link below to share what you’re up to now.

*Bourgie* On Down! Get Your Tickets for Evening with Friends Now!

We’re closing out the year in style! Join us for an unforgettable evening at Bourgie Nights in downtown Wilmington on Saturday, May 10th, featuring delicious bites, a cash bar, live music, and some good old-fashioned trivia, all in support of the FSW Annual Fund! It's sure to be an unforgettable night, and we can’t wait to raise a glass with you! 🥂

ERB Testing

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!

Reuse with Purpose

Inspired by Andy & Abby McIntosh and classmates Lola Joh and Sylvie Alper, here’s your friendly reminder that sustainability starts small!

🔋 Recycle old batteries at local drop-off sites
👕 Donate or repurpose clothes instead of tossing them
🥫 Give glass jars new life as storage or craft containers

Little actions add up to big impact—just ask our very own student changemakers!

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