Issue 3 2023-2024
News
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Celebrating the Quasquibicentennial of Westtown School!
Westtown School has crossed a significant milestone: 225 years of Quaker education! On May 6, 1799, Westtown opened its doors to an inaugural co-ed class of forty students with the…Read More Read LessWesttown School has crossed a significant milestone: 225 years of Quaker education! On May 6, 1799, Westtown opened its doors to an inaugural co-ed class of forty students with the intent of providing a “guarded religious education” for Quaker families in the Philadelphia area. The journey to this historic day started over thirty years before, when prominent Philadelphia Quakers such as George Churchman advocated for the establishment of a Friends boarding school. The idea gained support following the founding of Ackworth School by London Yearly Meeting in 1779 and the publication of Owen Biddle’s “A Plan for a School” in 1790. Finally, in 1794, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting formed a committee to consider the proposal. It was accepted, and in 1795 a tract of land was purchased in Chester County from the Gibbons family. It is on this same six hundred acres that Westtown School still operates today, with over two centuries of experience providing an education grounded in Quaker principles.
Divisionally appropriate celebrations took place in each division. In Lower School Gathering, the students presented Head of School Chris Benbow with a big signed birthday card. Middle School observed a special birthday Collection, and in the Upper School, advisory groups recognized the birthday together. Finally, faculty, staff, and Upper School students gathered in the South Room and after a reading from the Student Body Presidents and a word from Benbow, everyone enjoyed the birthday cake(s)!
In the fall, we will celebrate the 225th together in style at the all-school assembly at the opening of school, and at other events throughout the year, so stay tuned for more!
Features
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Food for Thought
Thank you to senior Noa Sobel and the Green Coalition sustainability club for bringing the new "Food for Thought" board to life in the Dining Room! The board is a…Read More Read LessThank you to senior Noa Sobel and the Green Coalition sustainability club for bringing the new “Food for Thought” board to life in the Dining Room! The board is a place to leave ideas, kudos, and to check out the menu.
Anne Burns and the team in Communications designed the board, alum Carrie Dudas completed the project, and Mark Del Negro and the Facilities team placed it. Thank you—it really does take a village!
Our student-led teaching kitchen has evolved over the years, and here are just a few things that were created from student ideas:
- Crepe Day
- Waffle Day
- Buffet in Upper School (Yes, there used to be seated meals every day!)
- Pasta bar
- Panini stations at lunch
- Clear station and composting in the back Dining Room. (Does anyone else remember the belt?)
- It was the Work Program Heads of 2012 that designed the clear station.
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2024 Deep Dive Certificate Recipients
Congratulations to this year's Deep Dive Certificate recipients! The Deep Dive Program offers a multi-year, multi-disciplinary approach to a particular subject area. The program empowers students to design an intentional,…Read More Read LessCongratulations to this year’s Deep Dive Certificate recipients! The Deep Dive Program offers a multi-year, multi-disciplinary approach to a particular subject area. The program empowers students to design an intentional, organized, and well-documented arc of immersive learning and focused scholarship. The goal is for them to explore topics across disciplines, to be active participants in their own learning, and to become empathetic, confident leaders. This year, students completed Deep Dive Certificates in Data-Driven Change; Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice; Global Leadership; Multidisciplinary Arts; and Sustainability Leadership. In May, these students presented to the community about their studies and their impressive Capstone Projects. The recipients, all members of the Class of 2024, are:
Data-Driven Change
Faculty Advisor: Jake Norton
Odina Achike
Lucia SanchezDiversity, Equity, and Social Justice
Faculty Advisor: Marissa Colston
Kien Dang
Zeon Waterhouse
Alena ZhangGlobal Leadership
Faculty Advisors: Joseph Daniels and Dan Burger-Lenehan
Mark Ham
Peishan Huang
Sasha Khalo
Ly Nguyen
Alena ZhangMultidisciplinary Arts
Faculty Advisor: Alex Ates
Kate Dolan
Peishan Huang
Eric Li
Kaelin Martin
Mandy ZhaoSustainability Leadership
Faculty Advisor: Jen Anthony
Felix Cardoso
Ella Cook
Mariana Ortiz
Noa Sobel
Tony Wang -
One Story Week
Lower School’s annual One Story Week is a celebration of an author and their work. This year, we welcomed award-winning author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, who gave an engaging presentation to students…Read More Read LessLower School’s annual One Story Week is a celebration of an author and their work. This year, we welcomed award-winning author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, who gave an engaging presentation to students and shared her journey from being a teacher to becoming a children’s book author. Her book, Your Name is a Song, was the featured story, and students also read several of her books with Lower School librarian Heather Tannenbaum, including Abdul’s Story and Mommy’s Khimar. Throughout the week, students spent afternoons in mixed-aged groups collaborating on writing, music, and art activities, and ended with group reflection and sharing. Students love One-Story Week, and the opportunity for working with students in other grades and in enjoying special activities. You can see the entire gallery of photos from this special week here.
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World Languages Week
The third annual World Languages Week took place in April. As Bei Zhang, Chair of the World Languages Department, shares, “Some of our goals include promoting language acquisition, building cultural…Read More Read LessThe third annual World Languages Week took place in April. As Bei Zhang, Chair of the World Languages Department, shares, “Some of our goals include promoting language acquisition, building cultural competency, providing students a platform to celebrate their success in their language education, and helping students envision their future career paths where they can apply their language skills and cultural knowledge.” Highlights of the week of special activities included captivating musical performances by Upper School language students in Community Collection, and a wonderful presentation by Kevin Wang ’18 on the power of language learning and his journey in app development (which includes Polaris, an app still used by Upper School students today). Wang’s career has combined technology with language—he now works for Duolingo. The Language Olympics were thrilling, with Team Chinese emerging victorious and Team Latin winning the Team Spirit award! Check out photos from the week here!
Students of Spanish sing at World Languages Week Assembly -
Environmental Science and Biology Students in the Field
Teacher Ryan Black engaged Environmental Science and Biology 2 students in a biodiversity study, employing a variety of technologies to collect and analyze data. Black explains, “iNaturalist is a community…Read More Read LessTeacher Ryan Black engaged Environmental Science and Biology 2 students in a biodiversity study, employing a variety of technologies to collect and analyze data. Black explains, “iNaturalist is a community science app that allows users to share and record biodiversity information with a database which can be used for scientific research. The goal of iNaturalist is to connect people to nature and create a living record of life on Earth. Environmental Science and Biology 2 students used the app to contribute to our Westtown Biodiversity Studies. The overall project, the Westtown School Biodiversity Study, pulls all of the observations recorded on campus. Anyone with the iNaturalist app can contribute to these projects.
“There are sub-projects that pull data from different parts of campus that Environmental Science students use to compare the biodiversity of different areas. All of those projects can be viewed via the “umbrella project” that shows all of our projects on one page: Westtown School Biodiversity Studies. Some of the Environmental Science students set up trail cams and recorded those observations on our Westtown Trail Cams project. And since there are a lot of avid birders on campus, we also set up the Avian Diversity Study. We may add more projects next year to show the diversity of other taxonomic groups.”
We encourage you to visit these links to learn about our campus biodiversity yourself. Remember that anyone in the community with the iNaturalist app is welcome to contribute to these ongoing projects as well!
Black also took his Environmental Science 2 class to the Jersey shore for a day of service and learning. Students worked with reTURN the Favor, an organization that “…works to rescue horseshoe crabs on beaches open to the public, it primarily concentrates on rescuing crabs stranded on beach areas seasonally closed during shorebird migration and horseshoe crab spawning season occurring in May and June. Many horseshoe crabs spawn on these closed beaches and oftentimes become stranded, overturned, or even impinged behind natural or manmade structures. The reTURN the Favor program works with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection so that horseshoe crabs stranded on closed beaches can be rescued by sanctioned volunteer groups.”
Black shares, “Students witnessed the awe-inspiring spectacle as hundreds of thousands of Atlantic horseshoe crabs gathered along the Delaware Bay shore to engage in their annual spawning ritual—a tradition that has endured for hundreds of millions of years! The ecological significance of this event cannot be overstated. The eggs laid during this mass spawning serve as a vital food source for numerous species, including endangered migratory birds such as the red knot. However, the future of horseshoe crab populations hangs in the balance. Threatened by habitat degradation, overharvesting for pharmaceutical purposes and fishing bait, and historically utilized as fertilizer, these ancient creatures face significant challenges.
In an effort to safeguard this invaluable species, students took partk in a meaningful initiative known as the “Return the Favor NJ” walk. Our mission? To rescue trapped horseshoe crabs along the beaches of Cumberland County (NJ), flipping over stranded individuals to ensure their survival. Through this hands-on community science activity, students will also gather crucial data on the gender distribution of the rescued crabs, which will be reported to reTURN the Favor NJ for further analysis.
“The students had a very successful day, working hard to rescue a total 348 horseshoe crabs. While the abundance of crabs was fairly low, it is still early in their spawning season. The students also witnessed a great abundance of shorebirds at a few beaches which limited our ability to conduct rescues at these locations (the shorebirds take priority and we are careful not to move them). So while the horseshoe crab numbers were low, it was great to see robust shorebird activity. We collected data on the numbers of flipped/trapped male and female horseshoe crabs as well as deceased Diamondback terrapins (turtles). All of the data we collected was reported to reTURN the Favor.” If you’re interested in their findings, here is some of the data.
Successful day of horseshoe crab rescue!
Students
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National Chinese Honor Society Inductees
The National Chinese Honor Society was established in November 1993. Its objective is to acknowledge the superior achievement of secondary school students studying Chinese as a second language. Like other…Read More Read LessThe National Chinese Honor Society was established in November 1993. Its objective is to acknowledge the superior achievement of secondary school students studying Chinese as a second language. Like other honor societies, the National Chinese Honor Society not only recognizes high scholastic achievement but also good character, leadership, and service. National Chinese Honor Society members should exemplify all these standards. The Society’s goal is to promote enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture learning, commitment to advanced study, and greater cross-cultural understanding.
This spring, the Westtown School chapter of the National Chinese Honor Society was pleased to induct 11 new members into the society and renew six students’ memberships. This year, they were also happy to add the “National Junior Scholars for Excellence in Chinese” award for our eligible Middle School 8th grade Mandarin students to recognize their achievement in the study of Chinese language and culture. Please join us in thanking their teachers Nina Li, Jie Song, and Bei Zhang, and in celebrating the achievements of these students!
New members:
- Tim Gatto 高艺轩
- Emily Kessler 艾明兰
- Grace Malavolta 马悦晴
- Liam Sellers-Johnston 孙俊
- Auden Vosburgh 王嘉奇
- Aveline Heryer何美琳
- Matthew Black 白子君
- Sofia Burgos 包慧珍
- Parker Coates 寇晓洁
- Alex Delgado 邓凯
- Vlad Maier 尉迟荣
Renewal members:
- Nico Lippiatt-Cook 李一鸣
- Oliver Hart韩耀辉
- Jessica Schottland石玥琪
- Maggie Shirk石敏佳
- Amelia Mcdonough麦熙卉
- Zeon Waterhouse 吴怡龙
Middle School 8th grade:
- Saige Biddison 司言芷
- Rose Cook 蔷薇
- Tommy Heckert 马思思
- Caroline Vonnahme 柯爱玲
- Trinity Ingram 楚一婷
- Lev Bryans 简乐炜
- McKenna Lausch 卢于菲
- Pierce Ryan 冉天宇
- Rayan Siddiqui 沈星宇
- Archer Webb 卫茗风
- Cavan Hurley 何凯文
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Earth Day
For Earth Day 2024, students in the Green Coalition, Dining Services staff, and Outdoor Education leaders created a program for immersive learning, one that got many students outside. Earth Day…Read More Read LessFor Earth Day 2024, students in the Green Coalition, Dining Services staff, and Outdoor Education leaders created a program for immersive learning, one that got many students outside. Earth Day began with an all-school Meeting for Worship in the Greenwood, with special queries to reflect upon.
In the Upper School, Mary Ann Boyer of Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants gave an assembly presentation. Then students engaged in a wide variety of workshops and activities ranging from a TED talk on Doughnut Economics, to nature writing, to tree measuring, to invasive plant pulling, to planting a butterfly garden, weaving plarn, and building seed bombs, among many other activities. Students enjoyed time canoeing on the lake, the open ropes course, volleyball games, and even an ice cream truck! Our thanks to Green Coalition, Dining Services, student leaders, and the Sustainability Committee for making Earth Day 2024 a memorable one! Check out images from the day here!
All-School Meeting for Worship in the Greenwood to kick off Earth Day -
Learning Civics in Third Grade
“This year's third graders had a contagious passion for civics! After learning about forms and branches of government, rights and responsibilities of citizens, and civic engagement, we ended the unit…Read More Read Less“This year’s third graders had a contagious passion for civics! After learning about forms and branches of government, rights and responsibilities of citizens, and civic engagement, we ended the unit with a class election as the culminating project. Students formed campaigns that championed causes, rather than people. Within each campaign, students took on various roles such as designer, creative director, speechwriter, and public speaker. Students then presented to their classmates in hopes of rallying support for their cause. These campaigns aimed to raise awareness for a range of topics including animal welfare, endangered species, pollution awareness, bullying prevention, and climate change. We then set up a private voting booth in our classroom, with a sample ballot inside, and students enjoyed casting their ballots and tallying up the votes (students could vote for any issue except their own).
The goal of the election was to come up with one cause students could unite behind, and then raise awareness for that cause as a whole grade. Animal welfare won the class election, and third graders then decided on a method for raising awareness. Students landed on creating posters and scratch presentations to raise awareness about this issue, working individually or in pairs on their final projects. It was fantastic to see our students apply their curiosity and passion for civics throughout this project, using their collaborative and conflict resolution skills along the way, in an effort to turn that passion into action.” ~Charis Fisher, Third Grade Teacher -
Think, Care, Act Project
The Think, Care, Act Fair is the culmination of a multi-stage project that begins in 7th grade advisories where students identify their strengths, affinities, interests, and talents. They then focus…Read More Read LessThe Think, Care, Act Fair is the culmination of a multi-stage project that begins in 7th grade advisories where students identify their strengths, affinities, interests, and talents. They then focus on what they care about in the community and the world around them. In the third step, they try to connect the first two pieces into a service project that helps others by putting passions and skills to good use. The final step is to present their projects to their families, teachers, and 6th and 8th-grade peers. At the end of the year, 7th graders filled the Uptown Lounge with tri-folds and shared their experiences. This annual project, led by teacher and 7th Grade Dean Abby Lausch, is designed not only to incorporate service learning into curriculum, but also to help students discern what is important to them and to give them a growing sense of agency in having an impact in their communities.
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The Living Museum
Throughout the year, 4th graders study the history of this continent from pre-European contact through the abolishment of slavery. It is based on the queries, Who’s telling the story? and…Read More Read LessThroughout the year, 4th graders study the history of this continent from pre-European contact through the abolishment of slavery. It is based on the queries, Who’s telling the story? and Whose voices are missing? The culmination of their studies becomes this final project where they share the successes, struggles, and work of many notable abolitionists. They invited family guests and fellow Lower Schoolers to their Living Museum so they could learn about these important historical figures as well. Well done, 4th graders!
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Book Buddies
As part of their English studies, each year 7th graders and Primary Circle students collaborate to write books together. They spend time building relationships, learning each other's interests, learning about…Read More Read LessAs part of their English studies, each year 7th graders and Primary Circle students collaborate to write books together. They spend time building relationships, learning each other’s interests, learning about the elements of storytelling, and ultimately they write and illustrate a short story together. When finished, 7th graders bring the finished books to their “Book Buddies” and spend time reading their books, enjoying popsicles, and having recess together! You can enjoy more images of the Book Buddy sharing day here.
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Metal Moose: Women in STEM
Recently, the Metal Moose robotics team hosted a Women in STEM workshop for female-identifying students in 5th through 8th grades. The workshop, spearheaded by Lucia Sanchez ’24, focused on three…Read More Read LessRecently, the Metal Moose robotics team hosted a Women in STEM workshop for female-identifying students in 5th through 8th grades. The workshop, spearheaded by Lucia Sanchez ’24, focused on three main activities: LEGO robotics, Python programming, and an introduction to Metal Moose and FIRST Robotics. Sanchez shares, “The LEGO robotics activity was for elementary-aged students, and Python programming was for middle-school-aged students. During the LEGO robotics portion, we taught students how to build and code LEGO robots step-by-step using Ev3 kits. The Python programming section consisted of the open-source Tech Girlz curriculum, which allowed us to teach students basic programming concepts by creating a digital Mad Lib and a number-guessing game. Lastly, we did a brief presentation for all of the students about what the Metal Moose does and how FIRST Robotics and the competitions we attend work. We then did a robot demonstration of our 2024 robot ‘Clio’ during which we explained the functionality of the robot and let students drive it.”
Sanchez says she was inspired to organize this event because she was first introduced to robotics in elementary school in an all-girls tech workshop. “It inspired me to further pursue LEGO robotics and STEM activities at my own school. So I wanted to run a Women in STEM workshop [here] for middle and elementary school girls to build coding skills and learn about robotics in a safe and supportive space.” Because the workshop was such a success, the Metal Moose team plans to continue holding free STEM workshops in the coming years.
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Middle School Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education in Middle School this year has been full of exploration, learning, art, and time in nature. Students learned how to build emergency shelters, safely build campfires, identify spring…Read More Read LessOutdoor Education in Middle School this year has been full of exploration, learning, art, and time in nature. Students learned how to build emergency shelters, safely build campfires, identify spring ephemeral wildflowers, carve their hiking sticks in the art studio, and work together. In April, Outdoor Education had a cookout at the fire circle where they cooked a feast of penne pasta with a pesto made from garlic mustard and ramps that were foraged on campus. The feast also included a color-changing lemonade made from violet flowers, homemade bread, and. of course, s’mores! Enjoy photos from their cookout here!
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Biolympiad Participants
Angela Wang and Jerry Huynh competed in the 2024 USA Biolympiad National Exam, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education. Both Jerry and Angela participated in the first round of…Read More Read LessAngela Wang and Jerry Huynh competed in the 2024 USA Biolympiad National Exam, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education. Both Jerry and Angela participated in the first round of exams on February 12. Angela qualified as a semi-finalist, the highest level that she was able to achieve (without being a US citizen).
Here are the happy recipients of their award certificates, along with science teacher Leslie Barr!
Arts
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Visiting Artist: Mareck Bennett
Westtown Middle School and the Westtown Arts Department welcomed Marek Bennett to campus as our 2024 Visiting Artist. Marek worked with our students on the fundamentals of creating comics and…Read More Read LessWesttown Middle School and the Westtown Arts Department welcomed Marek Bennett to campus as our 2024 Visiting Artist. Marek worked with our students on the fundamentals of creating comics and graphic novels and guided them as they created three-panel comics inspired by our Quaker values. Marek opened his visit with an assembly, where he shared details of his own work and began a sketch of the Meeting House inspired by feedback given by students. All students participated in Marek’s workshops. His visit concluded back in the Meeting House where he shared student work and the completed sketch of the Meetinghouse. Our thanks to art teachers Marta Willgoose Salo and Cindy Hodgson, as well asAlex Ates and the entire Arts Department for making this experience possible for our Middle School students! Enjoy more photos here!
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Chicago: Teen Edition!
The Upper School Spring Musical, Chicago: Teen Edition, was a smash! Featuring 25 students on and offstage, this was a spectacular production showcasing the many talents of our students. Our thanks to…Read More Read LessThe Upper School Spring Musical, Chicago: Teen Edition, was a smash! Featuring 25 students on and offstage, this was a spectacular production showcasing the many talents of our students. Our thanks to teachers Amy Grebe, Justin Baker, and Jack McManus for helping bring this to the stage! Well, done, everyone!
In case you missed the show, you can view the recording here. We also encourage you to check out the gallery of photos!
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Musical Notes
Spring is concert season at Westtown, a time when students share their talents with the community. We are grateful for the joyful voices and instruments that filled the theater and…Read More Read LessSpring is concert season at Westtown, a time when students share their talents with the community. We are grateful for the joyful voices and instruments that filled the theater and the halls of our school. Below are links to images of our student performances. Enjoy!
Enjoy the gallery of photos of the Lower School concert here!
You can see more of the Middle School Concert here!
Enjoy more from the Upper and Middle School Dance Concert here!
Scenes from the Upper School Concert can be found here!
Finally, enjoy the Strings and Sings Concert!
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Senior Art Show
The Senior Art Show, a long-standing Westtown tradition, opened on May 22. Students, faculty, parents, and community members gathered to celebrate with a reception and viewing. The exhibit was a…Read More Read LessThe Senior Art Show, a long-standing Westtown tradition, opened on May 22. Students, faculty, parents, and community members gathered to celebrate with a reception and viewing. The exhibit was a showcase of senior artists’ creative expression and talents and represents a culmination of their artmaking. Well done, seniors! We invite you to enjoy the wonderful work of our talented senior artists in this gallery here!
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Thespian Society Inductees
We are excited to share news about the newest members of Westtown's Thespian Troupe! Recently, seven students joined the Thespian Troupe and four seniors received high honors from the program. …Read More Read LessWe are excited to share news about the newest members of Westtown’s Thespian Troupe! Recently, seven students joined the Thespian Troupe and four seniors received high honors from the program.
The International Thespian Society is the honor society for students who’ve engaged in over 100 hours of participation in our Theater program. Westtown’s troupe has 32 members and is self-governed.
The following students were inducted: Lena Johnson ’26, Shawn Sprott ’25, Terry Ma ’25, Jamila Burgos ’27, Emily Kessler ’25, Preston Morefield ’27, and Victoria Potts ’26.
The following seniors received high honors: Odina Achike ’24, Sasha Khalo ’24, Eric Li ’24, and Jess Schottland ’24.
One additional note: All new membership fees were paid for by student-organized troupe fundraising this year!
Congratulations to all!
Athletics
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Record Breakers & All-League Honors
Several student-athletes made it into the record books this season. Here are some impressive stats for you! Lucia Sanchez '24 had 481 strikeouts in softball. Ella Cook '24 owns every…Read More Read LessSeveral student-athletes made it into the record books this season. Here are some impressive stats for you!
- Lucia Sanchez ’24 had 481 strikeouts in softball.
- Ella Cook ’24 owns every Westtown distance record from 1500m to 3200m.
- Laila Atkins ’27 threw the discus 118’ 6” to break the school record that has stood since 1981.
- The 4×400 girls relay team of Anisa Burrows ’25, Avery Canady ’25, Ella Cook ’24, and Michelle Olak ’24 broke the school record, which has stood since 1999.
Additionally, many Westtown student-athletes received Friends Schools League All-League honors at the end of the spring season! Join us in congratulating:
Varsity Baseball
- FSL All-League – Jackson Young ’27
- FSL Honorable Mention – Cooper Speacht ’26
Varsity Softball
- FSL All-League – Lucia Sanchez ’24, Vianna Kanyamiheto-Watson ’25, Alana Thomforde ’25
- FSL Honorable Mention – Delia Sanchez ’27
Girls Lacrosse
- FSL All-League – Sophie Jones ’25 and Juliana Del Beato ’26
- FSL Honorable Mention – Emma McDonough ’26
Boys Lacrosse
- FSL All-League – Matt Hamill ’24, Xander Maxwell ’24, Arjun Gill ’24, Noah Snyder ’24, Aiden Kammerer ’24
- FSL Honorable Mention – Dillon Javadpour ’25, Mason Davis ’25
Boys Tennis
- FSL Honorable Mention – Jay Harper ’25, Declan Duffy ’25
Girls Track and Field
- FSL All-League – Ella Cook ’24, Maille Mojica ’24, Laila Atkins ’27
Boys Track and Field
- FSL All-League – Joey Kim ’24, Sam Olojo ’24
Coed Golf
- FSL All-League – Parker Hayter ’24, Dylan Precious ’24, Matthew Futuyma ’26, Charlotte Anstine ’25
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Golf Team FSL Champions
Congratulations to our varsity golf team who won the Friends Schools League Championship this spring! This small but mighty team's hard work and dedication throughout the year led to this…Read More Read LessCongratulations to our varsity golf team who won the Friends Schools League Championship this spring! This small but mighty team’s hard work and dedication throughout the year led to this unforgettable victory. This marks the team’s 8th FSL title, and the first since 2017. Way to go, ‘Town golfers!
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Boys Varsity Lacrosse: Champs x 2!
The boys varsity lacrosse team had a phenomenal season. First they brought home the Friends Schools League (FSL) Championship, then they went on to win the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic…Read More Read LessThe boys varsity lacrosse team had a phenomenal season. First they brought home the Friends Schools League (FSL) Championship, then they went on to win the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) State Championship as well. This has been an historic season, as these are the first-ever championship titles for boys lacrosse at Westtown. Congratulations to this tenacious team! Go ‘TOWN!
FSL Champions! PAISAA Champs!
Community
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Save the Date(s): Shoemaker Visiting Lecturer Series
Save the dates for next school year's Shoemaker Lectures! We are thrilled to welcome to campus the following visiting lecturers: Michael Twitty November 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Barton-Test Theater From…Read More Read LessSave the dates for next school year’s Shoemaker Lectures! We are thrilled to welcome to campus the following visiting lecturers:
Michael Twitty
November 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Barton-Test TheaterFrom November 13 – 15, 2024, world-renowned author, speaker, and culinary historian Michael Twitty will visit Westtown. During that time, he will visit classrooms and meet with students. He will present a Shoemaker Lecture on Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Barton-Test Theater.
Michael W. Twitty is a culinary historian and food writer living in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
He blogs at Afroculinaria.com and has appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern,
Many Rivers to Cross with Henry Louis Gates, and most recently Taste the Nation with Top Chef’s
Padma Lakshmi.
HarperCollins released Twitty’s The Cooking Gene in 2017, tracing his ancestry through food from
Africa to America and from slavery to freedom, a finalist for The Kirkus Prize and The Art of Eating
Prize, and a 3rd place winner of Barnes & Noble’s Discover New Writers Awards in Nonfiction.
The Cooking Gene won the 2018 James Beard Award for best writing as well as book of the year,
making him the first Black author so awarded. His piece on visiting Ghana in Bon Appetit was
included in Best Food Writing in 2019 and was nominated for a 2019 James Beard Award.
His next book, Rice, a New York Times noted cookbook, became available through UNC Press in
2021.Kosher Soul, his follow-up to The Cooking Gene, was published in August 2022 through
HarperCollins and received the 2022 National Jewish Book Award.Tyriek White
February 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Barton-Test TheaterIn February, award-winning novelist, musician, and educator Tyriek White will come to Westtown. He will be visiting classes and and spending time with students. He will present a Shoemaker Lecture on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the Barton-Test Theater.
Tyriek Rashawn White is a writer, musician, and educator from Brooklyn, NY. He is the author of the novel, We Are a Haunting (Astra House, 2023) which won the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, was a finalist for the Gotham Book Prize, and was longlisted for the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize. He was named a 2024 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” Honoree and has received fellowships from Callaloo Writing Workshop, New York State Writer’s Institute, and Key West Literary Seminar, among other honors. He is currently the media director of Lampblack Literary Foundation, which seeks to provide mutual aid and various resources to Black writers across the diaspora. He holds a degree in Creative Writing and Africana Studies from Pitzer College and most recently earned an MFA from the University of Mississippi.
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Grandparents’/Special Friends’ Day
It was wonderful to see all the grandparents and special friends at the Lower School Grandparents/Special Friends’ Day! Visitors got to experience life in the Lower School, special activities, and…Read More Read LessIt was wonderful to see all the grandparents and special friends at the Lower School Grandparents/Special Friends’ Day! Visitors got to experience life in the Lower School, special activities, and see a performance by the students. Thanks to all who joined us! You can enjoy
the gallery of photos here! -
Be a Host Family!
If you have live locally to Westtown, consider signing up to be a host family for the next school year! The Host Family Program is a valuable experience for Upper School international students and…Read More Read LessIf you have live locally to Westtown, consider signing up to be a host family for the next school year!
The Host Family Program is a valuable experience for Upper School international students and Westtown host families, allowing for close relationships to be built between families and opening the door for connection and cultural exchange. Host students seek to develop relationships, play with siblings and pets, and talk about their culture, life, and ambitions with host parents. Host families are welcomed into a one-year commitment with the Host Family Program with the option of renewing. Many students and host families continue their relationships beyond Westtown, staying in touch through college and visiting each other in their respective homes and cultures.You can learn more about the Host Family Program on our website. If you have questions, please contact the Director of the International Student Program, Bei Zhang.
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Quaker Artistry: Voices and Vision Podcast
For his David Mallery Fellowship, Alex Ates, Director of PK-12 Visual and Performing Arts, created a podcast exploring the intersection of Quakerism and creativity. In this three-episode series, Ates interviews New…Read More Read LessFor his David Mallery Fellowship, Alex Ates, Director of PK-12 Visual and Performing Arts, created a podcast exploring the intersection of Quakerism and creativity. In this three-episode series, Ates interviews New Orleans Clarinetist Ben Schenck, New York City Printmaker and Graffiti Artist Todd Drake, and Westtown student poet Jamila Burgos ’27. This podcast is intended as a resource for faculty and staff, students, and the greater Friends community. Click here to listen!
Alums
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Alums Weekend – Thank you!
Alums Weekend 2024 is in the books! Thanks to all who came to campus to share in the fellowship in spite of the rain! Thanks also go to all the…Read More Read LessAlums Weekend 2024 is in the books! Thanks to all who came to campus to share in the fellowship in spite of the rain! Thanks also go to all the staff, faculty, and students whose hard work make these events special.
Stay tuned for an Alums Weekend recap in the next issue of the Westonian magazine. In the meantime, enjoy the galleries of photos here!
