On a lovely and sunny June 6, the Class of 2026 processed into the Greenwood for the last time as seniors. After powerful speeches by our students essayists and the valedictorian, they received their diplomas from Head of School Chris Benbow. We wish our newest graduates all the best as they embark upon their next adventures, and go out into the world to create lives of meaning and purpose.
You can learn more about the Class of 2026 by visitingthis page on our websitewhere there are photo galleries from Commencement, videos of the student speakers, and College Shirt Day photos. You can enjoy the video of the entire ceremony below. Congratulations, Class of 2026!
From April 12 -23 Head of School Chris Benbow, Dean of Enrollment Jenni Biehn, and Dean of Advancement Ellen Urbanski traveled to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taipei. The group shares that it was a joy to visit with more than 70 Westonians and prospective families at receptions and meetings throughout the region. Alums from the classes of 1966 – 2021, current families, parents of alums, and prospective families joined them along their journey.
The group was met with tremendous hospitality, curiosity about Westtown, and thoughtful support for our work to inspire and prepare students to discover their unique gifts and lead in our complex world. The team looks forward to their next visit, to continuing their conversations, and to making this a recurring trip for Westtown. Our deep gratitude to all of the families who hosted Westtown’s team and made their visit so special!
Stay tuned to the next issue of The Westonian for more about this important trip.
The Green Restaurant Association has named Westtown School’s Dining Room the Greenest K-12 School Cafeteria in the country! Our on-site composting program, sustainable waste management practices, locally (and hyper-locally, from our minifarm and greenhouse) sourced foods, and vegan and vegetarian meal options were all factors in this designation. Westtown’s Dining Room was awarded a Four Start Green Restaurant designation in 2024, and this latest award is a testament to ongoing improvements in our program.
We are very proud and thanks go to Dining Services Director Beth Pellegrino and the amazing Dining Services team, as well as Director of Sustainability Francine Locke and the Sustainability Committee who work diligently to foster sustainable practices across our community!
In celebration of the Greenwood’s 100th anniversary and to ensure the safety of our community, repairs have been made on the stone steps in the center aisle. The Facilities team laid new sod at the top of the Greenwood as well, just in time for graduation.
This lovely work was made possible by the generous support of the Classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as the Upper School Parents’ Council. Originally a gift from the Alumni Association, the Greenwood is an iconic location on campus that has provided beautiful and lush surroundings for Shakespeare plays, assemblies, Meetings for Worship, and Commencements. Our immense thanks for the generosity of these community members!
Westtown School and Germantown Friends School (GFS) sent a delegation to the United Nations COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil. At the thirtieth annual COP (Conference of the Parties) summit, delegates from 194 countries across the globe gathered to address the climate crisis collaboratively. At these conferences, they set goals, share their country’s progress, negotiate action plans, and formulate legal agreements.
Representing Westtown were Sarah Lan ’27, Chris Wills, Associate Head of School for Program and Community, and Francine Locke, Director of Sustainability at Westtown School and GFS. They traveled with Justin J. Harris, Executive Director of the Climate Equity Collaborative Collaborative (CEC), a climate-action and education organization that focuses on youth and underserved communities. The CEC developed an immersive program for the delegates that included education and discussion sessions, rainforest tours, meetings with leaders in Indigenous communities, and volunteer opportunities—all in addition to attending COP30 sessions.
Students had the opportunity to concentrate on specific topics. Sarah—in addition to two GFS students—focused on blue carbon ecosystems, ocean restoration, and renewable energy. She was particularly interested in one of the presenters, from the State University of Amazonas, who developed a technological tool that focused on monitoring the water quality of the Amazon rivers.
The delegation also met with Keith Runyan, General Secretary, Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW). Over a dinner together, Keith shared his thoughts on the interconnectedness between Quakerism and climate action, and the group engaged in a robust conversation together. “We made deliberate connections with Quaker organizations this year, like the QEW and the Quaker United Nations Office [QUNO],” says Wills. “To explore these really big ideas with frameworks that are simple and that our students already know and understand because we live those out here on campus every day was very valuable.”
The conference availed the students of important proximity to the mechanisms of action and allowed them a close-up look at how change can be made and at what’s both effective and ineffective in bringing about change. “In a time of shifting climate policy, the perspective of the next generation is a critical force for change,” says Locke. “COP30 provided our students with an unparalleled laboratory for climate action. By bridging the gap between the classroom and global diplomacy, we are preparing our students to serve as the advocates and stewards our planet urgently needs.”
Wills adds that students witnessed, “the interconnectedness of all of these larger systems that come together to work against climate change. Students were able to see how the levers of capitalism are functioning on a global scale and understand the ways that change can happen at a grassroots level, a policy level, and then at a global initiative level. So being able to separate those things to see where one can have an impact in different kinds of contexts was pretty incredible for our students.”
The official grand opening of the Oak Lane Athletic Complex took place during our Friday Night Lights celebration in October. The varsity field hockey and boys varsity soccer teams took on George School, both issuing defeat to our rivals! Before these exciting games, there was an opening ceremony to honor some of our donors and recognize the Holloway family. Stay tuned to the next issue of The Westonian for more about the turf fields project and our generous donors! Enjoy the gallery here.
Knowledge, Illuminated: Pre-K–12 Curriculum Standards Following a multi-year review inspired by our 2022 reaccreditation, Westtown has developed research-based curriculum standards across every grade and subject. These standards ensure that skills and concepts build intentionally from year to year, that learning connects across disciplines, and that teaching is responsive to each student’s growth. Most importantly, they embed Quaker values of integrity, equality, community, and social responsibility throughout a child’s journey at Westtown. These standards embody our mission to inspire and prepare graduates to be thoughtful leaders and stewards of a better world.
Westtown has launched a comprehensive Five-Year Sustainability Plan that charts an ambitious course toward whole-school sustainability. The plan focuses on three interconnected areas: Operations and Infrastructure (carbon neutrality, zero waste, and renewable energy), Education and Health (curriculum integration, student advocacy, and the link between well-being and the environment), and Environment and Climate (stewardship of our 600-acre campus and climate resilience). From our 2.1 MW solar array to our Four-Star Green Restaurant certification, sustainability is woven into daily life at Westtown.
We invite you to read this plan as it reflects our commitment to living our Quaker values through measurable action.
As is our tradition, we kicked off the new school year with our Opening-of-School assembly. On a beautiful September afternoon, we gathered in the Greenwood. There was a special entrance by the seniors, a message from Head of School Chris Benbow, a recognition of the years of service of faculty and staff, the roll call of the classes, a cheer led by the Student Body Presidents, and the Community Choir sang Lean on Me. It was a fantastic start to the new year! Check out the gallery of photos here!
On a joyful (but soggy!) June 7, the Class of 2025 processed into the Greenwood to receive their diplomas. This class joins a vibrant alum community that spans the years and the globe. We wish them well as they set off upon their next endeavors!
