Every year, as part of the teacher Abby Lausch‘s English Language Arts class, seventh graders learn about writing and storytelling and then work with the Primary Circle students—their “book buddies”—to co-author and illustrate a book. At the end of the year, the book buddies had a “publish party,” where they read their final books together, had a cool treat, and shared recess time. See more photos here!
At the end of the school year, fourth graders invited family and fellow Lower Schoolers to present their Living Museum, part of a research project centered on the lives of historical abolitionists. The project is a culmination of their social studies curriculum, which focuses on the history of this continent from pre-European contact through the abolishment of slavery. In this final “living museum” project, students share the work, struggles, and successes of many notable abolitionists. Well done, fourth grade! You can see more photos here.
Our eighth graders participated in a beloved Westtown tradition—the last Middle School canoe trip! The Class of 2029 went on a three-day/two-night adventure on the Potomac River in western Maryland. This hallmark experience is marked not only by skill-building in nature and on the water, but also by community-building and growth. Students learn to push themselves and encourage each other, work as a team, as well as to canoe and practice “Leave no Trace.” As Middle School Principal Will Addis shared, “The canoe trips and the training that goes with them provide real-world applications for the skills and understandings we strive to teach our students while also providing lessons that reflect those skills. If you are ever around the students as they prepare for a trip, you will see how evident this is. Phrases like ‘We can do hard things and ‘There are no passengers, only crew’ are uttered frequently. This is true on the river but applies to the classroom, playing field, Dining Room, and so on.” Our thanks to Chris Henwood-Costa, Director of Outdoor Education, and all the Middle School faculty who support these important trips each year! Photos of this year’s adventure are here!
We are fortunte to have robust Artists-in-Residence programs in all divisions here at Westtown. This year, three artsists worked with students to share their talents and create special works with students.
The Lower School welcomed Margaux McAllister as our 2025 Candace Freeman Artist-in-Residence. The Lower School Artist-in-Residence program is coordinated by Lower School art teachers, Kelly Nicholson and Jane Chesson. Margaux is a multi-disciplinary artist whose recent work has featured various fiber techniques to explore the theme of identity. Throughout the residency, Margaux worked alongside PK – 5th grade students during their art classes to teach the process of rug tufting using punch needles. Students learned about working collaboratively while practicing new fiber-based skills. They will be able to continue building upon this work as we integrate these new techniques into our Lower School Art Studios after the residency concludes. Margaux took the students’ work back to her Phoenixville studio to assemble a collaborative fiber work, and it was installed in the Lower School this spring. You can see the final piece in the Gathering Room.
The Candace Freeman Artist-in-Residence Program began over thirty years ago and focuses on bringing professional artists to Westtown Lower School to share their artistic process and inspiration with our students. The opportunity for young artists to work alongside a professional artist is a valuable and an important piece of our arts curriculum. You can see many of the Artist-in-Residence projects from years past throughout the Lower School hallways.
This spring Middle School and art teachers Cindy Hodgson and Marta Willgoose Salo welcomed Stephane Rowley, Philadelphia-based mixed media artist, as the visiting artist. Stephane collaborated with students using weaving, quilting, embroidering, sewing by machine and hand, knitting, and more to create a fiber piece which will be installed in the CLA. Students explored textile traditions, especially pertaining to reuse and repair such as Kantha, Sashiko, and piecework quilting to create an installation to minimise and upcycle textile waste. See her work with students here!
The Upper School was thrilled to have Westtown alum Sarah Bourne Rafferty ’00 as the McLear Artist in Residence this year. Sarah worked with students to create cyanotype prints and together they created the beautiful work that hangs in the CLA Jehan ’94 and Jeannie Chu Gallery, pictured below.
Sarah’s work ranges from photographs to books to prints with a particular love for alternative process/non-silver photography. She is engaged in a line of inquiry that stretches beyond a particular medium. Sarah is mesmerized by the interweaving of thoughts into words. She is consistently inspired by the natural world, be it her small back yard or adventures on mountain tops far away. Parts of the natural world often appear intertwined with words or lines of text as she tries to dissect what is happening with the changing of the seasons and how they can relate to communication.
She is the founder of Atwater Designs, a cyanotype design studio that produces original cyanotypes, fine art prints and paper goods. Her more experimental and personal work is what appears here in her portfolio. She is also a teacher of photography to high school students and finds working with students to be integral in her process. Sarah’s work has been shown both nationally and internationally. She currently lives, makes, and teaches in Southeastern PA.
A signature experience for many students at Westtown are the school-sponsored trips which provide a variety of opportunities to learn and broaden their experience beyond the classroom. This year’s spring break trips offered cultural and language immersion, biodiveristy exploration, service, and political activism. Groups went to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Washington, DC.
Puerto Rico
Spanish teacher and Puerto Rico trip leader Mercedes Ureña Durán shares, “I had the opportunity to travel Puerto Rico with 18 amazing students and two wonderful colleagues: Fernando Gomes and Franco Yannielli. Throughout the trip we enjoyed the richness the island has to offer through its music, customs, biodiversity, and vibrant culture which allowed for an unforgettable experience.
“Our trip was a mix of fun adventures, immersive learning and service experiences, sprinkled with opportunities to relax and soak in the island’s beauty. We started the trip in Old San Juan and learned about the history of the island and visited some important landmarks like El Morro. We then traveled and hiked deep in the tropical rainforest of El Yunque. It was a challenging uphill hike, nonetheless it was wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with nature in such a majestic setting surrounded by a lush forest of a variety of trees, including the native Yagrumo. The students were then rewarded with the chance to cool off by skidding down a natural rock slide into the refreshing waters that run through the forest.
“Visiting a local sustainable forest project called Casa de la Selva was a highlight of the trip for many students. Being deep in the forest and surrounded by nature allowed them to disconnect from technology and engage with each other. They supported the project by clearing the trail by cutting brush and fallen bamboo. It was tough work, but rewarding. Some students dug ditches that helped re-establish drainage to help proper water flow while others built steps along the trail which help to create easy access to the forest. After a day’s work, students got to be in community with each in a more connected way. One student brought yarn and taught other students how to make intricate braided bracelets, which became a favored unwinding activity after a day of work. As the sun set in the evenings we were delighted by the croaking of the endemic Coqui frogs which, although they are pretty small and sometimes hard to see, in unison they can make a cheerful and impactful sound.
“We traveled to Loiza to visit Samuel Lind, a local artist that celebrates Afro-Puerto Rican history and his passion for nature through his art and sculptures. Dancing was also an important part of the trip, as the students learned about Bomba and Salsa. We visited historic cities such as San Juan and Ponce and learned about the history of the Puerto Rican people. A favorite and unforgettable experience for many students was to experience the magic of nature at the Bioluminescent bay at La Parguera.
“Throughout the trip, Spanish immersion was our goal and it was wonderful to see the students practice their language skills outside of the classroom in authentic settings. To keep sharpening their writing skills students were encouraged to journal in Spanish throughout the trip as a way of encapsulating their daily experiences.”
Costa Rica
Science Department Chair and Environmental Science teacher Ryan Black led the trip to Costa Rica along with Megan Williams and describes it here:
“Students had a rewarding experience in Costa Rica during our biodiversity exploration! We spent the majority of the trip in Caño Negro, a remote wetland area and crucial migratory stopover for many bird species. The students did a fantastic job on several service projects, which included trail maintenance behind the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto SINAC facility, camping platform sanding and staining, turning soil and building a greenhouse structure for a community garden, and conducting trash cleanup and recycling along local roadways.
“Several students made the most of our time there by waking up at 4:30 a.m. to observe birds, howler monkeys, and other wildlife at dawn. Highlights in Caño Negro included a biodiversity boat tour down the Río Frío, as well as a biodiversity talk and walk with local experts.
“After five days of hard work and manual labor, we traveled to Arenal Volcano, where we encountered sloths, coatis, and eyelash vipers during a unique hike to a scenic lookout point. There, students learned from our guide about the history and ecology of this impressive active volcano.
“We then visited the cloud forest in Monteverde, where students got a reprieve from the heat and were able to immerse themselves in a completely different ecosystem. Among the highlights was a thrilling night hike, where we spotted scorpions glowing under UV light, camouflaged glass frogs, hidden walking sticks, industrious leaf cutter ants, elusive kinkajous, stingless “blue cheese” bees, and a variety of other exotic wildlife. Students also zip-lined over the rainforest, bravely conquering the longest zip-line in Latin America, and explored the farming and processing of sugar cane, cacao, and coffee at the Don Juan Plantation. Many of the amazing species we encountered can be viewed on our iNaturalist project.“
Washington, DC
Teachers Lara Freeman and Jake Norton took a small group of students to Washington, DC, for the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL) Spring Lobby Conference. FCNL is a”national, nonpartisan Quaker organization that lobbies Congress and the administration to advance peace, justice, and environmental stewardship.” The Spring Lobby Conference welcomes about 300 students from across the country to learn about active legislation, engage in trainings about lobbying, and meet with their representatives in Congress. This year’s conference focused on the threat to healthcare and food assistance. After their training sessions, students met with their representatives to lobby them to protect healthcare and food programs. Freeman shares, “We had a great trip and the students were fabulous advocates for protecting Medicaid and SNAP benefits as Congress works on its reconciliation budget.”
We recently had the honor of welcoming Dr. Victor Garcia ’03 to campus. Dr. Garcia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at New York Medical College, where his groundbreaking research led to the discovery of a receptor (GPR75) involved in regulating obesity, diabetes, and cancer. He holds a patent and has contributed to the development of several drugs targeting these diseases. He is also deeply passionate about mentoring and empowering young scientists. Dr. Garcia visited classes, met with students, and spoke at the Upper School Assembly where he talked about his professional journey, his work, and his time at Westtown. Students were excited to engage with Dr. Garcia both in and out of the classroom.
The World Languages Department, chaired by Bei Zhang, created a series of activities and events to promote language learning and immersion during the fourth-annual World Languages Week celebration at Westtown. The Upper School student body was divided into language teams—Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish—to compete throughout the week. Activities included special assemblies with guest speakers who demonstrate how they use languages in their work, student peformances of songs in their language, themed dinners representing culture and languages each night, and, finally, concluded with the the Language Olympics.
The first assembly featured polyglot YouTuber Arieh Smith—known as @xiaomanyc online—who gave his entire presentation in “Gen Alpha,” much to the delight/chagrin of the primarily Gen Alpha audience!
At the second assembly, the keynote speaker was Meg Smithson, Senior Social Worker at New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), where she works with detained and non-detained people in removal proceedings. She spoke about how language learning has impacted her life and how being able to speak Spanish is crucial in her profession, not only in her one-on-one work with people, but also as she serves as an interpreter in highly sensitive client-attorney meetings. After the moderated talk with Zhang, there was a Q&A for students to learn more.
The Language Olympics—a series of field-day-type events—is always a highlight of the week and capped off the week’s activities. You can enjoy photos here!
Though World Languages Week was planned by language teachers, it was an all-hands-on-deck undertaking, as all Upper School faculty participated in facilitating events. This week-long celebration was also a unique way to assess language acquisition in real time. Zhang says, “Some of our goals included 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.”
The fully renovated and expanded Center for the Living Arts (CLA) opened to rave reviews!
At a formal celebration in April, nearly 150 guests—including faculty, staff, trustees, alums, donors, and friends of the school—gathered to experience the reimagined space that now serves as a hub of energy and creativity in the heart of Westtown’s campus.
Dedicated to expression and spiritual reflection through the arts, the center’s restoration was completed in three phases, with work beginning in the summer of 2019. The CLA now features bright and airy visual arts studios, a digital media lab for music and photography production, revitalized performance and rehearsal spaces, an acoustically remediated theater with student-safe catwalks, accessibility upgrades throughout the building including renovated bathrooms and an elevator, as well as beautifully restored outdoor spaces that connect the building to the student experience on the top of campus.
The reception was held in the visual arts space anchored by the Hildreth-Dietrich Visual Arts Wing—honoring a gift from Westtown alum and trustee, William Hildreth ’81 and his family—that includes a critique and exhibit gallery for students as well as numerous visual arts classrooms, and the Chu Gallery, a two-story, permanent exhibition space named in honor of generous support from Westtown Alum and Trustee, Jehan Chu ‘94 and his wife, Jeannie. Both galleries are flooded with natural light and have beautiful views of the South Woods and Main Hall.
“When I was a student at Westtown, this building felt like home in so many ways. I spent countless hours in the Barton-Test Theatre, the rehearsal rooms, and the art studios,” said Hildreth. “When I learned that Westtown planned to renovate the Center for the Living Arts, I knew I wanted our family’s foundation to support the creation of an inspiring space for reflection, imagination, and expression. It has been a great joy to see the renewed space and be confident that it will feel like home to future generations of Westonians.”
During the reception, guests delighted in the inaugural installation of works which includes some of Westtown’s permanent art collection, student pieces, alum creations, and art procured from visiting artists through the McLear Artist in Residence program. Tours were offered so that new features beyond the gallery could also be explored, such as new private dressing rooms off the theater, an outdoor patio for community gatherings and classes, music pods for private instrument practice, and new faculty offices and student meeting spaces.
The building’s modifications are in keeping with the schools sustainability goals and included new heating and cooling, replacement of all windows and doors, installation of an automated building management system to maximize energy efficiencies, and sections of new roof which make the building LEED silver equivalent.
“Westtown was a turning point in both my sister, Shamsi’s, and my life. It had a profound impact on my spiritual, artistic, and leadership development under guides like Jay Farrow, Caroline Loose, Ellen Jensen (Abbott), and many others. It is a privilege to be able to contribute a small gift back to the Westtown community on behalf of the Chu family and the incredible class of ’94,” Jehan Chu ’94 shared.
The Center for the Living Arts officially opened its doors to students this past fall. This exciting space serves as a vibrant invitation to reflect, create, and to seek out and honor the light of God in one’s self and others, and will further support the journey of self discovery and growth that is at the core of a Westtown education.
Enjoy the gallery of photos from the grand opening here!
Join us in congratulating the eleven seniors who signed their NLIs! They signed their letters surrounded by friends and family in a celebration on Coach Downey Court. These student-athletes will go on to play in their respective sports at the following colleges and universities:
Jason Beaman – Lemoyne College – lacrosse
Jayden Forsythe – Xavier University – basketball
Kennedy Hall – Boston College – basketball
Kennedy Henry – Villanova University – basketball
Olivia Jones – Harvard University – basketball
Jayden Kelsey – Binghamton University – basketball
Aidan Langley – Towson University – basketball
Jahmare Memphis – LaSalle – basketball
Ewen Patrick – Limestone University – lacrosse
Carlos Salazar – Kenyon College – soccer
Cam Wallace – Temple Univeristy – basketball
Enjoy the gallery of photos of the signing here! Go ‘TOWN!
The winter concerts are opportunities to showcase our students’ wonderful voice and instrumental talents! In case you missed them, you can enjoy photos of the Middle School Concert here and the Upper School Concert here.
