Carolina Friends School

Big news! ☀️🎉 Our Summer Programs were voted INDY Week's Best Camp in Orange/Chatham County!

Huge summer camp secret handshake to our incredible staff, camp counselors, and campers who make summer at Carolina Friends so joyful, creative, and unforgettable. 💚

Open camp spots as of 5/26 include:

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝟭𝟱-𝟭𝟵
• Comic Design (9-16)
• Crafty Camp Nostalgia (6-9)
• Disney Villain Workshop (5-8)
• Eras Extravaganza: Everything Taylor Swift (8 -12)
• Kitchen Chemistry (12-16)
• Leadership Challenge (12-16)
• Picture Time: Through Your Lens (10-14)
• Sports Action (10-15)
• Sports Shorts (6-9)
• Stop Motion Animation Creation (12-16)
• World Travelers (6-9)

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝟮𝟮-𝟮𝟲
• Dance it Out (5-7)
• Forensic Science Detectives (14-18)
• Jazzy Jewelry (8-10)
• Let’s Make a Movie (12-18)
• Mythic Worlds (12-16)
• Play Builders Circus (6-9)
• Sports Shorts (6-9)
• Stage Combat (11-18)
• WhizBizKidz (8-12)

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝟮𝟵-𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟯
• Advanced Comic Design (9-16)
• Creative Coding (6-8)
• Embroidery Explorations (11-16)
• Jazzy Jewelry (6-9)
• LEGO Explorers (6-9)
• Nature Artists (5-7)
• Space Exploration (4-5)
• Water Wonders (4-5)

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟲-𝟭𝟬
• Comic Design (9-16)
• Cozy Camp Crew (9-14)
• Cozy Crochet (12-16)
• LEGO Explorers (6-9)
• Magic the Gathering, Math, and More (11-18)
• Music Magic: Songwriter’s Workshop (9-15)
• Nature Lab Jr. (6-9)
• Play Builders Superhero(6-9)
• Storybook Lovers (5-7)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (7-12)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (11-16)

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟭𝟯-𝟭𝟳
• Creative Coding (6-8)
• LEGO Explorers (6-9)
• Sports Shorts (6-9)
• Poetry Playground (7-11)
• Weave it Wild: OUT LOUD! (9-13)
• Comic Design (9-16)
• Anime, AI, and the Art of the Story (11-18)

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟰
• Adventure is Out There: Disney Heroes (5-7)
• Comic Design (9-16)
• Fiber Friends! (9-14)
• Improv 301: Harold (13-17)
• LEGO Explorers (6-9)
• Q***r Joy: Celebrating Ourselves and Our Communities (10-15)
• The Secret Life of Bees (12-18)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (7-12)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (11-16)

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟮𝟳-𝟯𝟭
• Advanced Comic Design (9-16)
• Body, Memory, Motion: Creating Dance from Life (10-14)
• Cozy Camp Crew (9-14)
• Fantastic Fermentation and Fungi (10-14)
• Game On! (9-11)
• Holiday Greetings from the CFS Kitchen (10-14)
• LEGO Explorers (6-9)
• Sports Action (10-15)
• Sports Shorts (6-9)
• Stitches and Stories: The Art of Bookbinding (12-18)
• Storybooks! (4-5)

𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝟯-𝟳
• Flavor Fundamentals (7-11)
• Life’s a Picnic (10-15)
• Move, Write, Film (10-14)
• Summer Slide-In (6-10)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (7-12)
• Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (11-16)

Since 2018, in partnership with CompostNow, we’ve diverted more than 41,013 lbs of organic matter from landfills, helping turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil while preventing over 3,808 lbs of methane emissions. 🌱

Throughout the year, our Campus Early School students compost their snacks and lunches and proudly drop them off at our campus collection site. It really is easy being green! ♻️ 

Bon voyage to our Upper School students and staff heading off on their End-of-Year Experiences! ✈️🌎

These teacher-led immersive trips and explorations turn the world into a classroom, taking students across our community, state, and beyond for hands-on learning, connection, and adventure.

Swipe to see this year’s experiences 👀 Which one would you choose?

A huge shout-out to a committed group of Middle Schoolers who attended the Moms Demand Action - NC Advocacy Day at the North Carolina Statehouse.

They stood alongside more than 100 attendees—students, survivors, supporters, and lawmakers—sending a unified message to elected officials: sustain the veto of SB 50. SB 50 is legislation that would allow 18-year-olds to carry concealed, loaded fi****ms in public spaces.

We're proud of these students for engaging thoughtfully and witnessing firsthand how collective advocacy can shape public dialogue and decision-making.

Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance to celebrate the educators who shape our community in lasting ways, like Linda Dixon, who will retire at the end of this school year after 30 years at Carolina Friends School.

Pictured here: Linda’s very first class photo 💚

Over three decades, Linda has touched countless lives through her work as Lower School Head Teacher, Mountain Class Teacher, and River/Sky Class Teacher. Her care, wisdom, and steady presence have shaped generations of students, colleagues, and families in our community.

Today, our Lower School students explored a rainbow of emotions during a special visit from author ! 🎨

Candace shared her new book, 𝘠𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯: 𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, where Yurie learns to navigate mixed emotions with help from his colorful pet chameleon.

After the read-aloud, students played with the book’s feelings wheel and acted out emotions in a lively game of "feelings charades." Social-emotional learning, straight from the source!

Big congratulations to our Upper School Theater Department! 🎭✨

Their recent production of High School Musical has earned multiple nominations for the DPAC Rising Star Awards!

⭐ Best Musical
⭐ Best Student Choreography: Teagan Mallen
⭐ Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble: Lian Petrella and Leigha Kernodle

Often called the “Super Bowl of High School Musical Theater,” this event celebrates the very best student performers from across the region, with finalists competing for a chance to advance to The Jimmy Awards in New York City. Hosted by Clay Aiken, it’ll be a night of talent, passion, and Broadway dreams.

Join us on May 17 at 6:30 PM as we cheer them on! Tickets at dpacnc.com/community/dpac-rising-star-awards. 🎶⭐

[📷 by Lissa Gotwals.]

Know a butterfly looking for a home? 🦋 Send them to Durham Early School!

Last year, our five- and six-year-olds wished for more butterflies on their playground...so they got to work!

Through research, visits to local pollinator gardens, and inspiration from Wangari Maathai, who reminds us that “little things citizens do… that’s what will make the difference,” the crew created their very own butterfly garden.

Fast forward a year, and our Durham Early School community is delighting in plenty of caterpillars and butterflies making themselves at home in the garden. 🌱

Earth Day was in full bloom at Carolina Friends 🌎🌼

Our Middle School students took the lead, designing and hosting hands-on Earth Day stations for Lower School students. Activities included recycle speed sorting, hand-making pollinator seed bombs, caring for our Lower School gardens, and more.

Lots of dirt, teamwork, and love for this beautiful campus!

Meet Parlow—a very special campus guest!

Our Middle School was treated to a morning announcements demo from this highly trained Eyes Ears Nose and Paws dog, showcasing more than 20 commands and skills.

Parlow also visited classes and joined students in conversations about accessibility, training, and service work. Thanks to alum Satsuki "Sunshine" Scoville '90 for sharing Parlow with us!

🏀 Get your head in the game and join our Upper School Theater Department to see 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 like you've never seen it before! 🎤

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀:
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟳 𝗣𝗠
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟳 𝗮𝘁 𝟮 𝗣𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟳 𝗣𝗠

Pre-show conversations begin 30 minutes before each performance, and concessions (including home-baked treats!) will be available before the show and during intermission.

Come ⭐bop to the top⭐ and see Troy, Gabriella, and the students of East High navigate first love, friendship, and belonging—this time, live on our stage.

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘮. 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴.