West End Day School

Be You, Be Proud. 🌈

That’s the theme of WEDS Pride 2026, which we kicked off this week with our annual Pride Celebration. It was a true party, complete with music, bracelet- and keychain-making, unicorn horn popsicles, rainbow tattoos, and more. A special shoutout to our Middle School students, who helped plan and run many of the activities for their younger peers.

Together, students also added their handprints to a collaborative Pride mural—a colorful reflection of the many individuals who make up our WEDS community.

Most importantly, the day celebrated something we value all year long: being yourself, supporting one another, and taking pride in who you are.

💜❤️🧡💛💚💙

With our production of The Addams Family Musical coming up on June 12, it was especially exciting to welcome Broadway actor Becca Ayers to WEDS!

Becca, who performed in The Addams Family on Broadway, shared stories from her career, offered insights into theater and performance, and answered students’ thoughtful questions. Our cast and crew left feeling inspired as they continue to rehearse and prepare for the big show.

A huge thank you to Becca for spending time with our students and helping bring a little Broadway magic to WEDS. 🖤🎭

The bucket was filled (with extra cold water, natch). The crowd went wild.

Our Big Bucket Dump winner chose Ms. Thams as this year’s victim, and she came prepared—with a pink floatie, goggles, and an excellent attitude. 😎💦

The whole school counted down, cheered her on, and celebrated a splashy start to the weekend! Don’t miss the video!

Field Day really is the best day. ☀️💙

Students, parents, siblings, and staff all headed outside for a day of fun, teamwork, and friendly competition. The highlight? Our epic annual Tug of War showdown: students vs. grown-ups. It went to best-of-three . . . and the students claimed the championship title.

We wrapped up the day back on the WEDS rooftop with a well-earned picnic lunch thanks to the amazing WEDS PA.

See you next year . . . and grown-ups, maybe start training now. 💪

Row, row, row your boat…as a team 🚣

Students spent the day at Rocking the Boat in the Bronx learning about environmental science, boat carpentry, and teamwork through an on-the-water adventure.

They rowed down the Bronx River, collected and studied plankton samples—excellent indicators of aquatic health—and discovered very quickly that rowing in sync requires a lot of communication.

Luckily, they figured it out before drifting into the East River!

Rosie turned 2! 🐾

There was a birthday hat, lots of attention, and approximately 412 “good girls.” We love you, Rosie. 💜

There’s no one else like Mr. Kinsey. 💙💚

We were beyond thrilled to honor Greg Kinsey, our Technology Specialist, at our Spring Benefit last week for his decade of dedication, creativity, and innovation at WEDS.

Students spoke about how much fun they have in his classes and afterschool programs, how clearly he explains even the trickiest concepts, and how deeply seen and understood they feel by him. Staff members gushed about his incredible breadth of knowledge, his willingness to jump in and help however he can, and his many hidden talents (he sings! plays the trombone! performs improv!).

But when it was Greg’s turn to speak, he used the moment to praise his fellow coworkers, the families at WEDS, and most of all, the students—all of whom, he said, “changed his life.” By the end of his speech, the room was on its feet in a standing ovation.

Whether he’s playing chess with students during lunch, 3D-printing fidgets, building MP3 players with a class, or walking the halls in one of his legendary Halloween or Spirit Week costumes, it’s safe to say Mr. Kinsey is changing lives himself.

Our 2026 Spring Benefit, WEDS in Full Bloom, was such a gorgeous night. 🌸

The rain held off in time for guests to enjoy outdoor cocktail carts, the veranda bar, and a stunning transformation of our school by Alice of Acquolina Catering, whose creativity and generosity brought so much magic to the evening for the second year in a row.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Benefit Chair, Ava, who curated our most exciting auction yet, and to every parent, friend, and community supporter who bid, pledged, celebrated, and showed up in such a meaningful way for WEDS.

Every paddle raised, every ticket purchased, and every auction bid placed helps us continue building a school where students feel understood, supported, and confident. We are so grateful!

Our Benefit honoree Greg Kinsey deserves his own post, so look for that next! 🩵

No screens. No schedule. No instructions. Just play. 🤸‍♂️

Last week, our middle school student leaders organized a free afterschool Play Club inspired by the Let Grow movement—an all-ages, screen-free, unstructured hangout designed to help kids build independence, confidence, creativity, and real-world problem-solving skills.

At first, the group was unsure what to do or how to play. But before long, students were inventing games, making rules, solving disagreements, including one another, and finding their own rhythm together.

Kids don’t always need adults directing the fun—they just need the space to create it. 💚

Our Silent Auction is live—and honestly, these might be the best items we’ve ever had. ✨

Browse over 50 exclusive experiences, including:

—Broadway house seats
—Luxury getaways
—NYC staycations
—Kid-favorite camps, programs, and gadgets
—Collectible wines
—Designer handbags
—Tickets to show tapings, sports games, the opera, and more!

Every bid helps support the compassionate, deeply supportive work we do every day at WEDS. If you see something a friend, grandparent, neighbor, or colleague would love, share the auction far and wide—community support helps our students thrive.

Browse, bid, and support the magic of WEDS at
wedsnyc.givesmart.com 🌸

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