Parents Joe Amprey III and Daphne Dufresne explain what inspires their Annual Fund giving.

Joseph “IV” Amprey IV and his twin sister, Desi, visited new worlds during the summer leading into 6th grade—their first year at Sidwell Friends. They encountered diverse characters throughout the pages of the books on the School’s summer reading list: Cuban families, aspiring track stars, interracial friends navigating school segregation in the 1970s, refugees from around the globe, and The Notorious RBG.

As Desi and IV dove into each new book, their parents, Joe Amprey III and Daphne Dufresne, were wowed by the breadth of content on the list. Despite their familiarity with Quaker philosophies—Daphne, through her own education—Joe explains that “it was profound to see social issues so directly confronted in these books. They led to great discussions within our family before school even began.” Even Beau, their youngest child and a student at Feynman School, participated by reading the prescribed list for Sidwell Friends’ 3rd graders.

In many ways, the summer reading experience was the Amprey-Dufresne family’s introduction to Sidwell Friends, in the lull between admission and the start of the school year. As the diversity of protagonists and settings evoked thoughtful conversations within the family, Daphne realized that "We were in for the journey we had hoped for, because school hadn’t even started, and we were already seeing the benefits.” From Armstrong and Charlie, Desi discerned that prejudice can impede wonderful friendships, while IV learned lessons of perseverance from The Last Day on Mars.

Desi and IV continue to demonstrate great social awareness, as the 6th grade curriculum weaves contemporary events and issues into daily discussions. “The open dialogues are refreshing because they help parents to deal with tough topics,” says Daphne. She looks forward to more events like the Oxfam Hunger Banquet, where the twins experienced and internalized how class inequities impact communities. She also loves that Sidwell Friends offers lunchtime affinity group gatherings.

And when Joe received a picture of Desi carrying signs urging people to vote on Election Day, he was floored. “There they were in the rain, holding their signs with such enthusiasm. They won’t be able to vote for another six years, but they were able to get involved.”

“We feel like the School is nurturing their whole beings, helping them to be well-rounded, critical thinkers who are aware of the environment and people around them,” adds Daphne, which is why she and Joe decided to make a leadership gift to the Annual Fund this year. The sense of belonging they’ve felt through the Jumpstart orientation and Parents of Black Students Committee inspired them to step forward with their own contribution.

“We were embraced even before the school year started, and we feel like we are in a welcoming environment focused on the things we value.”