W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
January 17, 2018
In this Issue


Upcoming Events


January 20
10 a.m.
Tell a friend!


January 24
5-6 p.m.
Great Room


January 25
Dads' Day
Drop-off - 10:30 a.m.

WMS Birthday Celebration
10 a.m.
Gym


January 29-February 1
Toddler conferences
(all classes still in session)


February 1
Talent Show
9:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Gym


February 2 & 5
Primary/Elementary conferences
No classes for Primary/Elementary only -  pre-registered child care available


February 8
February 16

Why Choose WMS?
Message from
Head of School Lisa Lalama
 
Read the Montessori Message blog for more from Lisa.
Last week, you should have received an email from Admissions Director Tiffany Harrison that includes your re-enrollment materials for the 2018-19 school year. Yes, we are already looking ahead to next fall. Though we are barely halfway through this school year, we need to begin planning our programs, staffing and budget for the coming year, and knowing what our enrollment will be is an important part of this process. Each year, we know that you have a number of choices about where to send your children to school. You have selected WMS, which is the best possible choice. Through parent and alumni surveys, what we hear over and over again is that WMS does a wonderful job getting to know each of our students - as well as their families - and preparing children for their future.

Why choose WMS? The teachers. So many of you speak to this as the most important reason to attend WMS. Our teachers are experts in Montessori education; in addition to their college degrees, they have completed in-depth training that certifies them as Montessori teachers. They not only understand the Montessori curriculum - they are also continually learning about current best practices in the subjects they teach. They ensure academic rigor whether working with toddlers or upper elementary students. They work at WMS because they care deeply about learning and helping children be their best. Our teachers get to know each and every one of their students and figure out how to best support them in their learning. They're number one!

Why choose WMS? The mission and core values . We are a community of learners. We value the diversity of thought that exists with each of us, child and adult. We ask questions, continually refining our understanding of the world. Each day, we work with others to reach our goals or help them reach theirs. We are a team, inside and outside of the classroom. WMS strives to serve the world beyond our walls. We participate in community service activities, such as making food for a homeless shelter, singing at Ivy Gables or supporting the Food Bank of Delaware. Our oldest students learn about the broader world in which we live, finding ways to share their understanding of those who do not have their basic needs met and raising money to provide safe drinking water or eye care for those in need. We live our mission. We value each other, our neighbors and our world; our actions support this value.

Why choose WMS? We are an authentic Montessori school. We share Dr. Montessori's lessons of the greater world with our students, helping them recognize all that came before them that allows them to live the wonderful lives they have today. We help children develop an appreciation of the greater world. We provide a social curriculum that supports and guides the social/emotional development of children, no matter their ages. We share examples of peace and caring for our world, from the peace tables in the classrooms to celebrating the U.N. International Day of Peace in the Peace Park at the front of the school. As Dr. Montessori said, "Establishing lasting peace is the work of education."

Why choose WMS? For all of the reasons above and so many more. When you enter the building, you can feel the WMS difference. Our strong community has been built over 50+ years of learning, growing and creating a place where children have the opportunity to continually build and expand their understanding of the world. We have all chosen WMS, making it the best choice for children.



 
News & Notes News
Next Week is Dad's Day! 

When: January 25, drop-off to approximately 10:30 a.m.
Where: Learning Commons, Classrooms and Gym

WMS dads and special friends: please join us next Thursday, January 25, for Dads' Day. Every year students look forward to hosting their dads in their classrooms and dads enjoy the opportunity to participate in class activities and lessons. 

Dads are welcome to join students in their classrooms from the start of the school day until 10 a.m. Following the classroom visits, dads are invited to join the whole school in the gym to celebrate WMS's birthday. Refreshments will follow. 

If you are interested in helping with Dads' Day, please sign up on one the co-op boards, stop by Lori Oberly's office or email  [email protected] .  
Ice Mound/Water Leak Update

Unfortunately the leak responsible for the ice mound/slush pool at the WMS entrance has yet to be addressed. We are in touch with Suez Water daily, but due to other more pressing jobs, our leak remains at the bottom of Suez's repair list. Please continue to proceed with caution as you enter the WMS parking lot. We will provide regular updates about the status of the leak until the matter is resolved. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Tomorrow's Leaders Learners
Alumni Gather at WMS for Fun, Food and an Amazing Race
 
Last month, WMS was excited to welcome more than 30 alumni back for the Alumni Social & Amazing Race. Various WMS alumni from the classes of 2005 through 2017 - many home from college for the holiday break - came out for a rousing evening of fun and games. 

After a brief time spent catching up over popcorn, the group was divided into five teams to set off on an Amazing Race-style challenge around the school. A set of clues led each team around to seven stations, where they tackled tasks like building a hula-hoop pyramid, singing the WMS school song on the Toddler playground and decoding a 10-letter word using the movable alphabet in the 9-12 classroom. Team Black - the first team to complete all the tasks - claimed victory. 

Following the race, the alumni gathered in the Great Room for dinner and reminisced over footage of past WMS concerts and musicals on the big screen. The evening was capped with a trivia contest, which tested alums' knowledge of fun WMS facts like past and present class pet rabbits' names (Hazelnut and Marshmallow), Lisa Lalama's hometown (Pittsburgh) and the WMS mascot's name (Monty).

Special thanks to the alumni committee, co-op volunteers, and the Campbell and Wolynetz families for their support and donations. 

Check out our Alumni Social & Amazing Race video below and view additional photos from the event on the WMS Facebook page.

Amazing Race & Alumni Social

The Wednesday Weekly shares WMS news and events that are relevant to the families in our community.  

Please send submissions to [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior  to the issue in which you wish to include your information. Content may be edited for length and style and may be held for a future issue due to space constraints.  

For more information, contact Noel Dietrich, Director of Advancement & Communications.
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