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W E D N E S D A Y W E E K L Y
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In this Issue
Upcoming Events
March 31
March 26-29
Spring Break
March 30
Building Closed
No child care available
April 2
April 5
Toddler Sing-Along
April 9-13
ERB Testing
(3rd-6th grade)
April 14
Tickets now on sale!
April 18
9:30 a.m. & 5 p.m.
Tell a friend!
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Celebrate Spirit Week
Message from
Head of School Lisa Lalama
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for more from Lisa.
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Each year at this time, WMS sixth-graders sponsor Spirit Week, a week that allows us to be a bit silly and also benefits a cause they are passionate about. This year, they chose Gotta Have Sole, a nonprofit they learned about while attending GCAP (Global Citizenship Action Project) in New York City last fall. The GCAP conference provides a great opportunity for students from around the world to learn more about people's needs and how various organizations are working to address them.
While the larger group of Montessori students attending GCAP also voted to support Gotta Have Sole, it is a fitting choice for WMS, since our school has been gathering used footwear for several years to recycle or donate for people in need. Next week, when your children ask to dress as superheroes or twins, create the craziest hair in town or wear WMS spirit wear, remember that you are supporting a service project our sixth-graders and many other Montessori students have chosen in an effort to help others in need. Thank you for celebrating our great school and supporting Gotta Have Sole!
 More About Spirit Week:
Did you know it only takes $15 to buy a new pair of shoes? The sixth-grade class will place containers in the lobby and outside each classroom to collect donations ($5 is the suggested amount) to support Gotta Have Sole throughout Spirit Week.
This year's Spirit Week theme days include:
- Monday, March 19: Sports and Superhero Day
- Tuesday, March 20: PJ and Stuffed Animal Day
- Wednesday, March 21: Crazy Hair & Mismatch/Clash Day
- Thursday, March 22: Twin Day
- Friday, March 23: Spirit Day
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News & Notes
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Only Two Weeks Left to Get the Camp Discount: Register Today!
March is almost halfway done: don't miss out on your chance to save this summer at Camp Montesssori. Register for five or more weeks of camp
by March 31 and receive a 10% early registration discount.
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Last Call for Science Explorers: Marine Biology Mania
There is still space in the upcoming after-school special
Marine Biology Mania,
now due to start March 21.
Students who participate in this class
will:
- Explore life under the sea.
- Come face-to-face with a real fish.
- Practice the Japanese art of gyotaku (fish printing).
- Conduct a whale blubber lab.
- Test ocean water density and salinity.
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Rocky's Reading Challenge Bookmarks to be Distributed This Week
This week, WMS students will receive bookmarks to participate in Rocky's Reading Challenge - a program designed to show kids that reading can be fun. Students are encouraged to read 10 books between now and April 3. If they complete the challenge, they will receive two free tickets to a Wilmington Blue Rocks game. (The game date has yet to be determined.)
Participation in Rocky's Reading Challenge is voluntary.
You may read books to your child, or your child may read to you. Complete the required information on the bookmark and return it to your student's teachers by Tuesday, April 3. WMS will collect all of the bookmarks and send the ticket request to the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
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Parent Education: The Power of Play and Its Role in Development*
When:
Monday, March 19, 7 p.m.
Where:
WMS Learning Commons
Join Beverly H. Kraut, a speech therapist certified in children's speech disorders, for an engaging presentation about how play supports children's social interactions and language development. She'll discuss how language, cognitive and social-emotional learning skills are rooted in a child's early play, and how observing and supporting growth through play extends a child's thinking, talking and communicating. Beverly will also offer suggestions for activities and strategies to develop young children's play and language skills.
*Parents who attend this workshop are eligible for co-op hours.
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Q&A With Student Head of School for the Day Tomasz Saarloos
On Tuesday, March 13, fifth-grader Tomasz Saarloos took over Lisa Lalama's duties for the day as WMS Head of School. We sat down with Tomasz to get his reflections on the day.
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Tomasz hard at work in his office.
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Wednesday Weekly: How were you selected for the job of student head of school?
Tomasz Saarloos: My parents won it at the auction last year.
WW: What was the most fun part of the day?
TS: Seeing the kids in the 6-9 classrooms. I haven't been down there for a long time. It definitely brought back memories.
WW: What was the most challenging part of the day?
TS: Taking a survey for Chuck and actually going into the classrooms to identify all the outlets.
[Editor's note: At Facilities Manager Chuck Connor's behest, Tomasz surveyed several areas of the building to verify the number of trash cans with lids, and to ensure electrical outlets were properly plugged and all fridges had working thermometers.]
WW: What is your advice for future student heads of school?
TS: Don't be shy. If you can't find something or are confused about something, ask for help. It's perfectly normal to ask for help. And have fun, because you don't get this opportunity all the time.
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Today's Learners
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Foreign Language Learning in the Montessori Environment
by Spanish Teacher Ana Brown
One of the most appealing aspects of teaching a foreign language in the Montessori environment is how lessons can be adapted to suit students' needs and interests. At WMS, the Spanish program is designed to offer students an authentic experience with the language.
At the Primary level, Spanish lessons are embedded with storytelling, games, music, dance, arts and crafts, and even cooking. In a recent lesson, the students were learning "frutas" in Spanish. We used their new vocabulary to make a fruit salad, and students had to request the fruit they wanted to add to the mix in Spanish. Later this spring, some of the older Primary students will compose Mother's Day poems - an exercise that will help them further develop and absorb their Spanish vocabularies.
Lower Elementary students engage more with the Spanish language through projects that explore vocabulary and encourage them to write and respond using simple sentences. To build on a health lesson with Jill, the students recently learned the names of the five food groups in Spanish and were challenged to design a healthy meal using their new vocabulary words.
Upper Elementary students are encouraged to fully interact in the target language - with their peers as well as with me. At this level, using Spanish for social interaction is one of the best ways for students to learn the language. From the moment they step into the classroom, they must express themselves in Spanish. To enhance students' Spanish language experience, we also explore different aspects of cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Last fall, the 9-12 students did some research to create an altar to honor Maria Montessori and Miguel de Cervantes for the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) - a Mexican celebration that honors loved ones who have died. The altar was displayed outside the Great Room and its offerings grew as students throughout the school brought additional items to share. It was a great opportunity for the older students to immerse themselves in Spanish language and Mexican culture, and for younger students to learn more about an aspect of a Spanish-speaking culture through the altar project.
It is a joy to see students growing at their own pace as they develop communication skills and learn to converse with their classmates in Spanish. I always tell my students if they want to conquer the world, they need to learn another language. As a foreign language teacher, I strive to encourage children to respect and develop a passion for Spanish, embrace different cultures and experience new things.
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 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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