W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
October 5, 2016
In this Issue


Upcoming Events
 
October 6
MTAD Parent Workshop
"Montessori Education: A Logical Intervention for ALL Children"
7 p.m. at WMS

WMS Dads' Group Meeting
7:30 p.m., Iron Hill Brewery (at the Riverfront)


October 12
Yom Kippur
Learn more about child-care days.


October 13 
Flu Shots
7:30-9:30 a.m. - Adults only
2:45-5 p.m. - Adults and children ages 4 and up (with parent/guardian)
$35 - Pay with cash, check, credit card or flexible spending card.
Sign up on the nurse's office door.


30-Day Celebration
New families & parent ambassadors
5-6 p.m.
RSVP to Lori Oberly


October 18 
Webinar: Strategies for Helping Your Child Learn Math Facts
7:30 p.m., Online
Learn More 


October 19
Admissions Open House
9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Tell a friend!


October 20
Parent Education -
The Journey
(Earn Co-op hours!)
8:30 a.m.
Learn More & Register Today (Space is limited!)

Parent Education  
 
Message from 
Head of School Lisa A. Lalama
Read more from Lisa on the Montessori Message blog.

One of the things that sets WMS apart from other schools is the emphasis on learning. Not only are the children in the classrooms learning, learning is an important focus for our staff and the parents and families in our community. We are, as our mission statement says, truly a collaborative learning community. Now that September has come to an end, the children have settled into the classrooms and the days are getting shorter, there are more offerings for the adults in our community to continue their learning.

We begin the month by offering an MTAD parent education workshop tomorrow at 7 p.m. Former WMS teacher Jennifer Fulton is speaking to parents about Montessori education and how it benefits all children. She will be focusing on social skills and how to guide children as they learn to navigate their world. Our entire staff will be delving into this more deeply on Friday as Jennifer focuses on social skills instruction and behavior supports for children.

On October 18 at 7:30 p.m., Assistant Head of School Laurie Orsic will host a webinar on strategies for helping children learn math facts. Just as parents help their children build literacy skills, they can assist in building numeracy skills. This webinar will help you incorporate some routines with your child that will help to develop those skills and all from the comfort of your home.

There are also two open houses offered this month (at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19). This is an opportunity for parents exploring schools for their children to get an inside peek at our classrooms in operation and learn more about Montessori education at WMS. Feel free to invite friends and neighbors to this event. We always enjoy introducing people to our school and all it has to offer.

Finally, on October 20 we offer our first Journey of this school year. The Journey is a wonderful opportunity to see Montessori in action from the toddler classrooms all the way through the 9-12 program. You will observe the classrooms, participate in lessons and have the opportunity to ask questions. The Journey is truly illuminating. Seeing Montessori in action allows you to experience a fraction of the wonder your children participate in each day. If you haven't participated before please sign up. If you have, feel free to join us again.

Check the school calendar, our parent education website or the Wednesday Weekly during the coming months to learn more about opportunities to continue your learning as you demonstrate the characteristics of the collaborative learning community that is WMS.




 
News & Notes News
School's Out
 
October brings many Autumn delights: apple cider, fall festivals, holidays and days when regular school classes are closed. On most of those days, WMS offers programs that are open to all WMS students and to students aged 5-13 from other schools. The days offer planned activities and free choice time, indoors and outdoors. We play group games, learn new things about a variety of topics, and express our creativity through art projects, STEAM challenges, cooking projects and more.  We take hikes in the woods, check out what's swimming in the stream and enjoy sports in the refurbished gymnasium.  Everyone is welcome!
 
The cost is $25 for 3.5 hours or less or $55 for 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.   Register online or by emailing [email protected], letting us know the approximate times you plan to drop off and pick up. Please register at least 72 hours before the date you wish to attend.  If you wish to register a child who has not attended programs at WMS before, please let Cass know so that we can get all the information we might need.
mtadThe Montessori Teachers Association of Delaware (MTAD) Presents:
Montessori Education: A Logical Intervention for ALL Children
Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m.
at Wilmington Montessori School

Parenting children with unique needs can be a challenge.
Parenting children in a world with greater demands can be exhausting.
Parenting children with increasingly available technological distractions can be confusing.

Come see why a Montessori education helps all children to learn and minimizes the negative impact of so many issues that parents today are facing!

Contact the Front Desk to reserve a spot.

About the Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Aiken Fulton, a Montessori teacher with 18 years of experience at Wilmington Montessori School, made a career change to practicing school social work in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. Jennifer recently combined her two interests in her doctoral dissertation "Evidence Based Social Skills Interventions for Young Children with Asperger's Syndrome and the Montessori Educational Method: An Integrative Review," which awarded her a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice.
WMS Dads' Group Meeting - October 6 at 7:30 p.m.dads
by WMS Dads Brandon Wehler and Matt Harris 

Come out to the Wilmington Riverfront  Iron Hill Brewery (2nd floor)  on October 6  at 7:30 p.m. to meet other WMS dads. This first meeting of our WMS Dads' Group will focus on setting up a schedule of fall events.
 
The goals and objectives of the WMS Dads' Group are to:
  • Have FUN and grow a supportive community for WMS dads and families
  • Identify and participate in fun volunteer events at WMS to give back and earn Co-op hours
  • Engage in fun learning activities that enrich relationships with our children
  • Build a network of support for dads and families
  • Coordinate at least one activity per month involving dads and kids
  • Coordinate at least one activity per month involving just the dads
  • Identify a quarterly activity that involves the whole family 

You don't have to be a dad to join us - all grandparents and guardians are also welcome! 

For more information, contact Brandon at [email protected] or Matt at [email protected].

Tomorrow's Leaders leaders
Wilmington Montessori School Homecoming 2016
Wilmington Montessori School Homecoming 2016 Slideshow
(More photos available on Facebook.)


Featured Alumna: Lucy Smith

On Saturday, we welcomed former WMS student Lucy Smith to Homecoming as our face painter. Lucy attended WMS during the late '90s and loved reminiscing about her days at the school during her visit. 

Even as a young child, Lucy always had a creative eye and enjoyed performing. She recalls being drawn to the beautiful beads used for math and enjoying circle time and show and tell.

Always enjoying opportunities to think outside the box, Lucy remembers one assignment for which she was asked to research a foreign country and do a presentation on her findings. Using what she had, she re-purposed one her dolls and dressed it in a kimono.

"My WMS experience gave me the academic confidence I needed to succeed beyond my time at WMS," she said.

After leaving Wilmington Montessori School, Lucy attended Concord High School, graduated cum laude from West Chester University with a BA in Theatre, earned her AFA in Illustration from the Delaware College of Art and Design and most recently obtained her BFA in Illustration from the Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. Having a flair for drama, Lucy volunteered at the Wilmington Drama League for more than 15 years as an actor, director, choreographer, designer and playwright. During a one-act festival, she won an award for speed and efficiency and also improved the technique of fellow actors, conceptualized and realized original material, and inspired audience members to get involved in theater.

Currently, Lucy owns her own illustration company, Lucy Smith Illustration, and is the creative director at Snow Princess Parties.
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 Communications.
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