W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
October 19, 2016
 
In this Issue


Upcoming Events

October 20
Primary Maker Faire
8-9 a.m. in Room 28 
Learn More

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


October 22
Green Apple Day of Service
10 a.m.-noon 

October 23-26
Sixth-Grade GCAP Trip
New York City


October 24-26
Halloween Read Alouds in the Learning Commons 


October 24-27
Toddler Parent Conferences
Contact your teacher to schedule a time. Classes will continue as usual.


October 26
WMS @ Whole Foods Glen Mills
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Learn More


October 27
Halloween Parades
Primary - 9:15 a.m.
Elementary - 11:15 a.m.

October 28 & 31
Primary/Elementary Conferences
No school for these levels. Pre-registered child-care is available.
Note: Toddler classes will continue as scheduled. 




The Class of 2016 on last year's trip to GCAP in New York City


Message from 
Head of School Lisa A. Lalama
 
Read more from Lisa on the Montessori Message blog.
On Sunday, WMS sixth-graders leave for New York City. They will join other middle school students from around the globe to learn more about the world, its people and those who work to solve the world's problems. They are participating in the Global Citizenship Action Project (GCAP), sponsored by the American Montessori Society.

Each year, our sixth grade students take part in the GCAP conference, learning about non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the work of the United Nations. They visit the UN and a mission to the UN, learning about that country's interests and issues they bring to the world's attention.

One very important aspect of WMS is helping our students to learn more about the world and its people. Though we are located in Wilmington, Delaware in the United States, we are part of a much larger world - a world that possesses many strengths while also facing a variety of challenges.
 
Our youngest students learn about their families, their classrooms and their school. As they grow, they learn about the world by looking at the globe and pin maps, naming the continents, countries and land forms in the world. They read stories from around the world and engage in cultural celebrations. Through this, they are presented with information about others who are very much like them while also experiencing life in ways that are different than their own. The emphasis is on our connections because it is through those connections that we learn to care for the world, to practice peace and to further the changes needed in our world.  

As our sixth-graders participate in GCAP next week, they will be gaining even more experience that will help them shape their vision of what it means to truly be a global citizen, living out the WMS mission.




 
Board Update board
October News from the WMS Board of Directorsjourney
by Anna Quisel, Chair of the WMS Board

Hello from your WMS Board Chair! At a recent independent school board workshop I attended, a monthly board newsletter was suggested in order to keep our community up to date on some of our work that happens behind the scenes - hence, this column.  

Let's start with some general information about the Board of Directors at WMS, most of whom you know as parents. I have four Meerkats (once a Meerkat always a Meerkat) of my own - see photo. So, why does WMS have a board of directors? Volunteer boards of trustees or directors* are required by law for non-profit organizations such as WMS to ensure that the organization has a stable and important reason for existence (called the mission ), and has the resources necessary to carry out that mission.

What does a school board do? A board focuses on long-term planning and resources. As at other independent schools, the WMS Board hires a Head of School who manages all specific issues including day-to-day operations, curriculum, hiring, dismissal and evaluations. What does a school board NOT do? Our Board members are careful not to interfere with our expert, Head of School Lisa Lalama, as she works with staff and students. Thus when you ask a Board member about a particular issue, we will often refer you to your child's teacher or, in some cases, to WMS's administration or Lisa herself.  

To learn more about WMS's Board and each of our  members , visit the Board section of the WMS website.

*WMS has Directors and not Trustees because the school's founders in the mid-1960s named it a Board of Directors in the school's Articles of Incorporation.
News & Notes News
Primary (3-6) Maker Fairemaker
Tomorrow,  8-9 a.m. in the Primary Maker (STEAM) Studio

Join us tomorrow for our first Maker Faire of the year! 

This week, during their visits to the Maker Studio, children have been learning about North American artist  Dale Chihuly. 

During our Maker Faire, we will be creating Chihuly inspired art. Families will also have the opportunity to explore other materials in the Maker Studio.

Please join us!

For more information, contact Paula Sharpe, STEAM Coach.



Halloween Parades & Costume Guidelines halloween
 
Halloween parades will be held on Thursday, October 27 (9:15 a.m. for Primary classes and 11:15 a.m. for Elementary students). In order to make the day fun for all of our students, we ask that children's costumes meet the following rules:
  • No weapons of any kind are allowed as part of a costume.
  • Costumes should not depict blood, guts or gore.
  • Hair color and makeup should be applied at home and not brought to school.
  • Since we have very young children at our school, please make sure that costumes are not frightening to small children.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

readaloud

Green Apple Day of Service greenapple
  Saturday, October 22,  10 a.m.-Noon

Join other parents in tackling small, manageable garden tasks.

Help WMS to maintain its beautiful grounds while earning Co-op hours. Contact 
[email protected] to volunteer. 

Join WMS for Family Fun at
Whole Foods Market Glen Mills
Wednesday, October 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
 
WMS will be hosting a Food Passport activity for families on Wednesday, October 26 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

If you have a younger child who is not yet at WMS, we hope you will join us - and invite a friend as well!
Workshop for Parents & Teachers: Strategies to Increase Respect & Community Within Schoolsterrell
Thursday, November 3 at 7 p.m.

Nate Terrell, LCSW
Nate Terrell, LCSW will discuss ways in which parents and teachers can support positive student behaviors and build increased respect and stronger communities within schools. 

Nate is a licensed clinical social worker who has spent his career helping children and schools eliminate bullying. He helps children and adults work together to create respectful schools and classrooms. 

Register Now Button
Tomorrow's Leaders leaders
Featured Alumna: Alexa Pierce-Matlack (Class of 2005)

Alexa  Pierce-Matlack, a member of WMS's Alumni Committee, began her WMS journey at age 2 and graduated in 2005. 

"WMS definitely taught me to be more independent and go for things I want in life - not just 'fitting in the box,'" Alexa says. Looking at all of her post-WMS activities and accomplishments, it's clear that she learned this lesson well.

After WMS, she attended Wilmington Friends School, followed by the University of Delaware where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science in May 2015.  

Always a fan of the hands-on learning she experienced at WMS, Alexa started her career in the health-care system early. "I think the hands-on teaching at WMS was one of the most important things for me, and it greatly helped me in life."

During her senior year of high school, she shadowed professionals in  different areas of the health-care field at Christiana Care Health System. During college, she studied abroad in Australia and worked for the Reproductive Associates of Delaware in their endocrine and andrology lab in Newark, Delaware as an intern.
 
After passing her national board exam for Medical Laboratory Science, Alexa started working the third shift in Christiana Care's microbiology lab in June 2015. She serves on the board of the Delaware chapter of the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and also participated at the national level as a regional communication coordinator. When she is not working nights, she is also a part-time adjunct professor at the University of Delaware and co-teaches one section of her former microbiology lab.

In her spare time, Alexa has continued to be involved with Girl Scouts and serves on the Gold Award review committee. She is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is in the process of earning her scuba diving certification!
 
Looking back upon her time at WMS, some of Alexa's fondest memories are of her performances with the steel drum ensemble. She recalls playing in a holiday parade through the city of Wilmington: "It was freezing cold and raining," she says, "but we rode that float and played our way through!"
 
Interested in joining Alexa as a member of the WMS Alumni Committee? 
Email [email protected] for more information. All former students and parents are welcome!
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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