W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
April 12, 2017
 
In this Issue


Upcoming Events

April 13
6-9 Maker Morning
7:45-8:30 a.m. in Room 30
Learn More 

Community Coffee
8:15-9 a.m. in the Learning Commons


April 14
No School or Child-Care - Building Closed


April 17
No school.
Pre-registered child-care available.


April 19
Webinar: Nurturing a Naturalist
7:30 p.m.
Learn More


April 20
Community Coffee
8:15-9 a.m. in the Learning Commons

3-6 (Primary) Concert
9:30 a.m., Gym


April 24-28
ERB Testing


April 27
Community Coffee
8:15-9 a.m. in the Learning Commons


May 2
Moms' Day
Drop-off time until 11 a.m. 
Dads, do you need co-op hours? Contact Lori Oberly to find out how you can help make this morning special for our moms!
 


Message from 
Cass Winner, Director of Extended Programs & Camp

As the hyacinth blooms in my side garden but the breeze is still about 20 degrees too cold, I close my eyes and dream of summer. 
 
Then I open my eyes and see the mile-long to-do list that accompanies summer's approach. If my child weren't an adult already, I would be scrambling to register her for camp, arguing with her about whether she would, in fact, enjoy horseback-riding camp. 
 
As it is, I have the privilege of preparing the programs that will serve children from Wilmington Montessori and from the larger community, drawing together friends who may not have seen one another since August and introducing new friends who will find a new home with us. 
 
Camp is special because we all come into it with such joy and enthusiasm. It's short enough to be novel and long enough to generate a sense of belonging. Teachers and campers alike look forward to spending more time outside, making more messy art, building more bridges, tasting new foods, tending our own gardens and splashing in sparkling water. Campers look forward to rituals like the opening ceremony during the first week and the Dragons' overnight camp-out. Children who played in the wading pool last year are ready to take the swim test and graduate to the big pool this year.
 
As parents, we are always trying to find the right balance between freedom and safety. We want our children to be independent, confident and competent, but we know that they need us to mark the boundaries and set the rules. Summer gives us the freedom to explore, to make new friends, to try our hand at something we've never tried before, and to feel safe enough to laugh together if it doesn't go so well.
 
The youngest children need the most consistency and predictability as they create their new understanding of the world. The older the children get, the farther out - physically and socially - they are ready to venture. We're excited to be adding S.T.E.A.M. enrichment for all ages, art and environmental science enrichment for preschool and older groups, and camper-chosen elective activities for our elementary and middle-schoolers.
 
Families from outside WMS choose us because they value our culture of kindness, collaboration, and respect for individual interests and needs. We are all proud to welcome new friends into our community, and to show them what is special about us. 
 
So welcome, summer - we're ready!


 
News & Notes News
auction

Many Thanks
 
Festive denim decorations, delectable food, an assortment of gifts and live music from The Late Ambitions created the perfect atmosphere for a night of fun - all in the name of the children of Wilmington Montessori School.

This amazing evening was the result of collaboration among tremendously creative and dedicated supporters. Thank you to the members of our auction committee - Jennifer Renz (Chair), Akua Hutchful, Bonnie Clements, Brandon Wehler, Kristin Ball, Maria Fleming, Sarah Stowens, Kelly Adams,  Nora Lober and  Pam Politis - for all of the time, energy and enthusiasm you dedicated to making this evening a success. Thank you,  as well, to all of the other parents, staff and supporters who assisted with gift solicitation, creating classroom gifts, ticket sales, decorations, event night logistics, clean-up and more. The auction would not happen without you!

Whether you donated goods or services to our auction, volunteered your time, made a monetary donation, sponsored our event, purchased tickets or bid on items, you made a difference by supporting our students, teachers and all of the amazing educational experiences happening at WMS on a daily basis. Funds raised by the auction help us purchase materials for our classrooms, keep our campus and facilities beautiful, provide professional development and our benefits for our amazing staff, support our financial aid program and so much more. We can't thank you enough!

If you are interested in working on next year's auction, please email co-op@wmsde.org to be notified when planning begins!
Do you have a London Fog pea coat? Please check to see if you brought it home. If you took home a New York & Company coat instead, please let us know!
Auction Lost & Found
 
We have a couple of articles of clothing that were lost/found during Saturday's auction:

1. Did you wear a black pea coat (see photo on the right) to the auction? Please check to see if you brought home the one that you came with. It appears that one guest mistakenly departed with someone else's coat (New York & Company, size 4 or small). We have your coat here, and the owner of the NY&Co coat would like hers back. Please contact the Front Desk or Lori Oberly to make the exchange.

2. Are you missing a pashmina/shawl? Contact the Front Desk or Lori.

Thank you for your help reuniting these items with their owners!
 
6-9 Maker Morning - Tomorrow at 7:45 a.m.maker
 
Please join us tomorrow (Thursday, April 13) from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in Room 30 for a 6-9 Maker Morning.  Come work with our Maker Studio materials, see arpilleras on display and enjoy a smoothie. We will have simple machine activities out in preparation for the 6-9 field trip on simple machines at Hagley Museum. 

If you have any questions, please email paula_sharpe@wmsde.org.
Science Enthusiasts have an opportunity to gather and share their love of science education and research. 
 
 WMS alumna Annika Delport (a founding member of the newly formed 350DE group at The Tatnall School) has invited the community to  attend the Earth Day "Rally for Science." This family-friendly celebration of Mother Earth will take place in Wilmington's  Rodney Square on April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Signs with non-partisan,  positive and respectful messages are welcome! There will be prizes for the best posters, guest speakers, music, face painting
and free saplings for the first 100 people. Admission is free!
 
Wanted: A Bunnysitter for this Weekend
 
Need co-op hours? Spend the upcoming long weekend with the 9-12 students' adorable rabbit, Hazelnut! Food and supplies will be provided. Contact co-op@wmsde.org for more information. 
 
7-9 students STEM creek project
Have you taken the Great Schools Clean Streams Pledge?
 
Pledge to do your part to keep cooking fat, oil and grease out of your plumbing and the sewer system. Dedicate your pledge to the Wilmington Montessori School to help us compete for cash prizes.

Please share this info with friends and family!

Take the Pledge
webinar Webinar for Toddler/Primary Parents: Nurturing a Naturalist
Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Presented by:
Lauren Harris, Lead Toddler Teacher
Erin Wehler, Lead Primary Teacher

Outdoor play can open a world of experiences for your child. The opportunity to interact with the outdoors not only provides many educational moments; it also allows for some quality bonding time that your child will be sure to remember. During this webinar, you will gain new knowledge and ideas regarding outdoor play and experiences in nature. We will share activities for your budding naturalist to enjoy within your own backyard and in the greater community. Join us to learn about some fun, new ways to get outdoors! 

Register Now Button

Please register in advance. After signing up, you will receive login instructions to ensure that you can access the webinar on the evening of the event. 
Learning Together - New Sessions Scheduled to Begin Next Week

We are happy to announce that, starting next Wednesday, we will be offering two seven-week spring sessions of our popular   Learning Together program.
 
Learning Together is so much more than a playgroup or parenting class! It is an adult-child workshop that is led by certified Montessori educators who have extensive knowledge of the  Montessori Method, child development and best practices in early childhood education.
 
Based on the Montessori philosophy of "following the child," Learning Together is a program in which young children are free to learn, explore and interact with others in a classroom designed especially for them. The program is flexible and individualized for children ages 9 months to 3 years. Parents, grandparents, guardians or other consistent caregivers are welcome to attend.
 
Learning Together topics will include:
  • An Introduction to the Montessori Method
  • The Importance of Routines
  • The Purpose of Play
  • Preparing Your Child for Separation
  • Positive Discipline
  • Developmentally Appropriate Activities
  • Exploration of New Sensorial Activities
Do you have a younger child who would love to spend a morning at WMS each week or a friend who might enjoy this program? Click here for additional information, or contact learningtogether@wmsde.org.

Tomorrow's Leaders leaders
Featured Alumna: Kate Coughlin Stern, Class of 1999

Has your dog ever rung the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange? Kate Coughlin Stern's has! Kate, who graduated from WMS in 1999, has loved animals ever since she spent her recesses watching WMS's pet pigs Chester Bacon and Porkchop from the playground.
 
Kate's other fond WMS memories include performing in Shakespeare plays on the stage in the woods and working at Camp Montessori over the summer. After graduating from WMS, Kate attended Ursuline Academy, Archmere Academy and then Georgetown University for college where she graduated in 2009 with a double major in physics and government and a minor in history.  During college, she also interned at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., and at Goldman Sachs in New York. She credits WMS for instilling in her "a lifelong love of learning," which helped her at all the schools she attended.

As a child, Kate loved spending time with WMS's old pets - Porkchop & Chester Bacon
After graduating from Georgetown, Kate moved to New York City and continued her work at Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking Division where she spent more than four years advising companies on how to manage macroeconomic risks. Kate left Goldman Sachs in late 2013 and has since joined Uber as an Operations & Logistics Manager. She currently runs the operations team for UberEATS (their food delivery service) in New York. 

"
The independence that WMS fostered in me (and all the students!) helped me grow and succeed in my professional career," Kate says.
 
Kate, her husband Ben and their dog Jones now live in Brooklyn. They frequently spend time with Kate's sister Sara (WMS '05) who lives close by.

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

Please send submissions to wednesday-weekly@wmsde.org 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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