W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
May 17, 2017
 
In this Issue


Upcoming Events

May 18
Community Coffee
8:15-9 a.m. in the Learning Commons

WMS Running Club @ the Wilmington Police Department 5K
Race starts at 6:30 p.m.
Come cheer on our Running Club members, or register to run yourself!


May 23
Parent Education Webinar: Avoiding the Summer Slump
7:30 p.m., Online


May 25
Community Coffee
8:15-9 a.m. in the Learning Commons


May 29
Memorial Day
Building Closed
No school or child-care.


May 31 
Camp Montessori Registration Deadline
After this date, registrations will be accepted as space allows. Programs with low enrollment may be cancelled. 
Register Now


June 1
9-12 Spring Musical: 
Seussical KIDS
Dress Rehearsal - 9:30 a.m.
Performance - 7 p.m.




Does Challenge Lead to Creativity?
Message from 
Head of School Lisa A. Lalama
Read more from Lisa on the Montessori Message blog.
You may have noticed the art show that has been in our lobby for the past two weeks. Each elementary student has at least one piece of artwork displayed. They are proud of their effort, eagerly searching for their artwork and sharing it with family and friends. This work will be on display for a while longer, eventually being replaced by the sixth-grade art exhibit. As you enjoy this wonderful show, some of you may wish that you had the opportunity to create a picture, weaving or design. Others may be quivering at the thought that they may be "required" to create anything that might be deemed art. We tend to consider ourselves artistic, creative or not. There is no in between. But what drives creativity? How do we become comfortable with the idea of creativity? Where does it come from?

This TED talk shares research that identifies the link between frustration, challenge and creativity. The contention is that in order to be our most creative we must be confronted with a difficulty, a degree of frustration. It has been proven that, "certain kinds of difficulty, certain kinds of obstacles can actually improve our performance." Listening to Tim Harford explain this reminded me of the game  Cranium . In both the game and the creative challenges that are included in the box Tim Harford speaks of, the players' comfort is disrupted and it was discovered that, "These disruptions help us solve problems, they help us become more creative. But we don't feel that they're helping us. We feel they're getting in the way...and so we resist." We want to take the familiar path.

Think back on a time during your school years, work life or personal life where you have been asked to do something completely out of your comfort zone. Some people don't want to speak in front of a group. Others don't want to sing, draw, build or cook. Our challenges are as varied as we are. As Tim Harford says, "We don't want to have to overcome unnecessary hurdles....I think we need to gain a bit more appreciation for the unexpected advantages of having to cope with a little mess." In order to be at our most creative, we need to be forced to do things that challenge us, that disrupt our norm. Even though we may feel we are not succeeding, more likely than not, we are doing much better than we perceive.

The next time you are feeling that something is too difficult, too unfamiliar and that you are "bad" at it, think again. You may actually be performing at your peak, even if it doesn't necessarily feel that way initially. A bit of disruption can be a good thing.

 
News & Notes News
Parent Education Webinar: Avoiding the Summer Slump
Tuesday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Presented by instructional Support Teacher Amy Sacia

Join us for our last webinar of the 2016-17 school year! 

Did you know that elementary-aged students can lose hard-earned progress over the summer? What can you do to slow down this loss of skills? WMS Instructional Support Teacher Amy Sacia will teach you how to incorporate more reading, writing and math practice into your everyday summer activities. These simple and pain-free strategies will help your child stay on track for September!

(Toddler and Primary families are welcome to join, but the information shared will mostly pertain to children ages 5 and up!)

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.

Note: Don't forget to submit your time in this workshop for Co-op credit!
Summer Skills Workbooks 
 
Each year, as a service to WMS parents, we pass along information from Tri-C Publications to purchase leveled workbooks for practicing and maintaining school skills during the summer. This offer is completely optional. Interested WMS families have used these workbooks with their children as a simple way to introduce, review and maintain skills over the summer months. Click here to  learn more about the workbooks. 
 
If you have any questions, please speak with your child's teacher or contact Laurie Orsic at  [email protected] . Laurie also has sample workbooks if you would like to preview the materials.


Important Co-op Reminder

Thank you for all of your   Co-op contributions this year!
 
All Co-op must be submitted by June 8 to avoid being billed for incomplete hours.
 
  Submit co-op hours

Co-op Billing Information:
30 Hours Submitted = $0 Billing
0 Hours Submitted = $900 Billing

(Participating Co-op families will be billed $30/unfinished Co-op hour.)
 
Questions? Email [email protected]   

 
Today's Learners leaders
Arts Integration & STEAM for Preschool Campers

What's going on in Primary camp this summer? Creativity, science, nature, movement and time to spend with old friends and new friends alike! Art Teacher Laurie Muhlbauer and STEAM Coach Paula Sharpe will be working with preschool camp leaders Janet and Sharon to integrate science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) into the Pandas' full-summer theme of Botany. WMS students will be the leaders in this group, showing newcomers all that they learned during the school year and taking more leaps forward under the summer sun.  Join us!

Learn more and register for Camp Montessori at www.wmsde.org/camp.
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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