W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
September 20, 2017
In this Issue


Upcoming Events

September 21
No school - Rosh Hashanah


September 28
7:30-9:30 a.m. (adults only)
3-5 p.m. (adults and children ages 4 and up)
Learning Commons


October 3 & 4
Student portraits and class photos


October 4
30-Day Celebration - for parent ambassadors and new families
5-6 p.m.
Great Room


October 4-5
9-12 Overnight Field Trip
Camp Tockwogh


October 5
6-7:30 p.m.
Great Room


October 6
School Closed
 (no child care)


October 12
Admissions Open House
Tell a Friend!
9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.


Light a Candle for Peace
Message from 
     
Head of School Lisa A. Lalama 
 
 
For more from Lisa, visit the Montessori Message blog.
In 1981, through a unanimous resolution, the United Nations established September 21 as the International Day of Peace. This resolution's goal is for "all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace." Creating a culture of peace is central to the Montessori philosophy of education. Dr. Montessori believed that in giving children choices they would learn to think for themselves - they wouldn't automatically follow leaders who waged war, as she witnessed in World War I. She believed in establishing a prepared environment, which allows freedom within limits so children are able to exercise choice in their daily lives while also learning respect for others and their choices.

This year, the U.N.'s Peace Day theme is "Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All." In light of the challenges we are facing today, we at WMS feel even more committed to our support for the International Day of Peace. Learning about others, their lives and our similarities and differences is crucial to creating pathways to peace. As we join together in our Peace Park to sing a song of peace and learn more about each other and our school, we are renewing our commitment to our world and each other. We are wishing you all peace today and every day as we work to fulfill Dr. Montessori's mission of world peace.



  
News & Notes News
Did You Receive Your Emergency Alert?

On Monday, WMS tested the emergency alert system via Connect 5. This is the system the school uses to notify families about weather-related school closings or delays, as well as other emergencies that require action from parents.  

If you did NOT receive an email, text message or phone call with the test message or you would like to change your contact information or add additional phone numbers/email addresses, please contact Heather Russell at 302-475-0555 or [email protected].

   
fluGet Your Flu Shot at WMS -
September 28

The best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. Hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes are also important measures to guard against the flu. Use the sign-up sheet on School Nurse Lisa Chou's office if you would like to receive a shot. 

Schedule:
7:30-9:30 a.m. - Adults only
3-5 p.m. - Adults and children ages 4 and up (with parent/guardian)

Cost: $35 - Pay with cash, check, credit card or flexible spending card.

Memorial Gift from the Giles Family

On Monday, September 18, the 9-12 community gathered in the Learning Commons to dedicate a special memorial gift from the Giles family, made in honor of 9-12 students Cooper and Everett's mom, Kimberly Sullivan Giles. Kim served as co-chair for the WMS Celebration of Reading in both 2014 and 2015. She loved books and was passionate about giving children rich experiences as readers. The Giles' memorial gift includes a selection of Caldecott and Newbury-winning books, as well as some of Kim's favorite picture books. 

Please stop by the Learning Commons to see the beautiful donation Dave, Cooper and Everett have given to the WMS community in tribute to Kim. 
mindfulnessFree Parent/Child Workshop: Mindfulness - Supporting 
Inner Peace

Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 6 p.m.
(Recommended for children ages 3 and up)
Great Room
 
Join the Montessori Teacher's Association of Delaware for  Mindfulness Family Night , featuring James Butler. This mindfulness workshop is an interactive learning experience for the whole family. Learn about the brain benefits of mindfulness, tips for practicing at home, how to make mindfulness fun, how mindfulness supports peace education, and how to spend time practicing simple mindfulness activities that anyone can do. This event is sure to provide tools to help ourselves and our kids be more present and less distracted.
 
About the Speaker:  James Butler works with teachers, parents and Pre-K through 12th-grade students in the Austin Independent School District in Texas. He previously taught for 13 years, primarily in early childhood. In 2016, Mr. Butler founded Mindful Classrooms and wrote a mindfulness curriculum for educators called Mindful Classrooms, which is now being used in six states, as well as in Dubai. He recently wrote the children's book Mindfulness Is .

Please contact Tina Randolph at the front desk at 302-475-0555 or [email protected] to register.

Tomorrow's Leaders Learners
Paying Forward a Love of Learning: Justin Holbrook (WMS '00)

Justin Holbrook as a WMS sixth-grader in 2000.
Life couldn't be brighter for WMS alum Justin Holbrook, who found out earlier this month that he is one of seven finalists under consideration for Maryland Teacher of the Year. This follows his selection in May as  Baltimore City's Teacher of the Year , an honor he shares with 23 other Maryland teachers (one for each county) across the state. "It's been a great reflection," said Justin, who teaches fourth-grade math and science at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore.

Justin credits his Montessori roots as a big part of his inspiration as a teacher. "My experience with Montessori taught me a love of learning," he said. "Pushing kids toward that love of learning is one of the things that drives me every day."
 
After graduating from WMS in 2000, Justin went on to Wilmington Friends School. It's there that his love of learning led to a passion for teaching, through an opportunity to teach children with special needs to play soccer. "I truly bonded with those kids," he said. "That experience really pushed me toward education."

Following his six years at Wilmington Friends, Justin attended Goucher College in Baltimore, where he played soccer and earned a degree in elementary education. He was lucky to land a student teaching assignment at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School and accepted a first-grade teaching position there upon graduation. After teaching first grade for three years, Justin moved into his current role teaching fourth-grade math and science.  His dream is to become a Baltimore City elementary school principal and develop a community school model - another goal he traces back to his Montessori experience.  

"If you walked into my classroom today, you would find many aspects of Montessori," he said.  "I always tell my students, 'It's not my classroom, it's your classroom.'"

Roland Park Elementary/Middle School teacher Justin Holbrook. Photo credit: Baltimore City Public Schools
Justin also credits his students as sources for many of his ideas, citing the importance of considering the whole child when planning lessons and applying teaching techniques. Using movement and integrating the arts into his math and science lessons are a couple ways Justin helps his students better retain information.

"The best way people can remember things is to remember them in a different way," he said. "So my kids actually rap multiplication facts."

In addition to using rap songs to help students remember their math facts, Justin might also have his fourth-graders perform a tableau - where students create a still picture with their bodies to communicate a concept - as part of a science lesson, such as acting out the process of erosion.

When he's not busy teaching fourth-graders, Justin continues to nurture his own love of learning. This spring, he completed a master's degree in educational leadership at Loyola University. And every Wednesday night he hosts a Twitter education chat using the hashtag #BmoreEdchat - a forum for teachers to share ideas and best practices and learn from experts.

He is counting the days until another life milestone: he and his fiancee, Kaitlyn, will get married this November.

>View a video of Justin in action in the classroom 

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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