Wednesday Weekly - May 13, 2020

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

May 13, 2020

Above: The seven members of the WMS class of 2020 received special deliveries yesterday! We look forward to celebrating this group on May 29! Stay tuned for more information about graduation and other virtual year-end events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming Virtual Open Houses - Admissions

Tell a friend!

Thursday, May 14, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 20, noon
Thursday, May 21, 9:30 a.m.

May 14

Progress Report Information Meeting

K-6th Grade

7 p.m.

Additional information below.

NOTE: This link has changed from the original URL that was posted on Bloomz.

Zoom Link (uses WMS classroom passcode)

May 16

Virtual Parent Coffee - "Sustain Yourself" with Licensed Psychologist Leslie Connor, Ph.D.

10-10:45 a.m. &

11-11:45 a.m.

Additional information below.

Zoom Link (uses WMS classroom passcode)

May 18

Annual Meeting

7 p.m., Zoom Link (uses WMS classroom passcode)

May 20

Progress Report Information Meeting

Toddler/Preschool

7 p.m.

Additional information below.

NOTE: This link has changed from the original URL that was posted on Bloomz.

Zoom Link (uses WMS classroom passcode)

May 25

Memorial Day

No school.

Full Calendar

Annual Meeting - Monday at 7 p.m.

On Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m. WMS will be making history by holding our first annual meeting of the school without anyone in the building. We typically look forward to this evening to gather, share the work of the past year and look ahead to the next year. This year we will do the same via Zoom . The WMS Board of Directors will be sharing information with you, letting you know the work that has taken place over the past year. I will talk about the year ahead. Together, we will share our plans for WMS.

We have been taught about life’s uncertainty over these past few months, most of us altering our lives in ways we could not have anticipated when this school year began. We yearn for the time when we can return to some semblance of what our lives looked like before March 13. And we wonder what school may look like in the weeks, months and years ahead.

In sharing the outline of the new strategic plan, we will share how the current situation has allowed us to begin working on this plan, using design thinking just as we did over the past year to create the strategic plan. We’ve been able to jump right in, create home learning plans for your children, and adapt them as we’ve seen what has worked well and what may need to be changed. We’ve looked to what Montessori education does exceptionally well and are continuing to build on the lessons that your children know so well.

We will be addressing questions submitted ahead of the meeting in order to make the best use of your time. If you have questions you would like to ask the Board of Directors please submit them to [email protected] by tomorrow (Thursday, May 14). We hope to see you there!

Lisa Lalama

Head of School

Zoom Annual Meeting Information

(Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m.):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89758721949

Meeting ID: 897 5872 1949

NEWS & NOTES

Progress Report Meetings

Progress reports for toddlers through sixth grade have been adapted to reflect both the time prior to the WMS campus closure and the time of home learning plans. Meetings for parents to discuss end-of-year progress reports will be held on the following dates:

May 14 at 7 p.m. - K-6th grade - Zoom Link

May 20 at 7 p.m. - Toddler & Preschool - Zoom Link

(both links use WMS's classroom passcode)

NOTE: These link have changed from the original URLs that were posted on Bloomz.

Sarah Williams and Lisa Lalama will host these meetings. We hope you'll join us!

Home Learning Questionnaires - Early Childhood & Elementary Families

Earlier today, all early childhood and elementary families should have received an email regarding another brief optional questionnaire about your observations of your child as he or she works at home. As you know, WMS progress reports include a section related to work habits, and your insights will help our teachers develop a broader picture of the time your child has been working at home. We hope that in partnering with your child's teachers to gather this information you gain insight into the types of observations we conduct on a regular basis and see this as an opportunity to learn more about your child’s development.

Toddler and Primary students will receive their questionnaire (the Ages & Stages Questionnaire) by mail. These surveys should be completed and mailed back to the school by May 25.

Kindergarten through sixth-grade surveys were sent by email earlier today. If you did not receive this email, please contact [email protected]. These questionnaires are due by May 18.

Thank you for taking the time to share your observations of your child with us!

Virtual Parent Coffee: "Sustain Yourself" with Licensed Psychologist Leslie Connor, Ph.D. - Saturday, May 16

An Invitation from Lisa & Sarah -

We would like to invite you to a virtual parent coffee with Leslie Connor, Ph.D., a Licensed Psychologist in Wilmington. Leslie is also the parent of WMS alum Ben Connor (Class of 2012).

Leslie has been working with our staff, and they have found her sessions so helpful that they suggested she offer some support to our parents, as you continue to adapt your work and home lives during this COVID-19 pandemic.

We will be offering two Zoom sessions on Saturday morning, May 16, called "Sustain Yourself." One session will be for parents of younger children and the other for parents of older children. We have provided suggested ages, but please look at the discussion topics and consider which might best apply to your children.

Leslie will offer some topics to discuss (listed below) but will also make time for parents to exchange ideas and support. Perhaps we'll share a laugh, some good news, and some perspective as a community of caring parents.

10-10:45 a.m. (suggested ages - toddler through 2nd grade)

Topics:

I don't want my kids to feel my anxiety.
How do I make the most of this time together...and still work?
What if they ask questions?
Will they be forever changed?

11-11:45 a.m. (suggested ages - grades 3-8)

Topics:

How can we support older kids who understand what's happening and have feelings about it?
What if they won't tell me how they are feeling?
They are really missing their friends -- how can I help?
So much screen time!
Power struggles are exhausting.

We hope you can join Leslie and spend just a little bit of time focusing on yourself. After all, we as caregivers need to protect and sustain ourselves as we continue to offer warmth and strength to our loved ones.

Lisa & Sarah

Zoom Link (use WMS classroom passcode)

After-School Enrichment - NEW Link

Join us for our FREE after-school enrichment sessions for Primary and Elementary students - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday!

WMS assistant teacher and coach Brandy Solomon hosts these daily meetings filled with activities, games, sports and, most importantly, an opportunity for your children to interact with each other in a relaxed way.

This week, the class has been taken over by paws and claws as we celebrate Pet Week! Each day features a special guest and their furry or not-so-furry friend!

Zoom Link (use WMS classroom passcode)

Health & PE at Home

Even though we're at home, we haven't stopped moving in PE class - students are playing catch with family members, dancing in their living rooms, trying Jedi workouts in honor of May the 4th, making noise in Pound class, creating their own 30-day challenges (in the middle school program) and more.

Watch Bloomz for a slideshow of PE home learning highlights later this week, and stay tuned for information about Virtual Field Day before the end of the school year!

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.