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W E D N E S D A Y W E E K L Y
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Bi-weekly Summer Issue - July 25, 2018
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In this Issue
Upcoming Events
July 23-27
Camp Week 6
July 26
July 30-August 3
Camp Week 7
August 2
Tigers, Meerkats, Dragons:
August 6-10
Camp Week 8
August 7
August 9
August 13-17
Camp Week 9
August 16
August 20-24
Camp Week 10 (last week of camp!)
August 23
All camp groups: WMS Carnival
August 23
New family reception
5:15 p.m.
Back-to-school picnic
6 p.m.
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Message from
Director of Montessori Enrichment Tracey Gable
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In the blink of an eye, we are in the middle of the summer.
With school work in the rear-view mirror, and plenty of sunshine and pool time still in the foreseeable future, our campers have settled into summer. Old friends have reunited and new friendships have blossomed. It is always wonderful to see children from other schools as well as other geographical areas come together and find friendship.
We had a new camper this year who had just moved from another country. The camper did not speak English and was understandably nervous to start camp. Our camp counselors did a wonderful job of finding ways to communicate with the camper. At one point, a counselor was working with the child using a translation app, and another camper simply walked up to them and started speaking in the camper's native tongue. The look on both of their faces was one I will never forget. It was one of comfort, wonderment and possibility!
When people ask me, "what sets Camp Montessori apart?" I think of moments like these. While the children love the pool, the field trips, electives, etc., it is these moments of inclusion, community and acceptance that will remain with the children long after their camp days are over.
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News & Notes
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Check Out the New WMS Website!
Visit the site today, and
email us if you have questions or feedback. We hope you like our new look!
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Summer Homework & Supply Lists
We're more than halfway through the summer break and many families may soon (or already!) be thinking about summer homework assignments and gathering school supplies.
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Parking Reminder
Please be mindful that the parking spaces marked for people with disabilities in the WMS parking lot are for vehicles with disability placards or license plates only. It is important to leave these parking spaces open for those who need easy access to the school building.
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Spaces Still Available: Advanced Archery II Specialty Camp, August 13-17
 Advanced Archery II
returns to
Camp Montessori
next month
and there are still a few spaces left.
Designed for campers who have had at least one archery course (or some archery instruction), this camp will provide new challenges, including shooting targets at greater distances and learning trick shots.
When: Camp Week 9, August 13-17,
1-4 p.m.
Cost: $230
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Campers Sing and Dance with Clem Bowen
Last week, Camp Montessori's younger camp groups were treated to a morning with
Clem Bowen, a local interactive storyteller and musician. Clem captivated his young audiences with three separate performances - one for the Turtles, one for the Pandas and a joint performance for the Kangaroos and Tigers - about a day at the beach. He used goggles and flippers as props to help tell the tale of his seaside adventure, and played songs on various instruments, including a flute, drums and a mandolin.
Clem has become a fixture in the WMS community over the years - many counselors who were former campers or WMS students speak fondly of their own memories of Clem's visits.
Toddler teacher and Turtle counselor Kirsti Forrest remembers Clem visiting WMS when she was a preschool student. "I remember the rain stick," she said. "I had never heard an instrument like it before, and afterward we made our own rain sticks."
Clem's stories are derived from adventures in his own life, many of which relate to nature and spending time outdoors. Following Clem's presentations, he encourages his audience to create artwork that illustrate the stories he's told.
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Ahmad Taylor (WMS '13) Faces a Crossroads of Career Paths
As WMS alum Ahmad Taylor (WMS '13) prepares for his final year of high school, he feels challenged to find a clear academic path to pursue after graduation. Now a rising senior at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown, Ahmad has already chosen to focus on gaining career and technical training in athletic healthcare - one of St. Georges' most competitive programs - as a high schooler.
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Ahmad playing basketball for WMS in 2012
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He thought about attending Concord High School after completing eighth grade at Springer Middle School, but found the promise of hands-on, vocational experience alluring enough to make the trek to Middletown.
"I've always been athletic," he said. "I wanted to choose something related to sports, so I chose athletic healthcare. You have to do your best your freshman year to be accepted into the athletic healthcare program - I think there are only about 18 seats. You have to be on your stuff."
Students in the athletic healthcare program learn about topics like basic anatomy, kinesiology, orthopedics and first aid, which provide a strong foundation for those thinking about studying athletic training, physical therapy or sports medicine.
But a nagging interest in technology is making Ahmad question whether he'll pursue sports medicine over computer engineering in college. He's always been interested in computers and how they work. Through online study as well as some tinkering, Ahmad knows how to build computers and has taken a few apart.
He plans to apply to University of Delaware this fall for the 2019-20 school year, though he is still in the process of exploring his options.
In the meantime, Ahmad is content to put off making big decisions about the coming year and enjoy his time playing basketball (he plays in a competitive summer league and for St. Georges during the school year) and working with the Camp Montessori Turtles (toddlers) this summer. Now in his fourth summer as a Camp Montessori counselor, he has settled into a groove with the youngest group of campers.
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| Ahmad with a Camp Montessori Turtle (toddler) |
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It's no surprise Ahmad enjoys his summer days spent at WMS so much, as some of his fondest memories are rooted in his childhood experiences as a WMS student. He still chuckles to himself about some of the fun he had when he's walking through the halls.
"Every time I [went] into the gym there [was] a little mark of whipped cream on the curtains in gym," he said. "We had a talent show and me and two friends put on a funny skit and threw whipped cream in somebody's face and it got on the curtain."
Two years ago, the curtains were replaced, erasing evidence of Ahmad's talent show antics. But his memory still lingers any time he's in the gym.
He also spent some time on the WMS stage for various school concerts.
"I had a couple solos because I used to be able to sing kind of well," he said. "I remember putting on a funky little suit for concerts."
He went on to sing in the chorale at Springer Middle School, but these days he says his singing is limited to the shower.
Ahmad reflects most fondly on how much WMS has taught him about problem-solving, other people and cultures, and prepared him for life beyond graduation.
"There are times where I think if I never attended this school I would have been a completely different person," he said. "People tell me I'm bound to be a leader, and all those skills I would have never learned if I didn't go to Montessori."
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 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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