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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 - August 22, 2018
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In this Issue
Upcoming Events
August 20-24
Camp Week 10 (last week of camp!)
August 23
All camp groups: WMS Carnival
iPad
information session for fourth-grade parents
5-6 p.m.
Learning Commons
New family reception
5:15 p.m.
Great Room
6- 7:30 p.m.
WMS campus
August 30
10-11 a.m.
Individual classrooms
iPad information session for fourth-grade parents
10:45-11:30 a.m.
Learning Commons
September 4
First day of school!
September 5
Middle School Parent Coffee
8:15-8:45 a.m.
Learning Commons
Kindergarten Parent Coffee
8:45-9:15 a.m.
Learning Commons
September 6
Upper Elementary (9-12) Parent Coffee
8:30-9 a.m.
Learning Commons
September 7
Lower Elementary (6-9) Parent Coffee
8:30-9 a.m.
Learning Commons
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Message from
Director of Montessori Enrichment Tracey Gable
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Friday is the last day of Camp Montessori for 2018. In some ways, it feels like we have been in summer mode for a while, and in others, it flew by in a blink of an eye. So many memories were made this year, I couldn't possibly begin to list all of them, and honestly, I wouldn't be able to do them justice. The memories can be found in the campers' smiles and in the friendships that were both discovered and strengthened.
When I embarked upon this camp season, I entered with the confidence that I was surrounded by supportive and wonderful staff, but I still had apprehension about the unknown. By the close of Camp Week 1, all apprehensions had dissipated, and I knew we were in for a great season.
I would like to take the time to thank the staff, families and, of course, the children of the Camp Montessori community who helped make my first summer at WMS a joyful and wonderful experience.
As with any season, summer must come to a close so that we can shift toward fall and the 2018-2019 school year. This transition brings different schedules, responsibilities and opportunities at WMS. We are currently enrolling for our
Extended Day Program (before- and after-care) as well as our
School's Out Program (child care when regular classes are not in session). Please contact me at
[email protected] if you would like to register your child for these programs.
In addition, I am working on the After-School Enrichment courses for the 2018-2019 school year, so look for those opportunities to be distributed and posted to our website the first week of school.
Thank you for sharing your children with us this summer and we hope to see you all soon.
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News & Notes
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Get Ready for the 2018 #WMSbacktoschool Photo Contest
It's time to get your cameras in focus again for our annual back-to-school photo contest. We know you all take photos of your kids on the first day of school and at the back-to-school picnic. Post those photos on Instagram using
#wmsbacktoschool
and you'll be entered to
win a WMS water bottle
. Don't forget to tag
@wilmingtonmontessori
! We can't wait to see your students ready for a great 2018-19 school year.
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Tomorrow: Back-to-School Family Picnic, 6-7:30 p.m.
We hope to see you all tomorrow, August 23, from 6-7:30 p.m. at our annual WMS Family Picnic! Pack a picnic blanket or grab a lawn chair (seating is limited) and come out to meet your child's teachers, classmates and other WMS families and staff.
Note: This is an outdoor event. Please check the WMS website and social media for information regarding potential cancellation in case of inclement weather.
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Thursday, August 30: Visit Your Child's Classroom, 10-11 a.m.
Take advantage of this chance to check out your child's classroom before school officially starts. Teachers will be prepared to answer questions, and you may drop off your child's
school supplies
to lighten your load on the first day of school.
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New Nurse Lisa Hours
This school year, our school nurse, Lisa Chou, will be working 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to better serve the needs of our WMS students. If you haven't had a chance to meet her, please stop by to say hello when you drop off your children in the mornings. Her office is located next to the front desk.
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Tap In to Edmodo for WMS Communications
In preparation for the new school year, we ask all parents to sign in to
Edmodo, the school's primary online communication tool, to avoid missing important information.
If you already have an Edmodo Parents account for your child from last year, you do not need to sign up again, but we suggest you log in to make sure your account works and notifications are turned on.
If you are new to WMS for the 2018-19 school year, you should have received an email in the last few days with instructions on how to sign up for an Edmodo account. If you have not received an email about Edmodo or have questions, please contact Director of Advancement & Communications
Noel Dietrich or Technology Coach
Rose Feehan.
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Start Planning for 2018-19 Co-op
As you prepare for the 2018-19 school year, it's a good time to start thinking about how your family will fulfill your annual
Co-op agreement. If you have questions or would like to express interest in a particular job, please email
[email protected].
We will also have a table at the Family Picnic on August 23 to answer questions and help get your Co-op year off to a great start.
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It's Almost a Wrap on the 2017-18 Annual Fund Year
As we get ready to start our new school year, we're wrapping up our
2017-18 Annual Fund.
Together, we've raised more than $80,000 since last September. Please help us reach $85,000 before August 31!
This year, gifts to the annual fund have helped WMS:
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It's Carnival Week at Camp Montessori!
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Carnival games ready for tomorrow's camp festivities
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As the
Camp Montessori
season winds to a close this week, campers will celebrate at the fifth annual camp carnival. This week, the Dragons (fifth- to eighth-graders) have been busy planning and designing all aspects of the carnival for the younger campers.
Working in groups, Dragons have been perfecting their designs for eight to 10 carnival games for campers ranging from Pandas (preschoolers) to Meerkats (rising third- and fourth-graders) to play this Thursday, August 23. Using materials including boxes, cups and various art supplies, the Dragon groups have been working on games such as Ping Pong Bounce, a variation of pinball and Pick a Duck.
Campers will move around to each game station and receive tickets for participation or completing a particular task. At the end of the carnival circuit, each camper can place their tickets into bags designated for each counselor. One ticket is drawn from each bag, and the campers whose tickets are drawn then have an opportunity to throw a pie in the face of and dump water on the corresponding counselor.
The carnival tradition began in 2014, when Dragon lead counselor Ben Loder came up with the idea for carnival games as part of that year's circus theme week. The carnival was such a hit that it's continued as the final camp week "field trip" since.
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Tomorrow's Leaders
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From Tables to Toddlers: Ameerah Taylor (WMS '10) Finds Her Calling in Early Childhood Education
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Ameerah Taylor |
Even with her knee in a brace following surgery earlier this summer, Ameerah Taylor (WMS '10) is exactly where she wants to be as a Camp Montessori Turtle (toddler) counselor. It's good practice for her upcoming fall semester at University of Delaware (UD), where she'll begin her early childhood education coursework after earning her associate's degree at the UD Wilmington campus this spring.
In fact, Ameerah credits her Camp Montessori work as the inspiration for her current career path. As a middle-schooler, she thought she wanted to be a chef. But after a few summers as a counselor - she's worked at Camp Montessori since 2011 - Ameerah realized how much she enjoyed working with children.
"I like working with children and watching them grow," she said. "So I thought early childhood education might be better than restaurant management or other culinary fields."
Following her graduation from WMS in 2010, Ameerah attended Springer Middle School, where she played tennis and basketball and was involved in Science Olympiad. From there, she decided to apply to Delcastle Technical High School, which offers a culinary arts program and what she envisioned would be a good stepping stone to achieving her dream of becoming a chef.
"A friend of mine said, 'hey, my cousin goes to Delcastle,' she said. "I applied and got in - my friend did not get in. I was excited because I got to meet new people, but it was also terrifying because I didn't know anyone."
Following her sophomore year, Ameerah took advantage of an opportunity to travel to Ripatransone, Italy, a mountain-top town on the Adriatic coast, where one of her culinary arts teachers, Chef James Berman, had made a connection with a local chef. With a small group of classmates, she embarked on a 20-day culinary adventure in Italy's Marche region.
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Ameerah ice skating during the 2009 sixth-grade trip to New York City
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"They showed us how to make pasta, we took cooking classes, we made rabbit - we made everything from scratch," Ameerah said.
But by junior year, Ameerah realized the culinary arts weren't for her. As juniors, Delcastle's culinary arts students are responsible for managing all aspects of the student-run cafe, and Ameerah didn't relish the hectic pace.
As her senior year approached, Ameerah was unsure of where to apply to college and what she would study. When discussing her options with her school guidance counselor and her parents, she kept coming back to her Camp Montessori experience working with toddlers and preschoolers. She soon followed their advice to pursue early childhood education and applied to University of Delaware.
Three years later, with her core requirements completed, Ameerah is preparing to focus primarily on education classes this fall, with a few African studies courses mixed in to fulfill her minor coursework requirements.
When she returns to WMS each summer to work at Camp Montessori, Ameerah is reminded of her own experience as a young WMS student. She fondly remembers the 9-12 overnight trips, looking forward to field day every year and the Girl Scout troop started by alumni parent Becca Gulino that still gathers every December at the Melting Pot. She hopes to draw from the lessons she learned at WMS when it comes to teaching her own students one day.
"I learned that you should definitely ask for help if you need it," she said. "You should take your time learning but at the same time know what you're trying to do."
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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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