Volume 13 | April 23, 2021
A letter from Michelle Edwards, Head of School
Dear WHMS Community,

I wanted to take a moment to reach out in recognition of and reflection on the extraordinary times in which we are living.    

Each day at Woodland Hill we come together and our space is filled with learning, growth, and laughter. It is an honor to be with your children. Yet, we remain aware of and connected to what is happening in the broader world and the complexity of the impact this has on members of our community.

The pandemic has laid bare structural inequities. We have seen a rise in hate crimes and racially and other motivated mass shootings. Over and again, we see Black and Brown members of our community killed during police encounters and know that reforms are overdue and critical. As the trial of Derek Chauvin came to a close this week, we want to recognize the deep trauma of re-living the tragic killing of George Floyd. His life mattered.  

This week's conviction of Derek Chauvin provides a temporary balm to the deep wounds of racism. May this moment of justice spark hope and further clarify our country’s vision for a better future.

Your child may hear about the trial or verdict and have questions. One of the best ways to know what your child is ready to talk about is to listen to their questions. Creating space for them to talk is so important and will help you get in touch with the parenting instincts that will guide you through these tough conversations. It is okay not to know all of the answers; you can find them together. In the sidebar, I have gathered some resources that you may find helpful. 

We are prepared to support students and I ask that you please reach out to me or your child’s teachers if you feel your child could use extra support during this time or in the future.  

We have work to do as a country and as a Montessori school to continue our commitment and our journey to become a fully anti-racist community that affirms the inherent value, beauty, and potential in all our children. As Dr. Montessori says, “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” There can be no greater impact on the future of equity and justice than to raise our children with love in their hearts and the belief that they can take action to be a force for good in this world.     

In Partnership,
 
Michelle Edwards
Head of School
150 for 150
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Maria Montessori's birth this year, we also want to highlight our own Montessorians. Throughout the school year, we will highlight a WHMS teacher in each Messenger with five facts about them, totaling 150 facts throughout the year.
This week's facts are from Middle School teacher Cora Heiser.
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  • During my 16 years at Woodland Hill, I have been on many adventures with the WHMS community. Some of my most memorable trips with WHMS students have included the Netherlands, Mexico, Guatemala, three trips to Puerto Rico, two Civil Rights Journeys through the South, and a service trip to Tanzania. 
  • I have an identical twin.
  • I enjoy sports and athletics. I was the captain of both the soccer and basketball teams in high school. These days, kayaking and skiing are my favorite ways to get some exercise.
  • Both of my children, Ethan and Evelyn, participated in WHMS’s infant-to-work program and joined me in the Middle School classroom for the first six months of life. They came back in a year's time by enrolling in the toddler program at 18 months and have been coming to work with me every morning since.
  • I married my high school sweetheart on our fifth-generation family farm in the same spot where my parents were married many years before.
WHMS Happenings
Cindy and Michele's class each took a field trip to the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. this week. Patrick's class trip was postponed due to the weather. The field trip focused on one of the five major world religions covered in the UE classes: Christianity.  
Cindy said that Brother Patrick led the class on a fascinating two-hour tour around the grounds, including a grotto in the woods, where students were invited to light candles and send good wishes. They also walked the thirteen stations of the cross, where Brother Patrick discussed the historical events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ.
The Middle School held its first in-person Coffee House in the amphitheater on Friday, April 23. Lower El and Upper El students were invited to participate and the MS students prepped the students beforehand, set times for each class, and assigned spots to assure social distancing between classrooms.
Earth Day 2021
WHMS students commemorated Earth Day by planting flowers, vegetables, learning about recycling, and picking up litter around the school grounds. 

Sandy's Lower El class read a book about climate change and discussed global concerns and their hopes for the future. Sandy says that "After an in-school scavenger hunt, the class took a closer look at their own lunchboxes, classroom, and school building and recognized how Woodland Hill is already doing things to help the earth." 
“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.”

-Dr. Maria Montessori
Painting the earth in a Primary classroom.
Stephanie teaches a lesson in recycling.
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Planting tomatoes, eggplant, and pepper seeds in a Lower El class (above). Below, the Toddlers planted seeds on Earth Day also.
The WHMS Class of 2017. We will report on their
post-high school graduation plans in an
upcoming Messenger.
WHMS Class of 2021
There are 17 members of the WHMS Class of 2021. Six students will be heading to their local public high schools and another two will attend Tech Valley High School.

Nine students have enrolled at independent schools. We are delighted to report that everyone was offered admission to their first-choice school! We have one student enrolling at Albany Academy for Girls, one student will enroll at the Darrow School, six students will attend Emma Willard School, and one student will attend LaSalle Institute. 

We continue to see roughly half of our graduates attending their local public school and the other half attending the independent school of their choice.
Flower arranging in the Toddler class
This month, the Toddler teachers introduced a new multi-step work: flower arranging. The children must fetch a pitcher of water and are instructed in the use of a funnel to pour that water into the tiny vases before arranging the flowers therein. They are then free to place the vases around the room, or take the flowers out, pour the water back into the pitcher and back into the sink. It has been quite popular!
WHMS eGala21: Sequins & Slippers 
Stock photo.
Thank you so much to the donors who supported the WHMS eGala21, Sequins & Slippers, by donating to the eGala, or Raising their Paddle for the Spider Net Climber. Just over $25,000 was raised for the Climber. A Climber very similar to the one above has been ordered and will be installed on the elementary playground over the summer!

Gemma and Jason Allen
Marina and Kyle Angelicola-Richardson
Anonymous (6)
Elizabeth and John Armstrong
Ann and Adam Ayers
Dr. Michael and Madeline Baltrush
Mr. and Mrs. John Baringer
Hank Bennett and Shelby Stauffer Bennett
James Besha, Jr. and Susan Thomas
Jennifer and James Beyers
Concetta Bilanceri
Maurizio Bilanceri
Laura Bopp
Kevin and Monica Brady
Timothy Chiplock and Nuhar Jaleel
Katie and Ryan Coakley
Tanya and Matt Corry
Samantha and Nicholas Corvino
Michael and Sara DeLeonardis
Voramon and Cheer Dheeradhada
Mustafa Dokucu and Isil Severcan-Dokucu
Danielle and Jason Dow
Michelle and Ashley Edwards
Carlos and Sonia Elguero
Susan and David Evans
Glenn and Chantel Fiedler
Spencer Freedman and Sophia Conroy
Patrick Galarza and Tara Borodin-Galarza
Frederick and Laura Galt
Bob and Tamara Gatchell
Peter and Kristine Gernert-Dott
Matthew Gifford and Jennifer Baltrush
Wendy and Charles Gilman
Geoff Gloak and Kristi Berner
Jennifer and Niles Gold
Jeremy Goldberg and Vanessa Bilanceri
Sherwin and Sandra Goldberg
Nieves Gonzalez-Montejano
Alex Harbin
Osheen Harruthoonyan and Shanley Knox
Marion Heller
Danielle and Mohamed Hemmid
Jaqualyn and Sauro Iardella
Jon Irizarry and Coral Anglada
James and Erin Jenkins
Patrick and Laura Jordan
Amy Kellogg
Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew
Julie and James Knox
Mary Kopley
Drs. Derek and Kimberly Lane
Nicole and Brian Lenihan
Conor and Doni Lillis
Nicole and Brendan Longcore
Drs. Jim and Jenny Malatras
Steven and Corrine Manierre
Steven and Tara Manierre
Jessica and James Marley
Murray and Mallory Massry
Andrew McClain and Sandy Blakeman
Kristen McDermott
Neelam Mehta
Erin and Fernando Mergil
Kim and Ian Morrison
Mathieu Moulin and Naomi Wimberley-Hartman
Drs. Sarah and Ananth Narayan
Vishnu and Christopher Nocella
Lauren and Frank Orciuoli
Lindsey and Thalis Orietas
Kimberly and Yakov Polishchuk
Thomas and Stephanie Puchner
Melinda Putney
Joe and Abbie Putrock
Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Moira Rienzo
Dr. Wendy and Jesse Roberts
Kerri and Thomas Scheib
Eric Schroeck and Shayna Vecchione
Edward Schwarzschild and Elisa Albert
Vinay Shah and Ami Doshi-Shah
Vinita Shekhar
Dr. CD and Katherine Singh
Erika and Chris Solomon
Jeff Stewart and Heather Klusendorf
Colleen and Seigo Takeshima
Alison and Kevin Tedesco
Susan Unger and Peggy O'Shea
Deepak Vashishth and Valerie Vasselon-Vashishth
Christine Vaughan, Head of School, Bethlehem Children’s School
Jesse Vollick and Jessa Pelizari
Joshua Wainman, Wainschaf Associates, Inc.
Aaron Wey and Jodi Novak Wey
Trevon Williams and Katina Hutton
Ajay Yesupriya and Leah D'Agostino
Baris and Ceren Yoruk
Nina and Sarah Yutesler
Empowering Parents and Students
Dr. Andrew Snow and the WHMS Suzuki Violin Program invite everyone for a special Suzuki event with master teacher Carrie Reuning-Hummel. 

Sunday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET 
An inspiring discussion for all parents, students, and teachers alike. There will be a Q&A. Submit questions for Carrie in advance (to SACD email)
 
Please add "SACD" to your screen name and do not share the Zoom link. 
 
We are fortunate and honored to have renowned master Suzuki teacher Carrie Reuning-Hummel join us for our final SACD Suzuki Session of the year. One of the first Suzuki students in the United States, Carrie studied with Shinichi Suzuki. She is also a Suzuki parent, the author of Time to Practice: A Companion for Parents, the Director of the pioneering and nationally recognized Ithaca Talent Education Suzuki School, the artistic advisor for the Ithaca Suzuki Institute, and the Director of the graduate degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at Ithaca College.
 
Carrie will share stories from her time as a student with Dr. Suzuki and her journey as a Suzuki parent with her children. She will offer her profound wisdom and insights into the complexities of understanding and working with a variety of personalities. 
 
Ride Against Racism
Come join WHMS in the first-ever RIDE AGAINST RACISM bike event sponsored by the YWCA! WHMS will have a table at the event. Contact WHMS parent Mandy Torres with any questions.
 
WHMS staff, students, family, and community are encouraged to attend! Recruit your friends, neighbors, and extended family to participate!

This is a self-coordinated bike ride with no starting or finish line, chip-timing, or firm start and end times. Register to check-in at one of the three locations (Albany, Watervliet, or Bethlehem) or participate virtually! Registration ends on Friday, April 30. The registration fee is $40 plus a $3.32 sign-up fee for adults. Ages 18-21 is $20, age 13-17 is $10, and children 12 and under are free.
Upcoming Events

Friday, April 30
Primary Pinning, 9:30 a.m.


Saturday, May 1
Ride Against Racism, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Along the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail


Friday, May 14
Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day - Online presentation
Half-day, noon dismissal


Thursday, May 18
Alumni Banquet for the WHMS Class of 2020


Thursday, May 27
Middle School Field Day, Peebles Island