Celebrating the Class of 2022
June 8, 2022
On Friday, June 3, Wilmington Montessori School proudly celebrated Sadie Heiger, Wilmington Montessori School's 2022 eighth-grade graduate.
 
Head of School Lisa Lalama opened the ceremony, which was held in the Peace Park, reflecting on our single graduate:

"This year, we are in the unique place of having only one graduate. One. That might not seem like enough, but I assure you it is. One is considered a small number - a number that is not quite enough or yearns for more. One multiplied by itself is still one. One divided by itself is one. Adding or subtracting one doesn't alter a number substantially. It is a number that is defined as solitary, alone and beside itself. But ONE has not met Sadie Heiger. Sadie is unique, so in that way, she has something in common with one - the one and only. Sadie can stand alone, just as 'one' does. Sadie defines herself."

She went on to speak about Sadie's time at WMS, starting as a sixth-grader.
"Sadie came to the school with purpose and drive. She may not have attended a Montessori school in the past, but she certainly understood what it meant to be a Montessori student - to be intrinsically motivated, to learn for the sake of learning, to ask questions, to seek answers, to be compassionate and kind, to make suggestions, and seek allies in every aspect of every day in this school."

As she concluded her speech, Lisa shared several memories of Sadie, including her enthusiasm about participating in the Montessori Model UN program and passion for animals, especially the baby squirrel she rescued with her family last year.

"As Sadie moves on to high school at the Delaware Military Academy, she will share her enthusiasm for learning and life with everyone there. We know that school will be impacted as much as we have been. Everyone will know Sadie and be much better because of it. She will gift them with her inquisitiveness, her kindness, her graciousness and eagerness to learn and experience life to the fullest! She will be one of many others, but she will be one who stands out, who steps in and who leads the way. They are so lucky to have her as part of their class of 2026. We will miss you, Sadie, and we can't wait to see all the places you go and all that you accomplish. Please stay in touch, for you are always part of the WMS community."

Alumni Speaker Beatrice Lintner
Lisa then introduced this year's alumni speaker, Beatrice Lintner, who graduated from WMS in 2011. Like Sadie, Lisa described Beatrice as "kind and compassionate, caring deeply about all aspects of life." Beatrice, who graduated from Barnard College in 2021 with a degree in psychology, spoke about the impact her WMS education continues to have on her life today.

"Now, all of us already know why Montessori schools in general are so fantastic, and we all appreciate Maria Montessori's ideas. But I think Wilmington Montessori is a particularly special school because of the people here, from the students to the faculty. The teachers in this school are extraordinary and I've found that their wisdom has remarkable staying power. And as more and more time passes, the more I realize just how much my time here prepared me for my future. When I say, 'prepared,' I'm not just talking about academic preparation, though that is important. No - what I'm talking about is more subtle and more powerful. I'm talking about being gifted the skills to find my passions."

She continued on to say:
"Your time at this school is going to open doors for you your entire life. Even the least expected doors. Even the doors that are off in other buildings and seem totally unrelated to school. Because the principles of a Montessori education are now a fundamental part of you, just like they are for me. And they're going to help you for the rest of your life, both on the conscious and unconscious level."

Middle School Reflections
After Beatrice's speech, the middle-schoolers took the stage! First, members of the seventh-grade class shared their memories of Sadie through a poem. (Click here to watch.)

Following her classmates' presentation, Sadie shared her reflections on her three years at WMS. Sadie entered WMS in sixth grade, after being homeschooled, and she said that the school far surpassed all of her expectations.

"WMS would not be the same without these amazing teachers and staff who have done so much to make this school the best school it can be for me and all of the other students it teaches on daily basis."

Words from Middle School Teacher Mandy Balanetsky
Middle School teacher Mandy Balanetsky spoke about her experiences as Sadie's teacher, and Sadie's contributions to the WMS community:

"Younger students excitedly wave to you and chase you around at recess, teachers gush over your willingness to help and welcome those around you, and your classmates look up to you. I can say with confidence that every person in our classroom over these past two years has benefited from having you as a classmate. You have helped them with projects, participated in any activity or game that they asked you to, mediated arguments, checked on them when they were having a bad day, and most importantly, accepted them for exactly who they are. Your heart is pure gold, and we thank you for making us all strive to be better."

Memorable Moments - The Presentation of Diplomas & Celebrating with Family
TOMORROW'S LEADERS
The WMS Class of 2016 is off to college!
Members of the WMS Class of 2016 are now high school graduates, and many will be off to colleges/universities in the fall! Here are just a few of the schools they will be attending!

(If yours isn't listed, please email alumni@wmsde.org so we can update our records!)

  • Bucknell University
  • Full Sail University
  • Georgetown University
  • Hampton University
  • Montclair State University
  • University of New Haven
  • New York University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • University of Washington

We can't wait to hear about their future accomplishments!
Stay Connected
At WMS, alumni and their families are an important part of our community! Please stay in touch by emailing your news to alumni@wmsde.org and contact Noel if you'd like to continue to receive the Wednesday Weekly! You can also connect with us through FacebookInstagram and Twitter.
Give Back to WMS... Your Support Makes a Difference!
Gifts to WMS's Annual Fund help create the special WMS experiences our graduates remember. Donations support our classrooms filled with Montessori materials and state-of-the-art technology, allow us to continue the safety protocols that have kept us healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, help maintain our beautiful campus and enhance our outdoor learning curriculum, support our Montessori-trained teachers and arts programs, and allow us to offer financial aid so more children can benefit from a WMS education. Help us keep those traditions alive while we continue to create new learning opportunities for children. 

Every gift helps us keep WMS thriving for future generations! Visit www.wmsde.org/donate to make your tax-deductible gift to keep WMS strong!
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