It [joy] could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

The school is abuzz preparing for our hybrid reopening next week. Outdoor classrooms are coming together and packet pickup for remote learning has begun. Here is a look at some of the current activity...

Current parents: please log in to ParentSquare for the latest logistical information on packet pickup and on campus protocols.

We are reaching out to alumni whose work is related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or someone you know would like to share their experiences with the WWS community, please send us an email.

Laila started in the Children's Garden at WWS in the 1970's and she was in John Brauer's first class for 1st through 8th grade (Mr. Brauer has taught at WWS for 45 years and is currently the G3 class teacher). We are grateful that she took some time to share some of her experience with us...

Q: Briefly describe the work you are doing related to the pandemic.

A: Public Health plays an essential, yet under recognized, role in the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases.... My days are fully consumed with managing the positive COVID 19 cases we receive throughout the day. We are fortunate to have built a robust and knowledgeable contact tracing team to support the members of our community. Their role is to reach out to the positive individual, discuss their signs and symptoms, provide them with isolation guidance, gather important demographic and medical data and investigate who could have been potentially exposed. Once the positive individual’s initial interview is completed we turn to reaching out to those who were identified as being either a household or close contact. Each contact is called, an interview is conducted and quarantine guidance it given. We continue to follow up with each positive individual and their contacts every several days until they are released from isolation and quarantine. Another aspect of the COVID pandemic is the work our Communicable Disease Nurses provide by identifying, and managing, outbreaks in Long Term Care, Assisted Living and Conjugate Living facilities. 

Q: What is the most difficult moment you’ve faced during the pandemic?

A: I have been a RN for 12 years during which Obstetrics had been my scope of nursing. On February 26th I began my journey in Public Health Nursing. Two weeks after beginning my new position the COVID 19 pandemic was officially declared. For myself, this was the most difficult moment. I entered an entirely new role and a new scope of nursing which is a transition during “normal” circumstances, and now a pandemic which only occurs once, if that, in a public health nurses career. With the support of my amazing Staff, Administration, Health Officer and Medical Director I was able to learn and navigate through this novel virus which is like a puzzle where the pieces are ever changing.... 

Q: What do you wish more people knew about the pandemic?

A: Each person has their own knowledge base of COVID 19, which I appreciate. As the days and months go on during this pandemic I long that all members of society could truly understood the potential bearing this virus has on everyone they meet. I believe that, for some, the genuine impact this virus has is not fully comprehended until it effects those around them.... Typically the transmission of this virus does not halt with the infected individual. Most have had contact with someone - whether family, friend, or a stranger - when they are actively shedding the virus.... My wish is that society as a whole would take a moment and recognize how their actions potentially effect those they love, as well as ones they may not know.

You can view the full calendar online either on the website , in ParentSquare , or in the BigSis portal (these 3 platforms are synced from the same calendar). 

These brief coffee breaks will be a causal time for parents to join Jennifer Page online for a visit and to ask questions as the school year begins. Zoom details will be sent out through ParentSquare.

Susan Walsh, WWS librarian, will be holding a Virtual Book Club this fall. Participants will read "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi, a historical fiction tracing the impact of slavery on an African family. Read a review of the book on NPR.

Sign up to receive an email from Susan with the details.

This is a summary of new and updated roles to help us all navigate the new school year. You can find biography information for our Faculty & Administration on the website.

Can you volunteer 2-5 hours this year to help meet the School's annual fundraising goals? Class Agents are invaluable to the work of the school in meeting its goal of 100% parent participation in this year's ONE FUND campaign. Class Agents are needed for all classes. We would love an Alumni Parent Class Agent too!

In general, the role of the class agent is to share information and updates about the ONE FUND and importance of every WWS family's participation in this giving campaign. Typical time commitment averages 30 minutes per month. In addition, the class agents serve as liaisons to the Development Committee, to share information about upcoming all school events and all school fundraisers that benefit the community and financial health of the school. We promise to make your volunteer efforts in this capacity fun! If interested, please contact Development Director Caitlin MacKenzie by email or at 301-229-6107 x127.

Are you interested in finding ways to engage the community while we are unable to gather on campus? We are looking for volunteers to help plan and participate in class and full community virtual events in the coming months. Parents would work with Maria Monteverde-Jackson (Director of Events & Community Relations) and other parents to brainstorm and implement ideas. If you are interested, please email email Maria.

We welcome submissions of community news, items for sale, want ads, etc. Please keep notices to 500 characters or less. Listings will likely be edited. Please submit listings by COB Tuesdays with the subject "Bulletin Submission." Bulletin Board notices generally run for 3 weeks - if space allows - unless other arrangements have been made. There is no charge for listings.  

For Sale: Half size cello, $1100. Please contact Geoff Baker for more details! breadbaker1@gmail.com

We welcome your comments and submissions. Contact Alia Goodyear if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you have submissions, questions, or suggestions. Please email submission by COB TUESDAY with the subject line "Bulletin Submission."