Yesterday was a proud day for all of us at Wilmington Montessori School. We celebrated the graduation of the 10 members of the class of 2013.

It was a beautiful morning that began with a breakfast for the graduates, their family members, and WMS teachers and staff. The delicious muffins were baked by fifth-graders and their families, who also coordinated decorations and served the food.  At the breakfast, Liz Madden presented special certificates to each child. The certificates described each graduate's unique gifts and interests, which were carefully identified by the 9-12 teachers. Specials teachers also recognized each graduate by sharing lists of each child's distinguishing traits, along with an acrostic poem based on their names.

Following the breakfast, 9-12 students spent time signing each other's memory books, then gathered outside in the Peace Park to remember their time at WMS. The class held hands, singing a song about friendship and love, before it was time for the sixth-graders to head to the gym for the graduation ceremony.

As each graduate entered the gym, we were all impressed by their poise and confidence. The annual tradition of watching a slide show of memories of each graduate throughout the years brought forth both laughter and tears from the graduates and their guests. The class of 2013 then came onto the stage as the formal ceremony commenced. 

Check out our album of graduation photos on Facebook!

I was so proud as Grant Farabaugh spoke about the sixth-graders' trip to the United Nations and their fundraising efforts for the organization Save the Rain, through which they raised $607. This project is a perfect example of how WMS empowers students to care for others and make a positive difference in the world around them.

The graduates continued another WMS tradition by reciting the poems they wrote, entitled "Where I'm From." Each poem was different, but reflected similar sentiments - the child's gratitude for their families and their love for WMS. These poems will be compiled into a book that is placed in the admissions waiting room (next to Theresa's office). I encourage you to read them next time you're in the building.  Here is a sampling of a few lines that reflect the graduate's feelings about our school:

- Crescentia Jung

- Dylan Garvin

- Ahmad Taylor

After the poems were read, the big moment arrived - it was time for me to present the graduates with their diplomas. I am so proud of each of them! 

Finally, as the ceremony drew to a close, friends and family members selected by the class of 2013 came to the stage to bring the graduates their "graduation baskets," another WMS tradition. The bags were full of fun gifts for the graduates, who were then ready to celebrate!

Before leaving the gym, each graduate selected a paper crane from the jar that was filled by each child and staff member on Peace Day. These cranes will help them remember their days at WMS and the community they will always be part of.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this a splendid day for these wonderful children.

Joyce Hutchison has decided to retire as a lead teacher at WMS. Joyce has been at WMS for 13 years, and I am particularly grateful for her leadership of the new preschool classroom we opened in January. In a short amount of time, she was able to create a peaceful community in Room 5. Joyce will continue to be present in our school next year as she serves as a part-time substitute teacher.

 

Dear WMS Community Members,

 

Thank you for a wonderful year! Our families brought so much joy to WMS this year with skating parties, a cultural potluck, the Delaware Marathon Relay, a beautiful teacher appreciation week and the list goes on. The Board too has been busy, and we wanted you to know what we have been doing since our last newsletter in January.  

 

Strategic Planning

The biggest Board news is our 2013-16 Strategic Plan. We have crafted this plan with the help and participation of our teachers, staff and parents through surveys and a focus on Montessori excellence. The process began with Israel Floyd, former chair of the WMS Board, who led the planning committee. Independent School Management (ISM) offered guidance starting in February, as we surveyed parents, faculty, key administrators and the Board of Directors. You can see what you said - the Parent Survey results have been posted on the Board Portal of the WMS website. One message came through loud and clear: our parents appreciate our teachers.

In mid-March, ISM's strategic planning expert Terry Moore led a group including the Board and our education directors Liz Madden and Lisa Lalama through a visioning process based on financial realities that identified 20 actionable items that will provide a strong foundation for WMS as we move into our 50th year.      

The entire strategic plan will be published in the next weeks. Highlights include a focus on STEM (cross-disciplinary, integrated science, technology, engineering and math), technology and arts, finance (balanced budget and staff compensation) and marketing. While the Strategic Plan has pinpointed areas for WMS to focus on in the next three years, the specifics will be developed with the help of our faculty, staff and parents. The STEM initiative is already well underway, and you will hear more about other initiatives in the coming months.

 

Governance

We successfully revised our WMS Bylaws, reestablishing elections for Board members. We were thrilled to bring Meredith Amado and Drew Matalonis onto the Board in March. The online elections process seemed to go well, although we will make improvements next year. We also thank retired Board members Paul Szkotak, Susan Thomas, Jackie Ivy and Nimrit Kang for their service to WMS in 2012-13.

Facilities Committee

The Facilities Committee is working on a full facility five-year assessment, planning for

maintenance and improvements. We look forward to benefitting from their focus on our building

and grounds.

 

Re-enrollment

We are all contributors to the enrollment picture at WMS, through re-enrolling our own children and encouraging our friends to come and stay at WMS. Thanks to everyone in this community, particularly Theresa Conaty, our admissions officer, the WMS re-enrollment picture is much stronger this year than last year at the same time.  

 

Marketing

The new WMS website will be unveiled this summer, thanks to the hard work of Noel Dietrich, our communications officer. Marketing will be an increasing focus as the strategic plan progresses.

Search for a New Head of School

News coming soon!  

 

Fundraising

The Development Committee has matched the $500,000 2012-13 challenge for a total of $1 million raised, thanks to the generosity of Judy and Bill Scheide and the Longwood Foundation. Judy and Bill specified that they would like to help our teachers through their gift, and WMS was able to offer a bonus to all staff this year.

Work has begun on a larger fundraising initiative for WMS's 50th Anniversary. We plan to exceed the second $500,000 match for 2013-14, aiming to fund strategic plan initiatives and build a healthy endowment. The silent phase of the comprehensive capital campaign is in the planning stage.

 

In partnership,

The WMS Board

Summer Reading Program

The Delaware Learning Lab's Summer Reading Program 2013 offers intensive daily reading instruction for students ages 5 and older. Instruction is individualized for each student and all instruction is one-on-one. The four-week program at WMS will run from June 17 to July 12.  Children will receive one hour of instruction per day (longer sessions may be scheduled for older children for an additional fee). More information about payment and registration can be found on brochures that are available at the front desk or from Trish Harkins.

Questions? Contact rebeccaschaen@comcast.net or call 302-250-5244. Children enrolled in Camp Montessori may also attend the reading program and will be escorted to their sessions by camp staff.

            

Co-op 
As the school year draws to a close, don't forget to submit your co-op hours as soon as possible to avoid getting a bill. Co-op hours can be submitted online (preferred) or by using a paper form, available next to the main co-op board across from the library or the board at the top of the Aspen Wing. Questions? Email co-op@wmsde.org.

Key Cards 
If you will not be returning to WMS for the 2013-14 school year, please turn in your keycard at the front desk as soon as possible.

School Calendar
Our 2013-14 school calendar is now available online. This calendar includes dates on which school is open and when breaks occur. We hope this will assist you with your planning for next year. Our school events calendar for next year will be available in a few weeks.

Saturday Access to the School
WMS will not be open to families on Saturdays during the summer, starting after June 15. Families who wish to access the school are welcome during camp hours, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building will be closed on the Fourth of July and during the week of August 26.