Message from Head of School Lisa Lalama 

Our clocks have jumped ahead an hour bringing us longer days. With these changes (and, hopefully, better weather!) come thoughts of enjoying the outdoors, having a bit more freedom to wander and play. As adults, we often get caught up in our "to-do lists," moving from one task to another; it is endless. Children have lists as well. Sometimes it is challenging to see the benefit of the items on their lists. Why is it important to gather sticks to build a fairy house? Why do all of the stuffed animals need to be scattered throughout the kitchen for a pretend tea party? Is there really a need to go outside again and run aimlessly through the yard? As it turns out, the answer is a resounding yes.

As Maria Montessori said in The Absorbent Mind, "Play is the work of the child." It is through play that children are able to explore what is possible. Stuart Brown defines play as "an open-ended experience initiated by children that involves pretense, rough-and-tumble activity or the spontaneous use of real objects for creative activity." Providing items that have multiple uses allows children to discover alternate uses for an object and create meaning. These are precisely the skills that promote thinking, creativity, and innovation and ultimately lead to academic success. This helps children imagine themselves as adults and how they might manage their future lives.

Encouraging play and making room for it during the school day are important aspects of your children's lives at WMS. From the youngest children to the oldest, unstructured time is built into their days. Recess is valued. They are given the freedom to explore their world and determine how they fit in it. It is through this trial and error and playfulness that children learn how the world works. It helps them form relationships and learn how to connect with others. It allows them to imagine. Play is important. I encourage you to take some time this spring to notice your children playing, imagining and wondering about all the world holds.

Heifer International Read to Feed Program Reaches Across Disciplines and Oceans to Feed the Hungry 
     

This winter, Wilmington Montessori School's 5-7 and 7-9 students worked together to raise a total of $2273.50 for Heifer International through the Read to Feed program.

Heifer International is a nonprofit organization that works to end world hunger and save the earth through the gift of farm animals and training. Instead of providing families in need with a non-renewable source of food, Heifer International provides a "living loan" of an animal and extensive training in animal care, community development, and earth-friendly farming practices. 

As many of our WMS projects do, this project spanned disciplinary areas including cultural studies, language, community service and mathematics. When all of the money was collected, the students worked together to calculate the total amount raised, then held a meeting to discuss how the funds would be allocated. Here's what they selected: 

Life-Changing Animals
The group purchased a goat, heifer, camel, water buffalo, llama, sheep, pig, fish, rabbits, honeybees, ducks, chicks, geese and an animal welfare kit.

Provide Basic Needs
Students decided to purchase fresh water pumps, a family nutrition kit and building materials for shelter.

Support Sustainable Farming
Water irrigation pumps, as well as plants and seeds for harvesting, were selected.

Spring Break Mini-Camps  

Don't forget to register for Spring Break mini-camps for your 6- to 10-year-old! LEGO Amusement Park and Fun With Books will run for half days on March 25-27, then again in April for the public school spring break.

Learn More or Register