Wednesday Weekly
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March 19, 2014

Message from Head of School Lisa Lalama  

   

Last Monday was a professional development day at WMS; we had the wonderful opportunity to attend a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) workshop at the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation (DASEF). It was an amazing day. Our facilitator led us in a variety of STEM challenges such as creating a bridge or a boat using a limited number of materials that could hold the most possible weight, building a car that could go a certain distance or exploring Newton's Law using marbles and tracks. The activity level in that classroom was a delight to behold. Each and every one of the teachers who works with your children was engaged in learning, collaborating, trying ideas, adjusting their thinking and trying again.

 

Each day in the classroom, these are the things that WMS teachers work to incorporate whether through STEM or another activity. A toddler learns which clothes fit a certain doll by trial and error. Preschool students mix colors together at the easel and are either pleased or dissatisfied with the result, encouraging further mixing and adjusting their methods. Elementary students learn about bridges and how they work and build one to carry a certain load. Some hold; others fall. They try again.

 

The learning isn't necessarily in the success of the task, but in the collaboration of ideas, assimilation of others' thinking with one's own, and the ultimate outcome, which allows further adjustments towards the project goal. These dispositions hold a student in good stead when considering a math problem or writing an informative paragraph. Learning to consider feedback, incorporate the feedback and make changes produces a more thoughtful outcome as well as more in depth learning.

 

The joy in projects that worked, the laughter when things didn't go as planned and the camaraderie that came out of Monday's workshop cannot be underestimated. We are all learners and we need time to experience things in a different way. Thank you for making the adjustments to your days that allowed our teachers to work together to experience STEM at its finest.

 

   

Mark Your Calendar
March
21Alex Shaw (Artist in Residence) performance - 1:30 p.m. - Great Room - Join us!
24-28
Spring Break - No school - Pre-registered child-care and mini-camps only  - Learn more and register for Spring Break programs at WMS. 

 

Note: There will be no Saturday access to the building on March 22 or 29.



April

1
Camp Montessori Early Registration Deadline - Families registering for five or more weeks by April 1 receive a 10% discount on everything! Learn more and register online.
 
3Standardized Testing & Classroom-Based Assessment Workshop - 8:45 a.m.

Parent Work Room Grand Opening and PTO Meeting - 9:15 a.m. - Room 17 -
Read More 

4 & 10Childfind Testing - This screening, provided by the Brandywine School District's Project Childfind, is to identify children who are eligible to enter kindergarten (turning 5 years of age by August 31, 2014) who may have special learning abilities or needs. Forms were sent home on March 6 to eligible students. Questions? Contact Theresa Conaty.  
7Montessori Monday (Admissions) - 9:30 a.m. - Tell a friend!
7-11 ERB Testing
News & Notes
Photo of the Week by fourth-grader Renee Amado. Look for more photos taken by our talented students in the coming weeks. Many of these photos will be featured in our school-wide yearbook, which will be on sale after spring break.

First State Ballet Performs Scenes from Cinderella at WMS  

Attend the full performance on April 12 or 13 at the Grand Opera House 

 

On Friday, the students of WMS were treated to the third installment of the Artist in Residency with First State Ballet. It was a magical morning as the dancers shared with students their practice routine and also gave a sneak peak of their upcoming performance of Cinderella.

The students laughed at the antics of the wicked stepsisters and were captivated by the lifts and the grace of the prince and Cinderella. At the end of the performance, two dancers demonstrated some of the language of dance. Ask your child how dancers use their bodies only to say hello, ask a question or request a dance.

 

We hope that those who are interested are able to see the full ballet of Cinderella performed at the Grand Opera House on April 12 and 13 (invitation attached).

WMS thanks First State Ballet Theater for their generosity in sharing this beautiful art form with our community. 

 

 

Poisson D'Avril    
    

 

Have you seen the amazing display of stuffed marine animals, books and toys on display in the front lobby? For the price of one raffle ticket, you can have a chance to win all of the items in the display. The total value is over $500!  

A group of WMS parents have been working to raise funds for the care and feeding of the fish and other animals in the aquarium in the Toddler/Preschool wing. There are two ways to help. You can:

 

  • Purchase a raffle ticket and a bag of delicious fish cookies for $2.

  • Purchase a bag of two cookies for $1.

All of the proceeds from the raffle and the cookie sale will go to the "WMS Aquarium Fund."

 

The "aquarium display" drawing will be on April Fools' Day - Tuesday, April 1. (No foolin'!) In France, on April 1, people attach paper fish (poisson d'avril) to their acquaintances' backs as a traditional April Fools' prank. Fish-shaped chocolates, pastries and cookies are sold in shops at this time of year, hence the chance to buy "poisson d'avril cookies" in support of this special fundraising effort. Fabienne, the WMS French teacher, talks about this tradition in her classes.   

 

This impressive aquarium display is, in fact, a preview of coming attractions. It was created by anonymous, community benefactors who built and donated it to WMS, expressly to help us raise funds for the aquarium. More of their "themed baskets" and "themed displays" will be available at the WMS Auction on May 3, so plan on coming to the auction to have the chance to bid. In the meanwhile, buy a raffle ticket and take a chance on winning the "aquarium."  

Parent Work Room Grand Opening and PTO MeetingPTO
Thursday, April 3 at 9:15 a.m.

 

Join us for coffee, tea and morning treats in the newly-created Parent Work Room, a dedicated space for parent gatherings, meetings and respite. Come and see the welcoming and comfortable place parents have made for parents.

 

Immediately following the refreshments, there will be a PTO meeting. There are several important topics on the agenda - including the WMS Auction, special school projects/events scheduled for April, May and June and possible activities and opportunities for next year, including a proposed school lunch program.

 

Looking forward to seeing you there! 
The Wednesday Weekly shares WMS news and events that are relevant to the families in our community.  

Please send submissions to
wednesday-weekly@wmsde.org by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the issue in which you wish to include your information. Content may be edited for length and style and may be held for a future issue due to space constraints.  

For more information, contact Noel Dietrich, Communications Officer.
 Our Mission
 
Wilmington Montessori School is a collaborative learning community rooted in Montessori principles, inspiring the joyful discovery of self and a passion for learning and independent thinking. We empower children to be knowledgeable and responsible contributors to the global community.