April 16, 2014

Message from Head of School Lisa Lalama

I read a lot of blogs - not because I have time on my hands or want to sit and read and read (though I do) - but more because I'm curious. I love to learn. I want to know what's out there and learn as much as I possibly can. This weekend, while reading one of my favorite blogs by Seth Godin, I came upon a past entry about schools in which he says the following:

"...sometimes we forget that having knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a cornerstone of what it means to be part of our culture. The shift now is this: school used to be a one-shot deal, your own, best chance to be exposed to what happened when and why..."

Spirit Week 2014 - Crazy Hat & Clash Day

What we know today is that school is not simply a building; you have more than one shot at learning. School is not a group of teachers or students. It is our lives. Curiosity, compassion, organization and management of time and resources, and understanding all lead to learning.

This week the sixth-graders are leading Spirit Week. This has become an annual event that was born out of the desire to help us, the WMS community, learn about work that is being done in our world on behalf of others. In the past, the sixth-grade class has supported the work of the Tap Project, 350.org and Save the Rain. This year, they are raising awareness of Vision for and from Children as well as Bombs No More. By traveling to New York City last fall and participating in the Global Citizenship Action Project, they learned of many NGOs and their efforts throughout our world to create peace and bring better living conditions to all citizens of the world. This can't be taught solely in this building or through lectures, reading or doing math problems. It is taught through experiencing the world and building compassion for, and understanding of, others - those who are different than what we know.

Thank you to everyone who supports Spirit Week and the other efforts of WMS sixth-graders. Through them, you are all students and learning more about life inside and outside of the walls of this school.

Mark Your Calendar

April

17	Spirit Week - Pajama/Stuffed Animal Day
	"Informance" (Toddler & family sing-along) - 11 a.m. - Great Room
18	No school or child-care.
19	Building closed - No Saturday access
21	No school. Pre-registered child-care available.
22	Room 16 Biome Display Opens - Great Room Lobby - On display until May 9
24	Preschool Spring Concert - 9:30 a.m.
25	Deadline for ordering limited edition 50th anniversary WMS yearbooks - Books can ONLY be ordered in advance. Read More
28	Montessori Monday - Admissions - Tell a friend

Classroom News

Rooms 2 & 3 - Toddlers Explore Nature

by Lauren Harris & Jane Miner

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

As young children begin to develop an awareness of the world around them, it is important to provide them with experiences that will not only allow them to understand their world but respect it. In WMS's toddler classrooms, children are given the opportunity to take in the beauty of nature. Through materials on the shelves, observation of classroom pets and outdoor excursions, toddlers begin to identify elements of nature, which will help them to develop an appreciation for its beauty and a drive to learn more.

Currently, the children in Room 3 are studying seeds. The group has had the opportunity to match pictures of seeds and learn about the seed-to-plant cycle. We have been planting many things and exploring the outdoors, looking for seed pods. Exposing the children to this theme in all aspects of their day allows them to have a well-rounded experience, which builds their love for nature.

Room 2 also provides their students with nature experiences. Here is a description of their recent woods walk:

Room 2 took a sensory walk in the woods last week. The weather was lovely, and we were excited to look for signs of spring! We touched the smooth surface of a fallen tree and the rough and bumpy surface of a live tree's bark. We felt soft moss and a hard, cold boulder. We heard the birds chirping and airplanes, cars and trains passing. Some of us felt the squishy mud beneath our feet as well as the dry, crunchy leaves of last year. We saw the blue sky, the scrawl of red graffiti, the black of mold on a fence post and a piece of charred wood, the green of moss and skunk cabbage, and the yellow of a new spring flower. Our search for purple landed on the stripes of a child's tennis shoe.

We brought back leaves, a flower, some tree bark, a rock and some acorns to remind us of our adventure and to continue our discussion.

Auction News

Raffle to Ride in Style

Purchase your auction tickets today to enter!

By now, you are hopefully aware of the rapidly approaching 2014 WMS Annual Auction Gala on May 3. However, you may not know that your Evening Under the Stars could include some star treatment of your own. For a limited time, just by purchasing your ticket to the auction, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free chauffeured town car ride to the gala.

The lucky winner of the drawing will be picked up at his or her home on the evening of the event by a driver in a private car seating up to four people, enjoy a carefree Evening Under the Stars - including the auction, dancing and open bar - and will be driven home at the end of the night. While you can purchase your tickets to the auction at any time leading up to May 3, the town car drawing is an early bird perk, and only a few days remain to be entered for your chance to win.

Purchase your ticket to the auction in school or online by April 18, and you will automatically be entered into the town car and driver drawing.

Grab your ticket now, and good luck!

Spotlight Auction Item: Spring Style

Spring is finally here, and we can pack away the winter clothes at last (hopefully). But perhaps your wardrobe could use a little spring cleaning of its own?

The 2014 WMS Annual Auction Gala has an impressive array of items up for bids this year, including a Girlfriends Shopping Spree Getaway to Bloomingdale's. The prize not only includes a three-day, two-night stay in the Hyatt Hotel for you and your best gal pal, but you will also be booked with a Bloomingdale's personal shopper for a $1,000 shopping spree.

Known across the world as a fashion authority, you can spend your time at Bloomie's engaging in some retail therapy bonding, update your style and support your school all at the same time.

News & Notes

Student Photo of the Week (by fourth-grader Marissa Lane)

Limited Edition WMS 50th Anniversary Yearbooks

On Sale Through April 25

Remember WMS's 50th anniversary year by purchasing a limited edition 2013-14 school yearbook. This year's book will feature all of our students, from toddler through sixth-grade, and include beautiful outdoor class photos, pictures from school events and a plethora of candids, taken by our talented students and award-winning photographer Heather Siple.

Submit your order form with cash or checks in the front lobby, or purchase your books online by credit card. $12 is a small price to pay for memories that will last a lifetime!

Free New Castle County Emergency Preparedness Guides Available

The New Castle County Local Emergency Planning Committee has generously provided our school with a number of free "Resident Awareness & Emergency Preparedness Guides" to share with our families. The guides include New Castle County evacuation routes, emergency shelter information and other tips for keeping your family safe in case of a major emergency. The guides are available in the lobby. If you have specific questions about preparedness at WMS, please contact Nurse Paige, chair of the WMS Preparedness Committee.

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, Director of Communications.

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.