May 28, 2014

Message from Head of School Lisa Lalama

Elementary Field Day

What's not to love about Field Day? Friday was Elementary Field Day at WMS, and it was wonderful to get outside and enjoy our beautiful campus. After golf-ball-sized hail and tornado warnings the day before, the weather could not have been more perfect. The sun was shining, the temperature was delightful and joy was in the air. Thanks to Adrianna and an amazing corps of more than 30 parent volunteers, the event went off without a hitch.

As I walked around the field, it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves, and they weren't all children. We know that it is healthy to "get moving" and even First Lady Michele Obama has an initiative to encourage children to get out and move. Field Day is a great reminder of the fun moving can be. Parents, grandparents, students, alumni and teachers were seen running, jumping, dancing and cheering.

Thank you to everyone who made the day such a success! Thank you for being a part of our community and encouraging us all to have some fun trying new things while we get moving.

For more Elementary Field Day photos, visit our album on Facebook. (Note: You don't have to be a member of Facebook to view them!)

Mark Your Calendar

May

29	Coffee with Lisa - 8:30 a.m. or 2:45 p.m. - Join Lisa and other WMS administration to chat about program changes for the 2014-15 school year, and meet our new 6-9 teaching team!
30	9-12 Concert - 9:30 a.m. (dress rehearsal - families, staff & students are welcome) & 7 p.m. (performance) in the Gym

June

4	Preschool Field Day - 9:30 a.m.
5	Graduation - 9:30 a.m. - WMS Gym - All are invited. Join us in congratulating the class of 2014! Last Day of School - Have a great summer! Deadline to submit responses to the 2014 Parent Year-End Survey
6	Pre-registered child-care available.
9	All-Staff Professional Day - NO child-care available. Learn more.
10-13	Pre-camp child-care available. Please register in advance so we can plan our staffing accordingly.
16	Camp Montessori begins - Register today!

Classroom News

Bare Books

by Room 15 Teachers Jill Pyle and Erin Wehler

How do you close out an amazing year of learning, laughing, discovering, growing and making friendships to last a lifetime? Answer: With Bare Books! The Room 15 children have excitedly enjoyed reflecting on their year in their personal bare books. Prompts have been:

The work I am most proud of...

I like to write stories about...

My favorite special is...

My favorite outdoor activity is...

My favorite book is...

My favorite friends are...

I am a good friend because...

My favorite place in school is...

I like WMS because...

The final step is for children to sign each other's books with a thoughtful note to celebrate their friendship, share a funny experience, make plans for the summer or give well wishes. The books will be a treasured keepsake to bring back memories of each child's kindergarten or first-grade year at WMS.

Co-op Corner

Graduation Preparations

Are you looking for a Co-op job that will make a lot of people happy, contribute to an annual tradition and also help complete your hours for the 2013-14 school year? The WMS graduation ceremony will take place next Thursday, June 5. As a part of this annual celebration, there will be a breakfast for the sixth-grade graduates and their families early that morning. You can earn hours by assisting with the preparation/purchase of the refreshments, such as coffee, croissants, orange juice and yogurt. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the Main Co-op Board across from the library. Thanks!

News & Notes

Parent Year-End Survey

Feedback from the parents at our school is one of our most valuable resources as we strive to enhance our programs and overall WMS experience every year!

We appreciate the high response rate we've received in previous years and have used information to make changes to our programs, communications and more.

We hope you will take the time to complete this year's parent survey, which has a special focus on strategic plan initiatives, at

www.surveymonkey.com/s/wmsparents2014. Please send all responses by the last day of school. If you have any technical issues, contact Noel Dietrich for assistance. Thank you!

June 9 Professional Day - Ages & Stages Training for Early Childhood Teachers

On June 9, the WMS's Early Childhood staff, teachers and assistants will participate in a day-long professional development program presenting information about "Ages and Stages." This is a developmental and social-emotional screening tool for children from one month to 5 � years.

"Ages and Stages" has been extensively researched and tested; organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology, First Signs and the Child Neurology Society all identify it as a high-quality screening tool. The staff is pleased to have this opportunity to learn more about such a valuable program to benefit children.

Summer Reading Program

The Delaware Learning Lab's Summer Reading Program 2014 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 16 to July 11. Children will receive one hour of instruction per day (longer sessions may be scheduled for older children for an additional fee) with a 5% discount for those who register before May 30. More information about payment and registration can be found on brochures that are available at the front desk or from Trish Harkins.

Questions? Email mecummings@me.com or 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.

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.