The Meerkat Milers are back! For a third year, WMS students, parents, alumni and staff will gather to run the Delaware Marathon Relay (on eight-person teams, requiring each member to run just over 5K) on May 10, 2015. This is a non-competitive community event involving so many people from our school in different capacities. Student participants will be accompanied by a team of adults who will stay with them on the course.

If running isn't your thing, there are several other ways to get involved and earn co-op hours. WMS will host a water station on the race course, and volunteers will also be needed to coordinate the distribution of race packets and other activities at the WMS tent. 

If you (or your child) are interested in any of this, please email meerkatmilers@wmsde.org or contact WMS mom Becky Davey! Further details will be distributed in the coming weeks, but for now, we would like to gauge interest so we can register for the right number of teams.

Are you on the hunt for a Co-op opportunity to begin the new year? Here are two interesting possibilities you might want to consider:

Alumni Pizza Party Support
Would you like to help a WMS staff member organize the Alumni Pizza Party on February 6, 2015? This is a very popular school event and a straightforward way to earn Co-op hours. Co-op parents work with a staff member to purchase and order food and help set up for this annual gathering of old friends. Please email co-op@wmsde.org or contact Laurie Orsic to volunteer.

Cell phone/Toner Recycling

Do you know how to pack a box for mailing? Do you know how to put on a shipping label? Do you want to help the school raise funds while also helping the environment? A volunteer is needed to pack the toner cartridges/cell phones brought to school by our community and prepare them to be sent out for recycling. This task is ongoing throughout the year. The schedule can be set by the volunteer at his/her convenience. Please email co-op@wmsde.org or contact Laurie Orsic to volunteer.

In Room 5, the month of December was filled with excitement and anticipation for winter and the holiday season. As winter approached, the children worked on many activities having to do with the changing season. They made snowmen for our classroom windows, read many books about winter, and watched snow flurries from our window.

As the winter holidays approached, the children created gifts for their parents. All of the children made picture frames that included their hand prints and pictures. Positive social interactions are an important part of the Montessori curriculum, so gift giving during the holiday season is something that we like to emphasize, especially since the children may be looking forward to receiving their own gifts. As they worked on their creative gifts, they learned that giving can be as rewarding as receiving. This activity is also a great way to help the children develop their fine motor skills, as well as a good sensorial experience for them, as they really get to use their hands with the paint.  With a little help from their teachers, the children were able to use their talents to make lovely gifts.   

Our preparations culminated with our annual holiday party. Here, the students gave their special surprises to their families who joined us for lunch. Parent involvement is such an important part of the WMS community and it was a special treat to have all of the children and their families with us to share the spirit of the holidays. Room 5 wishes everyone in the Wilmington Montessori community a happy new year.