W E D N E S D A Y W E E K L Y

March 4, 2015

In This Issue

News & Notes

Co-op Corner

Today's Learners

Tomorrow's Leaders

Upcoming Events

Important Reminder:

Thank you to everyone who has submitted re-enrollment paperwork so far! If you have not yet submitted yours, please do so by Friday to avoid the $100 late fee. For more info, please contact Nancy Oddo.

March 5

WMS Family Concert with Tony Vacca

6:15 p.m. in the Great Room
Learn More

Note: The Journey, originally scheduled for March 6, has been rescheduled for April 10. Register online at
wmsde.org/parenteducation .

March 13

All-Staff Professional Day

No classes.
Pre-registered child-care only.

March 16

Montessori Monday Open House

9:30 a.m.
Tell a friend!

March 18

Board & Advisory Board Visitation Day

March 19

9-12 Talent Show

9:30 a.m. - Dress Rehearsal
7 p.m. - Concert
Gym

March 23-27

Spring Break

No classes
Pre-registered child-care only.
More Info

Note: The Journey, originally scheduled for March 6, has been rescheduled for April 10. Register online at wmsde.org/parenteducation.

Full Calendar

Message from Head of School

Lisa A. Lalama

For more of Lisa's writing, check out the Montessori Message blog.

Last week, we celebrated Dads' Day at Wilmington Montessori School. Dads (and other special friends and family members) were found taking a break from their busy schedules and slowing down to spend some time in their children's classrooms.

The children eagerly shared their work, introduced their guests to their friends, and basked in the attention of this very special person in their lives. As I walked throughout the building on Thursday each classroom I entered was similar. Dads were found on the floor or on chairs much too low to the ground, giving their undivided attention to their children. They took part in conversations, read stories, held continents steady for tracing and engaged in the work of their children.

Maria Montessori stated that humans feel worthwhile through their work, leading to a feeling of accomplishment and self-respect. She believed that it is through work that a child constructs his or her "true" self. Each year, Dads' Day allows WMS fathers and other guests to fully be a part of the Montessori "workplace," a place where children engage with the environment and learn and grow through these experiences.

News & Notes

Tony Vacca performing for toddler and 3-6 students with DIAE Artistic Director Jonathan Whitney

Family Concert: Tomorrow Night (March 5) at 6:15 p.m. featuring Tony Vacca

The sounds of African drumming have filled the halls of WMS as Tony Vacca has worked with your children throughout the day - now it's your turn to hear him perform!

Tony Vacca is an innovative American percussionist with jazz and world music roots going back to 1972. His solo performances are a nearly non-stop athletic spectacle of percussion music and spoken word. He incorporates percussion instruments from a world of traditions that include African, Caribbean, Asian and Middle-Eastern influences, to which he adds some of his spoken word and rhythm poetry. Tony's 14 trips to West Africa have contributed to his unique approach to playing the balafon, and to his depth of knowledge regarding African and American musical traditions.

As part of tomorrow night's concert, 9-12 students will be performing with Tony. We hope to see you there!

This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Note: We are carefully monitoring the weather forecast for tomorrow. If school is closed due to snow, the concert will not be held on Thursday night; however, Tony Vacca has generously agreed to stay and work with our students on Friday and perform on Friday evening at 6:15.

Auction News

Dear WMS Families,

We are excited to invite you to the WMS Annual Auction Gala, Bidding on the Bayou, on April 18, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Whether you are new to Wilmington Montessori or you've never missed the gala, here are three great reasons to attend this year's event:

1. You'll have the opportunity to take home something special! With a wide variety of auction items to bid on - from beautiful classroom gifts created by WMS children to vacation home packages for a relaxing week in the sun - there is something for everyone at a WMS auction.

2. There will be plenty of funk, rock and soul with blues vocalist, saxophonist and songwriter, Vanessa Collier!

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...

3. You will be supporting WMS. Proceeds support the school's operating costs, including ongoing professional development, classroom materials, technology and arts enhancements, and tuition assistance.

Mark your calendars now for April 18! Tickets will be available in mid-March. Look for more details in the weekly newsletter.

We hope to see you there!
Auction Chair Stephanie Simms & The 2015 WMS Auction Committee

What is Development and Why Does WMS Need It?

by Joan Beatson, Director of Development

Joan Beatson, Director of Development

After working at nonprofits for more than 20 years, I am used to people asking me, "What is 'development?'" I usually answer, "fundraising," but truthfully it is a lot more than that. To me, working in development means facilitating the creation and strengthening of connections between people in your community and the organization. Those connections can take the form of a donation of money, time or services, but the deeper connection is based on a shared commitment to the mission of the organization.

People often wonder, too, why an independent school would need to fundraise. Doesn't the school get enough from tuition? Tuition does cover most of the school's operating expenses. However, all independent schools need to raise funds to close the gap and enrich their programs, to cover costs of maintaining and inevitably upgrading their facilities, and, ultimately, to help push their organization forward in order to better meet the needs of children and to better fulfill their missions.

At WMS we are lucky to have a committed community of individuals who believe in our mission. We all give our time, energy, and yes, dollars to help keep the school thriving and strong. Thanks to everyone who gives to WMS in so many different ways - it is because of you that WMS has been at the forefront of Montessori education in our community for more than 50 years and will continue to be for the next 50.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series on development at WMS. To learn more about how you can support our Mission and Strategic Plan, contact Joan at joan_beatson@wmsde.org.

Co-op Corner

The annual school auction is the biggest fundraiser of the year and one in which everyone can be involved - the more the merrier!

This year's auction will be held on Saturday, April 18 here at WMS. How can you help with this important event and also earn Co-op hours? That's an easy question to answer. Support is needed with two tasks in particular:

1. Decorating - Help is needed with simple decorating and set up work in the days leading up to the auction. Guidance and companionship will be provided, all you need to bring is a willingness to chip in. People power would be most helpful on Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 throughout the day and evening.

2. Baker's Brigade - Would you be willing to prepare special treats for the auction, with the event's theme in mind? Recipes and requests will be provided.

Today's Learners

The Daily Yoga app brings professional yoga instruction to WMS.

Technology in Physical Education

by PE Teacher Adrianna Wall

Many people wonder if there is a place for technology in physical education. They picture children sitting at desks, passively staring at a computer or tablet. However, at WMS we know that technology can be integrated into our curriculum in active ways that challenge children to explore their world, make connections and learn more about themselves. This is also the case in PE, where apps and technological tools can encourage physical activity, make exercise more fun and help make connections with other subject areas.

Elementary-aged PE students at WMS are exposed to new technology through their iPads and other devices like stopwatches, heart rate monitors and pedometers. Here are a few different apps that can help get your children moving and even get your entire family involved with physical education.

1. RunKeeper - Using this GPS app for mobile phones, simply go for a run, walk, ride or ski. During your activity, the app will update you on your pace and mileage. When you're finished, view maps of your route, check out the breakdown of minutes per mile and even take a look at your heart rate and how it changes throughout your activity (if you have a compatible monitor).

2. Hundred Pushups - This app is designed to improve your core strength. Within the classroom, this application can be used to explore fitness components and how they can be trained and developed to improve performance in sports and overall fitness.

3. Daily Yoga - There are a variety of apps available for yoga. At WMS, we have used Daily Yoga via Apple TV in the Great Room. Students enjoyed all of the poses and it was easy for even the most inexperienced yogis to follow along.

4. QR Code Reader by Scan - A QR code is 21st-century version of the barcode. They contain coded information that can be scanned by a mobile device. In PE, students can scan QR codes with their iPads to reveal exercise instructions, links or videos, and then complete the physical activity at their own pace. Children love decoding the information, and each code guides them to next one - it's like a treasure hunt with digital task card.

From new shoe designs to tracking, assessment and health monitoring apps and devices, digital technology is becoming a bigger part of physical education. I hope you enjoy exploring these apps. It will be exciting to see what's next in fitness technology!

Tomorrow's Leaders

Catching up with Emily Von Fange, Class of 1993

Emily Von Fange attended WMS from 1984 to 1993, then attended public school. During her junior year of high school, she had the opportunity to participate in a foreign exchange program in France. After high school, she attended Smith College in Massachusetts, then decided to look for a warmer climate and moved to California where she was accepted into the Art Center College of Design (ACCD) in Pasadena. She graduated from ACCD in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography. Emily then decided to do freelance graphic/retouching work and became a digital retoucher. She eventually made her way back east and moved to the Philadelphia area where she worked as the head retoucher for the top commercial photographer in Philadelphia.

Emily met her husband while living and working in Philly. She got married, had their first child in July 2012 and second in October 2014. She currently is at home taking care of her young family.

She can't think of just one favorite memory from her time at WMS because she loves every moment she remembers, although many of her "uber-favorites" were at the "Little Red School House" in Arden.

"WMS influenced everything in my life," Emily says.

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.