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W E D N E S D A Y W E E K L Y
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In This Issue
Upcoming Events
May 13
Performance by WMS artist in residence Clyde Evans, Jr. and Chosen Dance
5:30 p.m.
Learn More
May 25
Memorial Day
No school or child-care.
May 28
9-12 Musical - Making the Band
Dress rehearsal - 9:30 a.m.
Performance - 7 p.m.
June 1
Elementary Field Day
June 3
Preschool Field Day
June 5
Graduation
9:30 a.m. in the Gym
All are invited!
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Head of School Lisa A. Lalama
If you are a WMS parent, alumni parent, alumnus or staff member, you should have received a survey from our school yesterday. (If you did not, please email Noel.)
We have conducted surveys in the past and have reviewed the information they have provided to consider our strengths as well as our challenges. This survey is a bit different.
We have worked together with the Kensington Group to create a tool that we can use over several years. The benefit of this survey is that it compares WMS to other schools throughout the country - Montessori schools as well as other schools with a similar profile as ours. We've chosen this so we can gather data about your experience at WMS and to also see how we are doing in comparison to other schools. There are questions that might cause you to scratch your head and wonder why they are included. These questions are part of the questionnaire and apply to "most" of the schools being surveyed; if you don't know an answer, simple select "N/A." Other questions are uniquely ours.
In our research into the best tool to use to help us learn about our school and grow in the future we learned of many other surveys being used in independent schools throughout the country; this one best suited our needs. However, no survey is better than the intended audience, our families.
We hope that you will take the 10 minutes or so needed to fill it out. We value your input. Though we have a strong and steady history as a Montessori school, we are continually learning and growing. Just as we work to incorporate the best practices in the classrooms, our goal is to do the same in every aspect of our school. We look forward to your input and using this tool during the next few years to measure our growth and learn about you and your experience at WMS. Thank you for helping us.
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News & Notes  |
 Chosen Dance Ensemble Performance - Tonight! Join us tonight (Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m.) for an energetic performance by WMS artist-in-residence Clyde Evans and the Chosen Dance Company. This is an amazing group of dancers, and you won't want to miss it!
During the past week, students have worked with teaching artist Ashley SK Davis during PE classes. Ashley helped the children understand the connection between poetry and dance through movement and writing exercises. Today, students had the opportunity to learn from and dance with guest performer Clyde Evans.
About Clyde Evans
The leader and founder of Chosen Dance, Clyde began dancing hip-hop at 11 years old. Originally from Trinidad, Evans immigrated to the United States in the early '80s where he began to learn how to break dance. It was the hip-hop phenomenon of "Breakin" that inspired him to dance and allowed him to fit into the American culture. His circle of friends encouraged him to dance on a popular kids' television program, Dance Party USA, where he met hip-hop dance pioneer Rennie Harris. In 1991, Evans became a founding member and lead dancer in Harris' company. Then in 2001, he began Chosen Dance Company. He has taught and performed hip-hop all over the world, appeared in movies, videos, commercials and major events such as the ESPN X-Games and worked with artists such as Robert Redford, Jill Scott, Bruce Willis, Will Smith, Brad Pitt and most recently M. Night Shyamalan. Evans teaches hip-hop at all levels throughout Philadelphia and now at Wesleyan and Drexel universities.
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 Last Chance to Donate Blankets, Towels & Wash Cloths to the Delaware SPCA
Junior Girl Scout Troop 559 is currently collecting old and new clean blankets, towels and washcloths for the Delaware SPCA. to help provide comfortable bedding for homeless cats and dogs as they await adoption.
This project is being led by WMS fifth-grader Analisa Nichols as she works toward her Bronze Award (the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve). She chose this project because of her love of animals.
Bins will be located at the front and side entrances until NEXT Friday, May 22. Thank you for your support!
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Co-op Corner |
Meerkat Milers - Thank you!
Thank you to all of the Co-op parents who made WMS's participation in the Delaware Marathon this past Sunday such a great success. The support of the WMS families was impressive and greatly appreciated. Special thanks goes to WMS parent Becky Davey who went above and beyond to make the day enjoyable, easy and memorable for everyone. Here is a small sampling of the many tasks she took on - she organized teams and water station volunteers, supported the Running Club students in their bi-weekly after-school workouts, separated and distributed race materials and forms in advance of the Sunday's race, and even made two types of rice crispy treats. It was a wonderful WMS family event, and we are grateful to Becky for all that she did to make it so. Read more about this weekend on the Montessori Message blog.
Field Days
Field Day is coming up soon; the Elementary Field Day is scheduled for Monday, June 1 and volunteers are needed! Parents who help on Field Day often report having as much fun - or more - than the children. Parent volunteers are here from 8:30 a.m. until noon and assist with leading individual game/activity stations. No prior experience needed - just a willingness to help and have fun! Please sign up on the Co-op bulletin board or contact [email protected] to let us know of your interest.
 Graduation Graduation Day is June 5. This is our chance to create a beautiful day for the graduating sixth-graders, filled with memories they will cherish well into the future. Help is needed with decorating and food preparation on June 4 and hosting on June 5. This is one of the most significant school events of the year and a great way to make a contribution of your time and talents to the WMS community. Please sign up on the Co-op bulletin board or contact [email protected] to let us know of your interest.
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Today's Learners |
Students Seek Solutions to World Hunger at the Coming Together Conference
by 9-12 Students Marina Gannon & Kathryn Farabaugh
On Monday, May 4, five 9-12 students attended the Coming Together Conference hosted by the Food Bank of Delaware and Brae's Brown Bags.
The goal of these two organizations is to provide nourishing healthy food for people who can't provide that for themselves. One of the ways they are trying to achieve this is that they provide free breakfast and lunch to students in schools. Some schools even provide after-school meals. Another way that they are trying to help is by handing out Brae's Brown Bags. This is an organization that works to give hungry people a bag with a few healthy snacks, a water bottle and a book or activity.
We heard a lot about food insecurity and what it means. At one point in the meeting, we were encouraged to ask questions of a panel. One question was asked by a little girl saying that her mom worked hard seven days a week but could not feed her whole family. She wanted to know how they could get the food they needed. It was very powerful because it gave hunger a face.
Throughout the day we visited different stations with different activities, each having to do with ending hunger. One of our favorite stations was a "money pit." It was an activity during which we had to make a healthy meal for under $1.25. We found the items by "fishing" in a ball pit. A poster gave information about each item, like the cost and number of calories. It was very challenging to keep the cost that low, but some groups did it! Another cool station was a gardening activity. At this one, we planted a bean seed in a compostable container made out of paper. We also enjoyed seeing the Food Bank's green house on wheels (a trailer transformed into a mobile garden).
During lunch, there was an award ceremony for the posters we created about ending hunger. Sixth-graders Alexa Donahue, Mavis Florence-Bushnell and Sarah Breger, along with fifth-grader Kathryn Farabaugh, were honored as winners of the 2015 Coming Together: Community Response to End Hunger Multimedia Design Challenge.
We really appreciated the opportunity to attend this fun and informative conference!
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Tomorrow's Leaders |
Featured Alumna: Lori Oberly (Schneider)
Lori Oberly (Schneider) attended WMS from 1982 to 1985 at the Little Red School House in Arden.
After WMS, she attended IHM and Brandywine High School, and then studied Animal Science at the University of Wyoming on a skiing scholarship. Lori has worked at WMS for almost 14 years in many positions and currently works in the Development and Business Offices. Her son Cru has been a student here since he was nine months old; he is now is in Cathy and Tim's 3-6 class.
Even though she was young when she attended WMS, Lori has many fond memories. She recalls having Alan Burslem come in and make pottery with her class, the many classroom pets, walks in the woods, and all of the caring and loving teachers and staff. WMS has been like an extended family to her - literally. Her brother and cousins attended the school, her mother served on the board of directors, her aunt and cousins worked here (her aunt for more than 25 years!) and Lori now has two second cousins attending WMS with her son.
She's quoted as saying she's come full circle back to where she started. Lori says Montessori was the foundation that made her who she is. She says she has carried the school's mission with her throughout her life and she can see her son becoming more knowledgeable, curious, caring and creative each day.
In her free time, Lori and her family enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, especially skiing, working on their house, traveling, and being with friends and family. She and her husband John are expecting their second Montessori child this summer.
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 The Wednesday Weekly shares WMS news and events that are relevant to the families in our community. Please send submissions to [email protected] 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.
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