W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
September 9, 2015
In This Issue


Upcoming Events

September 10

Coffee with Lisa for 9-12 Parents
8:30 a.m. in the Library

Coffee with Sarah & Laurie for Kindergarten Parents 
8:45 a.m. in the Parent Workroom (Room 7)


September 11

Coffee with Laurie for 6-9 Parents
8:30 a.m. in the Library


September 16

Separation Anxiety - Coffee & Conversation
9:15 a.m., Room 7
Learn More

Welcome Back/Peace Assembly
11 a.m. in the Gym and Peace Park

Back-to-School /
Curriculum Night
3-6 Program -
6-7:15 p.m.

6-9 Program -
7:15-8:30 p.m. 


September 17

Back-to-School / Curriculum Night
Toddler & 9-12 Programs -
6-7 p.m.
Welcome Back!
First Day Collage
View more photos from the first day of school on Facebook!

Message from 
Head of School Lisa Lalama
 
Lisa Lalama
A new school year is upon us.

This year I am the parent of a student of my own beginning at a new school. She is embarking on a new adventure in her life and is worried, scared, excited and wondering how things will work out. She is leaving a familiar job, friends and city to begin fresh in a new one. Though she is much older than our students at WMS, she is experiencing the "first day/week" of school just as though she were entering one of our classrooms. The experience is universal.

New school years bring new adventures and unfamiliar territory, friendly greetings and nervous glances. What we know is that the community at WMS is strong and connected. It is a place where we do our best to welcome each other and help each other become an integral part of the community.

Please take a moment to welcome those you have missed over the summer and greet others new to our school. We look forward to a great year with you and your family.

  
News & NotesNews
Top Workplaces 2015

WMS Honored as Top Workplace for Second Year
 
Not only is WMS a wonderful place for children; it's also a great place to work!

For a second year in a row, Wilmington Montessori School was honored as one of Delaware's Top Workplaces, placing in the top 10 in the "Small Business" category. Honorees were selected based on the results of employee surveys.  

Staff members described some of their favorite things about working in WMS in the comments section:
"I feel supported and encouraged every day to be the best I can be."
"The people I work with and because of the friendly and flexible work environment."
"They work very hard to keep the core values of the school a living reality for all of us."
"Our community of children, families, and staff."
 To learn more about Delaware's Top Workplaces, visit DelawareOnline.com.
Photo by Kevin Kahn
#WMSBacktoSchool Photo Challenge
  
We want to see your back-to-school photos! Share them as a comment on this Facebook post or use the hashtag #WMSbacktoschool on Instagram to share your photo there.

Two lucky winners will be randomly selected at the end of the day Friday to win a special edition WMS water bottle!

(Please note that if your Instagram account is not public, you will need to use Facebook to submit your entry!)

Photo by Jarite Latina
 
separation
Parent Education - Easing Separation Anxiety: Coffee & Conversation
Wednesday, September 16 from 9:15-10 a.m. - Room 7 (Parent Work Room)

Come discuss suggestions for managing the challenges of separation anxiety with Sarah Williams, Director of Early Childhood Education, and Laurie Orsic, Assistant Head of School. 

Coffee and tea will be served. 
Edmodo FAQs
 
If you were at WMS last year, you will remember that we introduced Edmodo as a tool for communication between parents and teachers. (9-12 students also use Edmodo to practice online communication in a protected environment.) We heard that parents appreciated this connection with their child's classroom and are excited to begin our second year with Edmodo.

Here are a few frequently asked questions about Edmodo:

Why does WMS use Edmodo?
When looking into online parent communication tools, we found out that schools around the world have been successfully using Edmodo to communicate with parents and older students for several years. Edmodo allows teachers to post alerts, notes and multimedia content directly from their iPads and share this content with parents. Because parents are required to log into Edmodo, content posted is not available to the general public and can be moderated on school-wide level. Edmodo offers mobile apps for teachers, students and parents, along with a user-friendly web interface for accessibility on all types of devices.

Do I have to use Edmodo? Won't teachers be sending the same thing via email?
Teachers will not be sending the same content via email, so it is very important that you activate your Edmodo account and set-up email notifications (or push notifications on the app) as soon as possible. If you have difficulty, please contact Rose Feehan, Instructional Technology Coach, or Noel Dietrich, Director of Communications.

How do I access Edmodo?
All parents should have received an email from their classroom teacher including your Edmodo parent code and detailed instructions for creating an account. If you did not receive this information, please notify your teacher. More information regarding notifications (strongly encouraged) and mobile apps can be found on our website. 

Can I respond to posts on Edmodo?
New this year - YES! Parents may now comment on and "Like" posts by teachers. Please keep in mind that Edmodo is not a place to have specific conversations regarding your child or to share information about outside events. Responses should be relevant to the post, and anything that requires a timely response from a teacher should be sent via email. Teachers and administrators will remove any comments deemed inappropriate or irrelevant without warning. More information can be found in the Parent Handbook. We hope you enjoy this new interactive aspect of Edmodo!

Why aren't I receiving email notifications for new Edmodo posts?
Please check to make sure you have turned on notifications as described here. If your notifications are on and you are still missing notifications, please check your spam/junk mail folders. If you still haven't located your notification messages, please contact Rose or Noel AND submit a support ticket to Edmodo by clicking here. If the issue is on Edmodo's end, it will be resolved more quickly if both you and a WMS staff member report it. While you wait for the issue to be resolved, we highly recommend that you download the mobile app to stay up-to-date on posts from your classroom.

If you need additional assistance, please contact Rose or Noel. We hope you enjoy this online window into your child's classroom!
Co-op Cornercoop
The Co-op Bulletin Board
 
The year has begun and there are plenty of tasks waiting for Co-op volunteers. A frequently asked question about Co-op is "Where can I find out about Co-op jobs?" One good place to find volunteer job openings is the Co-op bulletin board, which is located on the wall opposite the library. Check it out and see if there is a task that suits your schedule and your talents.
 
Here are two jobs currently posted on the Co-op bulletin board:
 
Auction Committee Forming
Every year, parents and families join together with staff to sponsor a wonderful evening of auction bidding, socializing and fundraising for the school. This year's auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 16. While the committee's primary work begins during the second half of the year, there is planning and leg work to be done right now. Do you like to decorate, shape marketing plans, gather bargains, entertain or share in a common task with others? Then the auction committee's work will be just right for you. Please consider signing up to work on the annual WMS Auction committee to fulfill your Co-op contract. It's a great way to support WMS students and be a part of the school community.

Copying - Help prepare classroom materials for the students.
Teachers are so appreciative of copying help because it saves them valuable time for other tasks. Volunteers use the school's copiers and may work during or after school hours. 

If you are interested in helping with either of these Co-op jobs, please sign up on the Co-op bulletin board, email co-op@wmsde.org or contact Laurie Orsic at 302-475-0555.
Today's LearnersLearner
Learning Begins on the First Day of School
 
At WMS, the first day of school is a day for new beginnings, for reuniting with old friends and making new ones, and for adjusting to new routines and new surroundings. While each child's way of adjusting to a new school year (or a new school) differs, it was apparent yesterday that our students were eager to explore their classrooms and begin learning using our engaging materials.
Tomorrow's LeadersLeaders
Remembering Mark Bomgardner
by Alexis Szkotak, WMS Class of 2012 & Camp Montessori Junior Counselor

After his untimely passing in August, I took some time to reflect on the imprint that Mark Bomgardner left. While most knew him as an amazing camp counselor and after-school teacher, many of us knew that he was so much more. I enjoyed all those in-between activity times, when he would go inspecting the grounds, lowering the flag in the Peace Park or setting up the archery range. It was in those times, when Mark would tell so many of his amazing stories. One of Mark's favorite stories to tell during archery camp, was about the time his brother Dave shot him with an arrow in the calf. We all learned that "safety first" was especially important on the archery range, after hearing that one!
 
I knew we had to do something to honor him and the archery range was a perfect place to do it. Archery was an amazing camp experience because of Mark. I fell in love with the sport and still take part whenever I can. With the help of my friend and fellow camper, Emma Lewis, we created the perfect plaque for him. At the end of Camp Montessori 2015, WMS's archery range was dedicated to Mark Bomgardner. 

The rustic wooden plaque was made in the style that Mark had used for so many canoe trip commemorations. The dedication plaque can be found on the range outside of Room 22. 
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.
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