W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
October 21, 2015
In This Issue
 


Upcoming Events
October 22
Toddler Maker Faire
8:15-9:15 a.m. in the Toddler Maker (STEAM) studio 
Toddlers and their parents are welcome.
Learn More
October 28
Parent Education Webinar - Sensory Experiences for Young Children
7:30 p.m.


October 29
Halloween Parade
9:15 a.m. for 3-6 classes and 11:15 for Elementary, starting in the Gym.
Costume Guidelines

October 30 & November 2
Parent Conferences for Primary & Elementary
No classes for Primary/Elementary.
Pre-registered child-care available.

Toddler classes running as usual.


November 5
Make-up photo day 
 
Follow @WilmingtonMontessori on Instagram for more GCAP photos.
Message from 
Head of School Lisa Lalama
 
Read more from Lisa at on our Montessori Message blog.
The building is a bit quieter this week; WMS sixth-graders are in New York City attending the Global Citizenship Action Project (GCAP), a trip WMS sixth graders take each year. GCAP is sponsored by the American Montessori Society and is an opportunity for our students to learn more about the complex world in which we live.

Among other things, this year the students visited the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations. Each year, a mission to the UN is chosen to visit. In past years, our students have visited the missions of Turkey, Vietnam, Egypt, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. Students learn about that country's perspective of the world and what issues that particular country may bring to the the UN. It gives them an opportunity to look beyond the United States and learn about the concerns of the global community. As we know, the United Nations is active in "facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights and achievement of world peace." This trip to the United Nations gives our students a chance to see first hand how it works and how to bring important issues to the world stage.

Part of WMS's mission is to "empower children to be knowledgeable and responsible contributors to the global community." Visiting the UN and a permanent mission to the UN, as well as hearing from several of the non-governmental organizations (NGO) to the UN, does just that. It provides a view of the world not often seen from our neighborhood. It gives the sixth-graders an opportunity to look into the larger world community and its concerns. It gives them a close-up view of others who have created organizations that help others in our world and inspires them to create changes that will serve those in need. It adds to their foundation as contributors to the global community.
Co-op Cornercoop
Volunteers needed for Grandfriends' Day - Tuesday, November 24
 
Grandfriends' Day is fast approaching and preparations are underway. Would you be willing to help with some part of the planning, setting up and cleaning up after Grandfriends' Day?

The visiting grandparents and friends are always delighted to share in the students' work time and greatly appreciate the coffee, tea and treats.

Sign up sheets will be posted on the Co-op bulletin board across from the library, or you may email co-op@wmsde.org to contribute refreshments and/or your time and talents. Help a little or help a lot. Every contribution makes a difference.
Join the Auction Committee! 

The 2016 Auction Committee is forming now! Volunteers collaborate with other parents, families and staff to create a memorable social event that is also the biggest fundraiser of the year for WMS. Our first committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 28 at 6 p.m. in the WMS library. If you would like to help but can't attend the meeting, please email Joan Beatson at Joan_Beatson@wmsde.org.

Help us make the 2016 Auction the best yet!
News & NotesNews
maker
Parent Education: Sensory Experiences for Young Children - A Maker Webinar
Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Sensory experiences are brain food for young children. They provide children with problem-solving skills, independence, curiosity and creativity.

Join us for WMS's first Maker Webinar for parents. You will learn how to easily create exciting sensory experiences for your child, and receive suggestions for parent resources and materials to use for sensory fun in your home! This webinar will be led by WMS STEAM Coach Paula Sharpe and last about 15 minutes, with an additional 10 to 15 minutes for your questions to be answered. 

The webinar can be viewed on a computer as well as iOS, Android and Blackberry mobile devices. Once you register, you will receive instructions for logging in. 

Register Now Button

Last call for Odyssey of the Mind participation!   Odyssey of the Mind in Spirit Wear

If your kindergarten through sixth-grader is interested in participating in Odyssey of the Mind, there's still time to sign up.

Visit www.delcaps.org for more information, and contact Nora Lober (noralober@msn.com) if your child would like to participate!
halloweenHalloween Costume Guidelines Halloween Parade

Halloween parades will be held on October 29 (9:15 a.m. for 3-6 classes and 11:15 a.m. for elementary students). In order to make the day fun for all of our students, we ask that children's costumes meet the following rules:
  • No weapons of any kind are allowed as part of a costume.
  • Costumes should not contain blood, guts, or gore.
  • Hair color and makeup should be applied at home, not brought to school.
  • Since we have very young children at our school, please make sure that costumes are not frightening to small children.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.
School Photos
Today's LearnersLearner
Crossing the Midline - How Movement Impacts Learning
by Lead 3-6 Teacher Erin Wehler (Room 15)

Recently, Wilmington Montessori School and the surrounding Montessori community had the opportunity to attend presentations by neuropsychologist and Montessori advocate, Dr. Steven Hughes. The information that he shared offered resounding support for activity-based learning in early childhood classrooms. He said that the Montessori Method builds the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the home of executive functioning. Our classrooms are always peacefully bustling with this sort of activity - children are on the move.
 
In Maria Montessori's book, The Absorbent Mind, she says, "The hand is the prehensile organ of the mind." Dr. Hughes explains that cognition is really just an extension of the motor system. Therefore what the hands are doing impresses upon the mind - in the prefrontal cortex. In an article entitled "Adolescent Brains are Works in Progress," Frontline producer Sarah Spinks explains that the prefrontal cortex "is particularly interesting to scientists because it acts as the CEO of the brain, controlling planning, working memory, organization and modulating mood."

We know that in the brain, both the left and right hemispheres are responsible for very specialized functions. For example, the right side of the brain is responsible for controlling creativity, intuition and controlling the left side of the body. The left side of the brain is responsible for language, number skills and controlling the right side of the body. In order to learn better or become skillful at just about anything, we need to integrate the tasks of both hemispheres. One side has to interact with the other. How is this accomplished? Similar to our classroom's daily activity - through movement!

There is something called "crossing the midline," which occurs when the left and right side of our bodies work at the same time or when one side crosses over the midline/center of our body. It's akin to the fun trick of patting your head with your right hand and rubbing your belly with your left. Each time this happens, the brain is prompted to send signals back and forth from one side to another. The more we "cross the midline," the stronger the connections become in the brain, hence the more connections the brain is making.
 
In a 3- to 6-year-old classroom where the Practical Life curriculum is the pearl of the room, children's hands and bodies are constantly on the move. Content children repetitively perform practical self-skills such as spooning objects from left to right, buttoning from top to bottom, and building such skills as independence, coordination, concentration, order and curiosity. It is this deep, uninterrupted concentration that is paramount to helping a child succeed as a result of practice opportunity. A child's hands are busy and cross this midline in practical life, math, language and across the curriculum, due to the didactic materials at WMS. The brain is constantly making these deeper connections and loading up the prefrontal cortex with in-depth imprinting.
 
Welcome to Wilmington Montessori School - a place where our children learn to think, brains are making deeper connections, and we are always on the move!
Tomorrow's Leadersleaders
Calling all alumni and alumni parents!

We want to share your news! Did you (or your child) graduate, get a new job, study abroad or do something else you would like to share? Send your news to alumni@wmsde.org or share it on Instagram using #WMSalumni (and tag @WilmingtonMontessori)! We look forward to hearing about what you're up to!
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.
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.