WEDNESDAY WEEKLY
April 13, 2022
Tips & Reminders for Your WMS Visit
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, WMS students were accustomed to frequent adult visitors throughout our school and classrooms. However, after two years of quiet hallways filled with students and teachers only, visitors to the school may prove distracting to the children, and the comings and goings of parents may lead to new feelings of separation anxiety in our younger students.

We hope that the information below from our parent handbook will help make the transition back to a regular parent presence in our building go smoothly for both you and your children!
Observation Rooms
Your child's teacher may invite you to spend time in the observation room. This is the perfect opportunity to see how the class runs and how your child interacts with classmates without distracting from the flow of the school day.

The following guidelines for observation room visits come from the WMS Parent Handbook:

  • Please keep voices low; while children are not able to see observers, they may be able to hear them. 
  • Please keep lights turned off, as the lights can interfere with the privacy aspect of the window. 
  • Remember that the observation rooms are small, and many parents want to observe. Please be considerate of others and plan your time accordingly. Note: All observation room visits will be pre-scheduled for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year to avoid crowding and give everyone sufficient time to observe.

Some teachers may post additional helpful guidelines in the observation rooms. If you have questions or concerns regarding your observation, please address them with your child’s classroom teacher (or an administrator) when class is not in session. 
Parent/Teacher Communication
Parent/teacher communication is vital and enhances a child’s school experience, development and growth. Formal and informal communications occur regularly between parents and teachers. Teachers convey pertinent information to the classroom families through their classroom Bloomz pages, email and by posting notices on the bulletin boards located outside their classrooms. 

Parents are encouraged to discuss ideas, raise concerns and work collaboratively to find mutually satisfying solutions that can be incorporated into the child’s daily classroom experience. Teachers respect the confidential nature of each child’s needs.

If questions arise during your school visit, please schedule a meeting time when other parents or students are not present so your child’s teacher may give you their full attention. A teacher may also be reached via Bloomz messaging or by email at firstname_lastname@wmsde.org. Teachers may also be reached by calling the school (302-475-0555) and leaving a message.
Sharing Your Talents & Culture
Another way in which you are invited to visit WMS may be for co-op opportunities. There may be specific jobs requested by teachers or staff, or you are welcome to offer your own suggestions about something you may wish to share with your child's class.

In the past, family members have been invited to explain and discuss their professions, hobbies, travel experiences and other topics including family traditions, religious observances, and cultural celebrations to enrich student awareness of the larger community and world around them.  Please contact your child's teacher if you have ideas!
Photography
We know you are excited about visiting our building and you may want to share photos of our school with friends or family members. Please refrain from flash photography while in observation rooms, as the flash can be seen through windows. In addition, please limit any photos you take to images of your child only, as our school's photo permissions pertain to images taken by staff members only. Thank you!
NEWS & NOTES
Follow Us on Instagram

Are you following @WilmingtonMontessori on Instagram? If not, follow us today, like our posts and share our stories!

Your engagement can help our school win a cash prize in an Instagram challenge! (Plus you'll get to enjoy lots of fun WMS content!)
FACTS Reminder for Plan 3 Families for the 22-23 School Year

The month of May is quickly approaching, and we want to remind our Plan 3 non-year-round families to check your FACTS account for your upcoming payment schedule. 

A continued thank you to all of our families for your patience as we continue to transition into the FACTS system. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact our business office with any questions or concerns.
Have You Purchased Your Coffee Card?

The middle school students are selling coffee cards, good for a drive-through cup of coffee every Tuesday from April 19 until the end of the school year. Please flag down a middle school student at drop-off or pick-up to purchase your card. Cards are $15, and both cash and check will be accepted. Thank you for supporting our middle-schoolers' small business! 
CCOVID-19 Testing Schedule for the Week of April 18

Tuesday, April 19 (for Primary, Elementary & Middle School students and toddlers whose families opt to return to on-site testing - toddlers may also continue to test on weekends) 
Test on-site through Quidel and submit results when received, or send off-site test results (taken on or after April 13) to covidresults@wmsde.org. If you are submitting a screenshot, please include the date taken. Testing will continue to be offered through the remainder of the school year.

Thank you, and please contact the school nurse if you have any questions!

Policies & Procedures

WMS's COVID-19 policies are based on guidelines from the CDC and State of Delaware Department of Education Office of Child Care Licensing. We continue to monitor those sources for information to adjust our policies and practices as needed.
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 Advancement & Communications.
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