Montessori education is as relevant today as it was during Maria Montessori’s lifetime. Dr. Montessori (1870-1952) lived during both World Wars. She traveled the world, sharing the Montessori philosophy and supporting the growth of Montessori education internationally. During World War II, she lived in exile in India due to increasing conflict between Italy (her home) and Great Britain. These events deepened her commitment to ensuring that peace education and social justice became integral aspects of Montessori education; she saw this as a path to a peaceful world.
As she continued to expand the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, she saw the necessity to emphasize human interdependence. Helping children understand how societies are organized and recognizing that all people in the world are faced with similar challenges will encourage them to pursue peace and care for one another as they become adults and leaders in our world. Dr. Montessori embraced the dignity and capacity of all human beings.
It is through helping children understand others, focusing on our similarities, looking beyond our differences, and instilling the basic Montessori principles of grace and courtesy that we will create peace. At WMS we are greeted by her words, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education,” which serve as a reminder to each of us who enter the building that although we are a school recognized for academic excellence, our work is much more than that. We are here to have meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about the world, its people, their wonder and their struggles. We are here to listen when children bring up topics such as the war in Ukraine. We are here to help children learn to treat each other with kindness, respect, and to listen with an open mind and heart. The world will continue to experience challenges. If we are to work to create lasting change, we must begin with children. WMS is dedicated to Dr. Montessori’s vision of peace and supporting children to further this goal.
If you are looking for resources to discuss the current war in Ukraine with your children here are some suggestions.
Are you caught up on submitting all of your co-op hours?
Remember, parent Q&A sessions, STEAM nights and our parent survey (which closes tonight) can all be counted! If you haven't reached your 10-hour requirement yet, don't worry. There will be a number of opportunities to earn more hours in the coming weeks. You can also reach out to your child's teacher if you have an idea for a project or presentation you could give that would benefit the class. Thank you for all that you do to support WMS!
CCOVID-19 Testing Schedule for the Week of April 11
Tuesday, April 12 (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)
Teston-site through Quideland submit results when received, or send off-site test results (taken on or after April 6) 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.
WMS's COVID-19 policies are based on guidelines from theCDCand 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.
