WMS Wednesday Weekly - August 11, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

August 11, 2021

Wrapping Up Summer Camp

At the end of every school year, I watch as Wilmington Montessori School transforms from a school atmosphere to a camp, practically overnight.

Backpacks are no longer filled with books or iPads, but rather beach towels and sunscreen. Now, in a blink of an eye, we are somehow closing in on the end of summer. With one full week of Camp Montessori remaining, we plan to squeeze every last drop out of these sunny summer days. It has been wonderful to see friends reunited and new friendships made. Our campers aren’t the only ones who look forward to coming back to WMS every summer - our camp staff members do as well. It is much like a reunion here during the summer months as campers return year after year and WMS alumni return to work as camp counselors. We will be sad to see them go! Our younger staff members will be making their way back to college, while our veteran staff members will be either getting ready for another school year at WMS or at their home schools.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have had some of your children with us this summer, and I wish you all a wonderful start to the new school year ahead!

Tracey Gable

Director of Montessori Enrichment

NEWS & NOTES

Back-to-School/Placement Letters

Placement letters were sent via email last week. If you did NOT receive one, please contact Paula Sharpe, Director of Enrollment Management, as soon as possible.

Welcome Back to Bloomz

This year, we will once again be using Bloomz are our parent-teacher communication platform. Teachers will use Bloomz to share group posts and individual photos with families, providing a regular glimpse into our classrooms. It will also be used for school-wide announcements.

Returning families should be able to continue to use their accounts from last year. Please check to see if your student's 2021-22 classroom is available when you login and accept any pending invitations to new groups.

All new families should have received an invitation to join Bloomz by email. Click on Join in the email and follow the instructions to sign up. If you do not receive an invitation, please contact Noel Dietrich. We advise that you turn on all notifications to ensure that you don't miss anything. We also recommend downloading the app (search for Bloomz in the app store) to receive push notifications.

If you have questions or need assistance setting up your account, please contact Noel Dietrich.

School Drop-off & Pick-up

As we shared in last week's placement letter, we will starting the year with a car line for drop-off and pick-up, just as we did last year.

Car Line Procedures

During drop-off, cars will line up in designated areas. WMS staff will indicate when it is safe to exit the vehicle, and parents or students are expected to open the doors of the vehicle. The staff member will then receive the child to bring them into the building.

Note for Siblings: In the case of families with multiple children, they will drop off at the location designated for their oldest child and pick up in the area assigned to their youngest. Example: If a family has a toddler and a middle-schooler, that family will drop both children off at the elementary/middle school entrance and pick up both at the toddler entrance.

Children will be brought to the car at the end of the school day for pick-up, at the same entrance used for drop-off, except in the case of siblings (see above).

Morning Drop-off:

Extended Day before-care for Primary, Elementary and Middle School - Great Room Door - 7-8:40 a.m.

Toddlers (including before-care) - Toddler Playground - 7-9 a.m.

Primary (ages 3-6) - Front Door (Main Entrance) - 8:30-8:45 a.m.

Elementary (grades 1-6) - Side Door - 8:20-8:35 a.m.

Middle School (grades 7 & 8) - Side Door - 7:50-8:05 a.m.

Late drop-off - If you plan to arrive later than your child's designated drop-off time, please notify your child's teacher or call the school at 302-475-0555. During regular drop-off times, additional staff members are scheduled to provide health screenings to students – if your family arrives after this time, you may need to wait for a staff member to become available for screening.

Mid-Day/Afternoon Pick-up:

Parents should remain in their vehicle during the car line, until it is time to buckle their children into their car seats.

Toddler Half-Day - Front Door (Main Entrance) - Noon

Toddler Half-Day with Lunch Bunch - Front Door (Main Entrance) - 12:40 p.m.

Toddler Full-Day - Toddler Playground - 3:15 p.m.

Toddler Extended Day After-Care* - Toddler Playground - Until 6 p.m.

Primary Half-Day - Front Door (Main Entrance) - Noon

Primary Half-Day with Lunch Bunch - Front Door (Main Entrance) - 12:40 p.m.

Primary Full-Day - Front Door (Main Entrance) - 3:15 p.m.

Elementary - Side Door - 3 p.m.

Middle School - Side Door - 3:15 p.m.

Primary/Elementary/Middle School Extended Day After-Care* - Great Room Door - Until 6 p.m.

Note: If you need to pick your child up early, please let the teacher know well in advance, and we will have them ready for you at your designated pick-up spot.

*When picking up from after-care, you may need to call the front desk at 302-475-0555 when you arrive at your designated pick-up location, as staff will not be waiting at those doors for the entire afternoon.

2021-22 School Year Details Coming Next Week

We are continuing to monitor the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Delaware, including yesterday's announcement from the governor regarding masking in schools and child-care facilities.

Please watch your email next week for important information regarding WMS's protocols for the 2021-22 school year.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Salesianum School

Salesianum School will be partnering with Acme Markets to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for students 12 and older. Please schedule your appointment as soon as possible using the link below so that the vaccines can be administered in the most efficient manner possible. This clinic is open to all Catholic, private and independent schools in Delaware.

1st Dose Date: August 12, 4-8 p.m.

Place: Salesianum Birkenheuer Gymnasium

Manufacturer: Pfizer Vaccine (Fact Sheet)

2nd Dose Date: September 2, 4-8 p.m.

Salesianum Vaccine Clinic Registration

Day of Vaccination:

Bring all medical and prescription cards (Please make photo copies if possible) - There is no out of pocket cost for the vaccine even if you are not insured
Bring driver’s license (if applicable).
Bring your completed COVID Vaccine Informed Consent v.3.pdf. (Can also be printed from the registration link and will be available at the clinic for anyone that did not complete it in advance.)
Wear clothing with short sleeves or can give access within 2 inches of your shoulder without hindrance and wear a mask upon entering the school.
You will be asked to wait for at least 15 minutes after receiving vaccination. (If history of allergic reaction, you may be asked to wait 30 minutes after vaccination)

Your child will receive a vaccination card upon completion of the first shot – please keep it and bring it to the second dose appointment. After both doses are complete, please notify our school nurse for contact tracing purposes.

COVID-19 Testing: Next Results Due Sunday for Camp Families

Thank you for all of your efforts to keep our community healthy through regular COVID-19 testing! Our last set of camp COVID-19 test results are due on Sunday.

Results must be emailed to nurse@wmsde.org as soon as they become available. If you are sending a screenshot, please include the date tested.

Important: Please understand that if no results are forwarded to Nurse Kathy, your child will not be permitted on campus for camp. If your results are forwarded after 4 p.m. on the due date, you may experience a delay in drop-off the next morning. A last-minute result may delay or prevent your child from attending camp; time must be allowed for communication to the staff members conducting screenings in the car line.

As always, you are still welcome to have your child tested more frequently and may forward the results to Nurse Kathy.

Click here to find Delaware Curative testing locations near WMS.

Thank you, and please contact Nurse Kathy if you have any questions!

Full list of test sites: coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing-events

More Information about WMS COVID-19 Testing Requirements

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.