WMS Wednesday Weekly - August 17, 2022

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

August 17, 2022

Farewell to Summer

Summer is nearing its end, and back-to-school thoughts are all around us. Some of you were at WMS for Camp Montessori, and what a great summer it was! Campers enjoyed the outdoors, weekly themes focusing on everything from farm animals to Spy Week, as well as in-house field trips with the Wilmington Police Department, dinosaurs shared by Jungle John and the Brandywine Zoo. Friday is the last day of camp for this summer, and our teachers return on Monday to begin their work for the school year ahead.

Next week, we welcome the school-year staff back to WMS. We will work together to get things ready for your children when they return on Tuesday. August 30. We hope to see you at the Back to School Picnic on Thursday, August 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. We are eager to meet those new to the WMS community and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the campus for what promises to be a great school year! Enjoy the last days of your vacation. We’ll see you soon!

Lisa A. Lalama

Head of School

NEWS & NOTES: BACK-TO-SCHOOL UPDATES

Mark Your Calendars:

Back-to-School Family Picnic & School Supply Drop-off

Thursday, August 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Note: This is an outdoor event. Please watch Bloomz for updates in case of inclement weather.

We hope to see you all next Thursday (August 25) from 5:30-7 p.m. at our annual WMS Family Picnic and school supply drop-off! Pack a picnic blanket or grab a lawn chair (seating is limited) and come out to meet your child's teachers, classmates and other WMS families and staff. Bring school supplies to lessen your load on the first day of school!

Bring a picnic dinner or purchase food from the T&N Homemade Kitchen food truck.

#WMSbacktoschool 2022 Photo Contest

It's time again for our annual back-to-school photo contest! Post your favorite back-to-school shopping, family picnic, summer homework, campus visit or first-day-of-school photos on Instagram using #wmsbacktoschool, and you'll be entered to win some WMS swag.

Don't forget to tag @wilmingtonmontessori. If your account is not public, please email your photos to noel_dietrich@wmsde.org to be included in the contest!

We can't wait to see your children preparing for a great 2022-23 school year!

2022-23 School Year Drop-off & Pick-up

Two years ago, WMS began to use a car line for drop-off and pick-up due to COVID-19 protocols. At the end of last year, we asked for feedback from our families, in anticipation of reopening the school to the community beyond students and staff. The overwhelming majority of families stated that they liked the convenience of the morning car line, but also looked forward to coming back into the building. Based on your feedback, we decided to continue the morning drop-off car line and return to having families enter the building to pick up their children at the end of their school day.

Note: Each family will be issued two key cards that will allow them to enter the building through the front door after drop-off. Additional key cards will be available for purchase starting during the second week of school.

Please review the information below carefully:

Drop-off

During morning 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 will open the doors. The staff member will then receive the child to bring them into the building. Please have your children exit the vehicle on the side closest to the curb.

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

Drop-off Locations & Times

Before-care:

Extended Day before-care for Toddlers - Toddler Playground - 7-8:45 a.m.

Extended Day before-care for Primary, Elementary and Middle School - Great Room Door - 7-8:30 a.m.

School day -

Toddler - Toddler Playground - 8:45-9 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 - 8:20-8:30 a.m.

New this year: If you arrive after the car line has closed, you will be asked to park your vehicle, enter through the front door and walk your child to their classroom. Students who arrive after their designated drop-off time will be marked tardy for the school day.

Pick-up

For half-day, full-day and Extended Day (until 5:30) pick-up, families will park their vehicles, enter through the front door, and pick their children up at their classroom doors. If you are arriving after 5:30 p.m., your keycard will no longer work. Please call 302-475-0555 and your child will be brought to the door to be picked up.

Dismissal Times

Toddler & Primary Half-Day Dismissal - Noon

Toddler & Primary Half-Day with Lunch Bunch Dismissal - 12:40 p.m.

Elementary Dismissal - 3 p.m.

Full-Day Toddler, Full-Day Primary & Middle School Dismissal - 3:15 p.m.

Extended Day After-Care - Until 6 p.m.

If you are interested in registering for before or after-school child-care, please email extendedday@wmsde.org!

FACTS Reminder

As we prepare to welcome students and families back to campus, we want to remind you that although your Tuition Agreement is being handled through our FACTS system, we are still available in the business office to help you with any questions or issues that may come up. We can assist you with things such as payment timing or incidental expenses. Other tasks, such as changing your bank information or printing a tax receipt, can be handled directly by you in your FACTS account. Please let us know how we can help you! For assistance, you can call or email Barb Trotto or Leslie Bastianelli in the business office at any time!

Learn About the Family Cooperative (Co-op) Program

We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to school for the 2022-23 school year! After some modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Family Cooperative (Co-op) Program will be reinvigorated for the 2022-23 school year.

Want to learn more about how you can get involved with WMS through the Co-op Program? We will be sharing lots of information in the coming weeks, but for now, please check out our Co-op website!

Here, you'll be able to read about the program, explore some frequently asked questions and submit your hours! Questions about Co-op can be sent to co-op@wmsde.org at any time! See you soon!

Health Forms & Bloomz

Health Forms - Please make sure your child's Magnus forms are up-to-date! If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Marissa. All requirements must be complete for your child to attend school.

Bloomz - All new families should have received invitations to sign up for Bloomz. (Returning school-year and camp families will be able to continue using their current Bloomz accounts.) Bloomz is our primary method of communication with families during the school year. Teachers will use it to share classroom posts (including photos and video), Co-op opportunities and reminders, and school-wide announcements and events will also be shared. Please make sure you have notifications turned on! If you have not received an invitation or you need assistance, please contact Noel Dietrich, Director of Advancement & Communications.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions leading up to the new school year!

Camp Spotlight: Panda Program

For many of our Pandas (preschool-age campers), summer camp offers an opportunity to transition from Toddler to the Primary Program or to experience WMS for the first time. Supported by older classmates who are seasoned WMS students, these campers have developed new confidence this summer as they explored their classrooms, the school and campus. Weekly themes and special visitors rounded out a summer of fun and learning!

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.