WEDNESDAY WEEKLY
December 1, 2021
UPCOMING EVENTS

December 2
Virtual Classroom Visits with Paula (Zoom links on Bloomz)
9:10-9:30 a.m. - Rm. 18
9:35-9:55 a.m. - Rm. 20


December 3
Virtual Classroom Visits with Paula (Zoom links on Bloomz)
9:15-9:35 a.m. - Rm. 22
9:40-10 a.m. - Rm. 24

Virtual Admissions Open House
Noon


December 7
On-Site COVID-19 Testing for Registered Students & Staff

Deadline to submit COVID test results for those who did not register for or complete on-site testing) 
Email covidresults@wmsde.org with results by noon in order for your child to attend school on December 8.


December 14
On-Site COVID-19 Testing for Registered Students & Staff

Deadline to submit COVID test results for those who did not register for or complete on-site testing) 
Email covidresults@wmsde.org with results by noon in order for your child to attend school on December 15.
Classroom Visits
This week, parents of Toddler, Primary and Lower Elementary students have an opportunity to visit their child’s classroom.

Paula Sharpe, WMS Director of Enrollment Management, takes families on a virtual visit, giving you a bird's eye view into your child’s day. Though we would love to invite you into the school, giving you the chance to experience WMS first-hand, we are not quite there yet. We continue to follow the protocols recommended by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, the CDC and the Delaware Division of Public Health, and we know that right now the numbers of COVID cases in our area are climbing. So, we are doing the next best thing, providing a way for you to see your child at work, doing what they love to do. 

Maria Montessori referred to what we consider to be “play” as the work of the child. For many of us, who sat in rows of desks and did the same assignments as the child next to us, in front of us or behind us in those rows, this is an unfamiliar concept. Often the work assigned to your children, no matter their age, looks more like play, providing enjoyment as children discover new concepts.

As you accompany Paula on these classroom visits, notice not only what your child is doing, but how they are approaching their work, if they are working alone or with a friend or teacher, and the focus on the work and the surrounding environment. These are all things WMS teachers notice as children take work from the shelf, are introduced to lessons, and asked to complete a new or familiar task. The environment is set up for the child’s success, the work is meant to engage and excite a curiosity in children with a goal of mastery and pride, the teachers are by the child’s side making note of these elements and always considering what comes next.

Learning is a lifelong skill with seeds sown from the moment a child enters the world. WMS strives to focus that learning on the child, noticing what they need to grow and thrive. Enjoy your visit!
Lisa
Head of School
NEWS & NOTES
Giving Tuesday - Thank you!

Dear Families,

Thank you for making Giving Tuesday 2021 a tremendous success! With your help, we raised more than $13,000 yesterday! We can't thank you enough for your generosity. Your support makes a difference to our students every day.

We are still completing our calculations for the winner of the classroom giving challenge, but our school-wide participation rate has doubled, which is incredible.

We are so grateful for all that you do to support our school!

Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
The WMS Staff and Students

P.S. If you would still like to donate to our annual fund, our Facebook fundraiser will remain active until midnight, and you can always contribute through our website at www.wmsde.org/donate. Thank you!
Coat Drive - Now through December 10 - We're halfway to our goal!
by the WMS Middle School Students
Thanks to our wonderful community, we are almost halfway to our goal of collecting 200 coats! We will continue to collect new and gently used coats at all entrances until December 10.

As a reminder, these coats will be donated to both The Friendship House and Ministry of Caring located in Wilmington. Thank you for your support! 
2022-23 Admissions Reminders
It's hard to believe that it's time to plan for the 2022-23 school year, but re-enrollment is right around the corner! A few reminders:

  • New Enrollment and Tuition Management System - We are excited to share that we will be introducing FACTS as our new enrollment management and tuition payment system this year. FACTS, which is used by more than 7,000 independent schools, will allow our admissions and business offices to continue to provide the personalized support you have come to expect, while also offering self-service options including the ability to check and pay your balance online. Stay tuned for more information about the registration process as re-enrollment opens up in early January!

  • The 2022-23 financial aid application is open! Apply by January 7, 2022 to be eligible for first-round awards. Your application (including your 2020 tax return) must be received by this deadline to be considered for first-round awards. Visit www.wmsde.org/financialaid or contact businessoffice@wmsde.org for more info.

  • If your child has a sibling who you would like to enroll for the 2022-23 school year, please contact Paula Sharpe as soon as possible. Spaces will be limited in many programs. Siblings must apply by January 10 to receive priority for 2022-23 enrollment.
COVID-19 Testing: Next Results Due Tuesday, December 7 - Weekly Testing Requirement

On-Site Testing with Quidel
Weekly COVID-19 testing through Quidel is underway! If you haven't already registered your child for on-site testing, we highly recommend that you do so! Sign up here
(When registering, be sure to include your electronic signature and complete the email verification process!)

If your child participated in testing yesterday, you should have received a results notification by email and text message. If you did not receive this, please check your junk/spam folders. All results should be forwarded to covidresults@wmsde.org.(Please use this address, as it is forwarded to additional administrators in case the nurse is not available to check for results.)

Next Testing Deadline - Tuesday, December 7 - Please read the information below carefully:

  • On-site: Quidel will be on-site for testing on December 7. All registered students will be tested on that day. Results will be sent to parents that afternoon and must be forwarded to covidresults@wmsde.org. WMS does not automatically receive copies of each child's results on the day of testing. These results must be forwarded by 4:30 p.m. in order for your child to attend school on Wednesday, December 8.

  • Families that choose NOT to participate in Quidel testing must test off-site each week and submit results to covidresults@wmsde.org by NOON each Tuesday. If you are submitting a screenshot, please include the date tested.

  • If your child misses testing due to an absence or lateness to school, your child must get tested off-site to attend school on Wednesday. Solv Health on Philadelphia Pike offers rapid tests daily. Please plan to arrive on time on testing days - testing begins immediately after drop-off.

  • Please Note: If your child will not allow Quidel staff to conduct the test on a particular week, you will be called and asked to pick up your child to be tested elsewhere in order to adhere to our testing deadline.

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

Off-site testing options:
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.
WILMINGTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL
WWW.WMSDE.ORG
Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved.