WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

January 15, 2025

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 20

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

Pre-Registered Child-Care Only

January 22

Moving Up Classroom Visit - Lower Elementary (6-9)

(for families of current kindergartners)

9:30 a.m.

RSVP via Bloomz

January 23

Virtual Admissions Information Session

10 a.m. on Zoom

Tell a friend!

9-12/Middle School Talent Showcase

Dress Rehearsal - 9:30 a.m.

Performance - 6 p.m.

January 27-31

Spirit Week

Scroll down for a list of dress-up days!

January 31

Happy 61st Birthday, WMS!

Re-enrollment Season

Dear WMS Families,

We are two weeks into the new year and already planning ahead for another exciting chapter at Wilmington Montessori School. And, of course, we want your family to be a part of that! Whether you chose WMS for the academic opportunities an independent Montessori school can offer, the unique instructional methods that appeal to your child’s learning style no matter their age or grade, or a learning environment that also allows them to discover who they are as individuals, there’s so much more in store for your child.

Throughout this year, we have seen incredible growth in our students, and we’re excited to foster their progress as they continue to grow. The Montessori Method is so much more than a curriculum; it’s an integrated educational system that allows students to discover and utilize their gifts and talents, all the while preparing them for academic challenges and to make meaningful connections with others. Similarly, WMS is so much more than just a place of learning; it’s a vibrant community in which families come together to create a strong and supportive network that, together with WMS faculty and staff, focuses on the personal and academic growth of each student.

It is officially re-enrollment season at WMS. As you consider the next year in your child’s educational journey, please also consider joining us in February for The Journey, a family education event that highlights the nuanced ways the Montessori Method changes to address the needs of students as they move from the early childhood years through the elementary and middle school years. Knowing what’s to come and how your child’s needs will continue to be met, will help you determine whether the personalized learning experiences that are unique to WMS will continue to benefit your child in the coming years.

Sarah Williams

Head of School

NEWS & NOTES

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Opportunities

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday, we honor Dr. King’s unwavering dedication to justice, equity and peace. His words inspire us to live with purpose, challenge inequality and contribute to our communities in meaningful ways.

In classrooms and specials classes, students are engaging in activities to learn about Dr. King’s legacy. Through storytelling, art and music, STEAM activities, research projects and discussions, children are exploring themes of kindness, fairness, non-violence and the power of community action. These activities help students cultivate a deeper understanding of Dr. King’s vision and how they can embody his values in their daily lives.

As a reminder, there will be no school (pre-registered child-care only) on Monday. For those looking to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service, the State of Delaware's Office of Volunteerism has compiled a list of several volunteer service opportunities, including Westside Grows Together's 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Clean Up, Peace March and Celebration.

The Delaware Art Museum is also offering a family-friendly day of creative activities and community-focused events.

Additional opportunities can be found on the national site - www.mlkday.gov.

May your day be filled with reflection, action and inspiration as we celebrate the transformative legacy of Dr. King.

Spirit Week 2025 - Week of January 27

Celebrate WMS's 61st birthday with a week of fun dress-up opportunities selected by the 9-12 and Middle School classes! All age levels (and staff) are encouraged to participate.

Monday

Mix Up Your Mane Monday - Fix your hair in any way you choose!

Tuesday

Dress-up Day - Wear your favorite costume or fancy dress-up clothes!

Wednesday

Friends in Fashion - Form a group and dress the same or wear the same colors!

Thursday

WMS Spirit Day - Wear WMS colors (blue, white and gold) or WMS/Camp Montessori clothing!

Friday

Teacher/Student Swap - Students dress like a teacher and teachers dress like students!

A Message from the WMS Kindergarten Class

As the kindergarten class wrapped up last month's Winter Warmth Drive, students spent time counting and graphing the number of items collected before sending them off to the Volunteering with Love organization. They also discussed who needed to be thanked for making the collection a success and wrote the following note together as a group:

Dear Wilmington Montessori Families,

Thank you for helping us collect winter clothes. We collected 16 earmuffs, 33 scarves, 26 mittens, 72 hats, 139 pairs of underwear, 211 pairs of socks and 76 pairs of gloves for children in Wilmington, DE. We couldn’t have done it without you! We love you WMS!

Thank you,

The Kindergarten Class

In response to their donation, they received their own thank you letter from the organization the items were donated to:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your donations! The donations went to residents staying at a local hotel in Wilmington. Children there may only have one or two pairs of underwear. Some don't have appropriate clothes or shoes for the season. The hats, gloves, scarves, mittens, socks and underwear were passed out to parents during our Christmas giveaway. The underwear was all given away. The leftover hats/gloves (which weren't many!) were given to a social worker that passed them to other local families in need. - From Carol Derrickson, Volunteering with Love

Note: If your family has additional items, including winter coats, that you would like to donate to Volunteering with Love, there is currently a collection happening at Sweet Lucy's on Concord Pike.

2025-26 re-enrollment is now open!

Re-enrollment for the 2025-26 school year opened yesterday. If you’ve already submitted your materials, THANK YOU! Your prompt re-enrollment helps us plan for the upcoming school year, including offering contracts to teachers in a timely manner.

As a returning WMS family, you have enrollment priority if you complete your re-enrollment materials by the February 14, 2025 deadline. We look forward to welcoming your family back to WMS this fall!

Yesterday, an email from admissions@wmsde.org was sent to your family’s designated FACTS email address (the same one used for your child’s 2024-25 enrollment packet). This email included instructions for accessing the re-enrollment materials through the FACTS Family Portal.

Note: If you didn’t receive this email, please check your spam/junk folders or any other email addresses the school may have on file for your family. If you’re unable to locate the message, contact admissions@wmsde.org for assistance.

When logging into the Family Portal for re-enrollment, use the same username and password you used last year. If you don’t remember your username, we’re happy to assist you. Please do not create a new account.

This year, several of our programs and classrooms were at capacity, and we’re projecting waitlists for the 2025-26 school year as well. To ensure your child’s placement for next year, it’s essential that we receive your re-enrollment contract and non-refundable/non-transferable deposit by Friday, February 14, 2025. After this date, any remaining spaces in our programs will be offered to new applicants. All families must complete re-enrollment through FACTS, even if you have already submitted a financial aid application.

We value your family and have planned for your re-enrollment. If you’re choosing not to re-enroll, please notify admissions@wmsde.org as soon as possible, or open your child’s re-enrollment link and click “Will not enroll” to inform our planning for next year.

The WMS Board of Directors, teachers and staff look forward to making 2025-26 another great school year with your family. Thank you for your trust in and commitment to WMS!

Questions? If you need assistance with the re-enrollment process, contact our Admissions Office. For questions about financing your child’s WMS education, reach out to our Business Office.

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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 Marketing & Communications.

WILMINGTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL