WMS Wednesday Weekly - June 26, 2024 - Bi-Weekly Summer Edition

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

June 26, 2024 - Bi-weekly Camp & School News

A Warm Farewell and a New Beginning

Dear Families,

With the warm weather and shift to summer schedules also comes the time for a transition in leadership at WMS. Sarah Williams (current Assistant Head of School, and Head of School starting July 1) and I have prepared for this moment, and yet, it feels as though there is so much still to do. Did I tell you this? Do you know about that?

It is a bittersweet moment, which we are prepared for, if one can ever be ready for such times. It is a time when I still care and think about the people, projects and goings on at WMS, though it is no longer my responsibility. It is time for Sarah to do the job she has prepared for throughout her career, to lead the school into the future. While she gets settled in her new role, I will be enjoying time with family and friends. Lest you think that I do this without a care in the world, think again. It is with heartfelt gratitude that I move on from the school that taught me so much, nurturing my mind and spirit. I’ve learned more from children than I ever taught them. This is the sign of a great school - a place where everyone learns from each other, none of us having the answers but instead knowing how to ask good questions, seeking the needed information, creating and innovating for the benefit of students, staff and families.

I look forward to the next steps and enjoying hearing about all that is in store for WMS!

Lisa A. Lalama

Head of School

CAMP NEWS & NOTES

Camp Reminders

Thank you to all of our Camp Montessori families and staff for getting the summer off to a great start! As we settle into our camp routine, here are a few important reminders.

The camp day runs from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Before-care, starting at 7 a.m., is included in the cost of camp registration. Campers who are not picked up at 3:30 will be sent to after-camp child-care and billed accordingly (if they are not already registered for after-care).
All camp classrooms are nut-free.
Please make sure you set up your Bloomz account before your child's camp session begins. Bloomz is our primary method of family communication for both camp and the school year. If you have questions, please contact Noel Dietrich, Director of Marketing & Communications.
If you have a time-sensitive message for your child's camp counselors, please call the school at 302-475-0555 and leave a message with the front desk. Camp staff will not always see Bloomz messages sent in the middle of the camp day as they will be focused on the campers.
If you have not already done so, please remember to fill out and send in a Medication Administration Record (MAR) form for sunscreen, bug spray and/or any other topical ointment that you want staff to apply to your child during the camp day.

Camp Emergency Alert System Test - Tomorrow at 7 p.m.

We will be running a test of Camp Montessori's emergency alert system on Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. The FinalSite Connect system is used to send urgent updates to families and staff in the case of an unexpected closing or emergency that requires immediate response. All families who are registered for camp this summer should receive phone messages, texts and email alerts during the test.

After this test, if you would like to add additional email addresses or phone numbers to your notifications, please email alert@wmsde.org with the contact information you would like to add. Thank you!

NEW FAMILY NOTES

Welcome to WMS!

We are looking forward to welcoming new families to WMS this fall, and we've enjoyed meeting some of you at camp! You may already be wondering about the upcoming school year. What will you need to prepare for your student? What important dates should you hold in your calendar? This summer, we will be using this newsletter to share helpful information about what to expect in those first days and weeks, as well as tips for where to find information when you need it.

Mark Your Calendars - Back-to-School Events

Visit www.wmsde.org/calendar for the full school year calendar and latest updates.

Monday, August 26 (5-6:30 p.m.) - Back-to-School Family Picnic

Plan on joining the school community for an enjoyable evening and the chance to meet staff members, teachers and other WMS families. More details to follow.

Tuesday, August 27 - First Day of School

Thursday, September 5 - Primary/Kindergarten Curriculum Night

Tuesday, September 10 - Toddler, Elementary & Middle School Curriculum Night (Times TBA)

Curriculum Nights are a great opportunity for hearing more about your student’s curriculum, program and day-to-day routines. You don’t want to miss this very informative classroom presentation.

Supply Lists & Summer Homework

You can access the summer homework and supply lists for your student’s level by way of the WMS website.

Key Cards

Key cards and family badges will be distributed to enrolled families at the start of the school year (or at the start of your child's camp week if you are attending Camp Montessori). Safety and security are of the utmost importance at Wilmington Montessori School.

Stay Tuned...

Over the next few months, the Wednesday Weekly newsletter will include a regular feature called “Did You Know…?” spotlighting details about the upcoming school year with new families in mind. Please be sure to check your inbox for this newsletter and other updates, which will be sent on a bi-weekly basis during the summer months.

Join Our Community of Giving: Donate Today

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