WMS Wednesday Weekly - October 6, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

October 6, 2021

Peace Week Delaware 2021

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 6

Virtual Admissions Open House

5 p.m.

Tell a friend!

Virtual STEAM Night (for Toddler/Primary families)

6:30 p.m.

Zoom (Use our standard WMS password, available on Bloomz)

Details below!

October 8 & 11

Parent Conferences - No school

Pre-registered child care available - the registration deadline has passed.

October 13

Deadline to Submit COVID Test Results (Test on or after October 6)

Results must be sent to covidresults@wmsde.org by noon for your child to attend school on September 30.

October 20

Lunch & Learn: Meeting for Parents of Rising 9-12 Students (current third-graders)

Noon

Zoom - Register here to receive the link.

Full Calendar

Parent Conferences

This week, we take time out of our regularly scheduled school days to offer time for parents and teachers to meet and discuss goals for the next few months. This is an opportunity for parents to share their hopes and dreams for their child and for teachers to talk about the child’s school experience so far. We do this early enough in the school year to make sure we have had some time to observe and get to know the students, and learn about their past and present experiences and the expectations they and their families have for this new school year.

The partnership between home and school is important to WMS. We were founded by a group of parents and continue to value families as a central part of the WMS experience. We are honored to be chosen by the families whose children attend WMS and to have their trust placed in us as their children move through their school journey.

As you prepare for your meeting with your child's teacher this week, please come with questions as well as information you’d like to share. We look forward to continuing to build our partnership with your family.

Lisa A. Lalama

Head of School

NEWS & NOTES

Virtual STEAM Night for Early Childhood Students - Tonight (Wednesday, October 6)

Our popular virtual STEAM nights for early childhood students are back! Join STEAM Education Coordinator Paula Sharpe and Instructional Support Teacher Trish Harkins tonight (Wednesday, October 6) at 6:30 p.m. to learn about British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy. Andy is a land artist who uses science, math and engineering in his sculptures. Paula will read a story to the children about his work, and Trish will demonstrate how to create some land art. You and your children will learn how to create land art at home and share your artwork with us!

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/979676568

Zoom Meeting ID: 979 676 568

(Use our standard WMS password, available on Bloomz)

Questions? Email Paula or Trish for more information!

School Pictures - October 12 & 13

We are excited to share that Ann Deas Photography will be returning to WMS next week (on October 12 and 13) to take student portraits.

Like last year, photos will be taken outdoors, with the photographer maintaining a six-foot distance from the students. After the photos are processed, parents will be provided with a link to view proofs and purchase photos directly through the website. (No orders or payments will be processed through WMS.)

Each student will be photographed individually. These individual photos will be combined into group composites (to serve as this year’s "class photos" in order to adhere to COVID-19 distancing guidelines).

Schedule

All photos will be taken in the morning - please be sure your child arrives on time!

Tuesday, October 12:

Toddler Room 3 (Emily)
Toddler Room 5 (Kira)
Primary Room 17 (Erin Winner)
Primary Room 20 (Marilyn)
6-9 Room 22 (Melissa C.)
Middle School Room 10 (Mandy)

Wednesday, October 13

Toddler Room 4 (Alyssa)
Primary Room 18 (Sarah/Brandy)
Primary Room 19 (Erin Wehler)
6-9 Room 24 (Melissa S.)
9-12 Room 9 (Allie)

Note: Thursday, October 14 will be our back-up rain date, if needed. Make-up/retake photos will be taken on a later date, TBD, after proofs are available for review. A separate announcement will be made.

Please email markia_inge@wmsde.org with any questions!

COVID-19 Testing: Next Results Due on Wednesday, October 13

WMS requires ongoing testing for students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. We are currently requiring testing every other week.

All students and staff must submit their negative COVID-19 test results (from a test taken on or after today, Wednesday, 10/6) by noon on Wednesday, October 13. Results should be emailed to covidresults@wmsde.org as soon as they become available. If you are sending a screenshot, please include the date tested.

Due to high volume, some testing locations are taking three or more days to process results. Please plan to test early in the testing window. We highly recommend that you complete your test by the weekend to ensure your results will be on time.

Important: All tests must be conducted on-site at a testing location - no at-home test results will be accepted. Please understand that if no results are forwarded to the nurse, your child will not be permitted to attend school on Thursday, September 30. If your results are forwarded after noon 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 school; time must be allowed for communication to the staff members conducting screenings in the car line.

Upcoming Due Dates:

Wednesday, October 13

We are still awaiting further information about hosting onsite COVID testing. We will share details about this as soon as it is available.

As always, you are still welcome to have your child tested more frequently and may forward the results to covidresults@wmsde.org.

Click here to find Delaware Curative testing locations near WMS.

Thank you, and please contact the school nurse 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.