WEDNESDAY WEEKLY
February 3, 2021
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 10
Virtual Admissions Open House
Noon


February 12
2021-22 Re-enrollment Deadline
Re-enroll by this date to secure your child's space for the 2021-22 school year. Contact Paula Sharpe for more information.


February 12 & 15
Mid-Winter Break
No school - child-care will be available. Please pre-register by Friday, 2/5 - drop-ins will not be accepted.


February 17
Deadline to Submit 5th COVID Test Results to Nurse Kathy
Results must be sent to nurse@wmsde.org by 4 p.m. in order for your child to attend school on Thursday.


February 24
Virtual Admissions Open House
Noon


March 3
Virtual Admissions Open House
Noon

Deadline to Submit 6th COVID Test Results to Nurse Kathy
Results must be sent to nurse@wmsde.org by 4 p.m.


March 5
All-Staff Professional Day - No School or Child Care
"The child is not an empty being who owes whatever he knows to us who have filled him up with it. No, the child is the builder of man. There is no man existing who has not been formed by the child he once was."
- Dr. Maria Montessori

On Sunday, we celebrated WMS’s 57th birthday! For 57 years, children have come to Wilmington Montessori School, from the days of a storefront in the city, to the Little Red Schoolhouse in Arden, to the 25-acre campus we enjoy so much today. Parents wanted a school that understood child development, that allowed children to explore and learn in ways that best fit their individual growth. They built the school we know today as WMS. 

We have evolved over the years, but what has remained constant is our commitment to Dr. Montessori’s teachings. Today we know much more about brain development and learning than was known in her lifetime. She led the way, and we continue to embrace her teachings in combination with current scientific knowledge of learning. We know that children need to learn by doing, by using their hands, by having an environment set up for their success, by asking questions and searching for the answers. We know that children are curious - they want to learn. Doing things on their own, making mistakes and correcting them furthers their steps toward independence. They are building their future. 

For everyone past and present who has made WMS what it is today, thank you! Thank you for your commitment to the ideals of Dr. Montessori and for honoring our commitment to her teachings. We wouldn’t be the school we are today without you.
Head of School

NEWS & NOTES
Reminder: 2021-22 Re-enrollment Deadline -
Next Week!

Re-enrollment contracts are due next Friday, February 12. Please submit your child's form through our online re-enrollment system to secure their spot for the 2021-22 school year. After February 12, classroom spaces will be made available to new families.
 
Please contact Paula Sharpe if you have questions or did not receive a re-enrollment letter via email. If you prefer to use a hard copy form for your child's re-enrollment, please contact our admissions team to have one sent home with your child.

If you are NOT planning to return next fall, please notify Paula as well. Thank you for your help with informing our planning and staffing for the fall!
Weekly Testing

We continue to be grateful for your efforts to keep our community safe through weekly COVID-19 testing. As we shared last week, we are moving to testing on alternating weeks for our families until spring break.

Your child's next test results are due on Wednesday, February 17, at 4 p.m. in order for your child to attend school on Thursday the 18th. Results must be emailed to Nurse Kathy at nurse@wmsde.org as soon as they become available. If you are sending a screenshot, please include the date tested.

Upcoming required due dates are as follows:

  • Wednesday, February 17
  • Wednesday, March 3
  • Wednesday, March 17  

You are still welcome to have your child tested more frequently and may forward the results to Nurse Kathy.

A few tips:
  • Please plan to test at regular intervals to remain on schedule. 
  • You are strongly encouraged to pre-register, but can still be tested without an appointment at the state locations. If you don't have an appointment, plan for a longer wait time.

A few reminders:  
  • Doors and windows continue to remain open during the school day for improved ventilation, and students are still spending time outdoors. Please dress your children in multiple layers.
  • This is a good time to check the status of your child's masks. They should be fitting snugly without gaping and should not be falling below their nose.  
  • Be sure to send in multiple mask changes for the day. With temperature changes from inside to outside, condensation often forms and masks often become damp during the day, requiring a change. Be sure to wash reusable masks after each use. 
 
Thank you, and please contact Nurse Kathy if you have any questions!
Vaccine News
Last week, Delaware held its first vaccination events for teachers and school staff. Invitations are being sent randomly, within the three risk-based phases of school vaccinations. Several of our staff members received invitations and have been vaccinated at events held through a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education and Department of Public Health. The vaccination process for school employees is expected to take several months, but we are happy that our staff members are beginning to receive the vaccine.
Upcoming COVID-19 Testing Events


Thursday, February 4
  • Wilmington University Brandywine- 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Prices Run Park - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday, February 5
  • Delaware Park - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Thomas Edison Charter School - 2-6 p.m.

Saturday, February 6
  • Seeds of Greatness Church - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • UD Star Campus - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Full list of upcoming NCC test sites (updated weekly): nccde.org/2011/COVID-19-Resources
(Please visit this page to confirm that there have been no changes to the schedule above before going to your testing location.)


Permanent Test Sites and Other COVID-19 Testing Options
For general information about COVID-19 tests, state-wide testing events and permanent test sites, visit coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing.
Policies & Procedures

WMS's COVID-19 policies are based on guidelines from the CDC and Delaware's Office of Child Care Licensing. We continue to monitor those sources for information to adjust our policies and practices as needed.
Thank you for sharing your #WMSsnowday fun with us!
We will do our raffle prize drawing at the end of the week! If you haven't submitted a photo yet, it's not too late. Tag us on social media (your account/post must be public for us to see it), message Noel on Bloomz, or email Noel at noel_dietrich@wmsde.org.
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.
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