Wednesday Weekly - June 16, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

June 16, 2021

School's out... Camp's in!

Happy summer! The 2020-21 school year ended on Friday, and we jumped straight into pre-camp child-care this Monday. As our lead and specials teachers finish up year-end work in their classrooms and attend professional development programs this week, more than 80 students, led by our camp staff, have kicked off their summer fun (including trips to the pool for our elementary-age campers)!

This summer, we will be sending out the Wednesday Weekly newsletter every other week. The Wednesday Weekly includes news for both school-year and camp families during the summer. Camp families will also receive a camp newsletter each Thursday, starting next week.

We hope, whether your families attending camp or enjoying other adventures, your summer is off to a great start! This issue will include updates and reminders for school and camp families and showcase some end-of-school highlights.

NEWS & NOTES

Drop-off/Pick-up Information for Camp Families

Turtles (Toddlers)

All drop-offs and pick-ups for toddlers are at the Toddler Entrance, including before-care, camp day and after-care.

Pandas (Preschool)

Drop off:

Before-Care (7-8:30 a.m.) - Great Room

Camp (8:30-9 a.m.) - Front Entrance

Pick up:

Regular Camp Day - 3:30 p.m. - Front Entrance

After-Care - Great Room

All Elementary - Kindergarten and up (Kangaroos, Tigers, Meerkats and Dragons)

Drop off:

Before-Care (7-8:30 a.m.) - Great Room

Camp (8:30-9 a.m. ) - Side door/Elementary Entrance

Pick up:

Regular Camp Day - 3:30 p.m. - Side/Elementary Entrance

After-Care - Great Room

Note: If you will be dropping your child off after the camp day begins at 9 a.m., please pull up to your child's designated entrance and call the school at 302-475-0555. You may have to wait several minutes for a staff member to come out to screen your child.

Camp programs dismiss at 3:30 p.m. If you need to pick your child up earlier, please notify camp staff in advance so that your child will be ready for dismissal.

Communications Reminders for 2020-21 Families

As we prepare to set up Bloomz for the 2021-22 school year, we will be removing families who aren't returning to WMS, and switching returning students out of their current classroom groups if they will be moving up to another level. If either of these scenarios is the case for your family, please be sure to go into your child's portfolio and classroom group and save any photos/videos you would like to keep by the end of the day on Tuesday, June 22. After this time, you may lose access to these items!

Please note that Bloomz is NOT used for summer camp, except in the Toddler Program.

In addition, if you aren't returning to WMS and would like to continue to receive the Wednesday Weekly, please email communications@wmsde.org, and we will keep you on the list!

Take care and keep in touch!

Notes from Nurse Kathy

Thank you to everyone who has completed Magnus Health requirements so far!

Camp Families: Campers' health forms are now past due - please be sure to complete your child's requirements as soon as possible to allow them to begin camp as scheduled.

Other Families: Health forms for families returning in the fall are due on July 1.

Vaccination Updates: If your child has received the COVID-19 vaccine or does so over the summer, we encourage you to notify Nurse Kathy (including the dates for each shot) - this will support our contact tracing efforts this summer and into the fall. This information will be kept confidential.

COVID-19 Testing Information for Camp Families

Thank you for your efforts to keep our community healthy through regular COVID-19 testing!

This summer, all families must submit a negative PCR COVID test result prior to their child's first week of camp. (The test must be taken during the week before the child begins camp - older test results will not be accepted.) Following this initial test, all camp families will follow a bimonthly testing schedule, with results due on the 1st and 15th of each month (beginning with July 1).

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.

Important: Please understand that if no results are forwarded to Nurse Kathy, your child will not be permitted on campus. If your results are forwarded after 4 p.m. 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 camp; time must be allowed for communication to the staff members conducting screenings in the car line.

Upcoming required due dates (for camp families only!) are as follows:

Thursday, July 1 - test on or after Friday, June 25
Thursday, July 15 - test on or after Friday, July 19

You are still welcome to have your child tested more frequently and may forward the results to Nurse Kathy. Wilmington Montessori School only accepts PCR test results (no rapid tests) - please check with your provider in advance to confirm that your child will be taking a PCR test.

Thank you, and please contact Nurse Kathy if you have any questions!

More Information about WMS COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Full list of test sites: coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing-events

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.

Art Show

This year's student art shows were virtual! Check out the elementary and middle-school students' work using the links below:

Lower Elementary (6-9) Art Show

Upper Elementary (9-12) & Middle School Art Show

Field Days

Primary, elementary and middle school students crawled, ran, tossed and splashed their way through field days earlier this month. While the format was slightly different from past years (only one classroom attended at a time, and certain activities that involved close contact between students were replaced), students had a blast!

Year-End Photos by Level

Here are a few of our favorite year-end highlights from each program level. Watch Facebook, in the coming weeks, for additional photos!

Toddler Program

Primary (3-6) Program

Lower Elementary (6-9) Program

Upper Elementary (9-12) Program

Middle School Program

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.