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W E D N E S D A Y W E E K L Y
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In this Issue
Upcoming Events
March 22
Staff Professional Day
- no classes or child care
Warm up your bidding arms!
March 25-29*
*no Saturday access March 23 and 30
April 1-5
Spirit Week
April 4
ERB Testing Information Session and Coffee Morning
8:40 a.m.
Learning Commons
Toddler Sing-Along
11-11:30 a.m.
Great Room
April 5
Online auction ends
April 11
Primary Maker Faire
8-8:45 a.m.
April 8-12
ERB Testing
Grades 3-8
April 13
Tickets on sale now!
April 17
Admissions Open House
9:30 a.m. & 5 p.m.
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Do You Have the WMS Spirit?
Message from
Head of School Lisa Lalama
Next week is spring break, when we'll enjoy some time away from school as the days begin to lengthen. When we return on April 1, it will be time for our annual WMS Spirit Week, which is sponsored by the sixth-graders.
Spirit Week raises money for an organization chosen as a result of the sixth-graders' participation in the Global Citizenship Action Project (GCAP). GCAP (which sixth-grader Maya Connelly wrote about in November) raises awareness about people throughout the world who may not have access to education, clean water, adequate housing or jobs, or live safely in their communities. After learning about a number of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
that work throughout the world to try to bring these basic human needs to all people, the GCAP attendees choose to support one of these organizations. Last October our WMS sixth-graders, along with over 200 Montessori students from around the world, decided to raise money for
Save the Rain
. This group works to teach water-starved communities in East Africa to use rain as a sustainable water supply. Read more about Save the Rain's work and our Spirit Week schedule in the sixth-graders' article below.
We hope that you enjoy the break ahead and come back prepared to see the children enjoying some great fun as they work to support Save the Rain's worthy cause. We'll see you on April 1 - if we can recognize you with your mismatched clothes and crazy hair!
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News & Notes
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Get Ready for Spirit Week 2019!
A Message from the WMS Sixth-Grade Class
During the
week of April 1
, WMS will celebrate Spirit Week - a week the whole school can participate in daily activities to raise awareness and funds for a nonprofit organization.
Last fall, the schools that attended GCAP in New York decided to support Save the Rain - an organization that collects rain water for communities that don't have easy access to clean water. By providing schools with the ability to harvest rain on site, students no longer need to forfeit their learning time in search of water. Every additional year of school a child receives will raise his or her learning potential by 10%.
This year's Spirit Week theme days include:
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Monday, April 1: Clash Day/Crazy Hair Day
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Tuesday, April 2: Favorite Book Character Day
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Wednesday, April 3: PJ/Stuffed Animal Day
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Thursday, April 4: Twin Day
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Friday, April 5: Spirit Day (spirit wear is on sale in the lobby!)
We suggest a $5 donation for Save the Rain. There will be containers near each classroom and in the lobby to deposit the funds. It only takes $15 dollars to supply one child with clean water for the rest of his or her life, and future generations! Thank you - your donations are appreciated!
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Tick Season Precautions
With the warmer weather approaching, everyone wants to be out and about, and that includes ticks. This spring and summer, WMS is taking steps to reduce the risk of our students acquiring ticks or any of the illnesses they can spread. These include:
- Spraying tick "hot spots" (which will be marked with caution signs).
- Educating teachers and staff about how to spot ticks.
- Setting up a visual barrier (cones) at the edge of the elementary playground to make everyone aware they're entering "tick territory."
- Checking in with the nurse after outdoor field trips and walks through the woods.
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ERB Testing Information Session - April 4, 8:45 a.m.
During the
week of April 8, students in third through eighth grades will take Educational Records Bureau (ERB) standardized testing. Third-graders will take their tests using pencils and paper, while students in grades 4 and up will take their tests online (new this year).
On April 4 at 8:45 a.m., please join us in the Learning Commons for a special ERB coffee morning, when Lisa Lalama, Laurie Orsic and Rose Feehan will address questions about ERB testing, discuss
ways we prepare WMS students for their testing experiences and review details about the test administration process.
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Reminder: Running Club Starts April 1
As we head into spring break next week, remember Montessori Running Club begins Monday, April 1 - the Monday we return to school - and runs from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kindergartners run on Mondays, while participants in grades 1 and up run Mondays and Wednesdays.
Running club volunteer wanted:
We are looking for a volunteer to help (and earn co-op hours) with our kindergartners on Mondays. If you can help, please contact Tracey Gable.
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Today's Learners
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Middle-Schoolers Master New Technologies Through Board Games
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Middle-schooler Samantha Bargren presents her board game protoype
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This winter in technology class, the middle-schoolers have been working on mastering some of the new technology tools - the 3D printers and the laser cutter - our school acquired last summer. Their challenge: to design board games and bring them to life using these new tools.
Drawing on topics they've independently researched - from the Great Pyramids to the Civil Rights Movement to Broadway musicals - the middle-schoolers developed proposals for their games. They had to think through the many steps involved in designing a board game. For example, w
hat does the
game play look like? Will players roll dice, use cards, role play? Will players play as individuals or can they play in teams?
Additionally, their games must be educational. "The user should walk away having learned about that topic," said Technology Coach Rose Feehan.
Students created prototypes of their games and presented them to a panel of their peers to help with further revisions and enhancements. Next they began creating their game boards and pieces with the 3D printer and laser cutter.
"The goal is for them to master technologies - to troubleshoot them and create materials from scratch using these tools," Rose said.
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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
[email protected]
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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