W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
October 31, 2018
In this Issue


Upcoming Events


November 1

Middle School Information Night for Parents of 9-12 Students*
5-6 p.m.
Great Room


November 3
10 a.m.
Tell a friend!


November 5-9
Annual Fund Drive
and don't forget your change for the Meerkat bank!

November 8
9-12 Information Night (for parents of current third-graders)*
5-6 p.m.
Great Room


November 14
Kindergarten
Information Night (for parents of rising kindergartners)*
5-6 p.m.
Great Room


November 16
6-7:30 p.m.
Gym


November 20
Grandfriends' Day

Start times:

-Toddler: 9 a.m.

-Primary: 8:45 a.m.

-Elementary: 8:30 a.m.

-Middle School: 8 a.m.


November 21
Thanksgiving break


November 22-23
Thanksgiving break 
No classes or child care
Happy Thanksgiving!


*Parents may earn co-op hours for attending Information Nights.

Annual Fund
Message from
Head of School Lisa Lalama

Read more from Lisa on the Montessori Message blog.
Next week you will notice lots of activity in the WMS lobby. It's time for this year's Annual Fund Drive. Each year we approach members of our community, including current and alumni families, staff, board members and friends of WMS, asking them to help us reach our fundraising goal. We are fortunate to have a large number of supporters. The annual fund allows us to strengthen our support of various aspects of WMS, such as financial aid, STEAM and technology programs, and staff professional development.

This year's Annual Fund theme is "Creating Tomorrow's Leaders." As annual fund chair Kevin Kahn shares in the letter you will receive tomorrow, WMS students grow during their time here. They have opportunities to experience and experiment with new things, whether through the arts, STEAM, technology or other subjects. And now they can stay through middle school, continuing to learn and evolve into the amazing young people you see in the hallways each day.

WMS of today is different than WMS when it began years ago. At our center, we have a commitment to Montessori education. Just like Dr. Montessori, our staff continues to learn along with our students, creating the leaders of tomorrow. And none of this could happen without your support. WMS is a strong community. Every single one of us is an important part of that community. As we begin this year's fundraising drive, please take a moment to consider the many opportunities that have helped your children grow as learners and leaders at WMS. Your contributions make these opportunities possible! 

We appreciate your ongoing support.









P.S. During this year's Annual Fund Drive, we are asking our community to share why they are grateful for WMS. Please stop by the lobby next week to create your own #WMSthankyou sign or share your thoughts on social media!



News & Notes News
danceGet Your Dancing Shoes Ready: It's Dance Party Time!
 
Please join the fifth-grade class on Friday, November 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the gym for dinner, dancing, dessert, raffle prizes and more. Tickets are $10 per person (with a $5 discount for parties of four or more) and may be purchased in the lobby before and after school the week of November 12. Tickets will also be available at the door before the dance. All ages are welcome.

The dance party is a fundraiser for next year's sixth-grade trip to New York City and the Global Citizenship Action Project (GCAP) conference.

Financial Aid Application for 2019-20 School Year Opens Tomorrow

WMS's  financial aid application opens for returning families tomorrow, November 1. 

Please note:
  • We have shifted to a new financial aid application hosted by School & Student Services for the 2019-20 school year. Since this is a new system for both our school and our families, we encourage families to get an early start in case you may need help. 
  • When you start the application process, you will be asked for WMS's SSS code. It is 902045.
  • The SSS system does not include all of WMS's program options. Please include the name of your specific program choice (e.g., "Primary 5 full-day," "12-month Lower Elementary," etc.) in your comments under "Other Considerations" so that your application can be processed based on the correct tuition amount.
The deadline to be considered for a first-round award is Monday, January 7, 2019. Financial aid applications completed after January 7 will be considered as funds allow.  Financial aid grants are made for one year only so you must re-apply each school year. 

Please contact  Nancy Oddo with any questions.

Pizza on Child-Care Fridays
mini-pizza-spatula.jpg  
For any School's Out child-care day, that falls on a Friday, we will offer pizza for $1 per slice for children who would like pizza for lunch. 
leaders Today's Learners
Cooking Up Loose Parts and a "Make" Sale in the Maker (STEAM) Studio

A wood "cookie" for the loose parts playground
In WMS's Maker (STEAM) Studios, no two school years are ever alike - there is always something new brewing, whether it's exploring salt, studying owls, emulating the techniques of artist Dale Chihuly or studying Asian engineering feats. This year, the 9-12 and middle-school students have been eager to explore some new additions to the Elementary Maker Studio: a laser cutter and three 3D printers. 

To date, the students have been primarily focused on learning how to use the new equipment. The 3D printers, for instance, only work with certain file formats, so students have been tapping into their programming skills - and building on technology lessons - to make existing files compatible for 3D printing. 

Middle-schoolers have already taken the additional step of brainstorming ways to use the new equipment, and have begun work on creating a "loose parts" playground to enhance the current Primary playground. These loose parts include wood "cookies" - cross-cuttings of various fallen trees into which the students will engrave the WMS logo using the laser cutter. Other loose parts for the playground include long bamboo sticks and rocks for balancing and stacking. Under STEAM Coach Paula Sharpe's guidance, the middle-school and 9-12 students take ideas and build on them.  "I never have an exact recipe for them or a final outcome in mind," Paula said. 

Next month, across all levels, students will be busy in their respective Maker (STEAM) Studios making things for an upcoming "make" sale. Rather than bake goodies for a bake sale, students will make items using Maker (STEAM) Studio resources and skills.  Proceeds will help replenish Maker (STEAM) Studio supplies.

Upper Elementary and middle school students plan to use the 3D printers to make WMS logo key chains. Inspired by their summer reading book "Hatchet," Upper Elementary students will make fire starters using wax and pine cones. Students across all levels will use old books to make decorative bunting, and use a wood burner to engrave wood cookie ornaments with their initials. 

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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