Dear WMS Families and Friends,
Maria Montessori noted that a “child’s individual liberty must be so guided that through activity he/she may arrive at independence…the child who does not do, does not know how to do.” In the modern world, we are often overwhelmed by global access to information and opinions. Aren’t we lucky that the Montessori Method teaches our children to value their independence, think for themselves, and truly be “one-of-a-kind”?
Our daughter, Olivia, just moved up to the Elementary program at Wilmington Montessori School. Olivia, who began attending WMS as a toddler, has benefited greatly from WMS’s nurturing environment. She is able to explore challenges at her own pace, and delve more deeply into topics and subjects that spark her passion.
As an educator, my life changed when we discovered WMS. I worked at traditional schools that had students of the same age sitting in desks in rows and moving methodically through an unchanging schedule from day-to-day. When it came time to think about Olivia’s education, we discovered the Montessori Method, and it shattered my views of teaching and learning! Why do we assume that children of a certain age will all learn the same way? WMS offers an environment that is flexible and exciting for Olivia; and the three-year age groupings have allowed her to learn from the older students and develop strong leadership skills as she, often unknowingly, guides and inspires the younger students.
The school’s commitment to the Montessori philosophy, the wonderful teachers who know each of our children as individuals, and the beautiful campus – now utilized in ways beyond what we could have imagined – are among the many reasons that the WMS community is thriving.
Now in my sixth year as annual fund chair, I am once again asking for your support for our community. Last year, the annual fund totaled more than $88,000 in gifts from current parents, grandparents, staff, board members and other generous friends of WMS. Your gifts have made a difference in our school in many ways, such as:
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Providing financial assistance to families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a WMS education.
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Supporting our teachers’ quests for lifelong learning (including a program on Learning and the Brain, which is helping teachers further develop their talents for providing the best education to each child as an individual).
In 2021, your gifts will continue to help achieve all of those wonderful outcomes, in addition to supporting our faculty and staff as they continue to navigate their way through challenging times, while still offering each of our children a first-class education and utilizing our 25-acre campus to its fullest.
The support of the WMS community is essential to keep our school strong and thriving, allowing students to learn in an engaging and supportive environment that encourages them to become their best, “one-of-a-kind” selves – thanks to a one-of-a-kind WMS education! Your gift makes a difference! You can make your donation on our website or
Facebook, or you can email give@wmsde.org to request a donation envelope.
This year’s annual fund theme is #WMSoneofakind. We invite you to submit photos and videos sharing how WMS has helped your one-of-a-kind child grow or expressing why WMS is a one-of-a-kind school on social media using our #WMSoneofakind hashtag. (Read below for information about the prizes your family could win by using our hashtag and supporting the WMS Annual Fund.)
I thank you all for continuing to support WMS! I know that together we can empower our one-of-a-kind school to help each of our children reach their full potential!
Thank you,
