February 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 01:18PM Dear Washington Market School Community,
It’s February and the winds of Admissions and Ex-missions are swirling all around. It is that time, in the dead of winter, that parents must register at public schools, search for the perfect house outside of NYC if September is to be a new school system, and sign re-enrollment contracts at our school. Shannon has posted the numbers of our school’s admissions season in this newsletter and we shall post the list of ongoing schools that our children will attend in our April edition.
Here is a link to an article in The 2013 Parents League Review that discusses a number of what we called “myths” about the process of applying to ongoing schools. Two Early Childhood Directors (I was one of them) and two admissions directors of ongoing schools collaborated on the article.
Click Here for Kindergarten Admissions: From Our Side of the Desk
It deliberately presents a positive and encouraging picture but nonetheless accurately reflects our collective understanding and long experience with this sometimes overly fraught process.
Super Bowl is over, bring on the Oscars!
Ronnie
Volcanoes!
Classroom B not only has created a “live” volcano in their classroom but used their senses to create the sights and sounds of the eruption and its environment in drama class.
Calendar of Events
What’s happening in February…
Feb 8th (Friday)
Duane Street Potluck Dinner – please sign up at the front desk
Flynn Family Home 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Feb 12th & 14th (Tuesday & Thursday)
Duane Street Caregivers’ Days – see your classroom for details
Feb 11th, 13th & 14th (Monday, Wednesday & Thursday)
Hudson Street Special Person Days – see your classroom for details
Feb 18th (Monday)
Presidents Day – School Closed
Feb 19th (Tuesday)
Professional Development Day – School Closed for Children
Except for Duane Mon/Tues Classes who may attend Make-up Day
Parents please RSVP at the Front Desk by Tuesday, Feb 12th.
Feb 20th (Wednesday)
Duane Street Parent Night (see schedule below)
Feb 21st (Thursday)
Duane Street Parent Night (see schedule below)
|
Wednesday Feb 20th Class 2 – Erica/Latisha/Theus (am session 5-6pm & pm session 6.30 – 7.30pm) Class 3 – Larry/Laurie/Jenna-Ann (am session 5-6pm & pm session 6.30 – 7.30pm) Class 4 – Robert/Deborah/Kolina (BOTH am & pm sessions 5pm – 6.30pm) |
Thursday Feb 21st Class 1 – Kelly/Helen/Kathrin (BOTH am & pm sessions 5pm – 6.30pm) Class 5 – Kerstin/Nia/Lyrica (am session 5-6pm & pm session 6.30 – 7.30pm) Class 6 – Katherine/Isil/Megan (am session 5-6pm & pm session 6.30 – 7.30pm) |
And in March…
March 1st (Friday)
Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)
March 8th (Friday)
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences – School Closed for Children
Week of March 11th
WMS Small Works Art Show – details to be announced
March 18th - 29th
Spring Break – School Closed
News & Events
Thank You
To Jeff, Felicia & Max Bersh for hosting such a wonderful Potluck dinner for Hudson Street Parents. It was a great opportunity for parents to get together as a community. And that boat of cookies was delicious!
Bake Sale Proceeds at Work!
Hudson Street Materials Drive
The materials room will be holding a materials collection drive from Feb 4th – 8th. We are looking to collect used or waste materials that you might have on hand. Things like broken jewelry, wine corks, ribbons, feathers, shells, metal and plastic items, many things would do! The collection baskets are at the Hudson Front Desk.
With Continued Thanks
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the WMS families who have so generously contributed to the Annual Fund since the publication of the January newsletter. Your support and dedication never cease to inspire.
Welcome to the World
Congratulations to…
Jarrod and Leigh Fong on the birth of their baby boy, Alexander on December 24th, 2012. And to Nicholas (Class A) on becoming a big brother.
Dan & Katie Sznewajs on the birth of their baby girl, Annie on January 7th, 2013. And to Ella (Class 3pm & Maeve on becoming big sisters.
Timur Kocak and Amanda Dubois on the birth of their baby boy, Oliver on January 18th, 2013. And to Elsa (Class 3am) on becoming a big sister.
WMS Street Fair
Saturday, May 4th, 11am – 3.30pm
Join us to celebrate our children and our vibrant school community at the WMS Street Festival. The school-wide festival will be the only fundraiser this year, and supports two important causes at our school: teachers’ enrichment programs and financial aid for current and future students.
The family-festival will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Duane Street, between West Broadway and Church, and will include entertainment, activities and food for all to enjoy!
Only Ronnie, Jan & Robert remember Phillippe Petit, a then parent at our school, who walked a tight rope across Greenwich Street for our first street fair – and while we don’t need you to go to these lengths we ask that you participate in this wonderful family event in whatever way you can.
Auction & Finance
Creative Design
Donations & Raffle
Entertainment & Food
Logistics (Day-Of)
Website
Online Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet
In addition to volunteering on a committee, parents can help in two other ways:
First, by supporting your Class Table. In keeping with the spirit of Montessori, each classroom will have an activity or sales table created by teachers and students such as a “Make-Your-Own Pasta Necklace” activity. Parents within each class can choose to support their teacher-led activity by gathering the needed-materials or volunteering an hour of their time to work the table.
Second, parents can team up and sponsor an activity for the kids to enjoy with a Parents’ Table. Activities could include sponsoring face painters, a bouncy house or creating and overseeing other activities, such as cookie-decorating or perhaps carnival-inspired games like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, knock-down-the-bottles, etc. We will provide the table, signage and cash box, and you and your group of friends take care of the rest! To submit an idea for a table, please fill out a Table Submission Form and return it to the Duane or Hudson front desks by Thursday, February 28.
We look forward to a fun, family-event, and hope to see everyone out there in May! In the meantime, if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact the Festival Co-Chairs: Lissa Schiele at lissanyc@me.com and Lisa Hill at lmoneill@yahoo.com.
Admissions Update
It’s February and another year of admissions tours has come and gone. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of the parents who volunteered their time to speak with prospective families at both Duane and Hudson. All of our visitors truly enjoyed seeing your children at work and hearing what it is like to be part of the WMS community. Thank you for bringing your point of view to each and every discussion. Tours began in October and lasted through January 31st, and the two’s lottery took place in mid-October. Here are some statistics from this admissions season that we thought you might enjoy reading:
Total number of tour requests received prior to deadline: 835
Total number of families who toured Duane and Hudson (after the lottery was conducted): 491
Total number of siblings/legacies/faculty children who applied for next year: 72
Number of new applications received: 388
Number of children who entered the lottery: 351
Admissions letters will be mailed at the end of February, and we are all looking forward to greeting the newest members of our community.
Sincerely,
Shannon
