The success of the WMS Street Fair would not have been possible without the hard work of so many people. The community also came together to make it a memorable day. We thank everyone for their efforts, the teachers and children for jumping in 100% and all of you who helped in so many different ways.

The Committee

Our committee worked tirelessly, late nights and early mornings and we had a ton of fun doing it:

Street Fair Co-Chairs: Lisa Hill & Lissa Schiele

Auction & Finance: Parisa Jaffer & Sharon Moody

Creative: Belgies Anan & Sara DiPasquale

Donations/Raffles: Mona Dattilio & Kerianne Flynn

Logistics: Kathy Cameron & Amy Pasquariello

Website: Sabina Daley Deaton

School Merchandise: Cecilia Crowhurst & Lisa Hofer

Committee Members

Auction & Finance: Amy Van Buskirk, Matthew Tocks, Nicole Tekkora

Creative: Marcia Asch, Sara Roter, Hilary Neve, Alixe Boyer, Dotty Giordano, Luisella Meloni

Donations/Raffles: Liv DeRose, Amanda Dubois, Martha Farrell, Jenny Galluzzo, Jennie Hamill, Sonal Khot, Katherine Peabody, Bettina Teodoro

Logistics/Extended Day of Volunteers:  Gina Ma, Michelle Kim, Jamyn Edis, Nida Bokhari, Shirley Hapangama

And special thanks our underwriters and to all the wonderful parents who generously donated to make their classroom table a big success.  And to those families who created their own:

The Faiman’s, Zotovich’s, Farrell’s, Hayes’, Lytton/Sohaili’s, Gould/Israels’, Hawkins’, Reiger’s, Ross’.

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in June…

June 3^rd (Mon) & 4^th (Wed)

Hudson Sings & End of Year Parties –See schedule below

June 6^th (Wed)

Ongoing Schools Meeting with Ronnie & Rachael    

Hudson (7:00pm-8:30pm)

June 7^th (Fri)

Mug n’ Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)

June 10^th (Monday)

Trip for Graduating Hudson Seniors

June 11^th (Tues) & 13^th (Thurs)

Hudson & Duane Sings & End of Year Parties – see schedule below

June 12^th (Tues)

Duane Sings & End of Year Parties – see schedule below

June 14^th (Fri)

Last Day of School for all WMS Children

June 24^th (Monday)

Summer Program Begins

September 9^th (Monday)

Students’ First Day of School (Phase in begins)

End of Year Sings & Parties

HUDSON STREET

Monday, June 3rd

Class F – Christine/Brandi/Elena-10:30-11:00

Class E - Kathleen/Andrea/Christine -1:45-2:15

Tuesday, June 4^th

Class G/H – Chelsea/Kim/Maria-9:15-9:45

Tuesday, June 11th

Class B – Odette/Annie/Michele -9:30-10:00

Thursday, June 13th

Class C – Nicole/Danielle/Marsha -9.15-9.45

Class D (am) - Michelle/Danielle/Maria-11:00-11:30

Class A - Jan/Kate/Hayes-1:45-2:15

Class D (pm) - Michelle/Danielle/Maria-2:45-3:15

DUANE STREET

Tuesday, June 11^th

AM Sessions (MT and 5 Day Children) – 10:30am

PM Sessions (MT and 5 Day Children) – 2:30pm

Duane 1: Kelly, Helen, Kathrin

Duane 2: Erica, Latisha, Theus

Duane 3: Larry, Laurie, Jenna Ann

Duane 4: Robert, Sabrina, Deborah

Duane 6: Katherine, Isil, Megan

Wednesday June 12^th

AM Sessions (WTF and 5 Day Children) – 10:30am

PM Sessions (WTF and 5 Day Children) – 2:30pm

Duane 1: Kelly, Helen, Kathrin

Duane 2: Erica, Latisha, Theus

Duane 3: Larry, Laurie, Jenna Ann

Duane 5: Kerstin, Nia, Lyrica

Duane 6: Katherine, Isil, Megan

News & Events

ISAAGNY Board

Congratulations to Ronnie and the new ISAAGNY Board!

Patricia T. Hayot, Head of School at Chapin

P.David O’Halloran, Head of School at Saint David’s

Bruce L. Dennis, Head of school at Packer Collegiate Institute

Damian J. Fernandez, Head of School at Ethical Culture Fieldston

Eve K. Kleger, Head of School at Village Community

Mimi Basso, Head of School at Westside Montessori

Ellen Birnbaum, Director of 92^nd Street Y Nursery School

Marjorie Goldsmith, Director of All Souls School

Jennifer A. Grogan, Head of School at Riverside Church Weekday School

Ronnie Moskowitz, Head of School at The Washington Market

Jean Rosenberg, Director of Chelsea Day

Jenna R. King, Director of Admission at Riverdale Country School

Elisabeth Krents, Director of Admissions at The Dalton School

Elizabeth R. Santini, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Convent of the Sacred Heart

Class Photos

Photo orders have been placed and will be available this week. 

If you ordered copies please pick them up at the front desk at Duane or from the classrooms at Hudson.

Street Fair Auction Items

If you won an auction item in our online auction please come by and pick them up. There are still many great items that have not been claimed. All certificates are at the Business Office at Hudson St.

WMS Merchandise

WMS Merchandise from our street fair is still available for purchase, including large tote bags $50, t-shirts $10 (2T, 4T, 6T & 8T), and WMS hats $5!

Please visit the front desk at Hudson if you are interested in purchasing any of these items.

WMS Summer Program

Fun is on the way!

Summer Program contracts have been issued. If you did not receive your contract, please email Thea. Full payment is due June 14^th.

Please remember you must also have all of your up-to-date health and emergency forms submitted prior to your child’s first day of camp.

Wildlife Friends Visit WMS

The children in Classrooms A, F, & D (am) had some interesting visitors this month. They were close up with a wallaby, a porcupine, a chinchilla, and a parrot! They even got to touch some of the animals!

Welcome to the World

Congratulations to...

Jennie and Michael on the birth of their daughter, Phoebe, and to Penelope (Class D am) on becoming a big sister!

Simone and Jan on the birth of their son, Kaleo, and to Malou (Classroom 3) on becoming a big sister!

Avantika and Anish on the birth of their son Agastya and to Adiya (Class B) on becoming a big sister!

Martha and Scott on the birth of their daughter Montgomery and to Martha (Classroom 3) on becoming a big sister!

Shannon (staff) & Zach on the birth of their daughter Penelope.

I want to tell you about an event that happened last week; an event that was handled sensibly by all those at our school and once again shows how thoroughly professional and conscious our staff is. 

Our Duane Street Administrative Coordinator, Jessica, called over to Hudson Street to report that she had been informed that there was a police action on Church Street just north of the school.  Aida and I quickly walked to where the police were blocking traffic on Thomas Street and were told that there was an unclaimed package on a bus and they were investigating.  As the streets were now blocked to traffic and fire and emergency vehicles were arriving, we decided to have all the children at Duane Street come over to spend the morning at Hudson Street until we heard from the police that all was safe.

The teachers calmly had all the children leave our Duane Street site.  The police helped us cross West Broadway.  The teachers at Hudson Street responded seamlessly by having their children leave the lower level and return to their classes so that the Duaners could use the library, the movement room, the art room and the gym.  Cedric, our music teacher, brought his guitar and entertained all with cool and sweet songs. Many kudos to all of our community who helped.  The children thought it was a great adventure to come to the BIG school and the teachers were their vigilant and caring selves. This leads directly to an update of our efforts to ensure safety for our school.  Over the past several months we have interviewed a number of security firms and have recently signed a contract with T&M Protection Resources.  T&M, with extensive experience designing security systems for schools including Trinity and Solomon Schecter, will be proceeding with a two phase plan for us:  In phase one, they will do an analysis of the current security posture and make recommendations for appropriate security operations and a response program (both operational and physical) for both normal and emergency incidents.  In Phase 2, they will provide a Crisis Response Plan which will include the building of a Crisis Management Team, the development of detailed protocols for dealing with both natural and man-made incidents, as well as providing staff training.

This is a new world and we accept our obligation and responsibility to live in it with awareness and sensitivity.

Ronnie

Welcome Days for 2013-14: Save the Date...

All children who are new to our school as well as our Duane Street students moving to Hudson Street are invited to come for a Welcome Day. This is a one hour session to meet your child(ren)’s teachers, new friends and visit the classroom.

Hudson Welcome Days

May 28^th (Tuesday) & May 30^th (Thursday) - 3.30pm – 6pm

Duane Welcome Day

June 1^st (Saturday) - 9am – 3pm

Invitations with your specific time slot will be mailed on May 7^th & 8^th.

What’s happening in May...

May 4th (Saturday)

WMS Street Fair – 11am – 3.00pm

Duane Street (between Church & West Broadway)

May 10^th (Friday)

Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane St (9.30 – 10.30)

May 13^th – 17^th

Room to Grow Collection – Hudson & Duane

May 16^th (Thursday)

Camp Contracts Due to WMS

May 27^th (Monday)

Memorial Day – School  Closed 

See you Saturday...

Don’t miss the Washington Market Street Fair this Saturday, May 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

We have an exciting day planned with live entertainment, arts and crafts, games and more! Avoid the lines by purchasing your All-Access WMS Family Pass now at wmsbenefit.org. Your family’s name will be held at the WMS Table check-in table, and wristbands will be issued at that time. Only enrolled Washington Market School families can use the All-Access Family Pass, which provides a family of four with access to all activities taking place at the street fair. Friends, neighbors and extended families that want to attend the event, can purchase tickets at the street fair only.

Food is not included in your All-Access Family Pass, so please bring cash to purchase snacks, treats and other delicious bites.  Also, for the first-time, WMS merchandise will be available for purchase, which includes children’s T-shirts, baseball hats, totes and tattoos. You can also try your skills against our very own Tyler Schwartz who will be putting on his chess moves all day!

An exciting line-up is planned onstage and will feature performances by:

11:00 AM             Mariachi Citlalli

12:00 PM             Oran Etkin

12.50 PM             Raffle Drawings

1:00 PM                The Amazing Max

2:00 PM                The Tone Academy of Music

“JUMP” ON OVER TO THE STAGE FOR SPECIAL PERFORMANCES DURING INTERMISSION

Finally, we are expecting a strong event turnout, so please consider leaving your strollers at home.

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, BID!

The Online Auction is open!

Show your support for The Washington Market School and visit the Street Fair’s Online Auction. Bid on exciting and fabulous items within every price range and to suit any tastes. The Online Auction closes this Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 PM, so bid now as some items go fast!

News & Events

Ongoing Schools Meeting

All you ever wanted to know about ex-missions...

Thursday June 6^th

7.00pm – 8.30pm @ Hudson Street

This session will give parents information about all public, public-gifted and independent ongoing school options. We will address the process for moving on, along with key dates and a discussion on the public school lottery. This is the last meeting of this kind for the school year.

WMS SUMMER CAMP

WE HAVE LIMITED SPACES STILL AVIALABLE FOR OUR SUMMER PROGRAM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT AVAILABILITY PLEASE EMAIL THEA.

June 24^th – August 9^th

Minimum Registration Requirement: Two consecutive weeks

Full Day Program: 9am-3pm (Open to children born by December 31, 2010)

Half Day Program: 9am-1pm (Open to children born between July 1, 2008 – July 1, 2011)

Located at our Hudson Street site, the program features: art, music, workshop, cooking, soccer, chess, yoga, field trips, picnics in the park, and plenty of adventures along the way!

Washington Market School Partners with Room to Grow

May 13^th – 17^th

Duane & Hudson Street Sites

Room to Grow enriches the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The program provides parents raising babies in poverty in NYC with one-on-one parenting support and essential baby items throughout their children's critical first years of life.

Please donate your gently used baby and children’s clothes to the donation bin at each site. Please note we cannot accept equipment or toys because of space constraints.

In last Sunday's New York Times (Need a Job? Invent It), Thomas Friedman discusses the work of Harvard educator Tony Wagner.  Wagner's thesis is that the skills of problem solving and the attribute of curiosity are more vital to our children's success than ability to learn facts and pass tests.  While he is thinking specifically of education from K through 12, we have always felt that starting in early childhood, it is this very process of how you arrive at your goal and not the product itself that is the underpinning of our school.

We have followed this philosophy from the beginning; it is not that our children are too young for a knowledge-based system, but that curiosity and play in an emotionally secure environment is what we believe best promotes active learning. Wagner's prescription for how to bring "intrinsic motivation into the classroom:  PLAY (my emphasis), passion and purpose" is truly our mission.

Ronnie

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in April...

April 4th (Thursday)

Ongoing Schools Information Session – Duane St Gym - 9.15-10.30

April 5th (Friday)             

Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)

April 5th (Friday)

Summer Camp Information & Applications Distributed

April 19th (Friday)

Summer Camp Applications Due

Dr. Kate Workshops

Duane Street – Mondays 1.15pm - 2.15pm

April 15th (Monday) Establishing New Routines

April 22nd (Monday) Discipline

April 29th (Monday) Critical Phases of Development & How to Handle Them

And coming in May...

May 3rd (Friday)

Summer Camp Contracts Due

May 4th (Saturday)

WMS Street Fair – 11am – 3.30pm

Duane Street (between Church & West Broadway)

News & Events

All you ever wanted to know about ex-missions…

Ongoing Schools Meeting                                    

Thursday April 4th

9.15am – 10.30am @ Duane Street Gym

This session will give parents information about all public, public-gifted and independent ongoing school options. We will address the process for moving on, along with key dates and a discussion on the public school lottery. This is the last meeting of this kind until June.

WMS Smallworks Art Show

The WMS Annual Art Show was an amazing success. Thank you to all the teachers and students for their hard work and especially our art teachers Jenna Bauer & Carrie Rubinstein. A special thanks to our Co-Chairs, Sudie Anning & Jennifer Anikst, who worked so hard to put everything together and to the New York Academy of Art for their generosity.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made the show happen: Birgitte Mann-Pearce, Celeste Joye, Ku-Ling Yurman, Adrienne Lytton, Alixe Boyer, Justin Dorazio, Lisa Hill, Tina Moya Zotovich, Coco Quinlan, Patricia Hsu, Catarina Kwan, Kathy Cameron, Rhiannon Kubicka, Jennie Hoffman, Makiko Nozaki, Felicia Bersh, Hobby Cole, Hilary Neve de Mevergnies, Jini Kang, Susan Tassone, Emily Weil, Martha Farrell, Sarah Wendt, Susan Perrine, Jenny Galluzzo, Ashley Angell.

WMS City Harvest Collection

Thank you to everyone who participated!

WMS successfully collected 655 pounds of food for City Harvest.  This food helps feed less fortunate New Yorkers.

Hudson St - Movement & Drama Parent Days

During April 15-26th parents are invited to watch and participate in their children’s Movement & Drama classes. Sign-up sheets will be posted outside each classroom.

WMS SUMMER CAMP...June 24th-August 9th

APPLICATIONS WILL BE MAILED OUT AND AVAILABLE AT THE FRONT DESKS FRIDAY, APRIL 5th.

APPLICATIONS DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 19th.

Minimum Registration Requirement: Two consecutive weeks

Full Day Program: 9am-3pm (Open to children born by December 31, 2010)

Half Day Program: 9am-1pm (Open to children born between July 1, 2008 – July 1, 2011)

Applications considered on a first-come first-served basis.

Located at the Hudson Street site, the program features: art, music, workshop, cooking, soccer, chess, yoga, field trips, picnics in the park, and plenty of adventures along the way!

Welcome to the World

Congratulations to...

Sumita Pandit and Vikas Singh on the birth of their baby boy, Viraj, on March 4th. And to Aaditya (Class 2) on becoming a big brother.

The arrival of the warmer weather means that our annual spring fundraiser is just around the corner! The Washington Market School Street Fair will take place on Saturday, May 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This family-fun festival will feature an array of activities for our school-community’s younger set to enjoy! Please note that this is the biggest fundraiser of the year.

Be on the lookout for your emailed invitation and to pre-purchase tickets for this lively festival. In addition to the street fair, there will be an online auction featuring fabulous items for bidding. If you have an item or experience that you would like to donate, please submit your donation form no later than Monday, April 8 to the front desks at Duane or Hudson. Have questions? Please contact the Donations Co-Chairs: Mona DAttilio and Kerianne Flynn. Thanks to your generosity and help, funds raised from the Online Auction, Raffle and Street Fair support two very important causes: teachers’ enrichment programs and financial aid for current and future students.

If you don’t have an item to donate, please consider becoming a street fair underwriter, which ensures a day of fun for everyone! Please contact Lisa Hill or Lissa Schiele for more information on how you can contribute.

Finally, if you want to help out, but only have a few hours, please consider pitching in the day of the street fair. We need volunteers to help set-up, breakdown and everything in between. Shifts can range from as little as one hour to four hours, whatever works for you! Please sign up online under the Logistics Committee here.

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 8^th (Friday)

Duane Street Potluck Dinner – please sign up at the front desk                             

Flynn Family Home 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Feb 12^th & 14^th (Tuesday & Thursday)

Duane Street Caregivers’ Days – see your classroom for details 

Feb 11^th, 13^th & 14^th (Monday, Wednesday & Thursday)

Hudson Street Special Person Days – see your classroom for details

Presidents Day – School Closed

Feb 19^th (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 12^th.

Feb 20^th (Wednesday)

Duane Street Parent Night (see schedule below)

Feb 21^st (Thursday)

Duane Street Parent Night (see schedule below) 

And in March…

 March 1^st (Friday)                          

Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)

Spring Parent Teacher Conferences – School Closed for Children 

WMS Small Works Art Show – details to be announced

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! 

The materials room will be holding a materials collection drive from Feb 4^th – 8^th. 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.

Congratulations to…

Jarrod and Leigh Fong on the birth of their baby boy, Alexander on December 24^th, 2012. And to Nicholas (Class A) on becoming a big brother. 

Dan & Katie Sznewajs on the birth of their baby girl, Annie on January 7^th, 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 18^th, 2013. And to Elsa (Class 3am) on becoming a big sister.

WMS Street Fair

Saturday, May 4^th, 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 31^st, 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

Sending my very best wishes for a healthy and sweet new year!

I’d like to update you on our efforts to evaluate the safety at our school. Since the letter we sent out to all members of the WMS community regarding improving security at our school, we have met with two security consultants. One, an expert in equipment, e.g., cameras, alarms and monitors, and the other, an expert on security procedures such as the training and hiring of dedicated security personnel.

We are awaiting their recommendations and will be making decisions as to what equipment and procedures it would be sensible to implement. Any ideas and suggestions that you have would be welcome.

Please address them to me at R.Moskowitz@wms-nyc.org.

Ronnie

And while we would like to teach your children until they are 92 years old, we know this is the time for families of our big kids to move on. Please remember to return your Session Request Forms by January 11^th to the admissions office. The following is a list of the 72 independent schools and gifted programs to which our children have applied for September 2013.

Academy of St. Joseph, The Allen-Stevenson School, Avenues, The Berkeley Carroll School, Blue School, Brearley School, Brentwood School, British International School, Brooklyn Friends, Brooklyn Heights Montessori School, Brooklyn Waldorf School, Browning School, Buckley School, Calhoun School, Carlthorp School, Cathedral School, Cathedral School of St. John's, Chapin School, City and Country School, The Collegiate School, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, Corlears School, Cushman School, The Dalton School,The Dwight School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Fieldston Lower School, Friends Seminary, Brooklyn Friends, Grace Church School, The Hewitt School, Horace Mann School, Howlett School, Hunter Elementary, International School of Brooklyn, La Scuola D' Italia, Leman School, Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School, Lycee Francais, Mabin School, The Marymount School, Miami Country Day,The Nightingale-Bamford School, Oakwood School, Packer Insitutute, Poly Prep Country Day School, Princeton Montessori School, Riverdale Country Day, The Rudolf Steiner School, Convent of Sacred Heart, Southbank International School, Kauffman Music School, The Spence School, The Speyer Legacy School, St. Philip's School, St. Stephan's School, St. Ann’s School, St. Bernard's School, St. David's School, St. Hilde’s and St. Hugh’s School, St. James' Episcopal School, St. Lukes School, The Center for Early Education, The Rumson Country Day School, Town School, Trevor Day School, Trinity School, United Nations International School, Village Community School, Willows School.

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in January…

Jan 11^th (Friday)               

Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)

Jan 11^th (Friday)

Hudson Street Potluck Dinner – please sign up at the front desk                             

Bersh Family Home 7pm – 10pm

Jan 15^th (Tuesday)

Annual Fundraising Kickoff Meeting (all welcome)

Duane Music Room 9.30 – 10.30

Jan 21^st (Monday)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – School Closed  

Jan 24^th (Thursday)

Hudson Street Studio & Parent Night (see schedule below)

Jan 26^th (Monday)

Hudson Street Studio & Parent Night (see schedule below)

And in February…

Feb 1st (Friday)

Mug ‘n Muffin – Duane Street (9.30 – 10.30)

Feb 8th (Friday)               

Duane Street Potluck Dinner

Feb 19^th (Tuesday)

Duane Make Up Day (For M,T Classes only – see information below)

Feb 20^th (Wednesday)

Duane Street Parent Night (Classes 3, 4 & 5)

Feb 21^st (Thursday)

Duane Street Parent Night (Classes 1, 2 & 6)

News & Events

Annual Fundraiser

We are holding a kickoff meeting to announce our annual fundraiser for 2013. If you would like to learn more and find out how to get involved please join us. We welcome as many volunteers as we can!

Tuesday Jan 15^th – 9.30am Duane Music Room

Duane St Make Up Days

Due to the disruption in school instruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, Washington Market School will be offering make-up days for our students as follows:

2-day Children: Tuesday, February 19^th

3-day & 5-day Children: Friday, June 14^th

We will be asking you to RSVP for these dates in advance. More information will be distributed closer to these dates in February and June.

Around School…

Ronnie had a couple of visitors from Class GH recently.  They had a problem that needed solving!

Welcome to the World

Congratulations to...

Claire and Paul Stone on the birth of their baby girl, Margot on December 27, 2012. And to Martha (Class B) on becoming a big sister and Henry (Class 1) & Hugo on becoming big brothers.

A Giant Thank you

We want to share our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of support that the WMS Community has shown through your generous contributions first to the Capital Campaign for the Duane Street Expansion and then to this year’s Annual Fund.  With your energy and your dedication, you have helped to expand our school, grow our scholarship fund and to support our phenomenal teachers and their ongoing professional development.  Our sincere thanks go out to the following friends and families of the WMS Community (please see your email for the WMS January Newsletter with names listed).

An extra special thanks to the faculty and staff who made their own anonymous contributions in a showing of solidarity and support for the Capital Campaign and for their ongoing dedication to WMS.

Admissions Update

A Message from Admissions:

The New Year has arrived and it is time to look ahead to September 2013. Please keep in mind these very important admissions deadlines coming up in January and February.

January 3, 2013 - Session Request Forms were emailed to currently enrolled students

January 11, 2013 - Session Request Forms for returning students are due to the Admissions Office by 4.00pm. 

January 11, 2013 - Sibling/Legacy/Faculty Child Application Forms are also due to the Admissions Office by 4:00pm

*We will be unable to accept Session Request Forms after this date.  Sibling/Legacy/Faculty Child Applications received after this date will not receive priority placement and will be considered in the general admissions pool.

January 18, 2013 – Contracts for 2013-2014 are mailed to current students

January 28, 2013 – CONTRACTS** AND FIRST PAYMENTS ARE DUE BACK TO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE BY 4:00 pm

February 4, 2013 - Sibling/Legacy/Faculty Child Contracts  for 2013-2014 are mailed

February 12, 2013 - SIBLING/LEGACY/FACULTY CHILD CONTRACTS** ARE DUE BACK TO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE BY 4:00pm

**A contract accompanied by the non-refundable $5,000 first payment is the only way to reserve your child’s space for the 2013-2014 school year. We are unable to accept contracts handed in after this date/time.

Please contact the admissions office with any questions.

Thanks,

Shannon 

Thank you to everyone for coming and to all of those who worked so hard to make it happen. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. It was truly a success, with over 384 attendees and generous contributions we raised a gross amount of $288,400! Last year we raised a gross amount of almost $206,000 of which 65% went to WMS staff development and student financial aid. We expect to net a slightly higher percentage this year.

Ronnie & MikeCo-Chairs:
Penny Armstrong
Ashley Stewart
Lisa Hill

Committee Chairs:
Events: Jodi Zeitoun & Cecelia Oh
Donations: Cheryl D’Hollander & Mona DAtillio
Raffle: Lisa Hofer & Kristen Bollotino
Finance: Sharon Moody, Jennifer Van Zandt & Mark Huston
Creative: Judith Basseches
Website: Sabina Deaton

Committee Members: EVENTS; Patricia Hsu, Hobby Holmes, Katrina Reynolds, Sonal Khot, Sarah Wendt RAFFLE; Bethany Turnure DONATIONS/FINANCE; Lauren Baricos, Nicole Tekkora, Cathy Ewald, Anne-Janette Twombly CREATIVE; Belgies Anan, Rhiannon Kubicka, Sam Sohaili, Andris Vizbaras, Jennifer Zicari.

Day Of Volunteers: Susan Rha, Damon Tassone, Jim Flynn, Jennifer Zicari, Lisa Rothauser, John Eaton, Gina Ma, Deepa Saigal, Allison Fumai, Kerianne Flynn, Talene Kelly, Marni Tangney, Lissa Schiele, Shirley Hapangama, Maria Alataris, Megan Brothers, Bethany Turnure, Ona Bernini, Camie Gontier, Nicole Tekkora, Shelby Lewis, Lauren Baricos.

Underwriters: Fiona Angelini Welch & Jamie Welch, Anonymous, Jason & Newsha McCarthy, Sudie Anning & Kevin Raidy, Annie & Robert Tirschwell, Stephanie Mack, Alexandra Stanton & Sam Natapoff , Claudine & Raphael De Niro, Kerianne & James Flynn, Mona & Paul Dattilio, Grace Lin & Warun Kumar, Erin Powers Brennan & Jeffrey S. Huang, Patricia Pericas & Kenneth Willardt, Julia & Lawrence Steyn, Felicia & Jeffrey Bersh, Joyce Hsieh & Kevin Tan, & Stephen Cho.

Ticket Contributions: Marni Tangney & Andrew Brewster, Nina Gross Clevenger & Peter Clevenger, Adriana & Matthew Keiser, Alexandra & John Ross, Rhiannon Kubicka & Theodore Blackston, Cheryl & Thibaut D'Hollander, Rebecca & Jay Markley, Catherine & Jason McManus, Betty & Michael Huber, Joyce Hsieh & Kevin Tan, Yfat & Bradley Gendell, Grace Lin & Warun Kumar, Dani James & Tracy Gardner, Belgies Anan & Lycourgos Tsirakis, David & Amira Strasser, Jennifer Elster & Lewis Helfer, Penny & Christian Armstrong, Gina Ma & Christopher Blum, Marilyn & Marty Diamond, Cori & Dan Galpern, Jennifer & Derek Van Zandt, Stacy & Matt O'Neil, Julia & Lawrence Steyn, Manavi Menon & Omar Karim, Sarah Wendt & Andrew Regier, Ashley & Andy Stewart, Amanda Dubois & Timur Kocak, Paula & Garrett Hall, Sarah Cole & Tim Biggins, Liv & Rich DeRose, Phillip Tiongson & Cynthia Yoon, Emily & Justin Garbacci, William & Brooke Rhind, Ashley & Chris Everett, Martha & Scott Farrell, Brad & Kyong Coleman, Aly Alibhai, Michael Voris & Alexandra Buckley Voris, Anish Sheth & Bobbi Gajwani, Olesya Khodorkovskaya, Alex Wiederin, Julie Yoo, Janaka Maduraperuma, Anne Maffei & John Eaton, Shelby & Steven Lewis, Joanna & Matt McClure, Jennifer & Jamie Rothenberg, Susan & Damon Tassone, Keith Angell, Lisa & Armin Rothauser, Kathy & Tim Cameron, Elissa Johnson, Melissa & Frederic Dassori, Scott Barek, Pamela & Julian Weldon, Sabina & Adam Deaton, Allison & Kevin Fumai, Lorna Stovall & John Durschinger, Lisa & Jay Hill, Samantha Dunham & Justin Dorazio, Maartje Oldenburg & Rustom Khandalavala, Marcia Asch Khalil & Aasem Khalil, Katherine & Bo Peabody, Smita & Debasish Das, Elizabeth Anderson & Matthew Tocks, Lauren & Phil Rubin, Tracey & Tim Brennan, Hilde Pettersen Reljin & Dusan Reljin, Jennie & Michael Hamill, Nicole & Baran Tekkora, Zoe Coombes & David Boira, Jennifer & Michael Zicari, Anne Stuart Hawkins & Joel Sternfeld, Erin & Mike McKool, Shirley Hapangama & Vincent Procacci, Steven & Heather Ehrenkranz, Christine S. Connolly & E.Sander Connolly, Jr., Monica Arora, Alan & Nancy Schatzberg.

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in May...

End of Year Sings

News & Events

WMS Small Works Art Show
This year’s Art Show will take place on Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd of May at FLAG Art Foundation, 545 West 25th Street. This year we will have a Duane Street Reception (Tuesday 22nd) & a Hudson Street Reception (Wednesday 23rd). Please consult your invitation for more details about your assigned reception time. We ask that you join us at your class’ assigned reception time and this way everyone will have space to enjoy the children’s art work. You may also choose to visit the gallery anytime during the day, between 10am – 4.30pm. Look out for your invitation in the mail early next week.

Cookbook Sales & Deliveries
The WMS Cookbooks have arrived! They are available for pick up May 7th, 8th & 9th. If you pre-ordered a copy you can pick up from a collection box that will be located outside your child’s classroom. We have a limited amount of additional copies available for sale during that time. Purchases can be made at the front desks of Duane & Hudson. Books are $20, cash only please. We expect that these copies will also sell quickly so be sure to make your purchases quickly.

WMS Summer Program
There are very limited spaces available for the WMS Summer Program. If you are still interested in registering please send an email to our Admissions Office to find out if there is still availability for your preferred weeks.
S.Markel@wms-nyc.org

Room to Grow
Our annual Room to Grow drive is underway! Please remember to bring in your lightly used children’s clothes, books and toys. We are
children’s clothes, books and toys. We are not able to accept large baby items such as high chairs and strollers, and we will not be collecting any adult clothes.

Hudson Street Whole School Photo
Will take place on Friday May 11th at 11.20am sharp. We will be on the stairs to the South of Harrisson St\IPN all students will go with their teachers (EXCEPT D(pm) who will meet us there at 11.15. Maps will be distributed via the classroom.

Hudson & Duane Class Photos
Class photos are available for order at the front desk at each site starting Monday 7th. Orders are due back with payment by Friday, May 18th.

Reggio Learning in Practice
Children at Hudson Street’s Big Kids Club are drawing buildings that they see in front of our school and considering old and new architecture in the surrounding area.

Reggio Conference
During the last weekend in April, 15 teachers and staff members attended a Reggio Conference in Cambridge, MA. They shared experiences with schools from across the country and had the opportunity to imagine what children see by considering old and new architecture and their surroundings.

Spring has officially arrived and with it brings our annual benefit and auction, which celebrates our vibrant Washington Market School community. This year we have a fun and exciting celebration planned with THE MARKET – A 1920s SPEAKEASY & AUCTION, which will be held at City Winery on Monday, April 23 – in just 18 days!

By now, you have received your invitation with a link to the benefit website at www.wmsbenefit.org. On it, not only will you find the event’s signature flapper and gentleman dancers, but details of the benefit from purchasing your tickets, to learning more about the amazing Raffle Prizes.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Monday, April 16, as the Online Auction will open on the benefit website. You can start bidding on this year’s exciting items ranging from gift certificates donated by community merchants to gorgeous jewelry and, of course, fun play dates for your child with our school’s wonderful and dedicated teachers. You will also get a sneak peek of the fabulous items that will be featured during the evening’s Live Auction.

Most importantly, be on the lookout for your signature membership card and password that will provide your exclusive entry into the benefit. This is a speakeasy after all!

So, pull out your dancing shoes, follow the red light and we look forward to seeing you for a spectacular evening on April 23!

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in April...

Welcome to the World

Congratulations to...

• Manavi Menon and Omar Karim on the birth of their daughter Ashna and to Zamir (Class 3) on becoming a big brother.
• Kathy Park and Andrew Jacobs on the birth of their son Richard Julian and to Sabine (Class 6) on becoming a big sister.
• Suzanne and Andrew Hudson on the birth of their son Lucien and to Beatrice (Class 1) on becoming a big sister.
• Melanie and David Whelan on the birth of their daughter Charlotte and to Lachlan (Class 1) on becoming a big brother. 
  
  

News & Events

WMS Big Kids Club
For the past 33 years, we have honored a tradition started by the school's children. Back in the spring of 1979 a group of 4's and 5's approached Ronnie and asked if they could get off their cots and be done with rest time. When asked what they would rather do instead of quiet time, the children wisely replied, "Study Something" (Of course it was dinosaurs!) Thus began Big Kids Club!
The full day children who are leaving WMS this fall to either Kindergarten or Grade 1 will no longer rest but join a club from 12.45 - 1.30pm (April 30 until Thursday, May 31) that will focus on a theme. Past themes have been Science, Chapter Club, Chess etc. Our other full day children will enjoy Story Club at this time. Look out for more information outside your classroom in the coming weeks.

WMS Summer Program
It's hard to believe, but summer is just around the corner - and that means now is the time to register for the WMS Summer Program! The program features arts & crafts, music, yoga, tennis, chess, cooking, field trips, picnics in the park, and many other fun activities. It's a great option to keep your children active during the long hot summer as well as to get to know our beloved teachers.

This year's seven-week program runs from Monday June 25 - Friday August 10 and we offer both full-day (9am - 3pm) and half-day (9am - 1pm) options. Enrollment in the Summer Program requires a three-week minimum commitment, but the three weeks do not need to be consecutive.

All current and newly-enrolled children are eligible to register as long as they are between 2-6 years old in July 2012. If you have already submitted your application but would like to make changes you must do so in writing and submit them to the Admissions Office – s.markel@wms-nyc.org

Summer Program Application Forms have already been emailed. They are also available at the front desks.

City Harvest
We held our annual City Harvest Food Drive in March. This year we collected an amazing 1000 pounds of food! This was our biggest collection yet. Thank you to all the families who gave so generously and for Jodi Zeitoun and parent volunteers for coordinating the effort. Well done!

Room to Grow
Collection for Room to Grow will be May 2nd - 8th – Are you Spring cleaning? Please hold on to all of your gently used adult & children’s clothing to donate to this effort.

Tuition 2012-2013
Please be reminded that your second tuition payment for 2012-2013 is due May 1st.

Notes:

• Because of an incident earlier this week, we are reminding parents and caregivers not to leave any items (strollers, scooters etc. or tie your dog) at the entrance or entrance/railing of any of our adjoining railing of any of our adjoining buildings. These are private residences and their entrances cannot be blocked at any time. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Classroom G/H teacher Maria Haroen recently attended the American Montessori Society Annual Conference in San Francisco. It was a great opportunity to share experiences with other Montessori teachers from around the globe.

Dear WMS Families,
A column in the NY Times earlier this year by Nicholas Kristoff, entitled “How Mrs. Grady Transformed Olly Neal” brought home to me, once again, how central in the lives of our children and how critical to their success are our superb WMS teachers.

Kristoff writes about Olly Neal who was a poor black kid with a real attitude, one who was able to bring his English teacher, Mildred Grady to tears. He stole, he didn’t study, he mouthed off, he was clearly headed for trouble but, quite amazingly, one day he was in the library and saw a book that interested him (it had a risqué cover), a novel by Frank Yerby… so he stole it. Mildred Grady happened to be in the library and saw Olly take the book. She was going to confront him but then, in a true flash of understanding, she realized he was too macho to be found reading and would be terribly embarrassed at being seen checking out a book.

As Kristoff puts it, “After finishing the book, he sneaked it back into the library and there, on the shelf, he noticed another novel by Yerby. He stole that one as well. This book was also terrific. And, to Neal’s surprise, when he returned it to the shelf after finishing it, he found yet another by Yerby. Four times this happened, and he caught the book bug. ‘Reading got to be a thing I liked,’ he says. His trajectory changed, and he later graduated to harder novels, including those by Albert Camus, and he turned to newspapers and magazines as well. He went to college and later to law school.”

As it turns out, Mildred Grady quickly realized when she saw Olly take the first book that she might be able to reach him through a surreptitious path of providing him with additional books and it was she who found and placed the Yerby novels where Olly could find them.

Perhaps apocryphal, the story suggest show how a wonderful teacher, dedicated to helping a student, despite his animosity and hostility, can make a real difference in a student’s life.

Now, the situation at WMS is clearly very different, but what is the same is that we have wonderful dedicated teachers like Mildred Grady, teachers who treat each child as unique and are absolutely dedicated to bringing out his or her best. Our children are at a developmental stage where they are at their most impressionable, inquisitive and vulnerable; the teacher is probably their first authority figure outside of their families. It is our remarkable teachers who have the ability to love and guide them through this period of utmost importance. I know that each of you believes, as I do, that our teachers are the heart and soul of WMS.

You can see the Kristoff column here.

Ronnie

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in March...

Ongoing Schools Information Session with Ronnie & Rachael
Tuesday March 13th – Duane Street - 9.30 – 10.45

This session will give parents information about all public, public-gifted and independent ongoing school options. We will address the process for moving on, along with key dates and a discussion on the public school lottery. If you cannot make this meeting our last meeting of this kind will be in June.

WMS Summer Program
Monday June 25 - Friday August 10

It's hard to believe, but summer is just around the corner - and that means it's almost time to register for the WMS Summer Program! The program features arts & crafts, music, yoga, tennis, chess, cooking, field trips, picnics in the park, and many other fun activities. It's a great option to keep your children active during the long hot summer.

This year's seven-week program runs from Monday June 25 - Friday August 10 and we offer both full-day (9am - 3pm) and half-day (9am - 1pm) options. Enrollment in the Summer Program requires a three-week minimum commitment, but the three weeks do not need to be consecutive.

All current and newly-enrolled children are eligible to register, as long as they meet the following age criteria: Half-Day children must be between 2 and 5 years old by June 30, 2012 (born between July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010) and full-day children must be between 2 years, 6 months and 5 years old by June 30, 2012 (born between July 1, 2007 - Dec 31, 2009).

Summer Program Application Forms will be mailed on Wed March 14th and due back by Wed April 11th.

Dear Parents,

Phoebe Kahanov, Tal's mother, has passed away. I enclose a letter from Learan, Ilan and Tal's father. It is a sad time for us all.

With heavy heart,
Ronnie

Our Dear Phoebe lost her 4 year battle with metastatic breast cancer on Friday Feb 17th, 2012. Those who knew her know there are no words to easily describe her. An amazing mother, wife and friend. A fighter through and through, opinionated, loving, giving and an unabashed brutal honesty about everything and everyone. She will be deeply missed and never forgotten. As her husband the father of her two boys Ilan and Tal, I feel blessed to have spent the last 17 years of my life with her and know she has taught me and the boys everything she could, so we can move on and be strong and prepared for the tough road ahead. No amount of words can describe my loss and grief as well as my happiness and experiences I have shared with her. As I have told many, Phoebe is an easy woman to love, just a hard woman to live with... And with that, I thank all our family and friends for their support now and over the last four years during her battle. I look forward to sharing Phoebe's life and memories with everyone.

Our family is humbled by the outpouring of love and support by all. Thank you all so very much.

Many have asked if there is a charity to make donations in her name. The family has decided that the education of her two children is what Phoebe felt most strongly about. If anyone would like to contribute financially, please contact me for more information at LKDP@me.com.

Learan

Welcome to the World

Congratulations to…
Lirone and Robert Farber on the birth of their daughter Emmanuelle and to Shyli (Duane Class 5) on becoming a big sister.

Notes:

Valentine’s Day Staff Breakfast
Thank you to the Armstrong Family for providing a delicious Valentine’s Day breakfast for the staff at Hudson Street.

City Harvest
Our annual City Harvest Food Drive will be March 5-9th. Collection boxes will be outside your classroom.

Congratulations to Oran on his Grammy win!

Quilting at Duane Street
During the month of February, Latisha (Duane 3 Teacher) started a Duane St. quilting project in honor of Black History month. Quilting is a tradition that is historically significant in African American culture. Each class at Duane was given a square of fabric to decorate with their children. Some classes painted their quilt squares, some teachers taught their children how to sew, and each one was unique. On February 23rd, Duane Street teachers and parent volunteers assembled the quilt sewing together the completed squares from each class. It was a wonderful community project that we all enjoyed taking part in. Thank you to our parent volunteers: Ashley Duncan, Lori Horsley, Jennifer Zicari, Elizabeth Anderson, Rachel Thebault, Makiko Nozaki and Shalini Panwar. And thank you to our teacher sewing volunteers, Latisha, Larry, Laurie, Rita and Isil.

Speakeasy & Auction 2012

During the past few months, the 2012 Gala Steering Committee has been working hard planning this year’s Benefit “The Market – A Speakeasy and Auction” but we still need your help to make it a fabulous success!

DONATIONS NEEDED
By now you will have received a donor solicitation letter and form. Please consider reaching out to EVERYONE you know – friends, family, business associates and others to see if they would be willing to donate to our Auctions and Raffle. We are open to any and all ideas, and the success of our auctions and raffle depend on these exciting and generous donations. With Spring Break just around the corner, the Donations Committee is requesting Donations Forms be turned in by Monday, March 12. Please submit the form to the front desks at Duane or Hudson, via fax at 212-240-0681, or simply email the Donations Committee co-chairs: Cheryl D’Hollander at ip1275@mac.com and Mona Dattilio at mona_dattilio@yahoo.com

EVENT
The Event Committee is still looking for trade discount leads to procure flowers for décor. If you or someone you know can assist, please contact Jodi Zeitoun at jobanze@yahoo.com or Cecilia Oh at cecilia.artacho@gmail.com as soon as possible as the committee will be putting its final touches on décor.
We are also still looking for day-of-event volunteers. If you are interested in helping with the benefit, but can only donate a few hours, this is the committee for you. Please sign-up online at http://tinyurl.com/67t5t87.

UNDERWRITING
Be the “bee’s knees” by becoming an Underwriter for this year's benefit. Your generous cash donation will make possible an evening that we know everyone will enjoy so that more revenue can be used to support ongoing teachers' development and financial aid grants to deserving families.
You may select the items you wish to underwrite - entertainment, décor or general expenses. Underwriting levels range from $500 to $10,000 and are 100% tax deductible. To be an underwriter, please contact the Benefit Co-Chairs Penny Armstrong, pennyarmstrong@ymail.com; Lisa Hill at lmoneill@yahoo.com or Ashley Stewart at ashwstewart@yahoo.com

BE ON THE LOOKOUT
In the next few weeks, you will be receiving a benefit invitation by email and a link to wmsbenefit.org where you can purchase tickets and more. Don’t forget to book your babysitter now, and we look forward to seeing you at City Winery on April 23 for an evening of fun!

The last few months have been very fruitful and creative. I am so pleased by how the children are discovering all kinds of ways to move. There are endless variations of the body making shapes, responding to the rhythm and tempo of the music, moving in different directions, moving on different floor paths, using images and getting inspiration from the movements of others.  
Here’s a list of some of the highlights:

•    We are jumping, hopping and skipping to Jumps, a percussion piece by Chris Cawthray.

•    We walk, trot and gallop and sing to Watch Me Ride My Pony by Sanford and Judy Jones. Sometimes we do this with partners, trios or in a big circle.

•    The Saint-Seans' Tortoise is still our “low” music, but there are more and more explorations of crawling over and under each other, even lifting and carrying another on your back. Legs are up against the column and hands supporting, so that others can slide under a “bridge”.

•    We have been leaping, jumping, walking and hopping over the stepping stones to Stravinsky’s Airs by a Stream from L'Histoire du Soldat.

•    John Fogarty’s Centerfield is the “baseball” song. We try out throwing, catching, swinging a bat, running bases, clapping and playing air guitar.

•    Dinosaur Song by Sondra Boynton and Adam Bryan is a fun syncopated round. Children can stomp, swim and fly like dinosaurs. There are two rules, you can bite and grab the air but not any body, and you can roar but not too loudly.

•    We will soon begin moving as chess pieces to The Chess Songs by Colin McGrath. And we are starting to use a new “exploring” music, Stars by Bobby McFerrin.

Drama

Before the winter holiday I introduced the overhead projector. It is just so much fun to make giant shadows, see the projections of all kinds of colors and objects on the wall, and to interact with all of it.  I used some of those objects to create a forest which was the back drop for Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This was a great story because the children can tell it themselves and then we worked together to act it out.

I often give the children the time to play and develop their own stories using the props, costumes and furniture in the room and the overhead projector. Sometimes elements of the story I have proposed are incorporated into their play. Often new themes emerge such as, ghosts, animal babysitting, picnics, Norman the Doorman, train cars, kittens and dogs, scary aliens and more.  I am consistently fascinated by seeing the themes that are developed one week are not forgotten and can carry though for the rest of the year. They love returning to their pretend play themes.

In the past week, I have shared a story with the children called The Enormous Apple Pie. In the story three cats have collected a big basket of apples. They decide to make a pie. Then they take a nap.  While they are sleeping, a young panda bear and puppy dog (who are so young they haven’t learned any better) see the pie and eat all the apples from the inside of the pie. They refill the pie with something that they conveniently find on the pond nearby...frogs. Meanwhile the cats wake up and invite all the neighboring animals to a party. They cut the pie and hear a strange sound. Then they cut it open and see that the apples are gone and that there are frogs inside. They are upset. The panda and puppy who have come to the party admit what they did, apologize, and offer to get more apples. The frogs help the cheer every one up by singing The Foolish Frog (Pete Seeger sings a fun long storytelling version of this song).  And it’s a happy end. We are just starting to make a really enormous pie so that we can get inside and be the frogs.

Parent Visiting Days

During the late winter and spring months, we are inviting parents to come and visit Movement and Drama in small groups. There will be three week periods of scheduled times to sign up for each class. I am hoping that this will give you a chance to enjoy the class in a natural and relaxed way. I have found that it is very memorable and special for children to have their parents come to watch and participate. You will be getting a detailed invitation from me as the time approaches.  

Does anyone feel like sewing, mending, or gluing?

I have some costumes that need new elastics and other simple mending. If you have the time and the inclination, please come see me.

Thank You

I want to thank everyone for the holiday cards and gifts. I am grateful for your acknowledgement and appreciation.

Yours Truly,
Heather

Art

What a wonderful year we have been having so far. I am very excited about the discoveries we have made through our explorations and the interesting ideas that have come about. We have explored all sorts of different materials and the children now can speak the languages of color, texture, fluidity, wet and dryness, space and balance. All of the children are now very busy in the art studio with interesting creative activities. Some classes are even getting excited about the small works art exhibit.

Jan, Drew and Kate’s class recently finished making books. We used soft foam boards to carve printing plates which we inked and printed onto book covers. The children proceeded to make their own sketch books by attaching the folded paper to the printed covers with yarn.  They are currently investigating drawing by studying detail through visual observation. We are doing this by looking into mirrors and drawing self portraits. Some of our vocabulary words which we have discussed are: details, observation, noticing, appreciating, design, ideas, careful.

Odette, Annie and Michele’s class has been exploring tactile materials, paper leads to paper pulp, which lead to sculpture with paper pulp. Most recently we have been comparing the qualities of paper pulp with clay. There are many parallels of quality and sculpting ability between the two materials, and many differences. We have been exploring the clay, learning to make a pinch pot, learning about “slipping”, “scoring” and “smoothing” and now we are learning how to make animals that are hollow.  We are learning how to make a form such as an animal which stands on legs, in order to do this we must consider “gravity”.

Nicole, Danielle and Marsha’s class has taken their studies to the rainforest. Their work in the art room has coincided purely through the interest of the children. The children made finger puppets and chose to make anything they wanted. When I asked them what I should make to demonstrate how to use the material, they asked for a monkey, because there are monkeys in the rainforest. The children then made animals, birds and insects from the rainforest.

Michelle, Arpee and Stacey’s class has been exploring paper. Please take a moment to view their sculptures, which are on display in the conference room. As part of their paper exploration, the class learned how to make paper pulp and handmade paper. They are also enjoying having a pizza parlor in their dramatic play area. When I asked them what they would like to do in the art studio, they all said they needed pizzas. So, we are making several pizza pies with paper pulp. The afternoon class made one large pie with broccoli, basil, pepperoni and mushrooms. The morning class is making a large and a small pie, so they have just completed the crust (tan paper) and the sauce (reddish orange paper).

Kathleen, Andrea and Christine’s class has been exploring color and glue since October. The children have become experts at mixing the colors into the glue and then pouring the glue into various containers to create colorful creations. The hardened brightly colored glue resembles plastic when we pop it out of the containers.
Christine, Sidney and Brandi’s class have been working on portraiture. First, we painted portraits of friends and mixed colors to make the portraits look as much like our friends as possible. Then we did several self portraits in different mediums. Their oil pastel self portraits are on view in the gym. Now we are making three dimensional self portraits, starting with just the head. The children are learning how to mix the paints to make their skin tone. Soon we will begin to make the bodies; it will be exciting to get to choose what material will work best.

Chelsea, Kim and Maria’s class is about to start learning about the different climates and biomes of the earth. We are going to use the art studio as a way to enrich their learning by creating giant dioramas of some of the differing animals, flora, fauna and geography. So we are looking for very large cardboard boxes.

Carolyn Sirkin

Chess

Hello WMS Families,
 
Wow, we're really having quite the year in chess.  This is my fourth year at WMS and each year seems to be building off the last like a snowball.  The children at WMS have so many connections to the great game of chess: siblings who have already taken and loved chess, friends who have taken chess before and have showed them the game, children coming over from Duane Street knowing how the pieces move; it's only January and we have a school full of chess experts!
 
This level of expertise is amazing, but not surprising.  Not only are the children really good at chess, the teachers are getting pretty good as well! The teachers have to be prepared at any moment for one of their children to ask "can we play chess?" Everyone seems to be getting more and more fluent with our ancient game.

There's an old saying, "chess is a sea big enough for a mosquito or an elephant to bathe." This means children continue to become experts, and so do chess teachers and 19-year-old Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.  Chess is a game for all learners.  
 
We just learned all the pieces.  Pawns, kings, queens, bishops, knights, rooks, we've told stories that explain why these pieces move the way they do. As we move ahead, we are going to tell stories about chess theory! What special ability does a frog give King Fischer during a walk by a pond? And what secret missions does King Fischer discover from taking chess lessons from a dragon? These stories will give children an idea of how to open a chess game.
 
After that, I wish to tell stories about different chess pieces being good at different things.  Knights are good at multi-tasking, Bishops are good at pinning, Rooks are powerful when they're connecting. We're going to learn stories that explain how to use these pieces most effectively; I'm very excited to pen some new stories to bring our chess experts to the next level.

Chess Evening for Parents:

WMS is hosting a "Chess Evening for Parents" on February 29th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Hudson Street.  Parents from both sites are welcome to come and learn chess from the same stories their children hear, and learn the best ways to challenge each other in chess!

Tyler Schwartz

Music

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! We've had a great start to our semester so far and have an exciting road ahead of us. Here's what we've been up to:

We've met a new member of the percussion family, the xylophone, and have discovered it knows the songs we've been singing in class, including High Low. At first we explored the different melodies and rhythms that two notes, 'mi' and 'do' can combine to play. Then as we added more notes to our exploration, we saw that the notes get higher in pitch as they continued to get smaller in size from one side of the instrument to the other. One child noticed that the shape the xylophone takes as we add more notes "looks like a decrescendo," insightfully connecting the visual experience of the notes decreasing in size with the aural experience of hearing our voices go from loud to quiet in a decrescendo.

In celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the holiday approached this past week, we learned one of the songs most important to him and his work‐ We Shall Overcome. We were able to hear the newer notes we've added to the xylophone play the first phrase 'we shall overcome' and each child was able to make the xylophone say it themselves. Now we're taking what we've learned from playing that phrase and finding ways to use it to build up to playing the entire song on the xylophone.

We'll continue our semester with a study of Brazilian music and instruments, leading up to Carnival in February. This exploration will expand our already extensive percussion 'family tree', bringing with it new rhythms and dances to go with those rhythms (including samba!). We'll learn about the great Antonio Carlos Jobim and get to sing some classic Brazilian music. And eventually, I hope to get into
a discussion of American Jazz music, giving us the opportunity to learn about Herbie Hancock and more!

I want to thank you again for coming to and participating in the winter sings. They are always such a special experience and this year was no exception. I look forward to doing it again in the spring, and as we delve into new songs this semester I encourage you to continue to follow along at home. We will post audio and video tracks as often as possible at www.timbalooloo.com to give you the opportunity to experience this music together with your child.

With best wishes,
Rachel