Montessori Memo
October 25, 2021
WAMCS Vision: Guiding children to become lifelong learners and global citizens of moral character.
WAMCS Mission: Through the use of Montessori principles, including experiential learning and individualized instruction, we help students to achieve academic success, advance their awareness of self, encourage their responsibility to and for each other, and guide them to work together towards improving their community and the larger world.
Head of School - Highlights
Dear WAMCS Family,
Please join me in extending a huge THANK YOU to our WAMCS Parent Connect for our 2021 Harvest Fest!
We are so grateful for all the children and families that came out to enjoy this event and learned that we definitely have some talented dancers in our midst. We are all looking forward to our next family community time together!
Warmly,
Mrs. Channel
Parent Guide Conferences
Parent Guide Conference Sign Up
Students will not have school on that day.
When you arrive for your conference, park in the lot near the playground and enter the building through Door 3.
Reminders for SY 2021-2022!
Daily Schedule
8:15am-12:30pm: Work Time
Encore Times:
*E2 @ 8:15am-9:15am
*CH @ 9:15am-10:15am
*E1 @ 10:15am-11:15am
12:30pm-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00pm-1:30pm: Recess
1:30pm-3:15pm: Work Time
3:15pm-3:30pm: Dismissal
Attendance
Please note a student may not be excused by a parent for more than ten (10) days per school year per state statute. The student must complete any work missed during the absence. Example of reasons for being absent that can be counted under these 10 parent approved days include, but are not limited to, the following:
- professional and other necessary appointments (e.g., medical, dental, and legal) that cannot be scheduled outside of the school day
- illness without a medical excuse from a physician
- attend a funeral
- vacation
School Counselor Corner - Bullying Prevention Month
October is national Bullying Prevention month. Our students have been learning the following definitions to help them identify and report concerning behavior.
Mean is one or two-sided, typically intentional and can be very hurtful. Mean behavior is based on anger and/or aggression. The offender may regret the behavior while the victim may have difficulty forgiving. If two-sided, one or both may regret the behavior and difficulty forgiving. This needs to be addressed with an intervention and should NOT be ignored.
Rude can be one or two-sided, spontaneous and unintentional, based on thoughtlessness, poor manners, or selfishness. In both one or two-sided situations, the offender accepts responsibility and the offended can easily forgive. Mediation may be needed and social skill building may also be helpful.
Conflict is often two-sided and happens when there is a differing opinion. Neither party has hard feelings and is based on both parties striving to agree or agreeing to disagree. Many times, conflicts can be resolved without mediation or intervention.
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group
on purpose. (source: stopbullying.gov)
There are two components in the above definitions of bullying for kids that make bullying unique.
Bullying is a repetitive act that occurs over time. This differentiates bullying from aggressive acts that occur only once.
Bullying involves an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim.
Of course, bullies need not be physically stronger than their victims. Instead, this imbalance of power that occurs in bullying can come from numerous sources including:
Being more popular
Being stronger
Being smarter
Having a higher social status
You are welcome to contact Ms. Helgeson (dhelgeson@wausauschools.org) if you have questions, concerns, or need support!
Music Concerts
The Wausau School District remains committed to advancing student learning, achievement, and success. As part of that, we highly value the educational benefits that Music Education Programming and encore classes provide our students, not to mention the related performance opportunities that our students have in our K-12 schools. That said, since there’s still so much uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the Wausau School District is going to err on the side of caution and postpone all elementary music concerts until at least Spring. The decision was made for a couple of reasons. The main one is the safety of our students, their families, and our staff. As you know, right now elementary-aged students are not able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 like many of our middle and high school students can. In addition to the fact that not everyone can get vaccinated, concerts often bring together a lot of people in one space and we want to make sure everyone is not only safe but feels comfortable participating and watching. Please know, the District will reevaluate the situation in the spring and keep you up-to-date after the new year as to the status of concert performances at that time.
Elementary GT Leadership Conference
Each year, our classroom Guides select students to represent our school as leaders at the Elementary GT Leadership Conference held at the Boys and Girls Club of Wausau.
It is designed to bring together our talented 4th and 5th grade students from across the district on three days for leadership training. They explored what it means to be a leader, learned about the traits of leadership, and listened to local community leaders who shared insight on leadership qualities.
Congratulations to Elijah, Jocelyn, Eli, and Lydia!
Upcoming Events
Dates to Remember
October 27: Record Keeping & Parent/Guide Conferences
October 27-29: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
November 3: Picture Retake Day
November 7: Daylight Savings Time
November 11: Veterans Day
November 23: Peace Feast @ 5:00pm
November 24-26: No School!
Be Informed, Get Involved!
WAMCS Governance Council
President/Vice-President: Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee
Secretary: Chris Dietsche
Upcoming Meetings:
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 @ 5:30pm
Tuesday, December 20, 2021 @ 5:30pm
Location: Montessori Library (Room 141) - Come into the building through Door 3
WAMCS Parent Connect
President: Dawn Dietsche
Vice-President: Melissa Schreiber
Secretary: Elayna Clark
Upcoming VIRTUAL Meetings:
Thursday, November 4, 2021 @ 6:00pm
Friday, December 2, 2021 @ 6:00pm
Meeting ID
Fall Fundraiser!
The Fall Fundraiser starts today! Students should be bringing packets home today.
This year, the money raised will go toward tables and chairs for our outside learning space in the Montessori garden.
It's as simple as 1, 2, 3!
1. Register TONIGHT at www.ShopFund.com
2. Share custom support links with family & friends via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email, Text and more.
3. Student Goal: 5 Online Supporters.
Thank you for your support for WAMCS!
Enrollment Opportunities
Wausau School District - Announcements
WSD COVID GUIDELINES 21-22
Students must stay home from school if they have the following symptoms.
One of these symptoms:
❏ New or worsening cough
❏ Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
❏ New loss of smell or taste
Two or more of these symptoms:
❏ Fever over 100.4/Chills
❏ Diarrhea
❏ Sore throat
❏ Runny nose/congestion
❏ Headache
❏ Fatigue
❏ Nausea/vomiting
❏ Muscle/body aches
If a student has symptoms, it is recommended that they immediately be tested for COVID, regardless of vaccine status.
The student may return to school with proof of a negative PCR COVID test or an alternate diagnosis from a medical practitioner.
If parents choose not to have their child tested, the student is presumed positive and must stay home for 10 days, be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and have improvement of symptoms before returning to school.
If a student or anyone else living in the home tests positive, all students in the home (unless vaccinated and not showing symptoms) must quarantine for the 10 days of the positive person’s isolation PLUS an additional 10 days quarantine, a total of 20 days. If the positive person can isolate away from the students, the other students in the home must quarantine for 10 days from the last contact with the positive person.
Parents are asked to notify the school if a student later develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID.
If your child is identified as a close contact to someone outside the home, follow the directions from the health department.
Contact the Marathon County Health Department with questions. 715-261-1900
The Wausau School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex (including transgender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (“Protected Classes”).