Winston-Salem Montessori School

Winston-Salem Montessori School Our independent Montessori school has supported and nurtured children ages 18 months to 15 years old.

Ms. Dorian was passing through the Toddler Playground one morning and saw this lovely sight of toddlers in full focus observing nature.

Winston-Salem Montessori School is excited to be the first school in Forsyth County that has started the process to become an Audubon Bird Sanctuary!

A message from Garden Coordinator, Dorian Dugger, “A few months ago, Wende Rogers, a member of our OPLE committee (Outdoor Play and Learning Environment) suggested during a monthly meeting that we consider becoming an Audubon Bird Sanctuary.

Skipping ahead a few months, Susan Andrew’s and Jean Chamberlain of the Forsyth County Audubon visited our campus recently and awarded us a Bird Friendly Habitat Under Construction status, which is a big step to becoming the first school in our county to not only apply, but to attain certification status.

We have several criteria we need to work on before qualifying for full status, such as eliminating invasive plant species and other actions to create a habitat which supports our native insect and avian populations.

Together with our faculty, OPLE members, and community, we will continue to work towards becoming a true safe haven for our feathered friends, which in turn will add to our children’s magical outdoor environments!

Please join me in thanking Frank and Margaret for their enthusiastic support of this endeavor, Wende for her insightful idea and tireless work, as well as Josh Waynick and Aeliyra Kendall (also members of our 2023/24 OPLE Committee) for their time, efforts, and wonderful ideas. It truly takes a village!"

Consider joining OPLE and 2024 - 2025 Garden Work Days as we continue the process in fall 2024.

Forsyth Audubon certifies residential properties as well. For more information on this worthy and fun endeavor, please visit their resource rich website at:

https://forsythaudubon.org/bird-friendly-habitat/ or visit their page at Forsyth Audubon

Thanks to all who came out for our Book Fair kick off on Saturday! Thanks to a generous donor, we happily gifted complimentary Bookmarks gift cards to attendees. Bookmarks will have our display tables out all week for browsing.

If you haven't had a chance, please stop by the bookstore or browse online. Be sure to say your purchase is for the WSM Book Fair so the school receives the credit!

Happy shopping!
https://www.bookmarksnc.org/

Thank you to Ms. Evelyn the WSM Librarian for hosting and organizing such a great event!

Join our team!

New to the library!

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
Elementary

A collection of poems celebrating famous poets by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth.

"For their Math Seminar "Mega" Research Presentations, students explored the topics of Synesthesia; Powers of 1/2^n; Jumping (Vertical and Horizontal Leap); Toxicity and LD50; Fastpitch Softball: Cryptography and Ciphers; Animation and Matrices; Population and Gun Ownership/Concealed Carry; Fractals; 15 Puzzle; Poker Probabilities; Geometry, Engineering Design, Polynomial Functions and the Coordinate Plane; A World Without Humans And Decomposition; Physical Fitness and Muscle Growth; Copper/Metal Content and Value in Pennies." - Adolescent Program (ages 12 to 15) newsletter.

"All proceeds go to AARF Winston-Salem." The Upper Elementary students (ages 9 to 12 years old) organized, created, and hosted a Bake Sale to fundraise for their nonprofit of choice, AARF of Winston-Salem. We love their global mindset of philanthropy!

"As part of our Space Science and Astronomy Occupation, John Brier joined us to demonstrate space communication with three different satellites: A digital satellite in Medium Earth Orbit that reaches all over the world, plus two Low Earth Orbit voice satellites. We were able to make contact with operators from many countries, including China, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, and many operators throughout the United States. It was very exciting to make voice contact with operators in the midwest." - Adolescent Program (ages 12 to 15) monthly newsletter

New to the library!

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell
CH, LE

It's Powwow Day, but River is sad because she has no strength to dance as planned due to an illness. She watches the various dances and gradually feels a bit better, enough to know she will participate in another Powwow. This lovely picture book shows the events of the Powwow and includes information about the dances and events of the Powwow.

Thank you to Ta'Nisha Monique Cupcakes LLC for the jaw-dropping delicious cupcakes for Winston-Salem Montessori School's 50th Birthday Party! She went over the top by including the WSM logo.

A guest said, "These are the best cupcakes I've had in my life."

They are so good. Thank you!

We're looking forward to seeing you today for gardening and ice cream! We will be working from 9 a.m. until noon or until all 30 pollinator plants are safely in their homes. Thank you for being a WSM Garden volunteer!

Thank you to Merino Pest Control (https://www.merinopest.com/) and Morgan Reitzel-Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate (https://morganreitzel.lrbrealestate.com/) for sponsoring Winston-Salem Montessori School's 50th Birthday Party!

If you are looking for a trusted, well-established, family-owned pest control company that supports local nonprofits, Merino Pest Control is for you!

If you are looking for a realtor who is community-minded, thoughtful, and passionate about finding what fits your needs, check out Morgan Reitzel: Realtor!

Thanks to these two sponsorships, WSM was able to lower the cost of entry tickets for all! Thank you!

New to the library!

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Ages 8-12

Written by someone on the autism spectrum, this middle-grade fiction book (told in verse) is the moving story of a girl who is autistic but does not realize it. She only knows that she is different and struggles to fit in. This is a powerful first-person narrative that communicates what it is like for one person on the spectrum, living in a world not set up for her success.

We are so proud of Dorian Dugger and the members of OPLE!

Here is a message from Garden Coordinator Dorian Dugger,

"Amanda Langbehn and I picked up a bus load of $1,400 worth of pollinator plants, shrubs, and trees from Elderberry Creek Farm, which were granted to us through the Garden Council of Winston-Salem Forsyth County. Stephanie Kennedy of GCWSFC played a big part in this fantastic opportunity for our community.

During February's Garden Work Day, 10 adults (along with their children) attended, and we completed most of our list. A crew worked on our Nature Trail, which has been heavily used since then! On our last Garden Workday, we had a fantastic turnout and were able to prep areas of our gardens and build beds for these plants to call home—many thanks to our hardworking and cheer-filled families who have attended these garden volunteer days.

As each month passes, I marvel at what we have accomplished. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone on our OPLE Committee, our gifted administration team, our families, and our children."

Thank you so much for helping WSM's Garden Program thrive!

Happy 50th Birthday to Winston-Salem Montessori School! We're excited to celebrate with you today at Red Hound Farms.

Graphic Design by John Bowhers https://www.johnbowhers.com/

Thinking back on when the Adolescent Program Campus was a dream visualized by . We're so thankful to enjoy this amazing campus now! Over our past 50 years in operation, the AP program and campus is one of our favorite accomplishments!

"The Montessori approach differs from traditional [conventional is the word we like to use now] learning approaches. Children are encouraged to develop at their own pace, and emphasis is placed more on training the senses and giving children guidance than controlling their behavior." A quote from a 1992 Winston-Salem Journal Article.

The article goes on to say Montessori Children's Center (now known as Winston-Salem Montessori School) "may eventually offer an elementary program."

WSM went from 81 children in four classrooms (two for pre-primary and two for toddlers) to 240+ children toddlers through adolescence! We are so proud and thankful to be where we are today after 50 years of serving this community!

This Saturday, April 13th, we are celebrating the school's 50th Birthday! Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the Board of Trustees initiatives, which include financial aid, facility expansion, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work, and professional development.

Guides, faculty, students, WSM families, and friends have generously contributed to an exceptional auction. Auction items include:

Montessori Home Environment Consultation by Holly Tosco, Director of Toddler and Children's House Programs

One Night Suite Stay at West Salem Art Hotel

Charlotte FC 4-Pack Tickets

1 Bay Rental for 2 hours at Tee2Green in Blowing Rock

Bus Stop Art Piece by Clarence Hines

Work of Art by Zach Lance

Yin & Roots 90 Minute Massage

Comprehensive Website Audit by Brand & Product Marketer Jeremy Grant

A Round of Golf at Forsyth Country Club

Plus, beautiful works made by students, faculty, and families.

The auction will start this Saturday at 3pm and end at 6:30pm. Online bidders are welcome!

See the full preview of items here:https://givebutter.com/c/fewHlw/auction

You're invited to attend Winston-Salem Montessori School's 50th Birthday Party! It will be this Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 3pm - 7pm at Red Hound Farms in Clemmons.

There will be tractor rides, baby animals, farm yard games, and more!

Tickets required for entry. Meals are limited, pre-orders are encouraged and due by Thursday April 11. You can also bring your own food. Purchase tickets here: https://givebutter.com/c/fewHlw

Students, faculty and families have submitted amazing items for a fundraising auction! See items here: https://givebutter.com/c/fewHlw/auction

WSM's 50th Birthday! By Winston-Salem Montessori

Today's solar eclipse from the Adolescent Program campus.

Does anyone remember this video from 1990? This video was made on our 1990 campus featuring WSM Alumni! If you know someone in this video, we'd love to reconnect! Wow, our WSM community has created amazing works over the 50 years we've served this community and beyond!

Preschool Power! Full VHS Rip Kids need to learn somehow! - Found Media from long ago!!