Thanks
Many thanks to Debbie McDowell and Victoria Hostin, who helped out in the office last week.
Pennies for Peace
Our estimates for the number of pennies we have collected for Pennies for Peace are quite varied. In EC1, one child estimated that there were 644¢ while another thought there were about 1,000 pennies. In EC2, there are thought to be “20 pennies in the bottle,” but in EI, the estimator said he thought there were perhaps 100 or 110 pennies. In Class 5, they think they have about $6.00. Keep sending those pennies in. Remember, a penny can buy a pencil in Pakistan or Afghanistan, and a few pennies can buy a book.
Music Notes
As part of the music program, Katrina arranged for
Miss Margaret to come into school yesterday to tell us about the harp. We were thrilled to have her back with us, to learn about the harp and, surprisingly, to have her help with the knitting club during recess! Thanks, Margaret, for sharing your expertise(s), and Katrina, for making it possible!
Hazardous Waste Disposal Opportunity
On Saturday, November 1, the DSWA will host a Household Hazardous waste collection at Frawley Stadium from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
This is your opportunity to dispose of items properly, that are not allowed in the landfill including lawn and garden chemicals, pesticides, household cleaners and solvents, old electronics (computers, TVs, phones, radios, stereo equipment), firearms or ammunition, florescent bulbs, batteries, waste oil and so on. There will also be a shredder, where you can bring up to 3 boxes of paper for shredding. (Note: latex paint need not be included. Simply let the paint dry out or absorb it using kitty litter or sand and dispose of it with your regular trash.)
So, if you need to clear out the basement or your garden shed, now is the time to do it without running afoul of the landfill rules and the environment.
Alumni Update Allison Golinkoff graduated from the University of the Arts and works in web design at Disc Makers in Pennsauken, NJ. Jordan Golinkoff is working toward his PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of Montana in Missoula. He also works full time for the Conservation Fund. (Ivan Orsic is also at the University of Montana doing master’s work in Geology.) Shayla Perkins is a freshman at Temple University where she is studying Secondary Education. She does urban education service learning programs at Golden Slipper Community Center in West Philadelphia several times a week.
A senior at Wilmington Friends School, Diana Patton is a National Merit Scholar Finalist. Kyle Nance, a senior at the Delaware Military Academy, was crowned Homecoming King last weekend.
Parents and Kids Working Together Day, Wednesday, November 5, 2:00 – 5:30 PM
In preparation for conferences, we set aside an afternoon in the classrooms so that you may work with your children on the materials they select and learn with every day. You are welcome to begin as early as 2:00 PM and may stay as long as you and your child are happily working together. Should you arrive any time after 2:50, your children will be in the extended day program, whence you may pick them up and escort them to their classrooms. If you have children in separate classes, please spend time with one child and then the other; siblings should not be in each other’s classrooms.
Conferences
These progress conferences are scheduled for Friday, November 7 and Monday, November 10, at half hour intervals throughout the day. If you have not already done so, please be sure to return the conference confirmation slip to your child’s teachers so they know they can expect you. EWMS is proud of our percentage of two-parent conferences; we know it is a challenge, but we are very appreciative when moms and dads can both arrange to be present. We assure you, it will be worth your time!
If you need care for your children during your conference, you may sign up for one hour at $8.00. You may also sign up for the full day of care. See Laura after school, or stop in at the office.
Turkeys for Thanksgiving
The Raymond-Whiting family is coordinating a turkey collection with their church, which hopes to collect at least 500 turkeys for needy Wilmington families by November 7th. Val will transport any turkeys that EWMS families donate.
Assembly Line We welcomed EWMS alumnus, Kempton Baldridge, Jr. to the school on Friday, October 24, 2008. Kempton had expressed interest in conducting that particular assembly as it fell on United Nations Day. He attributes his great understanding and love of Geography to his years at this school and feels strongly that, working together, with global understanding, we can create a peaceful world. Together with Nancy, Kempton talked to the kids about how the United Nations came about and why, and what it does today. Kempton spent the day with us having taken the train from Baltimore where he is a junior at Johns Hopkins University majoring in History.
Halloween Morning At EWMS, we love a good Halloween celebration. Every year, the classes prepare booths with games or activities for all of the children to visit. We have a parade with noise-makers, and a big show-off-your-costume circle. It is always a great time, and we encourage you to dress up and join us. EWMS siblings are also welcome! Please plan to have children here at the regular time so they can help their classmates set up booths. The parade will start at about 8:55 AM. Teachers appreciate knowing if children will not be present for the festivities.
Children should have:
Lunch per usual
A costume with NO FACE MASK and NO WEAPONARY
A change of clothes in a separate bag
We know that many of our families will go out Trick or Treating on Friday night, and we hope that you will follow the recommended safety rules for Halloween. Here are some Halloween safety suggestions for parents and a safety game for kids.
Please note that children should not bring candy to school.
Youth CaN Café open for business on Tuesday, November 4 from 7:30 – 9:00 AM Join us next Tuesday for a cup of fair trade coffee and something baked by the kids in the Youth CaN club. They are sponsoring this pay-what-you-will café to raise money for the environmental issue of the kids’ choice. Please take this opportunity to rub elbows with other parents and some of the staff.
The Next Youth CaN Café will be held on THURSDAY, December 4th, and will give parents a chance to meet the accreditation team members.
Calendar
Friday, 10/31
Halloween Morning – dress up and bring the whole family!
Tuesday, 11/04
Youth CaN Café; Election Day – drop the kids off at school, have a cup of coffee, then go vote!
Wednesday, 11/05
Parents and Kids Working Together, 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Friday, 11/07 and Monday, 11/10
Conferences: Day Care Available
Thursday, 11/13
EI Overnight Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center
Saturday, 11/15
Maintenance Day, 8:00 AM – Noon
Wednesday, 11/26 – Friday, 11/28
Thanksgiving Break: No School
Tuesday, 12/02 – Friday, 12/05
Accreditation Team Visit
THURSDAY, 12/04
Youth CaN Café – meet the visiting team members over coffee – note that this is on Thursday this month, please.
Monday, 12/22 – Friday, 01/02
Winter Break: No School
Did you know …
Jimmy May, a Constitutional Law professor at Widner University, and an EI and EII parent has been teaching the kids in EII about the Declaration of Independence, the election, and the Constitution. One of the children in the class said she now understands what she hears adults arguing about!
News from EC2
Attached here is the news from Veena and Megan’s class!
Free Symposium: Awakening the Dreamer -Changing the Dream
On November 8th from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM Silverside Church is sponsoring a symposium to explore the possibilities of environmental sustainability, economic justice, and spiritual renewal. Coffee and registrationbegin at 8:00 AM. The symposium and lunch are free, but donations are accepted. The church is located at 2800 Silverside Road in North Wilmington. Pre-registraton is requested: awakin@2being@Gmail.com or call Martha Brown at 737-1434 (EI grandmother).
Arts Classes Information
The Downtown YMCA is sponsoring a program to enable parents to learn about classes at the Y on November 7 at the Central Branch from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.
Images from
Amy Dwyer Barrysclipart.com
Animationfactory.com Gifanimations.com
Waste Disposal Opportunity
We welcomed EWMS alumnus, Kempton Baldridge, Jr. to the school on Friday, October 24, 2008. Kempton had expressed interest in conducting that particular assembly as it fell on United Nations Day. He attributes his great understanding and love of Geography to his years at this school and feels strongly that, working together, with global understanding, we can create a peaceful world. Together with Nancy, Kempton talked to the kids about how the 
At EWMS, we love a good 
Join us next Tuesday for a cup of fair trade coffee and something baked by the kids in the Youth CaN club. They are sponsoring this pay-what-you-will café to raise money for the environmental issue of the kids’ choice. Please take this opportunity to rub elbows with other parents and some of the staff.
Calendar