Green Tip from Quinn
For an inside compost container, you can use an old pretzel bin. It’s really helpful when you are cooking on a rainy day and you don't have to walk out in the rain to your compost bin outside until it’s full, of course. Plus it’s also reusing the pretzel bin.
Green Garden Club
The Green Garden Club planted bulbs in the schoolyard last Thursday – finally! This was the first non-rainy Thursday in many weeks, so the club
members were at last able to get their hands dirty. For the last several years, EWMS has participated in the “Daffodil and Tulip Project,” an international effort to unite children globally through the internet. All over the world, children planted bulbs at about the same time, if they could (in some parts of the world, it is now spring and the bulbs are coming up!). These bulbs will be watched, soil temperatures will be taken, and the first sign of green shoots will be recorded. Data collected from planting groups around the world will be compared and analyzed (as much as is possible with children as young as ours!). In addition to planting bulbs, the children raked and weeded a bit, too! Thank you, Amy, Debbie, and Dianne for making the Green Gardening Club possible.
Many club members and some others are going to Longwood Gardens today!
Coleman’s Tree Farm Trip
The students in EC went to Coleman’s Tree Farm on Monday. They were able to help choose and cut down a couple of trees, and now there is a lovely tree for the front hall. Thank you, parents and teachers for making it possible for the students to have these experiences.
Friendly’s Night Out Last night, about 25 EWMS families (including an alumnus) went to Friendly’s in support of this school. As you may recall, Friendly’s will donate 10% of the till earned at the Kirkwood Highway store between 5:00 and 9:00 PM last night. As soon as we have a final figure, we’ll certainly let you know! Thank you all for coming out to benefit EWMS.
Alumni Update Florence Holdeman lives in Brooklyn, NY and works as a filmmaker and editor. Becky Kendel Taylor is an attorney in Hollywood, FL where she lives with her husband and three-year old son. Nathan Kendel is a chef living in Wilmington. David Amos is engaged to Katie Densford. They plan to marry on October 9, 2010. Richard Amos is a sophomore studying pre-med at Hillsdale College in Michigan. Michael Amos is a senior at St. Andrew’s School. He is very involved with singing and will soloing in Handel’s Messiah in December. He hopes to go to an arts college to major in Film after graduation. A graduate of Widener Law School, Michael Leva works for an insurance company in New Jersey. Katie Leva works with developmentally delayed adults and is pursuing her degree from Wilmington College.
Hours
The co-op contract calls for each parent to drive on a field trip. In the case of a two-parent household, one parent may do both drives. Once an individual’s driving commitment has been filled, the time spent on a field trip may be counted for hours. The only exception to this is overnight trips for which only four hours of every 24-hour period may be counted. The hours report is downloadable from our website if you would like to check what hours have been recorded for you or your family.
The hours parents volunteer at this school play a huge role here. They mean that we can offer more to and do more with our students, they help us stretch our budget, and they keep parents more abreast of what happenshere for their children. Thank you for all you do to help EWMS and your kids.
Images from: Amy Dwyer, BarrysClipart.com, Victoria Hostin
Yoga with Veena
The six-week yoga classes conducted by Veena Rao culminated with a “show-off” yesterday afternoon. All of the participants rehearsed first and then demonstrated what they had learned for their parents and other assembled guests at 4:00 PM. The children started with a breathing exercise called volcano and, as a group, did a sun salutation. Following the group performance, each child had the chance to be front and center to demonstrate a favorite pose. The audience had the great pleasure of seeing over 15 poses including dolphin, car, swan, table, cow/cat and tree pose. After the individual poses, the children meditated as a group!
Thank you, Veena, for teaching these classes. Namaste!
Assembly Line
Last Friday, alumni father, Ron Whittington (see Colby in the Alumni Update) shared his love of and knowledge about Negro League Baseball with the kids. Wearing a baseball uniform much like Judy Johnson would have worn, Ron talked about some to the players and highlights of the Negro League. Did you know that Judy Johnson is the only Baseball Hall of Famer from Delaware?
Open House Season
The last Open House of 2009 takes place next Tuesday, December 15. There are two Open Houses in January (5th and 19th). Anyone attending one of these three Open Houses will have her/his application fee waived! Open House hours are from 9:00 – 11:00 AM.
Fundraising News
To date, the Annual Fund has raised $10,540 and the special Teachers’ Fund has brought in an additional $1,525. Thank you very much for supporting EWMS. As you know, every single donated dollar is helpful to this school. We are striving for 100% participation from our families in our fundraisers this year. If you were not eligible to donate your transportation reimbursement, did not choose to order Silpada, or a coupon book, couldn’t make it to Friendly’s, or do not work for a United Way organization, please consider making a donation to our Annual Fund campaign. A contribution in any amount will get us closer to both our fundraising goal and our 100%-participation-from-families goal. And every dollar given is a dollar we didn’t have before!
A+Bonus Bucks is still available. If you already have a Giant shopping card, please remember to link it to EWMS – we will earn a percentage of all your purchases at no cost to you – or, you may sign up to get a card here.
Needed
The teachers in EC are looking for Trader Joe-type grocery bags (with handles) to be used for sending things home with children at the end of next week. If you have a collection that you can spare, please give them to Sharon.
Cookie
EC2’s classroom pet, Cookie, has been inundated with vacation-care offers and will be well looked after during our winter break. We are sorry that some of you may not be able to have your wishes met, and are grateful for the outpouring of affection for Cookie.
Calendar
Saturday, 12/19
Maintenance Day, 8:00 AM – Noon
Monday, 12/21 – Friday, 01/01
Winter Break, no school
Monday, 01/04/10
School Re-opens!
Saturday, 01/16
Maintenance Day, 8:00 AM – Noon
Monday, 01/18
Dr. MLK, Jr. Day Observed, no school
Tuesday, 01/26 – Friday, 1/29
Elementary Testing for elementary children second grade and older, mornings only
Saturday, 02/06
“Silent Journey,” 8:30 AM
Wednesday, 02/10
Valentine’s Day at EWMS
Thursday, 02/11
Ski Trip, weather and sufficient participation permitting
en Tip from Quinn 
The students in EC went to Coleman’s Tree Farm on Monday. They were able to help choose and cut down a couple of trees, and now there is a lovely tree for the front hall. Thank you, parents and teachers for making it possible for the students to have these experiences.
Last night, about 25 EWMS families (including an alumnus) went to Friendly’s in support of this school. As you may recall, Friendly’s will donate 10% of the till earned at the Kirkwood Highway store between 5:00 and 9:00 PM last night. As soon as we have a final figure, we’ll certainly let you know! Thank you all for coming out to benefit EWMS.
rehearsed first and then demonstrated what they had learned for their parents and other assembled guests at 4:00 PM. The children started with a breathing exercise called volcano and, as a group, did a sun salutation. 
Following the group performance, each child had the chance to be front and center to demonstrate a favorite pose. The audience had the great pleasure of seeing over 15 poses including dolphin, car, swan, table, cow/cat and tree pose. After the individual poses, the children meditated as a group! 
Last Friday, alumni father, Ron Whittington (see Colby in the Alumni Update) shared his love of and knowledge about Negro League Baseball with the kids. Wearing a baseball uniform much like Judy Johnson would have worn, Ron talked about some to the players and highlights of the Negro League. Did you know that Judy Johnson is the only Baseball Hall of Famer from Delaware?
Calendar