MSB 2018–2019 Annual Report
CULTURE OF GENEROSITY CULTURE OF GRATITUDE The MSB 2018-2019 Annual Report honors parents, grandparents, staff, faculty, board members, alumni, friends, and all the businesses in our community who helped to make our 2018-2019 school year a success.
We are grateful for your generosity. In order to bring you a more dynamic and comprehensive report while simultaneously reducing the impact on our environment, we adopted a downloadable format for our annual report. If you prefer a paper version, a limited number are available at the front desk.
Dan Neilson, Trustee Chair Todd Covert, Head of School Sarah Ober, Development Coordinator Jeanette Maguire, Dir. of Communication
This report is a publication of The Montessori School of the Berkshires. It recognizes gifts received between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible. If your name has been omitted or is listed incorrectly, please accept our apologies and contact: Jeanette Maguire, Director of Communication Jeanette@BerkshireMontessori.org 413-637-3662
TABLE OF CONTENTS 03
Letter from Todd
05
MSB Faculty & Administration
07
Board of Trustees
09
Parent Community
11
Thank You to Volunteers & In-Kind Donations
13
2018-2019 Annual Fund
19
Enchanted Garden
21
2019 Graduation
23
Alumni Pages
R
eflecting on the past year at MSB, I am reminded of the importance of connection and how connection is inherently present in a Montessori education.
Maria Montessori wrote, “The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.” MSB has always worked to help connect students with their surroundings. And this year was no different. Finished in December, our greenhouse provided yearround growing experiences. This spring, our adolescents started their produce sales as part of their entrepreneurial program and they designed an outdoor garden to complement the planter boxes within our educational courtyard. We enhanced our connection to our external community through our learning partner programs. To continue our work with equity and inclusivity, we started a collaboration with Multicultural BRIDGE With the new greenhouse, we increased our connection with Jen and Pete Salinetti and Woven Roots Farm, as well as the development of our land stewardship and gardening program. We also began partnering with Nature Matters, started by MSB parent and local farmer, Jen Leahey, to provide our children direct experiences with live animals. These endeavors fuel a fire of interest and enthusiasm so that our children will take actions to protect and preserve our natural world. This summer Meagan, Julie, and I had the opportunity to catch up with Sara Sprague, who was among our first class of 8th grade graduates. We loved hearing about how she has connected her interests and curiosity throughout her learning, first at MSB, then at Miss Halls and Cornell (where she graduated in three years with a degree in Animal Science!), and now with her masters degree program in Cancer Biology at Georgetown. Be sure to check out the interview with Sara later in the annual report and read about her journey as a life-long learner. Connection—with interests, people, communities, and the natural world—this is what prepares children for life, nurturing their creative and intellectual powers. Each of these opportunities, in their own unique way, help children develop their natural human tendencies such as the drive for exploration, the need for community, and the quest for self perfection. I am grateful that our MSB children and families have these opportunities. And I am grateful for all of those who have been part of MSB’s evolution and for your efforts over the past year. I look forward to what the future brings to MSB. Warmly,
Todd Covert
Reflecting on the past. Looking to the future.
ADMINISTRATION Todd Covert, Head of School Kehr Davis, Director of Operations & Admissions K. Meagan Ledendecker, Director of Education Jeanette Maguire, Director of Communication Avie Maloney, Office Manager Sheena Evans-Morris, Bookkeeper & Assistant to HOS Sarah Ober, Development Coordinator Mark Losardo, Facilities & Grounds Manager
SPECIALISTS Andrea White, Learning Specialist Sheela Clary, Latin Allen Livermore, Band Natalia Bernal, Spanish Dana Harrison, Drama
FACULTY Launa O’Gara, Toddler Lead Guide Kalee Tart, Toddler Lead Guide Lisa Rebello, Toddler Assistant Guide, Afterschool Bonny Flower, Children’s House Level Coordinator, Spruce Vicky Sideropoulos, Children’s House Assistant, Spruce Jodi Standring, Children’s House Lead Guide, Cedar Vanessa Luman, Children’s House Lead Guide, Cedar Rose Bohmann, Children’s House Assistant Guide, Cedar & Spruce, Afterschool Coordinator Gussie Greer, Elementary Lead Guide, Maple Leia Bibiloni-Bastow, Elementary Assistant Guide, Maple Meagan Ledendecker, Elementary Lead Guide, Willow Erika Chait, Elementary Assistant Guide, Willow Julie Haagenson, Adolescent Experience Lead Guide Lori Nadig, Adolescent Experience Guide Lorimer Burns, Adolescent Experience Assistant Joey Chernila, Integrated Learning Guide Aaron Eliassen, Learning Support Guide
LEARNING PARTNERS Woven Roots Farm, Jennifer & Pete Salinetti Nature Matters, Inc., Jennifer Leahey
BOARD W
e are fortunate that our end of summer and our return to the school year are celebrated with the Berkshires’ ostentatious change of costume. The days grow short at the end of summer, we check to see if lunchboxes can serve for another year, we notice that last year’s pants now end a bit too far above the ankles, and finally we realize that the unlikely reds and oranges and yellows and purples are the backdrop for another year well underway at MSB. This year, as Lena and Augie have returned to MSB’s Elementary classrooms, I have been struck by our school’s cultivation of individuals in community. Montessori teaching makes much of the child’s interest and motivation: toddlers and adolescents alike are guided, during the work cycles that are the heart of their day at MSB, by their own curiosity and desire to know. Our children are learning not just how to stack blocks by size, or the names of the countries of the world, or how to solve an algebraic equation, though they do learn all of those lessons. From the way that they approach this work, they also learn to cultivate learning simply for the joy of doing so, perhaps the most enduring lesson of all. But we are not only individuals, and our Montessori school recognizes that while our children are learning to be themselves, they must also learn to be together. In the classroom, in the hallways, on the playground, whether they call it work or play, MSB’s students are learning how to listen, how to speak up, how to make space for each other and themselves. Supported by incomparable staff and tireless parents, our children and their families are part of a community that is learning to put inclusion and equity at its center. By cultivating emotional health and empathy, MSB is working to make a place where our kids can be who they are, absolutely unique, and also firmly connected to those around them. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at MSB. As you look through this annual report, a reminder of what we did together over the last year, I invite you to imagine the year to come for your family and for our community.
Daniel H. Neilson Chair, Board of Trustees
OF TRUSTEES
Daniel Neilson, Chairperson
Todd Covert
Church Davis, Vice Chair
Gloria Friedman
Carter White, Treasurer (not pictured)
Zack McCain
Meagan Ledendecker, Secretary
Jennifer Salinetti
MSB parent
MSB grandparent
Montessori parent
MSB founder, Dir. of Education, Guide, & MSB parent
MSB founder, Head of School, & MSB parent
MSB founding trustee
MSB alumni parent
MSB Learning Partner, MSB parent, & alumni parent
thank you
MSB PARENT COMMUNITY The MSB Parent Community aims to foster camaraderie amongst the parents, offer guidence to new and transitioning parents, and provide support for the staff and school, through education and enrichment events, social gatherings, work parties, volunteer coordination, and classroom ambassadors. All parents, grandparents, and caregivers are inherently part of the parent community and encouraged to participate. Throughout the school year, we offer individuals and families the opportunity to contribute to the greater MSB community and help to foster a culture of generosity and gratitude. We invite everyone to participate in a way that reflects individual talents and fits with individual schedules—chairing a committee, helping to plan an event, preparing lessons, gardening help during Campus Clean-up, providing transportation and chaperoning class outings, or scooping ice cream on the last day of school. To find out more about what we do or how you can be more involved, visit our page on the MSB website, email parentgroup@BerkshireMontessori.org, or attend a Parent Community event!
THANK YOU
VOLUNTEERS
Throughout the school year, the parents, grandparents, caregivers, LIP DUB Erica Spizz Jen Salinetti Kim Sinopoli Lorimer Burns Sarah Davis Tammy Mathieu
and other members of the MSB community chaperone outings, help prepare lessons, provide transportation, mentor students, plan events, donate supplies, lend us their talents, and so much more. To all the people who have donated their time, offered their expertise, or given goods to MSB, we thank you. Many hands not only make light work, they also make a better school.
STUDENT WORKSHOPS Ashleigh Maroney Crispina ffrench Cristina Markham Erin Murphy Janet Elsbach Jeanette Maguire Lorimer Burns Rob Sanzone Toni Bergins Vicky Sideropoulos PANCAKE BREAKFAST Abigail Mathews Beck Cachat Carter Wilding-White Erica Spizz George Cox I’in Purwanti Cox Jodie Gordon Kim Sinopoli Liza Murray Mary Hannigan Tiffany Wilding-White Sarah Ober Vanessa Luman
OAISIS DINNERS Alison & Roger LaRocca Bridget Rigas Jen & Matt Knodler Lesley & Matt Herzberg Sheela & Jim Clary OTHER VOLUNTEERS Brian O’Gara Dan Karp Dan Neilson Erica Spizz Gretchen Gnaedinger Ivan Kruh Launa O’Gara Reed Anderson Sara Mugridge Tess Fedell
ANNUAL APPEAL LETTER WRITERS Alicia Stevens Alison LaRocca Bryn Davis Craig McDowell Cristina Markham Dan Proskin David Scribner Erin Murphy Gabby Squailia Jean Porter Jen Knodler Jodi Gordon Lynn Howitt Marc Maurino Matt Knodler Meghan Shaw Tess Fedell
FIELD DAY Alison Quiñones Johnson Aurelién de St Andre Emelia Fedell Gabby Squailia Kim Sinopoli Melisa Davis Rachel Friederick Tess Fedell Tiffany Wilding-White
IN-KIND DONATIONS
ENCHANTED GARDEN Aurelién & Molly de St André Chris Merenda Crispina ffrench Emma Weiskopf Erin Murphy Frederica Willgren Gabby Squailia (DJ BFG) Jack Waldheim Kim Sinopoli Lorimer Burns Rob Sanzone CAMPUS CLEAN UP COFFEE, CUT, & CHAT Alison Quiñones Cristina Markham Ellen Rose Cunningham * I’in Cox Jagruti Patel Jennifer Knodler Lesley Herzberg Melissa Davis Natanya Bittman Nichole Carvello Sarah Davis * Tiffany Wilding-White Veronica Johnston *CCC Coordinator
Barbara May, Natalie & Gabriella Coyle Brendon & Kai Tomasi Bridghe McCracken & Julien Williams Cristina, Josie & Wyatt Markham Erica & Carl Spizz Erin Murphy (cookies) Jen, Brenna & Thomas Leahey Jen Salinetti Kelly, Violet & Oliver Holt Kim & Eva Sinopoli Magnolia Mugridge Natalia Bernal, Jason Ennis, & Nico Nichole & Jeff Carvalho Robert, Eileen, & Adrian Christinat Roger & Rose LaRocca Simeon & Eli Bittman Stephanie, Maddox, & Eve Gaylord Tiffany & Scout Wilding-White
Annabelle Coote Berkshire Museum Dana Harrison George & I’in Cox Gussie Greer Harringtons Lumber Henry’s Electric Jennifer Knodler John Coyle Najwa Squailia Peter Chait Sandeep Kumar Sarah Davis & Dan Stevens Tammy Mathieu Tammy Merenda Tiffany Wilding-White Your Color Connection DRIVING & CHAPERONING Abigail Mathews Alicia Hardy Alison LaRocca Bryn Davis Cristina Markham Erica Spizz I’in Purwanti Cox Jagruti Patel Jaimee Christinat Jennifer Knodler Kim Sinopoli Lesley Herzberg Lorimer Burns Melisa Krzysztof-Davis Hope Kruh Rachel Friederick Sarah Ober Susan Allegrone-Zaniboni Tony Zaniboni Tracy Crawford
2018-2019 ANNUAL FUND Your gift towards the 2018-2019 Annual Fund underwrites new learning materials for our classrooms, professional development of our staff, and financial aid for students in need. Your philanthropy touches each MSB student and supports them on their path of self-discovery.
Thank you for your generosity! ADVENTURER, PIONEERS & INNOVATORS ($1,500 and above)
Anonymous (3) Andrew & Rachel Beckwith * Kyle & Elizabeth Chambers Todd Covert & Meagan Ledendecker * Zack McCain III & Wendy Brown A Hutch & Linda Neilson ** In Honor of the Mugridge Neilson Family
TRAIL BLAZERS ($1,000–$1,499)
Anonymous Clary Design, LLC * Ramesh Gangisetty & Mala Shetty A North River Press Sarah & Justin Ober * Kimberly, Dominic & Eva Sinopoli * Carter & Tiffany Wilding-White *
* Current Parent(s) ** Current Grandparent(s) A Alumni Family S Current Student
CULTIVATORS ($500–$900)
Douglas & Margaret Beeson ** Dana Bixby The Chait Family ** Kehr Davis A In Honor of Aurora & Oscar Maldonado Rachel G. Fletcher Interprint, Inc. Eric & Nancy Knodler ** In Honor of The Knodler Boys
Barbara & Christopher May ** Christopher Nye Tom & Jean Porter ** Dave & Tammy Valicenti A
FAMILY TREE ($250–$499) Anonymous In Honor of Sarah & Simon Ober
Peter Cherneff & Hester Velmans Bryn Davis & Craig McDowell * Jennifer & Matthew Knodler * William & Leona Mathews ** Jagruti & Kalpesh Patel * Frederick M. Peyser Jr. Foundation * In Honor of Daphne Lamb
Carolyn & Matt Sanzone ** Meghan Shaw * Emma Weiskopf * Dave & Lori Nadig A
WOODLAND FRIENDS ($125–$249)
Anonymous (3) Lorimer Burns * Rebecca Cachat & Jack Waldheim * Catherine & Matthew Chester * Elizabeth & Robert Christinat ** In appreciation of the education of Eileen & Adrian
Nicolette Enhorning-Picton & David Strzepa * Mary Hannigan & Crispin Tresp * Alicia & Dan Hardy * Cheryl Linda Howitt ** Bridghe McCracken & Jonathon Williams * Erin & John Murphy * Charlie & Kathy Plungis Peter & Jo Podol ** Rose Siegel ** Starr Snead Erica Spizz & Jeanette Maguire * Susan & Tony Zaniboni *
TENDER ROOTS (up to $124)
Anonymous (3) Reed Anderson & Gretchen Gnaedinger * Cara Barkett ** Natanya & Simeon Bittman * Jodie Gordon & Josh Bloom ** In Honor of the incredible guides & staff at MSB
Rose Bohmann Linda & Michael Cachat ** Laurie & John Coyle * Ellen & Geoffrey Cunningham * Janet Elsbach * Grace Haagenson ** In Honor of Noah & Jonah Haagenson
Renee Harvitt A Elizabeth Havener & Andrew Sandefer * In Honor of Marlow Wren
Matthew & Lesley Herzberg * Melissa & Randall Higgins *
Natasha Perlis & Louis Juska * Alison & Roger LaRocca * Cristina & Charles Markham * Nick & Sarah Martinelli * Joseph & Marina Maurino ** In Honor of Francesca
Noah Meyerowitz A Liza & Matthew Murray * Bamby Neale & Dennis Pollock Tom & Linda Olson Jim & Sandy Salice ** Robert & Kristin Sanzone * Toby & David Sohn ** In Honor of our granddaughter, Aliyah Sohn Jodi Standring Chris Swindlehurst & Crispina ffrench * David & Cynthia Teator ** In Honor of Maddox
Audra Tresp S Josh, Vicky & Milo *
* Current Parent(s) ** Current Grandparent(s) A Alumni Family S Current Student
THE
ENCHANTED GARDEN
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated to, worked
on, volunteered durring, performed at, purchased tickets for, and partied down at this year’s spring event, The Enchanted Garden. Thanks to all of you, we had a scrumptiously delightful, dance-tastic, extravaganza with good friends, while raising over $11,000 towards MSB’s Financial Aid Fund!
TALENT & IN-KIND DONATIONS
SPONSORS Broadleaf ($2,500) Northern Building Systems Sapling ($1,000) Allegrone Companies Blue Point Design Lee Bank Seedlings ($500) Woven Roots Farm BBE Ofice Interiors Cohen/Kinne/Valicenti/Cook Lawn House Sprout (up to $499) Amenitec Ward’s Nursery Henry’s Electric Sponsor Tickets Dana Bixby Architexture Sheela & Jim Clary Matthew & Catherine Chester Church Davis Bryn Davis & Craig McDowell John Paladino & Emily Rechnitz Andrea White
EVENT COMMITTEE Avie Maloney Crispina ffrench Emma Weiskopf Erin Murphy Fredrika Willgren Jeanette Maguire Kimberly Sinopoli Lorimer Burn Sarah Ober
Picky Bastards–Rob Sanzone & Chris Merenda, with guest Jack Waldheim DJ BFG–Gabby Squailia Naturally Catering Aurel de St André (Afgan Camera) Moho Design Creative (Moss M) Nicolette Enhorning-Picton (Photography) Tara Johnston (Bartender) Oscar Maldonado (waitstaff) Shanique Mahoney (waitstaff) Spirited
SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS 33 Main Arcadian Shop Bella Flora Berkshire Mountain Bakery Chez Nouz Bistro Jim & Sheela Clary Colorful Stitches Dottie’s Coffee Lounge Evergreen Salon Flying Deer Guido’s Fresh Marketplace Crispina ffrench IS 183 Jane Iredale Cosmetics Dan Karp Jeanette Maguire Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Lenox Coffee Lineflax & Roving Loft 48 Hair Salon Lorimer Burns Ceramics Michelle’s Day Spa Moho Designs One Mercantile PineCone Hill Seven Salon & Spa Shakespeare & Co. Shire Fire Candles Ski Butternut The Gifted Child Township Four Ward’s Nursery Windy Hill Farm YMCA Camp Hi Rock
GRADUATES The Montessori School of the Berkshires Graduating Class of 2019
ASHER ELSBACH
BRIANNA REGAN
CHELSEA MATHIEU
Monument Mountain RHS Great Barrington, MA
Berkshire Waldorf HS Stockbridge, MA
Berkshire Waldorf HS Stockbridge, MA
DAPHNE LAMB
HONORA FEDELL
JACOB BAUMGART
Emma Willard HS Troy, NY
Monument Mountain RHS Great Barrington, MA
Berkshire Waldorf HS Stockbridge, MA
ROSE CHERNILA
TEXOLOC BERGINS
TOSH WEBER HEARST
Buxton HS Williamstown, MA
Monument Mountain RHS Great Barrington, MA
Berkshire Waldorf HS Stockbridge, MA
MSB ALUMNI visitations Sadie C ('17) attends 2019 Graduation
Theo M, Diego S, Mihiraan G, & Oscar M, (all from '18) attend the Elementary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare & Co.
Emelia F ('17) volunteers for Field Day
Sara S ('12) vistis during Winterfest
Emelia F ('17), Aidan A ('18) , Linda R ('17), Theo M ('18), Diego S ('18) & Mihiran G ('18), attend 2019 Graduation
Mihiraan G ('18) attends AE 20% presentation
Zack M ('14), Sara S('12) , Madeline M ('12), attend the Enchanted Garden fundraiser
Willow C ('17) attends 2019 graduation
ALUMNI spotlight
In 2012, the first five eighth graders graduated from MSB. One of those graduates, Sara Sprague–after attending Miss Halls, and graduating Cornell in Animal Science–will be going for her Masters in Cancer Biology at Georgetown University. Recently, Sarah took some time out of her busy schedule to sit down and answer some questions about where she’s been, where she’s going, and how MSB helped her get there. Are you still in touch with any of your MSB school mates? Casey, Maddy, and I all went to Miss Halls [for high school.] I’m [still] friends with Casey on Facebook, [and] I’m good friends with Maddy. We’re getting together for lunch on Saturday and then later, I’m getting together with Julie [Haagenson] and my sister for drinks. How did you decide what field you wanted to study? Cancer is the biggest unanswered question. There are some short-term answers, and there might be cures to certain types of cancers, but [with] cancer, it is your own cells mutating. Virus are something differentiated–they can be targeted. They are essentially curable; we may not know how yet, but eventually we’ll get there. But [with] cancer, it’s your own cells deciding to grow rapidly and uncontrollably, and what works to treat one, does not necessarily work to control another. It’s an endless question and it kills people. When did this field of study first become of interest to you? I’ve been interested in science forever–it makes sense, it comes to me easily, and it’s vast. I like that. [When] I was an undergrad for Animal Science and doing research under Dr. Loew, we [would talk] about the endless questions of the world, he [would bring up] cancer as one of these questions, and I was already thinking about ‘that’s where a lot of funding goes’, and ‘you can’t do good research without money.’ Then I took a cancer outreach class, and they brought in these scientists that were doing ground breaking research on cancer. [The classes] were open to the community, [and] people who had cancer, or were affected by cancer, were coming to learn about the cutting-edge science and that [experience] cinched it for me. How did your teachers at MSB support your interests? Anything that was interesting you, you were able to pursue it. [When] we did the Model UN, [Sean and I] had Holland as our country. We [studied] something to do with the nuclear aspects–the protections of nuclear weapons or something like that– so, we got to bring Science into that. I still did History and stuff like that, even though History wasn’t my thing, but I was allowed to allocate my free time and go as far as I wanted in a subject. How did your time at MSB facilitate your academic success? Some [of the most useful things I learned] were how to plan, time management, and how to filter information–what was extraneous and [what was] information I needed to retain. This was key to [doing well] in college and high school. Unless you’re really, really smart, the way you pass Cornell and get good grades, is by knowing what you need to know, and what you [don’t] need to know. There’s just not [enough] room in your brain for 22 credits of ‘you need to know everything.’ How did MSB prepare you for Miss Halls and Cornell? I was well prepared in every way. I was very prepared. At Cornell, you can do Auto Tutorial Classes, where you just get a book [and] some [self-directed] lab time, and [then] go into a testing center and circle the bubbles. A lot of people at Cornel are like, ‘I could never do that’ or ‘I don’t trust myself to do it.’ I learned early on [at MSB] how to get it done. I mean, you can put it off but eventually it will catch up with you, so just get it done. [I] learned to be self-motivated. Ironically, [MSB also taught me that] failing is ok [and] not the end of the world. I took a lot of [extra] classes at Cornell, that [were] interesting and intellectually stimulating, [that I didn’t have] the prerequisites [for.] I would fly by the seat of my pants, navigating [what I didn’t know] and I learned a lot! Unlike some people who [would have said] ‘this is over my head’ I was like, ‘this is over my head, but it’s so interesting, I’m going to [take it anyway.] If I was afraid to fail, I [would never] have taken the class[es].
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