December 2021
Inside:
Catching up with Alumni Spotlight on Service Learning Alumni Association News & Notes Annual Report and more!
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3 4 5 6 7
In This Issue
Message from Bob Cooke & Jeremy Deutsch
School News and Updates
Update from Jonelle Harris
Life Members
Remembering
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Alumni Association: A Vision for the Future
Catching Up Alumni News & Notes Message from Director of Advancement Annual Report
On the cover: Junior Kindergarten teacher Lauri Torrie enjoys our outdoor Treehouse classroom with students. Below: Students at the 69th Annual Community School Book Show.
Family Album
The alumni newsletter of
Community School 900 Lay Road St. Louis, MO 63124 (314) 991-0005 (314) 991-1512 Fax www.communityschool.com
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Head of School Bob Cooke
Editor
Jennifer Thomas
Contributors Brian Burkhardt Bob Cooke Jeremy Deutsch Meredith Dorr
2021/2022 Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Executive Committee Jeremy Deutsch, President Stacey Kamps, Vice President Tracy Shepard, Secretary Brad Foss Kelly Harris Michael Laycob
Mayo Amos Lee Broughton Jeff Burgess Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo Jeffrey Evitts Deanna Granger James Jefferson Sonie Orsay
Jonelle Harris Kristin Keller Kathleen Kelly Donna Scott Jennifer Thomas Matt Scherrer Hana Sharif Tony Sonn Geneen Von Kloha Ex Officio Members Bob Cooke, Head of School Margit Craig, CPA President Kristin Keller, Alumni Board President
A Message from Bob Cooke & Jeremy Deutsch A year ago we were filled with trepidation about what school would look like. Covid-19 cases were on the rise, and though teachers, staff, and administrators had put in literally hundreds of hours over the summer of 2020 to prepare for school in the time of Covid-19, nobody really knew whether our procedures would pay off. Unlike most of what we do educationally, there is no “playbook” or best practice for keeping a school open during a pandemic. But we did have the benefit of creating a Community School Health and Safety Task Force that consisted of two epidemiologists, a pediatrician, our school nurse, two teachers, and three administrators who could look at every aspect of the school and determine what gave us the greatest chance of success. We have officially added the school counselor to the team this year as well. Our guiding principles were to keep sick people from coming to school, minimize contact between students in order to limit any internal spread of infection that we might have, and create the safest environment we could. As you can imagine, that meant reinventing literally everything we did here at school. Among other things, for the 20202021 school year we: • Upgraded the entire HVAC system to include MERV-14 filters and increase airflow, and installed ionization systems • “Cohorted” by homeroom so that students did not interact with any students outside their immediate class • Universally masked students and adults at all times, both inside and outside • Ate lunch outside or in homerooms • Eliminated all in-person assemblies • Quarantined the entire homeroom if anyone in the homeroom tested positive for Covid-19, and provided distance learning for all quarantined students • Restructured after school care, and eliminated mini classes and athletics • Embedded specialist teachers on a rotating basis in homerooms • And many, many more measures! The great news is that the system worked. Although we had individuals come to school
with Covid-19 (remember that many cases are asymptomatic) we had zero documented cases of internal transmission of Covid-19 within the school. We stayed healthy and stayed open, and though school certainly looked different than usual, unlike many schools, we were open the entire year. This school year we know a lot more about Covid-19 transmission, and our teachers, staff, and administrators are almost entirely vaccinated (with a vaccination rate among employees of 98.7%). That means that we can reintroduce many of the aspects of Community School that are at the heart of who we are as an educational institution. The use of the outdoors is an important step towards normalcy. That is something that has been at the heart of a Community School experience for years, as students have PE, recess, classes outdoors, free time in the woods, etc. We now know that Covid-19 does not spread easily outdoors, assuming that students practice social distancing, so masks are now optional while outside. We have also been able to reinstitute cherished experiences, either because they are outdoors (e.g. Goldy Day, our annual all-school picnic), or because we could reimagine them to turn them into entirely outdoor events (e.g. Stan and Clayton Rice Night). Another important realization is that we can have indoor events as long as we control the overall attendance. Last spring we held graduation indoors with mandatory masking and limited attendance, and this year we have started our assemblies and student performances. As we write this article, we are gearing up for our First Grade assembly, complete with plays and parent attendance. We are limiting the number of spectators (two parents per child, and only one grade attending to watch), and performers will be masked. We know this works–we had our sixth grade play last May under similar conditions, and it worked very well for all. Additionally, our grades are reunited, with our “cohorting” now by grade level, not homeroom. Students who were apart from some of their friends last year are now back together. This allows us to teach much more effectively, as we are no longer restricted by Covid-19 precautions from grouping children in ways that work best for them, nor do we have to limit the movement of specialist teachers within the school. And although last year we did not have any students eating
lunch together in the Community Center, we have cautiously reintroduced that as well, with two grades at a time having lunch together. We keep them a bit distant from each other, but it’s another good step back toward normalcy. Our recent Book Show was probably the best example yet of how we are bringing the extra joy of Community School back to the children here. Last year the Book Show was entirely “virtual,” but this year we were largely in person. We partnered with The Novel Neighbor, a wonderful independent book store in Webster Groves, and parent volunteers set up thousands of books in the Centennial Arts Center for children to browse. Students had a preview on Monday, and then parents, guardians, grandparents, and special friends made appointments to shop with children the rest of the week. Using an appointment system, we kept attendance steady and numbers manageable, and with all attendees masked the event felt very safe. Everyone had fun–lots of books were sold to children, and nearly 400 were donated to classrooms and the Discovery Center! There are no written records that we can find that detail how Community School managed through the last great health crisis to hit the world, the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. But our suspicion is that it was handled much as we have handled Covid-19 over the past year and a half–carefully following medical advice; parents, teachers, staff, and students working together; and a commitment to ensuring that the health and safety of all are paramount while retaining the essence of what Community School stands for. We firmly believe that the end of this pandemic is in sight, and know that all we have been through together has made us a stronger, more cohesive school, with an even clearer understanding of what makes this a special place for children.
Bob Cooke | Head of School
Jeremy Deutsch | President, Board of Trustees
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School News & Updates Goldy Day
We hosted Goldy Day, our annual all-school picnic, for new and returning families on August 28. It was fun for all ages, with food, music, and a range of activities including Olympic games, face painting, limbo, a cake walk, a balloon artist, and a hula hoop contest. It was wonderful to see everyone back on campus and celebrating together!
Book Show
We hosted our 69th annual Community Book Show on October 12-14. Students were thrilled to visit with their loved ones as they stocked up on books from our partner bookstore, The Novel Neighbor. They also enjoyed meeting authors Sharon M. Draper and Peter H. Reynolds via Zoom. Thanks to the generosity of our families and special friends, nearly 400 books will be distributed to the Discovery Center and classroom libraries for our children to enjoy. We also raised $2,500 for The Noble Neighbor, which will sponsor an author visit to an underserved school in the St. Louis area.
Spotlight on Service Learning
Community School’s curriculum weaves service learning and leadership opportunities together and provides students with
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a strong foundation in character development. Different grade levels partner with one or more nonprofit organizations each year for a service learning project that relates to their areas of study. Over the course of the project, teachers emphasize good citizenship, an understanding of needs in the St. Louis area, and the giving of one’s time and energy, not just monetary donations. Beginning in Senior Kindergarten, students can help lead service learning projects by joining Community’s Service Learning Student Council (SLSC). Jessica Hendricks, a Second Grade teacher, facilitates the council, and each grade has up to three representatives who serve for two years. Representatives meet to discuss what is happening in each class, and they organize bigger initiatives. “Students have the opportunity to investigate issues, plan ways they can help and develop important problem-solving skills,” Hendricks shared. Last year, Nursery students collected towels and newspapers for the Animal Protective Association, and older students created projects to benefit organizations like SouthSide Early Childhood Center, St. Louis Area Foodbank, and The Little Bit Foundation. Additionally, 2020-2021 SLSC representatives assisted the Parent Diversity Group with Community’s virtual MLK Day of Service and decided on “Community Gardens” as an all-school project. Representatives polled peers about what they’d like to grow in our school gardens, and after spring break, each homeroom met with Second Grade teacher Jered Gruszka for a mini lesson on gardening as he began the planting process. Jered taught students about soil preparation and the plants we are growing, and many students helped with maintaining the gardens. We have sixteen SLSC representatives this year, and they've selected climate change as a theme. Students will meet with guest speakers and read appropriate articles to learn more about climate change and its impacts, as well as work being done to mitigate these impacts in the St. Louis region. After completing their factfinding mission, they'll think about how to translate needs into actions that we can take as a school.
Update from Jonelle Harris, Director of Diversity and Inclusion This school year begins our third year for “Students for Change!” The idea for this group was the brainchild of a Community School alumna, Janae Harris. Janae came to me back in 2019 with the idea of starting a group for 5th and 6th grade students that would provide a space where they could take a deeper dive into discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Janae visited both grade levels to share her idea and provide an opportunity for students to sign up. The response was overwhelming! It was really powerful to see so many students eager to be a part of this group. One of the many great things about “Students for Change” is that we are not only engaging
in thoughtful discussions but also providing opportunities for the students to develop leadership and critical thinking skills. During these unprecedented times, when our students are dealing with the impact of the pandemic, civil unrest, and messaging from the media, this group provides a safe opportunity to engage in conversation and gain insight into the issues around them. They are also able to walk away with resources that can help them navigate various topics. Sarah McCarthy (5th grade teacher) and I cofacilitate this group together. We are there to help guide the discussion, but we really allow the students to take the lead. All of the topics we cover come directly from the
students. We always start our first meeting by asking them what they would like to talk about and what they would like to gain from being a part of this group. We want to make sure that this is completely driven by the student’s interests. We have had some very rich conversations, and I have been very impressed by how well our 5th and 6th grade students are able to navigate some of these difficult topics.
Jonelle Harris and Sarah McCarthy with the 2021-2022 “Students for Change.”
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Current Community School
Life Members Community School has an esteemed group of Life Members who are elected by the Board of Trustees. Life Members are past parents, alumni, grandparents, teachers, and friends who have contributed their time and talents and shown a continuing interest in the school. We look forward to celebrating our Life Members during our annual luncheon on May 13, 2022. More information will follow. Stephen S. Adams, III ’69 Sharon Barnholtz Bill Bauer Julie and Lee ’70 Bearman Donna L. Benson ’66 Maxine Blaine William Bolster Kimmie T. Brauer Marjorie Broesel Cindy and Jay Brown Jutta Buder L. B. Buffkins Judi F. Coleman ’70 James Cooper Steve C. Culver TIna and David ’70 Danforth Elizabeth Danforth ’74 Dan DeHovitz ’66 Nancy A. Diemer ’77 Henry Dubinsky Peter A. Edison ’67 Steve Finerty Darlene P. Finkes Judith Gall Susan Goldberg Emily Gordon Matthew Gould Dudley H. Grove Cathy Haines Sonia ’48 and Harold F. Helmkampf Thomas Helmkampf ’76 Michelle Henson Signa and Robert R. Hermann, Jr. Howard H. Hess Kerry and William F. Holekamp Susan Hollander ’69 Becky Hubert Susan Hunkins Holly McDonnell James ’81 Suzanne and Jim ’76 Johnson Bette and William Jones Karen Kalinowski Kerrigan Kaplan Lee Kaplan Jennifer and Jim Koman Carole Lemen John Lemkemeier ’79
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Nikki and David ’82 Lemkemeier Sally and Ned O. Lemkemeier Roz and Charles ’59 Lowenhaupt Jane S. Mackey Michele and James ’63 Maritz, III Phyllis Maritz Steve Maritz ’70 Anne ’51 and John McDonnell Cynthia McDonnell Patricia ’53 and Glenn McNett Stephany Mendelsohn LaVerna Meyer Eileen Morrison Andrew E. Newman ’56 Bette A. Nuzum Kiku Obata ’63 Ann Polster Ken Potter ’78 Evelyn C. Pronko Pam Qualy Julie and Eric Ralph Ben F. Rassieur, III Mary Rassieur Terry Rassieur Mary and Edward Renshaw Sandy Rogers Sheillah Rogers John T. Sant ’44 Ann Knight Schaper ’54 Marilyn Schnuck Scott C. Schnuck Stephanie A. Schnuck ’79 Ben H. Senturia ’55 Susan and David ’71 Sherman, III Linda Smith Barbara Stamper Molly Strassner Leah and John Stroup Cindy Jones Todorovich ’58 Steven Turner Jan Wisland Marie Witscher Stephen Wolff ’69 James H. Woods, Jr. ’48 Nina Wuestling Caroline Zarinelli
Remembering... Carol Duhme, Class of 1929, Community School alumna
award recipient and Life Member passed away on October 22, 2021 at the age of 104. Carol grew up in a family committed to service, philanthropy, and racial equity. In 2019, she was awarded the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award at Community School. In a video presentation that day she said, “I have been all my life a volunteer with different organizations. I like to work with organizations which help people have a better life.” Carol was a life-long philanthropist where she participated in the Joseph H. Carol Duhme. Photo credit: and Florence A. Roblee Foundation. “The Chautauquan Daily.” She also served as board president for the YWCA and for the Family and Children's Service of Greater St. Louis. Carol served many years on the National Council of the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University and has countless honors from organizations for her work.
Patricia Hecker, Class of 1934, Patricia Gamble Hecker,
alumna, parent, Life Member, and past Board of Trustee, passed away peacefully at home on July 24, 2021. Patricia attended Community and John Burroughs Schools. She graduated cum laude from Vassar College in 1944 with Patricia Hecker (center) with family at 2019 a Bachelor of William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Arts degree, Award ceremony. and from Washington University in 1968 with a Master's Degree in Arts in Archaeology. Patricia and her husband, Harvard, had three children, all of whom attended Community School. Patricia spent her life serving and inspiring others. She was a drama teacher, a lecturer, and an early proponent of conservation. She and her husband served on the founding board of what is now the Endangered Wolf Center. She was a supporter of the arts and served on boards and committees at Community School; the Junior League of St. Louis; the Archeological Society, St. Louis Chapter; the St. Louis Art Museum; the St. Louis Science Center; the Opera Theatre of St. Louis; and the St. Louis Zoo. Patricia was awarded the Saint Louis Zoo Individual Award in 2016. In fall 2019, Patricia returned to Community School to accept the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award alongside several other alumni. The awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni.
Judy Tisdale, Class of 1952, Judith (Judy) Tisdale, alumna, parent, grandparent, Life Member, and longtime teacher at Community School, passed away peacefully at home on April 6, 2021 after several days in hospice. She was surrounded by her family, including her daughters
Miriam Murphy ’77 and
Jen Gosnell ’79. Judy was
Judy Tisdale introduced science students to Madagascar giant hissing cockroaches.
grandmother to Maggie Gosnell ’18. Judy was born in 1940 in St. Louis. She attended Community School, John Burroughs School, Wellesley College (B.A.), and Webster University (M.A.). She married in 1963, and she and her husband bought a house in Kirkwood, where they raised their daughters and where she lived until her death. She was a longtime member of Eliot Unitarian Chapel, where she served on many committees, including as Chair of the Board. Judy spent her entire working career as an elementary school teacher, first teaching in St. Louis City schools, then moving to Community School. At Community, she taught 4th grade, art, and science. Judy was a firm believer that an excellent education at a young age would allow anyone to succeed later in life. She brought this philosophy to more than a thousand children, including those in the Wellston schools where she volunteered after retirement. Many of our older alumni will have fond memories of Donna Rank, who taught P.E. for twenty-seven years at Community School. She passed away on April 13, 2021, at the age of 91. Martha Overcash, SK teacher, remembers Donna most of all for being completely unflappable, able to handle Donna Rank teaching cartwheels to a Senior everything Kindergarten student. with a calm demeanor, and with a smile for everyone. Donna became a Life Member of Community School in 1996, following her retirement. She is survived by her two children, Andy Rank ’77 and Julie Rank Kiczenski ’75. Our sympathy goes out to them.
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Alumni Association: A Vision for the Future
A Message from Kristin Keller Dear Alumni, I am a graduate of Community School (1996), and I have three children Teddy (5th grade), Cora (2nd grade) and James (Nursery) who currently attend Community. As an alum, it has been profoundly rewarding to watch my own children build friendships, develop strong academic foundations, and make memories in the same place that I enjoyed as a child. It has been really fun to relive some of my favorite school memories as an adult. Walking in the woods, doing the Dinosaur Dig, shopping at the Book Show, and picking out a band instrument with my children remind me of my own happy childhood at Community. I still enjoy being in school and try to go back as often as I can. I attended the University of Virginia School of Nursing (UVA, ’06, BSN), the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing (UCSF, ’10, MS), and most recently, the Saint Louis University School of Nursing (SLU, ’21, PhD). In the near future, I hope to teach in a local nursing program. I feel very comfortable in the classroom and truly enjoy the challenges and rewards of learning new skills. I am certain that having a happy and healthy learning environment as a child at Community was foundational to developing the love of learning that I carry with me as an adult.
Given my admiration for Community School, it has been rewarding to serve as the President of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association works to sustain relationships with students who have graduated from Community School. As they move on to new schools, we want them to always feel that Community is a place they can call home. With this in mind, we are working to strengthen our alumni engagement and create more opportunities for alums of all ages to reunite. Please join us on December 15 at 6:00 p.m. for an Alumni Social where you can reunite with old friends, hear about what’s new and exciting at Community, and learn about ways to continue your connection with us. This is a wine and cheese event and will take place on campus. You can email Kathleen Kelly at kkelly@communityschool.com for more information. Sincerely, Kristin Keller | Alumni President
A Message from Meredith Dorr Dear Alumni, I am Meredith Dorr, a 2007 graduate of Community School. After Community, I graduated from Villa Duchesne in 2013 and then attended Texas Christian University. I finally made my way back to St. Louis in November 2019 and now live in Clayton working in marketing and client success for a tech company in Kirkwood. As Community School grows and evolves each year, so do its alumni. We’ve known the magic of singing in the holiday program, setting up Jungle Escape in the gym, and even building and designing a ship in Woodshop. From going to high school and graduating college to getting married and having kids who may even attend Community one day, this portion of the alumni association was designed to foster and strengthen relationships with other graduates of Community School between the ages of 19-40. It was created in mind for those who want to reconnect with old classmates or network with other graduates around the globe. As
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an association, we look forward to hosting social gatherings to reminisce on memories and networking opportunities that may help boost your career. We hope to offer ways to get involved with a place we all loved (most of the time) when we were children; ways that may be more than just donating your money. Currently, there are over a thousand young alumni of Community School, and we hope to build and strengthen this young alumni community as we continue to grow each year. We welcome you to connect again with memories and experiences, share your adventures and offer your insight. So, feel free to reach out to Kathleen or me if you would like to learn more about the Young Alumni Association for Community School! Sincerely, Meredith Dorr | Young Alumni Association President
Catching Up Stan and Clayton Rice Night
On October 5, over one hundred 5th grade and 6th grade students, parents, and special friends attended the annual Stan and Clayton Rice Night. Clayton Rice was a 1996 graduate of Community School. He was known for his sense of humor, kindness toward all, and perseverance. Clayton and his father Stan tragically died in 1998. This annual event is dedicated to all fathers/special friends and their children in their honor.
Alumni Care Packages
On November 3, alumni parents and members of Community School’s advancement team gathered to assemble care packages for our Class of 2014 and Class of 2015 graduates, now in their first and second years of college. We assembled 48 boxes with a mix of treats and Community gear. Thanks to all of our parent volunteers for helping put them together and for supplying addresses and other contact information.
The event was held outdoors with games, a picnic style dinner, and entertainment provided by “Hip Hop with Reggie.” Guests also enjoyed special remarks by Clayton Rice’s mother, Teresa Scurlock.
Teresa Scurlock and Bob Cooke. Julie Rhee and Oliver Rhee ’23.
Parents from the Class of 2014 and 2015 making care packages.
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Alumni News and Notes Carol Fleming Marks ’73 donated a beautiful Arch sculpture to the school and installed it outside of the Centennial Arts Center. The arch is made of stoneware with a hand-mixed glaze.
The varsity field hockey teams at MICDS and Villa Duchesne faced off at the Midwest field hockey tournament final on Saturday, October 30. Villa won the match 2-0. Congratulations to Community alumnae on each team: Villa players include Sydney Acker ’16, Caroline Solsvig ’18, and
Allison Schneithorst ’19, and MICDS players include Ellie Lochhead ’18, Kendall Curry ’17, Henley Danforth ’16, Caroline Cooper ’16, Brecken Calcari ’16, Anna Lochhead ’16, Greta Wolfsberger ’16, and Kate Oliver ’16.
The U-19 Gateway Field Hockey Team won the silver medal at the 2021 USA Field Hockey National Club Championship. The team beat five incredibly strong components before playing the top team in the country in the championship game on July 2 in Virginia Beach, VA. Players include Community School alumnae Reagan Calcari ’14, Makenna Webster ’14,
Sydney Acker ’16, Brecken Calcari ’16, Anna Lochhead ’16, Greta Wolfsberger ’16, and Kendall Curry ’17.
Evan Erb ’15, won the No. 1 singles flight in the Metro League boys tennis tournament in April 2021. Evan graduated from MICDS and plays tennis at Washington and Lee University.
Noah Kleinlehrer ’16 is one of four recipients of the Stuart I. Pessin Awards through the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. This merit-based award provides funding for high school students who travel to Israel. Congratulations to siblings Coumba Diallo ’16 and Mawdo Diallo ’19 on their recent achievements. Coumba's artwork, “Finding Justice,” is part of the St. Louis Art Museum's 20212022 Young Artists exhibition, “Metamorphosis: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.” Coumba’s work is on view through March 2022. Mawdo was on the St. Louis Kappa League’s national debate team. He and his partner (a 9th grader) competed this spring and won all three debates, including finals against 11th and 12th graders.
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James Karslake ’19 earned the Boy Scouts of America’s William T. Hornaday Award for distinguished service in natural resource conservation. This achievement marks two-and-a-half years of work across St. Louis. James partnered with Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center to remove invasive honeysuckle and replace it with native plants, established bat boxes at Beaumont Scout Reservation to help a displaced bat colony, planted willow tree stakes and native bushes along Deer Creek to prevent erosion, and planted natives and set up bee boxes in Southwest Park.
Class of 2014 and 2015
We hosted reunion lunches for members of our Class of 2014 and Class of 2015 on June 14 and June 15, respectively. It was wonderful to catch up and learn more about their college experiences and plans. It was also a treat to see parents and former colleagues! Thanks to everyone who joined us.
Where Are They Now? Arts and Humanities Residential College Belmont University Boston University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Cornell University Denver University Duke University Elon University Emerson College Emory University Georgetown University Indiana University Miami University Missouri State Universtiy Purdue University Rhodes College Southern California University Southern Methodist University Spelman College Texas Christian University University of Denver University of Mississippi University of New Hampshire University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of Pennsylvania University of Virginia Washington and Lee University Washington University
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A Message from Our Director of Advancement Over this last year, we’ve had to get used to being a little further apart — from distancing in the classroom to doing more events virtually. But despite that physical distance, our community emerged stronger than ever. Each year, I am amazed at the support Community’s donors give to the school, and this year was exceptional. We asked, and you answered. Everyone answered. Parents, grandparents, alumni, students, faculty, staff, administration, trustees, past parents, friends of the school — everyone. Even students as young as first grade showed their love of and commitment to their school by contributing to The Community Fund. It was particularly heartwarming to see donations made in honor of and in memory of beloved members of our community. It reminds me that Community is about more than the buildings or the grounds — it’s about the people who make up our community.
Pledge Week For the second year in a row, 100% of Community School families, Board of Trustees, faculty, and administrators made a gift or pledge to our Annual Fund program. Donors sent a clear message that they are committed to our mission as we continue to provide a premier education for our students, hire and retain a stellar faculty and staff, and care for our beautiful campus. We are incredibly grateful for their support. We invite our greater constituency to join in this spirit of philanthropy by donating now or pledging to donate and fulfilling this commitment by either December 31, 2021, or April 1, 2022.
To Donate, scan the above QR Code.
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To Pledge, scan the above QR Code.
Your donations allow Community to offer a highquality, individual education to the students we serve, and I cannot express how grateful I am for your incredible generosity. We know we can count on your support each and every year, and for this I thank you. Yours in gratitude,
Kathleen Kelly | Director of Advancement
The Impact You Make Why support Community School?
Community School is the premier preschool and elementary school, leading the way in early education in St. Louis. Recently, Niche.com ranked Community School with an A+ ranking, a wonderful honor and something we should all be proud of.
Your participation has two crucial components.
Participation shows the broader community that our school is strong and that our parent community believes in our mission. Because participation can easily be measured and used to rank our school, 100% participation is pivotal. The funds raised from the annual giving program help ensure Community School is the regional leader in preschool and elementary education. The Annual Fund makes sure we are able to hire and retain the greatest faculty and staff while providing them with ongoing professional development, to maintain our beautiful 18-acre campus, and to provide a premier educational opportunity for our 350 students, allowing them to become the leaders of the next generation.
How can I maximize the impact of my gift?
Many companies offer philanthropic programs that will match charitable contributions made by employees. Matching gifts are an excellent way to help Community School obtain additional funds. Employees wishing to secure a matching gift from their company must initiate the process directly with their employer on our behalf (inquire with your human resources, charitable contributions, or payroll department). Request a matching gift form from your employer and send a completed and signed copy along with your donation to Community School.
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Annual Report Fiscal year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 OAK LEAF Anne and Doug Albrecht Jackie and Barry Albrecht Jennifer and Craig Albrecht Mandy and Brian Anderson Marni and Jeremy Deutsch Jennifer and James Gould Anne and John F. McDonnell Travis Noble Stephanie and Mark Schnuck Barbara and Andrew C. Taylor Christine Taylor and Lee Broughton Chrissie and Bradford Werner GOLDEN EAGLE Kate and Tom Danforth Mandi and Eric Holekamp Pat Lane Michele and John Lochhead PATRON Sydney and Cory Bailey Elizabeth Danforth Nancy and D.J. Diemer Leslie and Bradley Foss BENEFACTOR Sophia Baig and Umer H. Siddiqui Barbara and Barry Beracha Robert Bodine Cristina Correa and Craig Katerberg Aaron Cregger Jamie Cregger Danielle and Jeffrey Evitts Melissa and James Fox Kathryn Galie and Brian Burkhardt Erin and Craig Gooch Brenda and Rob Hagan Rhonda Hodges Michelle and Mark Holland Kristen and Rick Holton Kristin and Jesse Keller Lauren and Kyle Kerner Sally and Nicholas Kriegel Bridget and Zach Long Jean Marglous Linda and John O'Hara Lindsey and Evan Reed
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Katie and Steve Schankman Audrey and Matthew Scherrer Carrie and Jason Schnuck Lauren and Coleman Sheehan Katie and Nelson Spencer Courtney and Benjamin Stotler ADVOCATE Preston Amos Melissa and Chris Anstey Nancy and Jesse Appleton Brad Beracha Kristen Beracha Eileen and Julian Carr Bomi and John Choe Brenda and Bob Cooke Farrah Fan and Jon Jones Mary Kaye and John C. Fort Sara and Will Gregerson Chao Gu and Yi Li Layla Hajjafar and Jason Taylor Jennifer and Timothy Hertel Pia and Matt Koster Susan and Erich Lee Sarah and Calvin Matthews Carolyn and Sean McCarthy Melissa and Robert Merlin Nicole and Corky Miller Maggie and Sam Moore Mayo Morgan Amos Tara and Robert Neumayr Kathleen and Jimmy Nowicke Angela and Brad O'Neil Helen and Matthew Parsons Jessica Shepherd Pratt and Wande Pratt Suzanne and Ted Rafferty Julie and Jason Rhee Moe and Dan Schulte Heidi and Ian Silberman Tammy and Anthony Sonn Sandra and John Sperino Claire and Michael Todorovich Amy and Zac Varble Lesley and Andrew Vitt Nicole and Steve Wohlford Jara and Michael Wong Emily and Ali Ziaee
MEMBER Lisa and Michael Adorjan Arpana Agrawal and Ryan Bogdan Helen and Joon Ahn Lama Aleid and Saad Alkaade Alexis Ambrose and Daniel Slavin Paul Anagnostopoulos Charmaine and Sajid Ansari Susan and Robert Appleton Kristen and Robert Armstrong Janice and Asa Baker Anthony Bardol Ellie and Leif Bergquist Patty and Landon Boehm Virginie and Harry Brightman Carol and Jeffrey Burgess Brandi and Daniel Burke Kathleen and Stephen Cameron Terry Capsay Margaret Cooke Jennifer and John Corry Margit and Brent Craig Margaret and Steve Culver Siri Cummings Rita and John Daniel Vijaya and Rao Devineni Sanjam Dhatt and Anahit Cheema Michelle and Jay Dobbs Carrie and Sean Edelstein Aaron Edison Kelly and Jim Edwards Sarita V. Elizabeth and Philip B. Verghese Nina and Thomas Ellinwood Jennifer and Corey Everett Kora and Paul Felsch Diana and Jason Flower Virginia and Bobby Foster Sarah and Luke Fouke Stephanie and Andrew Fulford Valentine Gnanarajah and Marie Philipneri Dorothy Haase Lisa and Matthew Hall Emily and Brad Harper Cynthia Heath Sonny and Harold Helmkampf Anne and Rob Hill Amy Hilmer and Mauricio Sanchez Wei-Wei Huang and Liang Ma
Annual Report Fiscal year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Getha Jagannathan and Arvind Palanisamy Robert Johnston Sally Johnston Stacey Kamps Christina and John Karageorgiou Caitlin Kelleher and Dennis Cosgrove, Jr. Kathleen and Seamus Kelly Jeannie and Brian Kelly Stephen Kerckhoff Artie Kerckhoff III Artie Kerckhoff IV Angie and Randy Koning Carolyn Kroenlein Jessica and Robert Kuhlman Chrissy and Michael Laycob Ann and Peter Lazaroff Carole and Jim Lemen Esther and Frank Lu Cynthia Maritz Marwen and Stewart McDowell Alyssa and Wayne McGee Stephanie and Kenneth McGrath Christina Min and Dennis Chang Nancy and Rick Murphy Daniel Nieva and Adam Shulenburger Jackie and David Pollnow Amber and Daniel Pook Mary Rassieur Laura and Josh Reichman Terry Sale Kit Samuels Jill and Charles Sanders Laura and Robert Sandheinrich Anya and Matt Schwab Julie Schwarz and Brian Edelson Michelle Shen and Wei Li Tracy and Tom Shepard Terri and Robert Slavin Louise and Kevin Stumpf Yana and Vladimir Tarasenko Erin and Adam Taves Christine and Randy Thompson Benjamin Tompras Vija Turina and Lal Karsanbhai Christie Kerckhoff Vatterott Liza and David Weiss Carolynn and Stephen Wolff
Linda and Jim Woods Susan (Zhuohui) Yang and Ying Sha Juliette and Jose Zevallos SUPPORTER Tabassum Ahmad and Obeid Ilahi Julie and Lee Bearman Anita Bhandiwad and Karthik Ramaswamy Shafia and Saqib Bhutto Cindy and Jay Brown Sherin and Ryan Bruning Jutta Buder Sonia Cajigal Thomas F. Claggett Anne and T.J. Corrigan Jan and Robert Craig Marian Dover Peter Edison Aaron Fanetti Linda and Steven Finerty Kathy and Drew Fitzgerald Kelly and Ben Foster Alexa and Chris Gibson Wendi and Phil Graham Beth and Chris Graviss Laura and Bill Gunderson Kelly and Stuart Harris Tonia Harris Ann and Keith Hazelwood Patricia Hecker Candace and James Jefferson Liz Johnson Benton and Rod Jones Savera and Adeel Khan Kelly and Matt LaMartina Dorothy Lazarus Angie and Mike Lesser Jackie and Jim Levey Liz and Jimmy Maritz Meghan and Thor Mathison Vanessa and John Mattingly Emily and Michael McGehee Vanessa McKenzie Alvitta Ottley and Chizoba Okeke Sangeeta Pande and Sandeep Sen Ken Peterson Kathy and Terry Pollitt
Kesha and Antwon Proctor Michelle and Billy Reisner Suzanne Schindler and Andrianus Kardjaja Valentina and Joaquin Schlottman Elizabeth and John Short Leleya and Matthew Singer Jamie and Michael Speckhard Deborah and Scott Steiger Courtney and Tyler Trenary Geneen and Troy Von Kloha Jan and Dave Wisland Kelly and Patrick Wittenbrink Kelly and Jeffrey Zaleski NURTURER Adam and Mitzy Barnstead Claire Beck Melissa and Greg Bohlmann Hayley and Eric Butler Jian Cai and Dawei Wang Molly Caldwell-McMillan Kara and Ben Cardinal Lily Cella Lynn and Doug Christopher Tamara Cooperwood and Korey Jones Melissa and Shaun Donegan Ellen and Henry Dubinsky Laura Dunaway Matthew Dunaway Gloria and Jerry Epstein Kristen and Brad Fisher Marileana Garcia Corretjer and Shawn P. Burkard Hiram Gay Susan and Paul Goldberg Deanna and Chauncey Granger Joanna and Brett Green Randy Gress Erin and Nick Hendon Robin and Shep Hermann Lisa and Nate Hopper Lylah and Eno Ituen Jay Kamps Andrea and Craig LaBarge John Liebson Carol Loeb Elizabeth Lowenhaupt
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Annual Report Fiscal year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Qingwei Luo and Bo Jin Lori and Mike Marusic Irene Marusic and Russell Watters Stephany and George Mendelsohn Julie and Thomas Meyer Amy Miller and Rodney Prather Kiku Obata Sonie Orsay Thomas Orsay Christopher Pruett Meredith and Jason Rabenold Noor Riaz and Kasim Arshad John T. Rogers Sandy Rogers Geetha and Tim Sant Sally and Terry Schnuck Ted Schnuck Sanford and Sally Scott Anne and John Shapleigh Alicia and Vijay Shroff Mary and Stefan Sigurdson Jordana Snider and Brian Chossek Lisa Steinhoff and Keith Mangles Premal Thaker and Sanjaya Saheta Patricia and Gus Theodos Nick Turner Hope Jones Welles Penny and Philip Williams Marie Witscher Jonathan Wolff FRIEND Tricia Adams Rebecca Aft and Roman Kenigsberg Nargis and Aqeeb Ahmad Duha Al-Zubeidi and Muhammad Ali Javed Melanie and Jeff Altvater Tina Altvater Hadley Rollins Altvater Arthur W. Altvater Jr. Carol Armstrong Kathryn and Ted Armstrong Allison Armstrong Ashley Austin and Donta Smith Cathy Bain David Ballinger
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Sharon Barnholtz Marieann Barratt Barbi Barrow Melanie and Bill Bascom Alexandra Bearman Julie and Leo Bearman Lori Berry Clifford Birge Lisa and Andrew Boles Lori Branch Grace Bridwell Ericka Brownlee and Charles Hogue Sarah Brubaker Christine Bugnitz Darci Cadieux Kristin and Greg Campenella Teresita Cheuk Jim Chleboun Sandra and John Cirrito Elizabeth Clarke Jermelody Collins-Robinson Wendy Cooper Robyn Corwin Julie Costello Andy Coultas Nancy Curby Jeanne and Paul Dalba Nikki and Scott Dantuono Tasha and Jeffrey Davis Rachel Dennis Coumba Diallo Mawdo Diallo Jamie Dillender Elliot Dole Alexander Doty Ian Doty Nathaniel Doty Rosemary and Joe Dreyer Bill Dubinsky Keith Dudley Meriam Dwidar Jade Edelstein Jemma Edelstein Jasmine Edelstein Darla Ellsworth Nicole Fears Sue and Chris Felling
Christine Ficker Lecia Finney Megan Futhey Veronique Gardet Cheryl Garrison Roberta Goldfeder Jessica Goldman Emily Gordon Jennifer Gosnell Elliot Gray Mollie Gray Peyton Griffin Jared Gruszka Kate and Chris Haffenreffer Varda Haimo Becky Harman Eugene Harris Joel Harris Jonelle Harris Michelle and Scott Harris Andranique Harrison Amanda Hazelwood Jessica and Jason Hendricks Jennifer Hennessey Jennifer and Richard Herzog Tina and Solomon Hines Marty Hoessle Jason Hollander Kara Horton Kristen Howard Hillis Howie Jr. Carla and Michael Hunigan Nancy Hunter Cadence Jefferson Ashley Johnson Jimmy Johnson Shannon Johnson Ben King Noah Kleinlehrer Julie and Rob Knight Richard Knight Catherine Kohn Chantel and Joe Korfmacher Kathryn Kranbuhl Debbi Krieg Maureen Ross-Lang and Dave Lang Brad Lemen
Annual Report Fiscal year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Jenny Lemen Linda and Scott Lemen Gregg Lemley Kathy Lepsky Marc Levinson Jana Loftus and Lawrence Wilson Stephen Lott Judith Lovelace Roz and Charles Lowenhaupt Rachelle Luster Stephen J. MacDonough Kris and Tom Major Tracy and Joel Malke Taylor Mata Sarah McCarthy Mindy and Kristoffer McManemy Thomas Melone Toni and Alex Miceli Bill Milius Trudy Mirza Diana and Vernon Mitchell Joe Mohr Patrick Morgan Chris Muñoz Joey Murphy Peggy and Andrew Newman Ellen and Tom Noel Katie and David Norris Bette Nuzum Nathaniel M. Osborne Stephanie Oteng Martha Overcash Judy Perry Sandy Podmaniczky Ann and Carl Polster Nicole and Eric Post Darcy Prather Elizabeth Rand Tricia and Dan Reeb Linda and Jim Reed Abby Reed Barbara and Bill Reisner Becky and Bill Ritter-Loos Rose Roberts Sheillah and Ric Rogers Melanie Rookwood Helen Ross
Alissa Rowan Kristen Ruckman Eve Rudolph Sallie Samuels Dana Scott Saulsberry and Charles Saulsberry Kalyn Saulsberry Kara Saulsberry Haley Schmer Koby Schmer Nancy and Frank Schmer Hadley Schnuck Rita Scott Wayne Scott Jay Secor Jennifer Sheehan Victoria Sheehan Dorinda Shelley Ali Simon Joanne and Donald Singer Christopher Stevenson Barbara Stroud-Borth J.J. Stupp Jane Stupp-ONeill Anne and Scott Sutter Jack Thomas Jennifer and Christopher Thomas Louis Tiger Judy Tisdale Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo and Samba Diallo Lauri and Jim Torrie Kara Townsend Raina Traore-Gress Jessica Trotter Anne Turtle Jesse Vrecenak and Charles Heffernan Ellen and Rick Watts Anne Williams Christina and Tim Williamson Colleen Wyss John Zentay
Alex Bearman Leo Bearman James Chleboun Margaret and Stephen C. Culver Sue and Chris Felling Roberta Goldfeder Jessica Goldman Carole and Jim Lemen Roz and Charles Lowenhaupt Stephany and George Mendelsohn Bette Ann Nuzum Sheillah and Ric Rogers Hadley Schnuck Sally and Terry E. Schnuck Victoria Sheehan Barbara Stroud-Borth Jan and Dave Wisland Marie Witscher Donna M. Rank Stephany and George Mendelsohn Marie Witscher HONORS Christine Taylor and Lee Broughton In honor of Grace and Amelia Broughton Kate and Tom Danforth In honor of William and Jack Danforth Marie Philipneri and Valentine Gnanarajah In honor of Nithya Gnanarajah Tonia Harris In honor of Tristan Wooten Kristin and Jesse Keller In honor of Coralee and Teddy Keller Angie and Michael Lesser In honor of Sophie Lesser
MEMORIALS Judy Lorenz Tisdale Patricia Adams Melanie and William Bascom Julie and Lee Bearman
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Operating Expenses and Giving Fiscal year 2021 Tuition................................................. 77.34% Fundraising.......................................... 10.62% Investment........................................... 7.55% After School......................................... 4.21% Misc..................................................... 0.28% 100.00%
Salary and Benefits............................... 78.19% Instructional Support & Materials........ 9.89% Administrative Support........................ 5.56% Other................................................... 0.14% Campus Operations & Maintenance.... 5.11% Fundraising.......................................... 1.12% 100.00%
Endowment & Assets: $18,800,000.00 as of June 30, 2021
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Community School makes every effort to ensure our Annual Report is accurate. If you see an error, we apologize. Please email Kathleen Kelly, kkelly@communityschool.com, with additional information. Thank you.
Looking Forward to 2022
Community School has been a magical place where discovery, friendship, challenge, and care have combined to create a love of learning in children for more than 100 years. Gifts of all sizes from alumni and families have an immediate and lasting impact on today’s students. Your support of Community’s Annual Giving directly benefits everyone at the school. Be a part of the magic that continues to nurture the childhood soul and engage eager young minds. Included with the Family Album and Annual Report you will find our 2022 Annual Appeal. Become a member of one of the following Giving Circles or Giving Societies:
Giving Circles
Every supporter is a member of a giving circle. Founding Mothers’ Giving Circle: Gifts of $10,000 or more 1914 Giving Circle: Gifts of $3,500 or more Golden Eagle Giving Circle: Gifts of $1,000 or more Friend Giving Circle: Gifts of $1-$999
Giving Societies
Changemakers This giving society is available to sixth-grade families who are transitioning to secondary schools and are invited to make a continued commitment of support to Community School. The membership is stewarded by the alumni family and can shift to the alumnus when they think the time is right. The Oak Tree Society Join the Oak Tree Society by making a planned gift to Community School and create a legacy of learning. There is no better way to touch the mind of tomorrow’s future. Contact the Advancement Office for more information.
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Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit No: 2374 900 Lay Road St. Louis, MO 63124 communityschool.com
Save the Dates December 15, 2021
Alumni Social | Class of 2012 and all Prior Classes
Class of 2020 and 2021 Pizza Reception Before 6th Grade Play
Life Members Luncheon
March 10, 2022 May 13, 2022 May 22, 2022
Class of 2016 Reunion Luncheon
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