r a e y 10 view re
2016
IGNITING
2006-
THE
LOVE OF
LEARNING 2016 annual report
“Love the opportunities the children had with a small classroom and lots of personal
Dear Montessori School of Louisville Family,
attention. They also got to do many things to prepare them for life after school.
As we looked back over the past decade to create this 10-Year Review, a pervasive theme emerged: we have always received generous support from our Board of Directors, staff, parents, grandparents, alumni and friends. As a not-for-profit, volunteer-based school, our success would not be possible without it.
The trip to Washington, the pulling up of non-native plants in the park, the archery
LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
We are so grateful to all who have supported us in the past. We warmly thank each of you for your gifts in the form of time, energy, passion and donations — all of which have strengthened the vision and future of our school. You created our foundation upon which we continue to build. In the 2016-17 school year, our school celebrated its largest student enrollment to date: 167 students from 18 months to 8th grade. We feel such a sense of pride having grown so quickly from the 36 students who walked our halls when we opened in 2006.
classes, the bus trip on the city bus down to UofL, the Louisville City study, which was very hands on, and the list just goes on and on! It was a wonderful protective learning environment for my child, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Loved the Montessori School
As we have expanded, one of our goals has been to grow a strong middle school program. In the 2016-17 school year, we re-opened our middle school program with the support of 11 students and their families. In the upcoming 2017-18 school year, we hope to see this program continue to thrive under the strong guidance of our middle school teachers.
of Louisville!”
—Ellen Fry
We are excited to announce the expansion of our early childhood programs in the upcoming 2017-18 school year, as well. We will add two additional classrooms to complement our existing classrooms. We also acquired additional space for our toddler program. Our new toddler classroom was designed specifically for the developmental needs of the toddler student. The classroom highlights include observation windows for parents and a climbing wall for the children. In the upcoming year, we also will add two sports: cross country and tennis. Also in this review, we look ahead. We are excited to announce our fundraisers for the upcoming school year: Aug. 26 – Sept. 14
October 8
November 11
March 3
May 12
Annual Fund Kick-Off
Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
Craft and Bake Sale
Butterfly Benefit
Yard Sale
In addition, we will hold monthly “restaurant nights,” where a percentage of sales will go back to MSL. We also will have a Small Hands Catalog and Book Fair held in first and second half of year. A percentage from each will benefit MSL. These significant, vital fundraising events help fill the gap in the budget between the cost of tuition and the actual cost of educating our students each year. Thank you for all you do to help our school and children. We look forward to what the next decade will bring for Montessori School of Louisville and are glad you will be a part of it. Warmest regards,
Jennifer Cattell Head of School, Montessori School of Louisville
“For my wife and I, one of the best parts of watching our two daughters grow up has been seeing them flourish at the Montessori School of Louisville. Not only has their academic education been stellar, but Montessori School of Louisville has also provided an emotional education to both girls, teaching them to see the world through the eyes of others and to value diverse and sometimes conflicting opinions. It has been my family’s great fortune to have been a part of such a caring and committed educational environment, and we are proud to be involved in a community that continues to impart Montessori values.”
—James Gregory
W
hen a group of impassioned parents, students and teachers formed Montessori School of Louisville (MSL) in 2006, they had a common goal: provide an excellent Montessori education for the children of this community.
MSL opened its doors with just 36 students in August 2006 with one Early Childhood classroom (ages 3-6), one Lower Elementary classroom (ages 6-9), and one Upper Elementary classroom (ages 9-12). The generous support of Father Bill Martin and members of the Our Mother of Sorrows parish made it possible for the school to grow and build a strong foundation during its first three years. A second Early Childhood classroom was added in the 2007 – 2008 school year, and the year ended with a special celebration in honor of the first MSL Middle School graduate. MSL relocated to its current Champion Farms Drive location in the summer of 2009. The school’s relocation and build-out of the new facility was the product of three years of strategic planning and volunteer efforts. Foremost as a Board strategy, MSL achieved accreditation recognition by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and Continuous Improvement (SACS CASI) in June of 2010. This achievement made MSL the only SACS CASI accredited Montessori school in Louisville, serving toddlers through Middle School students. This year, Montessori School of Louisville became one of three American Montessori Society (AMS) accredited schools in Kentucky. Accredited programs include toddler through elementary. Currently, only 10 percent of AMS member schools are AMS accredited. To maintain accreditation, a school must submit an annual report that documents continued compliance with AMS standards, as well as set goals for continuous improvement. We are proud and excited to have achieved this level of excellence in the education that we offer our community of students and families. MSL is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). MSL is the only school in Kentucky to be both AMS and SACS accredited.
2006-2007
2015-2016
Class Size
Class Size
36
167
15 Early Childhood 14 Lower Elementary 7 Upper Elementary
24 Toddler | 74 Early Childhood 40 Lower Elementary | 19 Upper Elementary 10 Middle School
Number of Teachers
5
Number of Teachers
21
Number of Field Trips
Number of Field Trips
5
18
Number of Classrooms
Number of Classrooms
3
9
“MSL is important to me as it represents the effort of a small group of families who wanted to provide excellence in education for their children. These families worked cooperatively to provide a solid foundation from which MSL has grown.”
—Michael Azzara
ENROLLMENT
500%
T
oday, our school includes one toddler, five early childhood, two lower elementary, one upper elementary, and one middle school classroom. Each space is uniquely designed to meet the developmental needs of our community. MSL continues to grow and in 2016-17 served more than 170 students — representing a 500% growth since 2006. We exceeded our enrollment goals as our programs reached their highest level ever, and we generated an extensive waitlist for the first time in our history. In 2016-17, we enjoyed an 86 percent student retention rate and a 90 percent teacher retention rate. We believe by providing a rich, diverse environment, children deepen their perspectives of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect. Montessori education assists them in becoming caring, self-motivated and fulfilled individuals who are able to create a sustainable and peaceful future for humanity. Montessori School of Louisville attracts international families who desire to provide their children an education that is congruent across six continents. MSL is a diverse, multinational school that represents more than a dozen nationalities. Several of our students speak multiple languages including Hindi, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Portuguese and Arabic to name a few. Our students are often seen walking or biking to school from nearby neighborhoods, as well as commuting from areas such as Southern Indiana, Bullitt, Spencer, Shelby, and Oldham counties. MSL graduates have attended Yale, Georgetown, University of Louisville, as well as local private high schools including: duPont Manual, St. Xavier High School, Trinity High School, Kentucky Country Day School, and other public and parochial programs in the area.
A LOOK AHEAD
2016 Financials
While we have enjoyed growth and success these past 10 years, there is still much to do. Our five key priorities for the next five years include:
1
School Location: Locate the school in a facility that will allow the enrollment to grow and is conducive to the full implementation of Montessori principles and pedagogy.
2
Development and Fundraising: Grow the school’s revenue base through development/fundraising initiatives.
3
Montessori Leadership: Be the Montessori and educational best practices authority in the community.
4
Montessori Educators: Attract, retain and support the top Montessori educators.
5
Messaging Montessori: Expand MSL’s circle of influence and educate the greater Louisville community about MSL and Montessori educational methods.
We have created committees to address each strategic priority. The committees began meeting in the fall of 2016 and provided objectives at the February 2017 Vision Day. Over the next five years, the board and administration will be guided by the plans created by these committees to ensure Montessori School of Louisville can confidently move forward into the future knowing that the most important issues and trends have been identified. Yearly benchmarks, in coordination with our Annual Vision Day, will be used to evaluate our accomplishments of the strategic goals. Some goals will be achieved in the next few months, while other goals will require the next five years and beyond. Some goals may be adjusted to reflect changes in our community. The benchmarks will provide the opportunity for the board, staff, committees and families to focus on what we have accomplished and what still needs to be done. Working together will ensure success for each of our strategic goals. Our goals have been identified as strategic because they go beyond everyday decisions. These goals will move MSL towards its ideal future, as defined by the community. It is the vision of each community member, past and present, that has brought us to this point.
Revenue
Expenses
n Tuition and Fees n Contributions and Fundraising n Ancillary Services and Other Revenue
$ 1,461,697 $ 28,818 $ 16,315
n Program n Management and General n Fundraising
$ 1,121,898 $ 219,492 $ 37,092
Total Revenue
$ 1,506,830
Total Expenses
$ 1,378,482
2% Contributions and Fundraising “Montessori School of Louisville provided our son with a highly personal, individual education through eighth grade. He was well prepared for high school at Manual and made a flawless transition to college at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I think a lot of that has to do with the self-management that’s central to Montessori education. Beyond just schooling, MSL creates a close family with ties that continue today.”
16% Management and General
3% Fundraising
Revenue
expenses
97% Tuition and Fees
81% Program
—Susan Hall
Igniting the love of learning!
1% Ancillary Services and Other Revenue
Operating Net Income $ 128,348
bration le e C r a e y f o 2007 End
2016
2016
While the faces may change, the mission/vision of MSL remains the same – to support children’s innate love for learning in a diverse and nurturing community that integrates authentic Montessori philosophy with contemporary, research-based educational methods. We empower each individual student to make knowledgeable, responsible, and peaceful contributions to the global community.
2007 LE C lassroom
10263 Champion Farms Drive | Louisville, KY 40241 P 502.640.8585 | F 502.413.5699 | E office@msl-edu.org www.msl-edu.org
Day d l ie F 7 0 20