Montessori School of Maui Annual Report 2021-2022

Montessori School of Maui

GROWING GLOBAL CITIZENS SINCE 1978

The Montessori School of Maui provides a comprehensive curriculum from early childhood into adolescence by following the principles, spirit and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori’s method of education. This approach features a collaborative learning environment to stimulate each student’s critical thinking skills, cultivate inquisitive minds and empower children to actively participate in the rapidly changing environment of the twenty-first century.

The Montessori School of Maui promotes:

• Academic excellence

• A love of learning

• Mutual respect

• Environmental awareness and responsibility

• Individual accountability within a social framework

• The development of each child’s unique potential

The Montessori School of Maui is a non-profit organization.  We are a non-denominational, co-educational school enrolling and providing education to children without regard to gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

The Montessori School of Maui is fully accredited by the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Both associations awarded our school a full seven-year accreditation, the highest term any school can receive.

An expansion during the 2004-2005 school year was awarded LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

officers Christopher Smith president Sara Tekula vice president Salma Ansari treasurer Emma Burns Cabiles secretary trustees honorary board members Susan

Back Row: John Guarin, Sara Tekula, Chad Goodfellow, Christopher Smith, Klaus Simmer, David Spee. Front Row: Salma Ansari, Ben Summit, Robert Pellettieri, Erica White, Emma Burns Cabiles, Heather Zidell

toddler classroom

‘Ohi’a Anela Medeiros, Guide

Holly Hume, Teaching Assistant

primary classrooms

Kukui Megan Lacasse, Guide

Joanne Park, Teaching Assistant

Monkeypod Shana Driscoll, Guide

Andrea Karal, Teaching Assistant

Nara Alejandra Carta, Guide

Morgan-Jaymie Soares, Teaching Assistant

Plumeria Jennifer Zainuddin, Guide Haley Rainer, Teaching Assistant

lower elementary classrooms

Banyan Melinda Lyle-Javier, Guide Caroline Kinney, Teaching Assistant

Jacaranda Jasmine Herrick, Guide Varessa Sta. Ana, Teaching Assistant

resource teachers

Art: Kristin Kakutani

Living Classroom: Kimberly Dukes

Physical Education: Tracy Carey

Spanish: Elianne Santin

maintenance

Tony Akina, Director of Maintenance

Anthony Phillips, Maintenance Assistant

Keanu Lopes Solomon, Maintenance Assistant

Jonathon Rebo, Custodian

Elmer Rasay, Custodian

Elana Sousa, Custodian

Keanu, Anthony, Tony

Wiliwili Jennifer Dempsey, Guide Lisa Garrett, Teaching Assistant upper elementary pod Tevia Cole-Arlidge, Guid

Ehrenstrom, Guide Phoebe Pappalardo, Teaching Assistant Anne Colletta, Teaching Assistant

middle school classroom

Koa Jeffrey Friedman, Guide

Jonnette Santos, Math/ Science Resource Teacher

Eric L Dustman, PhD head of school

Tess Hanson DeLisa director of finance

Jamie Athearn director of admissions

Momi Chun director of human resources Kiana Iwado administrative assistant

Deesha Tucker finance assistant

administration extended care

Jamie, Tess, Kiana, Deesha, Eric, Momi Jasmine, Lisa, Jennifer, Melinda

Andrea, Holly, Anela, Joanne, Megan, Jennifer, Morgan-Jaymie, Alejandra

Tevia, Anne, Phoebe, Olof

Jonnette, Jeffrey Diana, Lili, Sokha, Kristen

Elianne, Tracy, Kimberly, Kristin

School

Board President

A Message from the Head of School

Aloha Friends,

Our care for one another helped us experience a successful and happy 2021-2022 school year. While the cloud of COVID-19 still hung overhead, we carried on, practiced flexibility, and exhibited a nimble sense that helped us utilize new tools to deliver enriching curriculum, and forge new friendships among everyone in our community.

We welcomed 70 new families to our MOMI ‘ohana in 2021-2022 and increased enrollment from 210 to 235 while maintaining low student-teacher ratios. This was no surprise; talk of our longstanding, noteworthy history was widespread, and not to mention our recent successes managing on-campus learning amidst an ever-changing landscape. Results of our most recent Parent Satisfaction Survey support these facts: measurable indicators about the value of our program and sense of community top 85%.

Within this Annual Report, you’ll find numerous stories that detail our growth and forward movement toward the fulfillment of our mission. Refinement of our curriculum standards and the full integration of them with the Transparent Classroom platform, expansion of our scholarship programs, and the renewal of several community events are just a few of the most noteworthy pieces that are highlighted here. Additionally, you’ll find that as we celebrate our newest alumni and the generosity offered by so many of you, our influence within the greater Maui community continues to build. Each achievement is most certainly due to the hearts and hands of so many and I am hopeful that our appreciation is clear.

Please enjoy the 2021-2022 Annual Report. Know that it is presented with great admiration for you, your support, and your unwavering understanding of the value children hold for the future yet to come.

Best, Eric L Dustman, PhD Head of School

Eric Dustman, Head of

and Christopher Smith,

About Our School

The Montessori School of Maui began by serving just eight students in a simple Quonset hut beside St. Rita’s Church in Haiku in 1978. Over the years, the organization has mindfully grown, stretched and evolved to a lovely nine-acre campus serving up to 300 students, from Toddler through 8th grade.

The school engages staff and students in a collaborative learning environment based upon the time-honored principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over 150 years ago. Through this effort, the School looks to encourage critical thinking, cultivate inquisitive minds, and empower children to actively participate in their rapidly changing environment and unpredictable future.

The Montessori teaching methodology is uniquely based upon observation, peer learning, tactile learning materials, and intrinsic motivation. Within each classroom, multiple grades or levels of students are combined, creating an environment wherein students serve as leaders for one another. These elements come together to create a truly distinctive and remarkable approach to education and the experience of childhood.

Our Programs

TODDLER PROGRAM

Ages 18 months to 3 years

The Toddler Program supports children in developing self-control and self-confidence through communication and real-life activities. In a safe and caring environment, young children are encouraged to explore and challenge themselves as they develop into independent human beings.

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

Ages 6 years to 12 years, Grades 1 through 6 Elementary students thrive on learning with and from each other. These collaborative learning environments, divided into Lower Elementary (serving grades 1 through 3) and Upper Elementary (serving grades 4 through 6), emphasize the interactive process that encourages both academic success and social competence. Students develop the ability to work cooperatively in reaching goals, contributing ideas, listening to others, and respecting individual differences.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

PRIMARY PROGRAM

Ages 3 years to 6 years, Pre-K through Kindergarten Primary chil dren love to work in a community of independent learners. A wide range of activities engage the children at all levels of ability and maturity, and make the Montessori goals of individualized work, concentration, inde pendence, and social awareness attainable.

Ages 12 years to 14 years, Grades 7 and 8 When our Middle School students graduate, they find themselves well prepared for their high school years. The program’s curriculum and instructional design includes a special focus on integrated technology and is developed to ensure that students are capable of meeting the demands of pre-collegiate curricula. Students are well-versed in approaching ideas and challenges creatively, with a sincere interest in growing themselves, while also supporting the well-being of the greater good.

Our Mission

While the theme of our mission, circa 1978, remains Growing Global Citizens, we realized quickly this past year that we had to shift our focus, direct attention, and educate our broader MOMI community differently. We did this by refining our efforts with social media in order to fully inform our dedicated followers and others about key tenets of our program. As we shared in one post about our mission theme, “We’ve educated Global Citizens at Montessori School of Maui since 1978. Doing so has enabled our students to adopt broad perspectives so that everyone is eagerly welcomed to the table where different ideas, viewpoints, and opinions are readily served and consumed with delight.“ Find other relative social media posts and ideas below.

Academic Excellence

“The idea of academic excellence is generally about teacher-taught knowledge and skills, but at Montes sori School of Maui it’s also about student-led discovery, inquiry, and will. Engendering a love of learning and a fearless approach to anything that may be challenging are characteristics that enable a Montessori student to enter the world saying, ‘Here I am, what do you have for me?’”

The beauty of the Montessori meth odology is that it allows flexibility for both teachers and students to build upon the intrinsic curiosity of the stu dent to achieve growth and academic success. Many successful Montessorieducated adults credit their Montessoristyle education for giving them the ability to “think outside the box.” For a changing world, our education gives students the critical thinking skills, selfconfidence, and adaptability that will be necessary for them to thrive.

A Love of Learning

“Engendering a belief in oneself and the value that lifelong learning holds for him/her is central to our work at Montessori School of Maui. Daring to explore, exerting maximum effort without anticipation of reward, and mastering one’s interests is the work of life and the Montessori child.”

Teachers guide students to support the intrinsic curiosities within them, so that they come to awaken their innate passions while loving their days at school. Of this, Maria Montessori said, “joy, feeling one’s own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.” During the morning work cycle, our teachers create an environment of “joyful workflow” for our students where they are given the freedom to choose their work, follow their curiosities, and thereby strengthen their intrinsic motivation.

Mutual Respect

“Mutual respect at Montessori School of Maui develops as a result of living and working in community. Engaging with others offers countless chances to appreciate one another— our differences, our similarities, and what we each believe. Remaining open-minded, willing to perspective-take, and being empathic affords everyone a space that is inclusive and safe.”

A healthy social and emotional learning environment allows our students to learn and cultivate respect for themselves, respect for their environment, respect for their peers, and respect for their teachers. This helps to develop a sense of peace within the school community and helps to cultivate connection and relationship where a system of rewards and punishments is unnecessary. We believe that by helping our students exercise this sense of respect today and into adulthood, they can manage their interactions and fulfill their pursuits in ways that can be foundational in supporting a more peaceful and interdependent world society.

Environmental Awareness and

Responsibility

“Learning earth stewardship at Montessori School of Maui creates opportunities for students to practice environmental awareness and responsibility. Drawing connections between themselves and the ‘¯aina empowers them to act with mindfulness and care that will help to support our island and worldwide sustainability.”

Beginning in Primary, students experience hands-on activities with the Living Classroom teacher in the beautiful school garden. As they grow into their elementary years, students continue to work and study in the Living Classroom and Peace Garden and also take field trip excursions within our wondrous environment of Maui. In Middle School, those trips and service work expand to include environmental care and sustainability projects on campus and community service work in the greater Maui community.

Individual Accountability Within a Social Framework

“Working and learning in community at Montessori School of Maui demands personal accountability. Understanding the effects that one’s choices and actions have on other individuals in part, helps to build a strong, productive, and supportive social framework within which all children can thrive. This in turn helps to build socially conscious individuals that will affect positive change for all us.”

Great attention and care are given to each individual student, not only to bring out the intrinsic gifts within that child, but also to help the child embody individual accountability. With the tools they are given for mutual respect and healthy communication at our school, they also learn about personal integrity and accountability. The classroom ‘ohana is held with the highest regard, so that each individual also learns to care for and support the larger group.

The Development of Each Child’s Unique Potential

“It is understood that each child has potential, being it as unique and different as he/she is. At Montessori School of Maui, unlocking this potential is key to the development of the whole child and will assuredly open the child to the world.”

It was Maria Montessori’s belief that each child has a unique gift and purpose, and that the job of the educator was to help the student tap into that potential. Our academic curriculum is rich and rigorous. Our Montessori teachers are trained in the art of observation and appreciate the differences between students’ learning styles and interests. Teachers create individualized learning plans for each of their students, which allows for each student to realize their full potential.

Montessori Program Spotlight

Middle School’s Support of Environmental Awareness and Responsibility

Dr. Montessori’s outline for an ideal adolescent program is heavily invested in land-based experiences. These encompass (but are not limited to) organic produce and livestock, natural resource management, machine use and maintenance, house and building maintenance, and trail and forestry maintenance. A variety of theoretical underpinnings gird this focus of activity, with one simple takeaway: just as life outside school requires a mélange of knowledge and skill, so too should life on campus afford commonplace learning across disciplines.

Adolescent programs around the world tailor their offerings to a variety of local considerations. At the Montessori School of Maui’s nine-acre campus, the Koa Class has always maintained an emphasis on native flora and fauna woven throughout the program. Shouldering an infamous recognition that the archipelago of Hawaiʻi is considered the “extinction capital of the world,” it is critical for Middle School students to engage at the intersection of their understanding in MOMI’s spiraled academic program and the interconnectivity of native ecological biodiversity and the culturally specific knowledge and traditions that define place. At once, the adolescent matures from consumer to contributor—a changemaker.

This past year placed an increased spotlight on natural resource management with projection for an upswing in the 2022-2023 school year. Experiences spanned the micro and meso communities (MOMI and Maui/Kahoʻolawe, respectively). Koa Class students capitalized on an existing partnership with ReTree Hawaii to acquire at no cost and plant nearly sixty native plants: including ʻaʻaliʻi, naio, kuluʻi, ʻiliahialoʻe, ʻōhiʻa, halapepe, kalo, and ʻulu. We marked our third year of Community Work & Service with Hawaiʻi Land Trust by investing sweat equity at Nuʻu Refuge (Kaupō) and Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge (Waiheʻe) on a monthly basis. We grew a variety of native grasses for CORAL Reef Allianceʻs Maui Nui westside stormwater runoff mitigation campaigns. A team of eighth graders traveled to Kahoʻolawe and sowed 574 plants (ʻāweoweo, ʻaʻaliʻi, maʻo, and ʻōhiʻa).

The annual visit to Skyline Conservation Initiative for sixth and seventh graders put another 150 plants in the earth. We started approximately 1,000 dibble tubes with Kahikinui variety ʻāweoweo seeds. We participated in the Seeds of Honua pilot Seed Exchange. One student pair even placed in the finals for the ʻŌlelo Youth Xchange Video Competition in the Forest Inspired category.

Social science, earth and biological sciences, life sciences, human progress because of science, and the history of humanity all coalesced to form a rich interdisciplinary school day, expanding the transect at home with a complimentary lifestyle! Effectively, and figuratively, experience stamped approval on a very good year.

—Contributed by Jeffrey Friedman, Middle School Guide

Community Connections

As noted in A Message from the Head of School, great love and appreciation for the collective efforts of all faculty and staff over this last year served the Montessori School of Maui community well. Evidenced by a student retention rate of at least 82%, we were able to safely implement new admissions processes to meet the varying needs of many. Additionally, the re-introduction of some beloved events last Spring brought a renewed sense of brighter days to come.

Temporary pauses on common admissions events enabled us to take full advantage of opportunities to streamline our online enrollment process. Utilizing our online database and its parentfriendly Family Portal, members of the community now have easy access to important documents that ensure full knowledge of school year orientation activities and information. In its second year, our use of the Family Portal has placed schedules, handbooks, and welcome letters from teachers just a “click” away.

Virtual Open Houses and in-person tours enabled new parents to join us on campus to see where their children live and work daily. We were even fortunate to hold a special Open House for all our Pauahi Keiki Scholars and their families. With renewed efforts to make a Montessori School of Maui education accessible to these families, our Director of Human Resources Momi Chun and our Director of Admissions Jamie Athearn did well, increasing the number of PKS Scholars at MOMI in the coming 2022-2023 school year by nearly 150%. Further, and through generous support of the Cynthia Winans-Burns Scholarship Fund by many donors and friends, the Scholarship Committee was able to finalize funding for what are now three students whose parents were former students at MOMI. These programs, coupled with awards through our Hawaiian Scholarship Fund, continue to enable us to uphold our interest in supporting a culturally diverse school population, one that is welcoming of differing viewpoints, appreciative of differing experiences, and representative of our Maui home.

Next, the atmosphere seemed right to take full advantage of a

chance to gather interested members of the community at two very special events. The first, “Dinner on the Lānai,” was reminiscent of years past when MOMI community members gathered to enjoy an intimate dinner on campus together. This year, our Development Committee of the Board of Trustees teamed with MOMI parents James and Claire Byler of Café O’Lei to host a dinner for 30 on the lānai of the Root Family Center. Like many other picturesque evenings spent on the MOMI campus, the opportunity to connect with members of the Board, new parents, and special friends was simply delightful. The food was quite outstanding as well.

Finally, we hosted our first Mahalo Reception on campus in two years. Longtime donors and others pledging at least $500 to our 2021-2022 Annual Fund Campaign joined us for a night where their generosity was celebrated. While so many things are made possible through the generous support of all members of the community, it was a real pleasure to take a moment as a staff to personally thank those who consistently and routinely appreciate the value our school provides.

We also took advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the retirement and contributions of former Director of Finance Cheryl Kaupalolo at our Mahalo Reception. Unable to do so in person or formally prior to this year, it was fun keeping it a secret before finally doting on Cheryl as she maintained her humble nature. Cherylʻs truly extraordinary efforts at MOMI spanned over two decades and undoubtedly forged the school’s place as a leader among Hawaiʻi’s independent schools. Her financial stewardship, belief in our mission, and unwavering care for the children we serve continue to guide our important work today. Mahalo Cheryl for sharing your vision, your heart, and your steadfast commitment with us!

dinner on the la¯nai

Cheryl and Momi

dinner on the la¯nai

mahalo reception

Professional Development and Accreditation

Standards of Montessori Authenticity

Since our inception, Montessori School of Maui has worked to ensure that the authenticity of our educational practice aligns with Maria Montessori’s philosophy and methodology. Paramount to this authenticity is our unwavering commitment to ensuring that we retain Montessori credentialed teachers to guide our students within their respective classrooms. This means that each of our teachers has undergone additional post-secondary training at a Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education accredited Teacher Education Program. Simply put, all of the teachers at MOMI hold a credential for the level that they teach, with some even holding additional credentials at other levels. The quality of our teaching faculty, our promotion of school-wide curricular standards, students of multi-age in each classroom, the uninterrupted work cycle, and the prepared environment all help MOMI shine as the premiere Montessori school on island and provides confidence to our families– present, past, and future–that our practices are as Dr. Montessori intended when she first conceived of the pedagogical practice.

Professional Development

All Montessori School of Maui faculty and staff share the desire to engage in lifelong learning. Supporting one another in our need to learn new things and to adjust to

the educational and cultural landscape of the 21st Century, our faculty and staff have done well to promote new knowledge about topics that include:

• Brain-Based Research and Learning

• Positive Discipline

• Bridging Differences through the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley

• The Science of Reading

• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Adolescent Orientation 12-18

• AMI Adolescent Introductory Workshop

• Skyline Conservation Initiative

• Maui Bird Conservation Center with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

• Endangered Species Preservation

• Orton-Gillingham Teacher Training

While each training brings immeasurable value to the individual and collective efforts of all staff and children here at MOMI, our electing to engage the Primary–Upper Elementary faculty and staff in OrtonGillingham training early this past summer enhanced our abilities to meet the most fundamental needs of children: their emergence as readers. Certainly, one can argue that once a child learns to read, she can teach

herself anything—one more way we are empowering students here to change the world!

Challenges with reading were suspected to be neurologically-based and educationally treatable by Dr. Samuel Orton in the early 1930s. As a result, he and his colleague Dr. Gillingham partnered to develop a methodology that emphasizes the establishment of phonemegrapheme (sound-letter) associations and the appropriate sequencing of those same auditory and written symbols. It is multisensory and structured, moving from concrete to abstract and simple to complex—exactly like the Montessori

method! Now, having completed 40-hours of training recognized by the International Dyslexia Association with Ron Yoshimoto, co-director of Orton Gillingham International and a Master OG Instructor, our MOMI faculty is poised to better ensure that the needs of all students are met. Yet one more strength among our teachers that ensures MOMI’s success and support of our keiki.

Accreditation

In many respects, our adherence to standards of Montessori authenticity demand that our professional development opportunities result in a level of professional integrity and a strong desire to perform at our best as an accredited, independent school. Licensed by the Hawaiʻi Council of Private Schools (HCPS) and accredited by both the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), we routinely engage in cyclical reviews of matters specific to all school operations. Spanning from Governance to Finance to the Educational Program, we are ready to do it again. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, members of staff, the Board of Trustees, and others in the community will convene to review our process and procedures to ensure that they are in keeping with best practice. While identifying our strengths, we will also look to discern our challenges and opportunities for improvement. A yearlong process, this reflective practice of reaccreditation will take us to the Fall of 2023. In Spring 2024, we will welcome a team of independent school colleagues to spend three days with us, seeking to understand what we do, and to ensure a congruence between what we have said we do and what they can observe. In many ways, this objective review of our school, our work, and our operations tells all constituents that we meet the standards for independent schools as set by HAIS and WASC and recognized by the State of Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo to our Parent Teacher Organization

Our PTOʻs important work at the onset of the school year resulted in their organization of an online meeting schedule and planning of various events promoting community spirit and a likeness of mind on campus. Themed “Spirit Days” were sprinkled throughout our months on campus and the children enjoyed donning their aloha wear, crazy hair, pajamas, and more. At times, the staff even included themselves in these special days of spirit sharing and camaraderie.

The staff worked together to develop presentations for the PTO Meetings exploring the development of independence in young children spanning the ages 18 months to 14 years, from a Montessori perspective. Shared with our community at the PTO’s monthly meetings, these discussions were an opportunity for parents to learn about what to expect and what to support in their growing toddler-, primary-, lower elementary-, upper elementary-, and middle school-aged children. Often parents want to help their children with tasks but as the faculty shared, this can hinder a child’s growth more than it can help it. When in doubt, the parents learned to let their children give it a go before intervening. Due to these special presentations by our Montessori faculty, our mission of growing socially responsible and able-minded problemsolvers was furthered, and our parents learned that children are capable of doing many tasks for themselves. Often, children need nothing more than our physical presence to support their personal accomplishments.

Additionally, the PTO managed to expertly organize our beloved annual holiday wreath-making event in early December. Despite high COVID-19 counts requiring many volunteers to remain home with their quarantined children, other parents rallied to collect supplies from our friends at Haleakalā Ranch. Then, wreath-making commenced with a fury. Spirits were high as many parents joined us on campus to craft and to create awe-inspiring wreaths that were reminiscent of times past and the sense of joy the season brings.

Finally, as if the PTO had not done enough already, the executive committee and a handful of volunteers gathered to host the always anticipated Staff Appreciation Luncheon. Inclu sive of a raffle with numerous gifts and prizes, the PTO outdid themselves and gifted the staff with a well-deserved close of the school year filled with delicious foods, refreshing drink, and meaningful conversation.

Jasmine Herrick teacher reprentative

Meaghan Pocock president

Viana Nakamitsu secretary

Trisha Egge vice president

Agnes Faber treasurer

Capital Improvements

Many generous friends and grantors like the Atherton Foundation, Goodfellow Bros., Neil Coshever and another private donor of the Kula Farmersʻ Market lent their support to several initiatives that ensured the completion of programmatic enhancements and other long-time campus improvements.

Playground and Campus Beautification

The future installation of turf will give new life to old spaces in and around the Banyan Tree Playground and the Monkeypod and Plumeria Classrooms. First, much-needed attention has been placed on eradicating recurring drainage issues that have been present in the classroom backyards for years. With plans in the works to complete this effort in Fall 2023, those around campus will begin to see great improvements soon.

Living Classroom Garden Shed Project

Trustees Chris Smith and John Guarin, along with alumnus Witt Dustman lent their support to put the finishing touches on the Garden Shed Project. A one-of-a-kind space, the modular threesided enclosure will provide much needed classroom space to the Living Classroom as it opens for the 2022-2023 school year.

Stepping Stumps Project

The engagement with four MOMI Middle School students and our head of school in the Stepping Stumps Occupation proved invaluable. Part of the Middle School curriculum, Occupations are hands-on, project-driven collaborative learning experiences that emerge from needs of the land/community serving a real, purposeful benefit with product and process shaping the outcomes. An engaging work to the adolescent, Occupations involve many opportunities for social organization, valorization through contribution, integration of the academic disciplines,

real-world problem solving, plus the freedom to both make and learn from mistakes.

For a Fall/Winter 2021 Occupation, students studied the develop ment of coordination and balance in 3-6-year-old children. Using this newfound knowledge, they created four different coordination and balance challenges of increasing difficulty (very Montessori) and installed each within the Banyan Tree Playground. Incredible for even the educators among us, the children took to these self-correcting challenges (also very Montessori) with gusto, at times helping one another and in other instances trying to try again. Truly, it was wonderful to see so many children pushing themselves and finding success as their bodies, minds, and coordination developed.

Like fulfilling our responsibilities to accreditation with HAIS and WASC, maintaining our facilities to provide the best possible environments for learning is key. To this end, efforts began in 2020-2021 to engage with foundations and other prospective donors to complete the Kamani Classroom Replacement Project.

Utilized for multiple purposes since its arrival on our Makawao campus, the temporary Kamani Classroom building has been home to Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Primary Programs. Prior to its closure following the 2019-2020 school year, Kamani housed 22 Primary students aged 3-6.

In its place, our hope is to build a permanent, 2,000 square foot building—a new Kamani Classroom, which will feature a full complement of appropriate Montessori materials and Practical Life space (kitchen and bathrooms) that are necessary within the Primary program and in accordance with State of Hawaiʻi Childcare Licensing regulations. Our longtime relationship with former MOMI parent and architect Alika Romanchak has afforded ease in design given his knowledge of the intricacies of our campus and buildings.

Now, permitting is nearly complete as of this writing and

conversations with our contactor are underway despite the increases to labor, building supplies, and the current economic outlook. With immediate and broader community support, we are hopeful that construction will begin in Summer 2023 and look forward to the opportunities a new Kamani classroom will afford its students and our MOMI community.

more information about supporting the Kamani Classroom Replacement Project, please contact the school office at 808.573.0374. We would be pleased to help you in your philanthropic goals, as we partner together in support of quality Montessori education.

Congratulations Montessori School of Maui 2022 8th Grade Graduating Class

Our 2021-2022 Graduation

Ceremony paid homage to times past as the school community gathered to share admiration for the work and accomplishments of our graduates. These seven distinguished individuals took their places front and center as Middle School Lead Guide Jeffrey Friedman, Head of School Eric Dustman, and Board of Trustees’ Vice President Sara Tekula offered remarks.

Not surprising, the themes shared among the school leadership were reflective of one another. They promoted the values of integrity, social responsibility, and community engagement that ensure all of us, and those less capable, a more promising

future. Found within the book The Impact Identity: The Power of Knowing Who You Are by Irina Nevzlin, gifted to each graduate in 2022, an inscription encouraged each to: “Step foot into the world outside Montessori School of Maui, take advantage of every moment and every opportunity. Embrace all chances to meet someone new. Help them understand and embrace exactly who you are. In relating, practice kindness, humility, and perspective-taking. The words you choose in making your introductions and in tending to your new relationships should reflect such personal characteristics. If done impeccably, you will gain much, and give even more.”

When the time was right, each graduate echoed many of the same ideas as they stood and spoke their own words. Together, they offered reflections of their years on MOMI’s campus and words of encouragement to those looking on. The graduatesʻ ideas were heartfelt and were telling of the level of gratitude and appreciation they hold for their parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and others who have been so integral in their early years. After they received gifts, diplomas, and portfolios, the happy graduates descended upon those in the crowd to receive lei, to give lei, and to assemble at the iconic Banyan Tree at the center of campus to take photos and to share beaming smiles.

The Middle School class is organized left to right beginning with: Jeffrey Friedman, Ben, Nicholas, Kaya, Mimi, Quinn, Arieanna, Kahalawai, Jonnette Santos

Fondly regarded as Mimi, Amit presents herself to be a willing thinker, problem solver, and asset to the Middle School classroom. In addition to maintaining a high bar, Mimi lends immeasurable value to others as she integrates and seeks to understand the inner workings of her peers and the environment.

Amit’s yearbook quote

“I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as heck don’t deserve me at my best.”

MARILYN MONROE

Congratulations Amit!

Arieanna can be described as inventive, motivated, and consistent. No doubt fun too, she always looks to express clever one-liners and to give encouragement to others readily.

Arieanna’s yearbook quote

“Sometimes when my neighbor is gone, I roll around in her garden, and pretend I’m a carrot.”

UNKNOWN Congratulations Arieanna!

Genuine and sincere, Kahalawai is quiet in his voice but loud in his good-natured energy for understanding the thoughts and feelings of others. Assuredly, Kahalawai symbolizes these qualities well.

Kahalawai’s yearbook quote

“We have to remember these days. Because there’s no guarantee that they’ll last forever!  Enjoy them as long as they last.”

SEBASTIAN VETTEL

Congratulations Kahalawai!

Ben offers a subtle presence to his community of peers, offering each one endless and insightful thoughts about their learning and what their efforts can afford others. No doubt a giver, Ben will surely show equally admirable qualities as he ventures on and meets new people.

Benjamin’s yearbook quote

“I wish I had a frog.”

CHIKN NUGGET Congratulations Benjamin!

Kaya is a thoughtful and inquisitive presence in Middle School and on campus, offering a humble, no-frills intellect that serves everyone. A keeper of ideas that are identified as “spot on,” Kaya grew at MOMI with a sense of fun and personally meaningful expression.

Kaya’s yearbook quote

“I’ve known my mom since I was zero years old. She is quite dope.”

KANYE WEST Congratulations Kaya!

Considerate and gracious, Nicolas is a star both on and off the soccer field. As adept with his mind as he is with his feet, he happily engages with everyone, acting as a cheerleading catalyst to ensure everyone the win.

Nicholas’s yearbook quote “Once you know what failure looks like, determination chases success.”

KOBE BRYANT

Congratulations Nicholas!

Quinn routinely shows that cooperatively maneuvering in a group is within her wheelhouse. A skilled communicator, she consistently makes meaningful contributions and humorous digressions, enabling the realization of myriad outcomes for all.

Quinn’s yearbook quote “Do what you want, you’re gonna do it anyway.”

ANONYMOUS Congratulations Quinn!

We wish the best of luck to our class of 2018 8th grade graduates who recently graduated from high school.

Logan Chong: University of Puget Sound

Gabriel Girardin: San Diego State, mechanical engineering

Marcus Hauen-Limkilde: Uncertain of Marcus’ post-graduation plans

Sierra Ryden: University of Victoria, Canada, engineering

Zach Teagarden: Pacific Universtiy, computer science and business

Kannon White: San Diego State University, business marketing

Sierra Ryden, Logan Chong, Kannon White, Zach Teagarden, Marcus Hauen-Limkilde and Gabriel Girardin

Sierra Ryden

Sierra attended Seabury Hall following his graduation from MOMI’s Middle School. While at Seabury, Sierra was awarded the Rising Senior Scholarship as well as the Academic and Citizenship Award from the William E. and Carol G. Simon Foundation. He was a member of the Honor List, Hawaiian Ensemble, and Student Council. Sierra also co-captained the Seabury Hall Boys’ soccer team to a 2nd place finish in the Hawaii High School State Championship. Next year, Sierra will be attending university in Canada, studying Engineering at the University of Victoria.

Kannon White Kannon headed to Seabury Hall following his graduation from MOMI’s Middle School. While there, Kannon lettered in Surfing and made the honor roll every semester. He also made the headmaster’s list his final year and was honored with ‘Most Improved’ among his entire graduating class. Kannon participated in numerous beach cleanup efforts in the local Maui community and offered support to others as part of the Seabury Hall Mentorship Program. Next year, Kannon will begin attending the Fowler School of Business at San Diego State University where he will major in Business Marketing.

Zachariah Teagarden

Following graduation, Zach spent time working at Kimo’s before traveling through Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi Islands) with classmates from Phillips Exeter Boarding School in New Hampshire. While at Exeter for two years, Zach competed in the New Hampshire State Science Fair where he won 1st Place in Physics & Electronics for his project: “Mind over Dark Matter.” He also competed in the national entrepreneurial event, the Diamond Challenge, where he and his team of two classmates placed 3rd in Baltimore for their app design project. Zach came home to Maui for senior year where he graduated from Lahainaluna High School. Next year, Zach will be attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he will study Computer Science and Business. He looks forward to new adventures in Oregon!

Zach with his brother Jed, his mother, Ali Grimes, and Ke‘ahi Ho

Gabriel Girardin

Gabriel has continued to surf at a high level competitively. He recently finished as the runner up in the Hawaii Surf Association Maui tour. While at Seabury Hall, he trained and competed in the MIL. Next year, Gabe will attend San Diego State University (SDSU) and major in Mechanical Engineering.

We were thrilled to welcome Kate Peterson to our Board of Trustees at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year. Beginning what we hope is her first of many three-year terms, Kate joins fellow MOMI alumni Chris Smith and Emma Burns Cabiles. Grateful to each, it will be wonderful to have Kate lend her unique perspective as a former student, lifelong Maui resident, and real estate professional to our talented group of Trustees.

Kate Peterson joins the Board (our third alumnus)

Montessori School of Maui’s fiscal health is paramount to our longevity and institutional success. As a nonprofit organization, our administrative staff and Board of Trustees work hard to ensure our financial security by running a balanced budget, which includes yearly income from tuition, annual donations, grant monies and more. This year, we remain grateful to our Board, Head of School and Director of Finance whose diligence and sound fiscal decision-making has enabled the school to manage the longstanding challenges still present with the covid-19 pandemic.

Thank you to our many donors and benefactors who have provided us with a year of generous contributions. We appreciate each and every one of you, and all gifts, large and small. These funds support the needs of each Montessori classroom, the diversity of our campus through our tuition assistance and scholarship programs, and restricted funding projects that will beautify our campus and help us to maintain enriching spaces where our students can grow to understand themselves and the value they present all of us. Mahalo!

Mahalo!

Thank you for sharing your love for MOMI with us by giving back so generously to our school! We are very grateful to all of the trustees, parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, community members, friends and institutions who supported our school this past year. The following reflects all gifts made to Montessori School of Maui between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

VISIONARY

$10,000 and above Angela and Sumner Erdman Honey Bun and Jimmy Haynes (Haynes Family Fund) Athinela and Jud Kroplin Red Cabin Foundation

ADVOCATE

$5,000 to $9,999

Michelle and Jeremy Baldwin Marina and Masahiro Uchida

STEWARD

$2,500 to $4,999

Oluseun Augustus and Robert McLean Bendon Family Foundation

Heather Haynes

Michele and Klaus Simmer

MENTOR

$1,000 to $2,499

Anne and Keith Awad Heidi and Dan Bigelow Russell J. Brooke Jr. Central Pacific Construction Corp

Sandy and Jeffrey Ellison

Laura and Nicholas Goehner

Kathy and Leonard Sakai Carolyn and Jordan Sharp

Stacy and Andrew Tan

Augustus R. Taylor

Jessica Wong and Ryan Roth

PATRON

$500 to $999

Anonymous

Salma Ansari and Peter Norins Wenxi Arquette Sarah Bredhoff

Zadoc W. and Lawrence N. Brown Foundation

Yan Chang and Diego Flores Tess and Ben DeLisa

Renee and Eric Dustman

Thea Engesser

Susan Graham Moonstar Greene NUKA

Makala Kaupalolo

Annie and Gordon Loo Allyson Mattox

Chelsea and Graham Monroe Elena and Shep Nelson

Paia Fish Market - Front Street

Paia Fish Market - Paia

Paia Fish Market - Southside

Danielle Perrault and Mark Bridgeford

Keri Quinsaat – Maui Garage Doors

Cynthia Quisenberry

Maria and Fred Rawe

Jennifer and Sloan Ritchie

Sara and Christopher Smith David Spee

Erin and Hugh Starr Erica and Jed White

Heather Zidell and Fathy Elsherif

CARETAKER

$250 to $499

Shannon and Jaron Blosser

Stephanie and Zadoc Brown

Emma Burns Cabiles and DJ Cabiles

Carolina Carabetti and Rodrigo Botta Kathleen DePalma

Priscilla and Andrew Estes

Erin Flynn and Gabriel Foster

Taylor Halbritter and Justin Rice

Cheryl and John Kaupalolo Janet Lee and Robert Loree Kimmi Ouchi and John Guarin Maeghan and Bronson Pocock

Leadership Circle

The Montessori School of Maui Leadership Circle was established to honor the donors who have made lifetime cash gifts exceeding $100,000. We would like to express our utmost gratitude and appreciation for their contributions. Because of the generosity of our Leadership Circle donors, the vision of our dedicated founders lives on, and thousands of children have flourished at Montessori School of Maui and beyond.

Anonymous

The Atherton Family Foundation

Michelle and Jeremy Baldwin Susan and Jim Bendon

The Biel ‘Ohana

Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation

Harold K. L. Castle Foundation

Pia Damon Angela and Sumner Erdman

First Hawaiian Bank Foundation

Susan R. Graham

Hawai‘i Community Foundation

Honey Bun and Jimmy Haynes Sheila and Kimo Haynes

Diane and Wes Hickey Korg Foundation McInerny Foundation Annie and Willie Nelson

Susan S. and Chapman S. Root Root Family Foundation

David Spee

Cherry Ann and Lindy Sutherland

The Family of William O. Taylor

Jessica and Jonathan Reedy

Jacqueline and Zachary Smith

Natasha and Ben Summit

FRIEND

Gifts up to $249

Tony Akina

Shelley and Tom Alvin

Jamie Athearn

Barbara Barry

Diane and Robert Bercik

Mark Branon

David Brooke

Brooke Brown

Claire and James Byler

Tracy Carey

Alejandra Carta

Momi Chun and Keha Quinabo

Brynne and Justin Clark

Anne Colletta

Nancy Dein

Jennifer Dempsey

Angela and Joseph Dimon

Marie-Laure Ditte and Woody Mallinson

Shana Driscoll

Claude Duhau

Kim Dukes

Sara and Wade Ebersole

Trisha and Reed Egge

Olof Ehrenstrom

Aurelia Escobar

Dennys Eymard

Sabrina and Andre Fehlmann

Bobbi and Peter Feinstein

Aaron Fernandez

Jeffrey Friedman

Lisa Garrett

Virginia and Cliff Graham

Natalie Guion

Matt Gundred

Heidi Hager

Renee and Erik Hammer

Karen and Bill Hanisch

Erin Haywood and Deneb Pelletier Raquel Hernandez and Brian Barnes

Jasmine Herrick

Holly Hume

Liliana Ii Kiana Iwado

Kristen Jones

Kristin Kakutani

Stacey Kaplan and Asher Bearman

Caroline Kinney

Kathleen Klett

Janie Kunin

Megan and Scott Lacasse

Angela and Marc Lammers Akasha Loo

Keanu LN Lopes-Solomon

Ashley Lorenzana

Ellen Loucks and Walter Vorfeld

Melinda Lyle-Javier

Dawn and Joel Maillie Shae Martin and Clayton Matchett

Barbara and Gene Massad

Laura and John Meisel

Nona Meyer

Vaiana and Brenn Nakamitsu

Meredith Narrowe

Patricia and Joseph Narrowe Shiri Ourian and Ido Ohad

Phoebe Pappalardo

Joanne Park

Dionne and Anthony Phillips

Elmer Rasay

Jonathan Rebo

Angelina and Vetea Ribet

Charlene Rowley and Joseph Silva

Andrea Rubio

Elianne and Alberto Santin

Jonnette Santos

Jacob Simons

Amanda Skinner and Benjamin Scheinin Sada and Donny Smith

Morgan Soares

Varessa Sta. Ana

Terra and Randy Stark

Sara Tekula and Joe Imhoff

Deesha Tucker

Wilma Vorfeld

Ku‘ulei and Christopher Waite

Emma White and Johann Smith

Alyson T Wong Trust

Jennifer and Ari Zainuddin

IN-KIND GIFTS

The Montessori School of Maui welcomes gifts of products, equipment, services and other items that enhance our educational programs and physical campus. Special thanks goes out to the following families, friends and community partners for their contributions.

Goodfellow Bros.

Chris Smith and Smith Builders LLC

John Guarin

Mark Bridgeford and Hang Ten Lighting Elena and Shep Nelson

You are important to us! If we have inadvertently listed your name and/or giving level incorrectly, please let us know by contacting the Office at 808-573-0374 so that we may update our records. Mahalo for your understanding and support!

David Spee Retires from Two Decades of Board Service

David Spee, having spent time as a parent and valuable trustee at MOMI for over 20 years, gave his final nod of approval as he departed the Board of Trustees’ Meeting on May 18, 2022. A thoughtful, smart, and insightful member of the Board, David will be missed. We wish him well as he embarks on many travel adventures, fosters connections with new people, and imparts his practical sense and wit on the world.

Ways to Give Back to our MOMI Community

As a volunteer-based nonprofit orga nization, Montessori School of Maui depends upon the support of the com munity to thrive each year. There are many ways for you to give back, from volunteer opportunities to donations of gifts and services. We truly rely upon the annual generosity of our ‘ohana through mon etary donating. Funds raised go directly to the operating budget and support our student programs, staff development, campus maintenance and more.

While “unrestricted” donations to our Annual Fund give us the greatest flexibility in utilizing donations for the betterment of our students and school, you may also direct your gift through:

ANNUAL FUND – GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

The Annual Fund underwrites all aspects of our edu cational and school programs, teacher professional development, maintenance of our campus, the purchase and replacement of classroom materials, computers and software and much, much more.

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Our Tuition Assistance program enables families to provide their children with the benefits and enjoyment of a Montessori education. It allows families to become or remain a part of our MOMI community. This program also allows our students to develop diverse life-long friendships and helps assure the socio-economic diversity of our student body, which mirrors the world in which we live.

HAWAIIAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In an effort to further reinforce the cultural diversity of our school, the Montessori School of Maui also offers a scholarship through the Hawaiian Scholarship Fund

designed to help students who came to us through the Pauahi Keiki Scholarship Program (PKS). This program helps these studends remain a part of our MOMI community. Annually, an average of seven or eight young people from the Pauahi Keiki Program must leave our school as they reach age six and become ineligible for PKS. Our goal is to bring the generosity of our community to these families—to allow more of these students to continue to enjoy the many benefits of an enriching Montessori education.

CYNTHIA WINANS-BURNS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Cynthia Winans-Burns, former Head of School and member of our community for over thirty-three years, was a passionate advocate of the many benefits of a Montessori education. Following her wishes, the school established this scholarship fund in her name. This fund supports the tuition of children of Montessori School of Maui alumni, enriching the lives of many children here on Maui through education for generations to come.

PLANNED GIFTS

Planned gifts recognize your belief in the future of our school and your desire to see it sustained for genera tions to come. By including the Montessori School of Maui in your estate planning through a bequest, life insurance policy, fund, trust or other planned gift, you have the opportunity to make a gift of a lifetime.

For more information about supporting the Montessori School of Maui, please contact the school office at 808.573.0374. We are pleased to assist you in your philanthropic goals, as we partner together in support of a quality Montessori education.

photo credits: Kiana Iwado MOMI Faculty and Staff

writer: Eric Dustman | editors: Jamie Athearn, Tess DeLisa, Kiana Iwado, Sara Tekula | graphic designer: Patt Narrowe