YEAR IN REVIEW 2022-2023
OUR MISSION Create a welcoming, diverse school community in which learners are: Inspired to strive for excellence and contribute positively to their communities. Challenged to explore big ideas independently and collaboratively. Empowered to pursue their goals with confidence, persistence, and integrity.
YEAR IN REVIEW 2022-2023 Every Saturday when I was small, my mom pulled me to the public library in a little red wagon so I could pick out books for the coming week. I seldom chose non-fiction titles. Facts were less interesting to me than fairy tales because, even if the book characters were forest animals, narratives helped me make sense of human behavior. I learned: Stories teach us what is true. My dad, who was usually reserved, became a raconteur whenever we had company. I have fond memories of him regaling folks with tales about his research team’s misadventures as they worked on inventions, including some high-stakes experimental designs for NASA. In his anecdotes, mistakes paved the way to discovery and opportunity. I learned: Stories teach us what is possible. During the 2022-2023 school year, faculty and staff worked on telling the Wellan story in our self-study for re-accreditation. Several teachers who have been here since the school was founded in 2006 (see below) provided historical context; others highlighted the positive impact of recent changes. Our collective aim was to discover to what extent our curricula and practices remain true to our mission and to explore what might be possible for our school in the future. We focused on what unifying principles make us One School and celebrated the Many Stories that individuals bring to our diverse school community. This issue of the Year In Review serves to capture some of those Wellan stories -- from annual all-school traditions and division-specific events that will be familiar to compelling and perhaps surprising profiles of some of our teachers. We hope you’ll enjoy this look back at 2022-2023 and share your own stories about the learning and fun you experienced. Once again, thank you for the privilege of leading this very special school.
Beth Black Head of School
ESTHER SEUNGYEON LEE Primary Teacher
FOUR SEASONS AT WELLAN
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ONE SCHOOL, MANY STORIES
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STAFF NEWS
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ALL SCHOOL PHOTO
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DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS
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FINANCIAL REPORT
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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ALUMNI NEWS
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Favorite Moments from 2022-2023
Faculty Profiles
Personal Milestones & Professional Development
Learning at All Ages
Annual Giving and Volunteer Engagement
Managing Editor: Beth Black Publication Designer: Trey Phillips Contributors: Megan Beatty, Haley Blase, Fiona Gohery, Ana Marban Lorenzo, Sr. Lauretta Maynard, Sachie Karmacharya, Kathi Martuza, Katie Ng, Jen Taschereau, Amy Norrod, Vanessa Irzyk, Laura Leger Photography: Leah LaRiccia, Chris Dumas, Megan Beatty
JUTTA LOSSNERLIANG Primary Teacher
PAT HERNANDEZ Beginners Teacher
Fall We took a joyous leap into the 2022-2023 school year, happy to be celebrating some of our favorite annual traditions in person again! The year kicked off with the Fall Family Festival at Kimball Farms. This event was a huge hit—and not just because literal hits between bumper boats had everyone laughing as they got splashed. A few weeks later, Community Dinners for adults, held in the homes of Wellan families, reignited and sparked new social ties among parents. In October, we had a fab-BOO-lous Halloween at school, with class parties for Beginners, the annual costume parade, and Mystery History characters in Elementary. During the annual November food drive, Wellan families donated over 170 bags of food to the Centre Street Food Pantry Kid’s Club! The all-school Thanksgiving Feast, with its emphasis on gratitude, is a tradition as old as the School itself. Students enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with pie for dessert. And let’s not forget the Turkey Trot fun run!
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OPENING THE DOOR TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SMILES
PINWHEELS FOR PEACE
FALL FESTIVAL
HALLOWEEN PARADE
TURKEY TROT
FOOD DRIVE
THANKSGIVING FEAST
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Winter Let it snow! The magic of winter at Wellan includes outdoor fun, holiday celebrations, and more. Wellan’s annual Festival of Lights in December recognizes major holidays that are celebrated around the world during the winter months. Students learned that light plays an important role in almost all of these holidays, as they practiced and performed songs of different cultural origins.
BUNDLED UP FOR WINTER PLAY
In January 2023, we raced into the Year of the Rabbit! Beginner students were proud to wear their Lunar New Year clothing to celebrate and wave their lanterns, which they received during a special parent presentation about the holiday. To celebrate the conclusion of their continent study of Africa, Wellan students had a special school-wide presentation in February from Ammaya Dance and Drum! Students learned about traditional West African drumming and even had the opportunity to play these beautiful drums themselves. YAY! SNOW ANGEL!
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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
LUNAR NEW YEAR
THE 100th DAY OF SCHOOL
CULTURAL CELEBRATION OF EUROPE
STUDENTS AS TEACHERS
VALENTINE’S DAY
AFRICAN DRUMMING
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Spring Winter Go Owls! Spring athletics began with a running start, with many students participating in Cross Country and Flag Football for the first time. Wellan families clearly love teachers a “waffle” lot. Thanks to the efforts of the Parent Association and the generosity of our families during Staff Appreciation Week, Wellan faculty and staff enjoyed a coffee truck, catered lunches, and a waffle bar run by parent volunteers.
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK - WAFFLES!
Planned by Voyager students, Spirit Week was a festive celebration of creativity, self expression, and school pride. Other traditional spring events included the annual Elementary Expo, Voyager experiential learning at a farm, and the Lower Elementary Third Year Café. The Parent Association once again opened a pop-up bookstore with the return of the Scholastic Book Fair. This popular event promotes a genuine love of reading!
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SPIRIT WEEK
CLASSROOM WORK
ELEMENTARY EXPO
BEGINNERS AT PLAY
VOYAGER FARM EXPERIENCE
BOOK FAIR
LEY3 CAFE
SOCCER
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NEW!
COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM
Summer It’s fun in the sun during Summer at Wellan! Our younger students beat the heat with water play on the playground, while Elementary students walked to Crystal Lake Beach to wade and swim. Summer weeks each have their own theme, with special projects, activities, and visitors. Themes this year included “Go Beyond: Space Exploration,” “The Magic of Camp,” and “Dino Days.” Students made awesome projects like magic wands, galaxy paintings, and cardboard dinosaur costumes! UE students enjoyed field trips to the Museum of Science and the Mapparium. The Summer Program also welcomed amazing visitors like magician Matt Roberts and Springfield Museum’s inflatable planetarium STARLAB. “Arctic Exploration” week featured a sno-cone truck, a snow machine, and an igloo made out of inner tubes! Almost a third (119 total) of Wellan’s students participated in our 2023 Summer Programs!
Multi-age classrooms are a feature of Montessori education that benefits both older and younger peers. Wellan launched an extension of this concept with its new Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program. Designed to “inspire, challenge, and empower” students entering grades 8-10, the CIT program gives students leadership roles with younger peers. Creating this opportunity for Wellan middle school students and recent alumni allows them to give back to the school community that has helped them grow and mature — and the younger kids really enjoy spending time with their older Wellan peers! As CITs, teens gain empathy, strengthen their communications skills, and practice creative problem-solving. Having meaningful work increases their confidence, preparing them to take on real-world responsibilities. They also learn how to work as members of a team, building trust and collaborative skills. Students participating in the CIT program go through a hybrid training/summer camp experience. The training includes certification in Red Cross Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and Babysitting Basics, and participants learn how to plan and facilitate crafts and games. As a CIT cohort, they also enjoy fun team-building activities and offsite trips.
2023 COUNSELORS IN TRAINING (left to right): Emerson Schmitt, JJ Peyton, Maddie Condon, Vikram Jay, Hailey Strand, Jack Drapeau.
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PROGRAM DESIGNERS: Summer Programs Coordinator/Lower Elementary teacher Kayla Keeling (left) and Lower Elementary teacher Caroline Chizek developed the CIT Program with the support of Maria Gionfriddo, Director of Auxiliary Programs.
AFTER SCHOOL Fun at Wellan continues beyond dismissal. Our After School Enrichment programs returned in full force this year, with longtime fan favorites—Jr. Owls Athletics, Drama Club, Ensemble, and Woodworking—once again leading the afternoon charge.
DRAMA CLUB: DRACULA
The 2022-2023 school year also welcomed two new clubs. The Wellan Owlbears, a Dungeons and Dragons club for 6th–8th grade students, ran its inaugural campaign during the spring semester, and our 4th–8th grade Math Olympiad team kicked off its first year with an outstanding performance in an international competition. One student ranked in the top 0.1% of all competitors! Congratulations, Mathletes!
WELLAN OWLS VOLLEYBALL
MATH OLYMPIAD Advisor: Mara Weitzman
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLUB Advisor: Haley Blase AFTER SCHOOL MUSIC LESSONS
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ON E SCHOOL MANY STO R I E S “There’s always another story. There’s more than meets the eye.” -W.H. Auden
As Auden noted, each of us has greater depth than can be seen in daily interactions. Wellan students and families develop close relationships with teachers, but typically still see them primarily as teachers. We invite you to peruse the stories on the next few pages. You’ll gain insight into other chapters in the lives of some of our faculty.
There are many more personal stories to be told within the Wellan community. We hope you’ll share yours with us and with other families to help enrich our collective experience.
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FIONA GOHERY Primary Teacher
I grew up on a farm in the West of Ireland, in County Galway. My wife and I live here now with our daughter Claire and dog Flip. Every summer we go back home to see family and to ensure Claire develops her own connections with Ireland. I first came to the U.S. in 2002 to play Camogie, an Irish Women’s sport similar to hurling. It’s played with a wooden stick called a hurley and a small ball called a Sliotar. I played with the local team in Boston called Eire Og. My connection to Wellan started with Alaka Ray and Jason Jay. In 2019, they hired me as a nanny for their son Vikram, who was just 3 months old. For preschool, they enrolled Vikram—and later, his younger sister, Uma—at Wellan. I loved how welcoming the school was and, over the years, I had many positive interactions with their teachers. I was in awe of the freedom the students were given to learn. I became immediately enamored with the Montessori philosophy. I had never thought about becoming a teacher but Alaka and Jason saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. They encouraged and helped me enroll in Montessori training. I will forever be grateful for their support in my journey to become a Montessori teacher. We are still very close and our families spend a lot of holidays and family events together. Vikram is now ´a Voyager student and Uma just completed Lower Elementary. During Uma’s Lower Elementary internship, she worked in Claire’s Bridge classroom. I remember caring for Uma as a toddler, so to have her care for and love my daughter Claire was just amazing. Claire loves Uma so much. I feel fortunate to have had so many full circle moments happen at Wellan.
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ANA MARBAN LORENZO
Primary Teacher and Assistant Division Leader-Primary Division I am from A Coruña, a small city in northwest Spain. Growing up, my sister and I played with a large group of cousins. My family moved to Brussels when I was nine and I attended an international school. One of the best aspects of that experience was making friends from different countries and learning about their cultures. My classes were taught in three different languages (French, English and Spanish) and I continued to enjoy learning new languages, including Catalan and some Italian. I returned to Spain for University and studied corporate tax law. A fellowship from the Spanish Government brought me to New York City to work at the Spanish Trade Commission. I stayed, working for a Japanese company, until I moved to Boston to get a Masters in Law (LLM) from Boston University. I continued to work in sales and business development, and enjoyed collaborating on complex projects and traveling to different countries for work. When I had my son Lorenzo, I began to learn about Montessori. Maybe it was my appreciation for structure and organization, but Montessori made sense to me. You provide a clear structure for children and, within that, they can discover their interests and develop their talents. I decided to make a career transition and become a Montessori teacher. I’ve been teaching at Wellan for four years. Growing up with a large extended family and having had experiences in different countries, I really value our school’s emphasis on community and global awareness.
KATHI MARTUZA
Middle School Teacher and Student Experience Coordinator; Wellness Educator I was a professional ballet dancer for 15 years. I started with the San Francisco Ballet for six years, then I was a principal dancer with the Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland. Most professional ballet dancers start training between the ages of 3-7 but, as a kid, I studied jazz and tap instead. I started ballet at age twelve, which is considered pretty late. I became a bit obsessive, worked really hard, and got a contract with San Francisco Ballet right after high school. At age 17, I was living in the city with my older sister, working full-time as a dancer and learning adult life skills, like buying groceries, cooking, cleaning, and paying rent. I eventually completed an undergraduate degree at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, got married and had two children before moving to the East Coast. Being a professional dancer is a very demanding physical job. You train hard every single day, so if you take time off for childbearing, as I did, you’re faced with getting your body back into top shape while you’re taking care of an
infant. I did it and finished out my contract, but ultimately decided that I didn’t want to do both. Honestly, I had always wanted a family and being home to put my kids to bed mattered to me. I’ve always been interested in wellness and the mind-bodyspirit connection, so for a while I did health coaching and taught Pilates. I also taught ballet in a middle school. Recently, I completed a Master’s in Integrated Learning. My thesis was on the integration of mindful somatic practices in teaching adolescents. This past year, I gave presentations on this topic at both a regional and national conference. Working as a wellness educator and middle school teacher at Wellan, I’ve found my niche. I’m able to help adolescents learn to center themselves when they are feeling stressed by paying attention to their bodies. That self-awareness is an important step toward the self-regulation skills that support both academic achievement and overall health.
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KAT I E NG
JEN TASC HEREAU
I started playing violin at 4 years old. As a senior in high school, I was a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and we did tours in Italy and Spain. In college, I studied music and psychology, then went to graduate school for violin performance.
In 5th grade, my best friend convinced me to audition for our school’s production of Oliver! After opening night my parents asked if I thought I would do more plays and I replied, “I’m going to be an actor when I grow up, so definitely!”
For the last 20 years or so, I’ve been playing locally with the Max Klau Band. The type of music we play allows for solos, so I do a lot of improvisation when we play live. It’s a matter of being in the moment and listening to what’s going on around you with all the other instruments. You have to collaborate and be flexible to create music together.
I participated in many school and community productions and then went on to get my B.F.A. in theatre performance. When I graduated I was lucky to fall in with two theatre companies that focused on ensemble-based theatre. One of them, imaginary beasts, I still work with regularly. If you’ve seen a Drama Club performance at Wellan you’ve probably seen one of our plays that I adapted for Wellan students.
Music Program Director
Drama Program Coordinator
As a teacher, my goal is not to create career musicians, but to generate a lifelong love of music. Wellan has supported my work as a music educator with multiple professional development opportunities and the chance to develop the Strings Program, which is highly popular with students.
As a teacher, it is important for me to foster an ensemble mind-set. Come performance time, if I’ve done my job, the students are confident enough to navigate together the bumps and surprises that come with live theatre. I love watching my students celebrate each other’s creativity and take pride in being part of something larger than the individual.
Arts in Action is the phrase we use at Wellan to remind students that
every medium of self-expression we teach—visual art, drama, design, technology, writing, music, movement and dance, or a combination of these—has the power to move others and to inspire actions that will shape our world. Students learn that their creativity can be a powerful means of communicating their values and bringing about social change. 14
AMY NORROD
VANESSA IRZYK
My life as an artist is intertwined with my teaching. I mostly paint and draw, but lately I’ve been creating mixed media pieces, embroidering on and stitching through my art work. I was inspired by watching the Primary students outline designs with push-pins!
As an artist, I love color. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of abstract geometric paintings. I had a solo show at the New Bedford Art museum and I am currently represented in the Clark Gallery. The hardest part of being an artist is finding the time, but ultimately it’s a choice. You can sit on the couch and watch TV or get up and make art.
Art Program Coordinator
Art Specialist
My work is influenced by my emotions. In the summer I do bright, fun art, whereas in the winter my color palette becomes more muted. The show I’m proudest of was in a big gallery in Ohio. I was ready to move away, so I did nine paintings about growing up in Ohio. It was emotional for me to show artistic appreciation for the place where I grew up but also close the chapter and move on. I love helping students see themselves as artists and learn to value what they make. I think one of the best things parents can do is buy their child a sketchbook and encourage them to draw or paint in it. “You’re bored? Angry? Happy? Go get your sketchbook.”
My childhood art education was not strong, so, as a teacher, I try to expose kids to great art, help them build specific skills, and encourage them to explore the use of different media. Young students are not self-conscious, so they just try things. Their joy in experimenting gives me renewed motivation to keep creating. I love seeing the pride kids have when they see their artwork displayed on Arts in Action nights and talk about it with their families. I also enjoy doing Paint Nights for Wellan parents, some of whom find painting really relaxing after a stressful day at work. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share art's therapeutic power with the Wellan community.
Lower Elementary performance of Anansi and The Magic Stick (left). Upper Elementary rehearsing a scene from Romeo and Juliet (right). 15
SISTER LAURETTA MAYNARD Support Teacher
SACHIÉ KARMACHARYA Primary Teacher
Growing up in St. Lucia, I enjoyed the richness of both the French and British cultures. It is a beautiful tropical island with warm weather all year. As a child, I spent most of my time outdoors. We used to play and tell stories outside in the moonlight.
I grew up in Springfield, IL with my mom and my younger brother. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are central themes in my life. My mom worked at a mental health center while I was growing up, so I regularly heard about the challenges that neurodivergent children and teens face in a world that centers the lives of the neurotypical. My mom was also vocal about LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and the rights of Black, Indigenous, People of Color. In high school, some of my best friends were my pen pal from Japan; foreign exchange students from Germany, France, and Amsterdam; and friends who were first-generation Americans. These friendships shaped me and inspired me to move to a bigger city.
During the day, I went to an English-speaking Catholic school. The school was run by sisters, so I became interested in the religious life and joined the Corpus Christi Carmelite Order. In St. Lucia, I was a teacher and then the principal of a girls’ high school. It was a boarding school for girls who were from villages far away, so I had to be mother and father as well as teacher and principal. I left when I received a scholarship to St. Norbert’s College in Wisconsin. Later, the Jesuits gave me a scholarship to attend Boston College, so I moved to Massachusetts. I stayed in the Sacred Heart Convent, which is now West Hall. I lived in a third floor room, above the main entrance, for at least ten years. As a sister living in the convent, I was given the job of caring for a young girl named Karoline for five years. She’s now training to be a pilot, but when she was small, we often played in the sunroom on the second floor. The older sisters loved having a little girl around. When she started public school in Concord, I started working at EduCare, the Montessori school that used to be in this building. In 2006, when this school was founded, I was asked to stay on and I have been at Wellan ever since. When I left St. Lucia, I thought I would go back to working at the high school after a year in Wisconsin. My life took a different path. I enjoy working with the littlest ones at Wellan. Children everywhere have the same need for love.
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I met my husband, Santosh, at Boston’s South Station. We were married at that train station and again in his home country of Nepal. Our two children inspire me every day to be a better educator, parent, and person. It is important to me that they are aware of their power to notice, stand up, say something, be helpers, and become change makers. I know, whether I like it or not, my children are always watching, just as my students are. I feel called to teach and have a passion for doing so. Teaching is one way to make a difference in the world, to promote peace, curiosity, and a love of continuous learning in the lives of our youth. I’ve found that the more I push myself physically, with things like running and yoga, the stronger I feel mentally. It feels good to keep moving, and running guarantees that I keep moving forward, literally. I started running after I became a parent. After being on the sidelines of many running courses, cheering for my marathoner and Ironman husband, I ran my first marathon this year—the Vermont City Marathon (26.2 miles). I want to give a shout out to Wellan P.E. Teacher and Marathoner Laura Leger, who ran with me once a week to help me prepare. I feel so proud of myself after achieving this physical goal.
T E AC H I N G B E YO N D THE CLASSROOM L AU R A L E G E R P H Y S I CA L E D U CAT I O N P R O G R A M CO O R D I N ATO R
Teaching legislators is not part of the job description for Wellan faculty. However, Laura Leger took on that
challenge last year. Along about 100 other Health and
Physical Education (HEPE) educators and SHAPE America members, Wellan’s Physical Education specialist and pro-
gram coordinator traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for funding of Health and Physical education programs. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan
measure signed into law by President Obama in 2015, required—for the first time—that all students in the
United States be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers.
Though this act represented good news for students,
health and physical education were not included as core subjects, which meant these programs were excluded from funding. Many K-12 public schools rely on ESSA
funds, so the exclusion of HEPE programs could jeopardize students’ access to education that would benefit their health and physical wellbeing.
of numerous legislators as they conducted government business in hurried hallway conversations.
“It was incredible to be a fly on the wall in that space,”
Laura met with members of congress and their aides to
reported Laura. “The opportunity Wellan gave me to use
essential and to advocate that ESSA support a well-rounded
a teacher was meaningful. Having had this experience,
offices of Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and
citizens. I enjoy sharing with all students that if you want
and William Keating. She also had the opportunity to sit in
that change happen.”
provide them with information on why HEPE programs are
my voice in support of what’s important to me as
education. She had a full day’s schedule of meetings in the
I am better able to inspire students to become active
those of Congressmen Jake Auchincloss, Stephen F. Lynch,
to see change in the world you must go out andmake
on a Senate session and to observe the coming and going
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P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T & STA F F N E W S Graduate Degrees Barbara Brousal-Glaser: Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics through UMass-Boston Haley Blase: Master’s Degree, Summa Cum Laude, in English at Boston College with emphases in Literary Theory & Criticism and Philosophy of Language
Certificate Programs
Montessori Teacher Certification In Progress Kathi Martuza and Jeffrey Bigman have begun Secondary level Montessori Certification for students ages 12-15. Brian Johnson will be doing his Upper Elementary Internship for students ages 9-12 during the 2023–2024 school year.
Kayla Stiffer: Instructional Leadership Professional Certificate, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Amalie Brandvold will be doing her Early Childhood Internship for students ages 3-6 during the 2023–2024 school year.
Sachié Karmacharya and Julia Tatsch: Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Certificate, American Montessori Society
Montessori Assistant Teacher Certification
Esther Lee and Ana Marban-Lorenzo: Early Childhood Reading Specialist Certificate, American Montessori Society Kayla Keeling: Teaching for Equity Credential, Embracing Equity Wendy Smith and Vikki Zenlea: Zones of Regulation Comprehensive Training Beth Schuch: Illustrative Math
Montessori Teacher Certification Vikki Zenlea: Upper Elementary Certification for students ages 9–12 Marianna Perks: Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Certification for students ages 3-6
College Courses
Paula Connard completed college level courses. Fiona Gohery completed courses in Psychology and Early Childhood Administration.
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Stacey Alstrom: Beginner/Primary Caroline Chizek: Elementary Paula Connard: Beginner/Primary Ray Niemi: Beginner/Primary Sophia Rose: Beginner/Primary Laura Spicer: Beginner/Primary Hannah Young: Beginner/Primary
Regional MSM Conference Presenters Kathi Martuza: Education From Within: An Exploration of the Integration of Mindful Somatic Practice into Education Abby Lapan: The Need for “Heavy Work” in the Toddler Environment Rebecca Alukonis, Elyse Kalins: Re-imagining Toddler Circle Time
National AMS Conference Presenters Kathi Martuza: Education from Within: An Exploration of the Integration of Mindful Somatic Practice into Education Colleen Dischaive, Sarah Donnelly: Neurodiverse Student Evaluations and the Montessori Classroom
Wellan Institute Instructors Priya Venkatswaran Beth Black Rebecca Alukonis Jessica Brennan Amanda Cusanno Sandra Fernandes Kayla Stiffler
Wellan Travel Grant Art Specialist Amy Norrod traveled to Spain and Italy to study White Eurocentrism in Art.
AISNE Conference Participation Denielle Cesvette: Health & Wellness Esther Lee: Diversity Equity and Inclusion Beth Black: Heads of School Annual Retreat
WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION Michael Silverstone: Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom Michael Silverstone: Nurturing Our Humanity: How Domination and Partnership Shape our Brains, Lives and Future Rebecca Alukonis: Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive School Environment for All, MSM Speaker Series. Ana Marban-Lorenzo: Supporting Grieving Children, Jeff’s Place. Ana Marban-Lorenzo: Parenting, Teaching and Treating Challenging Kids: the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach, ThinkKids Laura Spicer: Positive Discipline, webinar. Sachié Karmacharya: Intro to Anti-Bias Education, webinar.
P E R S O N A L M I L E STO N E S Software Training Courses Haley Blase, Lisa Lappin Levine: Adobe Indesign
Our community is growing! From heartfelt vows to the arrival of precious little ones, these moments never fail to inspire happiness and hope. Join us in celebrating our staff's biggest 2022–2023 milestones, and say hello to a few of our newest owls!
Megan Beatty, Amanda Cusanno, Azurae Hood, Haley Blase: Veracross
Other Accomplishments Esther Lee learned American Sign Language. Michael Silverstone served as a faculty member and Certification Advisor for the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative in Lexington, MA.
Ellory Clifford Daughter of Ruth Clifford, UE teacher
Fiona Hudson Granddaughter of Beth Black, Head of School
Freyja Irzyk Daughter of Vanessa Irzyk, Art Program Coordinator
Oliver and Ory Levy Sons of Rachel Friebe, UE teacher
Laura Leger created a new Volleyball team, which competed for the first time during the 2022-2023 winter sports season. Vanessa Irzyk had a solo exhibit featured at Corugat Loft in San Francisco, and an additional exhibit featured at ARTI Gallery. Amy Norrod had artwork displayed at Newton City Hall and various small businesses in the Boston area.
W E D D I N G S & E N G AG E M E N T S
Amy Norrod and fiancé Juan Marrero Hernandez
Denielle Cesvette and husband Ryan Doherty
Laura Leger and fiancé Benjamin Dallman
Paula Connard and husband Andrew Connard
Abby Lapan and husband Tim Lapan
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Beginner
22
23
Primary
24
25
Lower Elementary
26
27
Upper Elementary
28
29
Voyager
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CLASS OF 2023
BEE BELLINGER, Boston University Academy
MARGARET McNEAL, Brookline High School
ABBY BONO, Newton South High School
JAVI NASHAT, Newton South High School
RAIN CARLISLE, Brookline High School
ANDREW YUM, Newton South High School
JORDAN GILLETTE, Boston Arts Academy
WELLAN OWL, Restarting 8th Grade
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2022-2023 Financial Report
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BALANCE SHEET Assets
2023 Totals
2022 Totals
Liabilities & Net Assets
Cash & cash equivalents
Deferred revenue
$3,854,064
$3,758,068
Accounts receivable
177,082
159,728
Prepaid assets
29,524
18,201
$4,060,670
$3,935,997
Total Current Assets
Total Property $ Equipment, net
Total Assets
$1,799,277
$5,859,947
$1,468,370
$5,404,367
Accounts payable
2023 Totals
2022 Totals
1,243,475
$2,301,062
71,805
66,833
809,998
196,872
513,909
493,948
$2,639,187
$3,058,715
Total Unrestricted
$3,220,760
$2,345,652
Total Liabilities & Net Assets
$5,859,947
$5,404,367
Accrued liabilities Deferred rent Total Current Liabilities
New Assets
I NCO M E STAT E M E N T Actual Revenue
• Tuition & Fees
$9,695,989
• Fundraising
$189,375
• Summer Program
$273,177
• After School
$762,218
• Other Income
$70,463
& Enrichment
Total
$10,991,222
Fundraising
• Individual Annual
$142,791
• Corporate Gifts
$22,257
Fund Contributions and Grants
• Fundraising Events
$24,327
Actual Expenses
• Salaries & Benefits
$6,462,031
• Facilities
$1,193,882
• Financial Aid
$1,602,635
• Program Expenses
$670,731
• Administrative
$621,012
• Wellan Institute
$4,028
• Fundraising Expense
$59,293
& Tuition Remission
Expenses
Total
$189,375
Total
$10,613,612
Please note that the financial numbers provided above are a draft and based on unaudited year-end figures. These figures are subject to change and may not accurately reflect audited results.
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ANNUAL GIVING
AND THE RETURN OF THE ANNUAL GALA, GLITZ 2.0 The Wellan Annual Fund is the School’s most important tool for supplementing its annual operating budget. Contributions to the Annual Fund have allowed Wellan to embark upon innumerable special projects over the years, including but not limited to the Arts Wing Renovation, the West Hall Renovations, and major improvements to Drama Program space and equipment. This past year, contributions to the Annual Fund were used to support the purchase of new classroom materials, provide financial aid grants for Wellan families, and allow Wellan teachers and staff to attend this year’s American Montessori Society Annual Conference here in Boston. Below are some of our key fundraising statistics from this year’s Annual Fund:
2022 - 2023 Annual Fund Statistics Total Fundraising
181,499
$
1
Overall Participation
70%
2
Average Household Gift
6673
$
We were thrilled to revive our annual Wellan Gala this year in the form of Glitz! 2.0. Over 200 parents, staff and friends of Wellan gathered at Brae Burn Country Club for an evening of food, drinks, casino games and great company! The event also provided an opportunity for Beth Black, Wellan’s Head of School, to reflect upon how far our community has come since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented Wellan from holdings its Gala for the last several years. The evening was also an opportunity for Wellan community members to reaffirm their commitment to excellence in education at Wellan, raising nearly $20,000 for various STEAM-related projects at Wellan. Attendees left with not only amazing raffle prizes, but also a strong sense of belonging within the Wellan Community!
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1: Total Fundraising includes unrestricted gifts, restricted gifts, pledges, ticket revenue, event sponsorships, and other event income. 2: Overall participation is measured as a percentage of 2022 -2023 parents, board and full time staff. 3: Average family gift is measured as an average of total contributions made by board and non-staff parent households.
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2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 A N N UA L F U N D D O N O R S $25,000+ Anonymous
$10,000 - $24,999
• The Dumas Family
$5,000 - $9,999
• Bob and Elizabeth Kane The Khan Family
James and Shana Salzano
The Kirtley Family
The Schaffrath Family
The Laubach Family
Athe and Hillary Tsibris
The Lee Family
Jonathan Ullman and Hilary Dobel
Jianming Liu and Hongbo Yang
The Van Dyk Family
The Dinshaw Family
The Yasinovsky Family
• Brian and Jessica Alfermann • David Bono and Holly Happe • The Candal Family
• The Rodrigues Family
• Sabeena Chacko Raskin and Kevin Raskin
• The Spier / Van Welie Family
Sree Chaguturu and Megan Hardin
$2,500 - $4,999 Anonymous
The Peyton Family The Shen Family
The Taschereau Family
Meredith Wang and Neo Zhao The Wilcox Family
The Angell Family The Elworthy Family
$500 - $999
The Mallet Family
The Alford-Hoover Family
• Erica DeRosa and Andrew Teman
Lorrie Edwards and Martin Galese
• The Ng Family
• The Rajendra Family $1,000 - $2,499
• The Bowring Family
The Cohen Lau Family
• The DeDomenico Family The Epstein Family The Eastburn Family
• Joseph Jolly and Susan Rivers
The Anguilla Family
The Kelso Family
The Berg Family
The Kher Family
The Bellinger Family
The Hai Family
• Beth Black and Keith Gillette
Shuyu Ren and Cuiyan Xin
Ann Bevan Hollos and Marin Smith
The Bowie Scott Family
The Li-Yuan Family
The Brumme Family
The Malone Lang Family
The Cop Family
The Mohta Family
The Crystal-Park Family
Lily Moy and Eric Morris
The Dinshaw Family
The Nagel Family
Rahul Gupta and Katherine Merrill
The Nelson Hawks Family
Sascha Haverfield-Gross and Eden Haverfield
The Niland Family
Jason Jay and Alaka Ray
The Oza Family
$250 - $499 Anonymous The Baccini Family Ilya Baran and Anna Sher The Bedard Family Guilherme and Fabiana Bianco
• The Donnelly Family The Forte Family
• The Gabarro-Marban Family The Cafarella Family Jennifer Cao and Sean Li Brenda and Johann Chan Tom Chiaino
• Ken Condon and Becky Alukonis • The Gionfriddo Family The John Family Jonathan Taylor and Mary Mazzanti The McNeal Family The Ng Family The Perry Family The Strand Family The Wang Family The Wynn Family Xiaodan Zhuang and Zhenghan Qi
Bill Paine
• Amy Perrault • 2022-2023 Board Member • 2022-2023 Staff Member
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2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 A N N UA L F U N D D O N O R S up to $250 Anonymous (17)
Chun Jiang and Ping He
Jason Arican and Nilli Paydar
Eliza Kamentsky and Max Grinberg
The Bados Family The Bakhshi Family
• Haley Blase
The Carlile Family
• The Karmacharya Family • Yuval Kashtan and Hodaya Slutsky • Kayla Keeling Karina Ku and Scott Schmitt
The Cianfrone Family
• Beatriz Lares • Esther Seungyeon Lee
The Cirasuolo Family
Junjun and Mei Li
• Paula and Andrew Connard • The Clifford Family
Jason and Sabrina DeJoannis
• The Dourian Family
• Lauretta Maynard
The McCarthy Family The McKenzie Family
The Robinson Family
• Merav Rosen
• Charles Rudnick
The Schroeder Family
• The Schuch Family
The Shiranian Family Joseph Shulman and Jessie Hanrahan Irina Sigalovsky and Leonid Fridman The Simpson Vranich Family
• Michael Silverstone
Deep Arjun Singh and Nina Mathur
• The Smitherman Family • Madeline Sosnowski
David and Melanie Dyer
Cory McLean and Laura Petrillo
The Elworthy Family
The McMenamin Wagner Family
The Fann Family
The Meza-Bettivia Family
• The Stanten Family
The Ferreira Family
Jeffrey and Sejal Miller
The Stone Family
• Sandra Fernandes and Dorian Mehrotra The Miloslavsky Family • Erika McKeon • The Fredrickson-Niemi Family
Michael Sperling and Rachel Berkey
Robert Tufo and Jessica Cooney
• The Venkateswaran Nyayapati Family
The Friedman Family
The Murphy Family
The Visi Family
The Goulding Family
The Nene Family
Sze-kar Wan and Maria Mak
Marshaun and Wiljean Glover
Dan O’Connor and Maren Coniglione
• The Goherty Family • The Griffiths Family
• Becki Warshow
The O’Donohoe Family
Mason Weintraub and Stephanie Lowitt
Ivo Parashkevov and Helen Drislane
Linda and John Woodard
The Hemberg Mierau Family
The Philbin Family
Christy Zarlengo
Brice Hobbs and Rebecca Wangh
The Prial Sidhu Family
Shing Hung and Sze Nga Or
• The Zenlea Family Su Zhang and Ning Fu Kai Zhao and Shuang Meng
W E ST H A L L R E N OVAT I O N C E L E B R AT I O N In September 2023, Wellan celebrated the opening of the newly-renovated second and third floors of West Hall, which now house its Upper Elementary Division. Wellan parents, faculty, staff, and even some young alums gathered for the celebration. The event marked an opportunity for attendees to tour and explore the entire building, which now supports classroom and meetings spaces for all students in Grades 4 to 8. The ongoing development of West Hall is a major priority for Wellan and would not be possible without the ongoing and generous support 36 of Annual Fund donors. 36
Grandparent & Extended Family Donors $1,000 - $2,400
$250 - $499
Dennis and Barb Alfermann
Elizabeth A. Angell
The Lee Family
Joyce Tatsch
The Wilkinson Family
Lynne Nelson The Jolly Seligman Family
$500 - $999 Anonymous James and Kathleen Castracane The Schmitt Family
The O’Connor Family
up to $250 Anonymous Mollie Bowring Penny Jolly and Jay Rogoff Robert Rivers The Coniglione Family
Alumni Donors
Corporate Donors
$500 - $999
AmazonSmile Foundation
Ahsan Alam and Elena Koumna John and Muna Vitale
$250 - $499 The Mulliken Family
• The Levine Family
• Chad Hinkle and Jamie Vines Mac and Hillary Jackson The Marathe Family
Up to $250 Sabah Vitale Concetta Vitale
Acton Discovery Museum Bank of America Apple Citywide Contracting LLC CVS Health Charity Program da LaPosta Draper Laboratory Electronic Arts Encore Hotel & Casino Institute of Contemporary Art Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum McKinsey Merck & Co Mistral
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Santa’s Village Salesforce Silverman Trykowski Associates State Street Corporation Takeda Pharmaceuticals TreeTop Adventures Toast UnitedHealth Group Varallo Orthodontics Vertex Pharmaceuticals Wellington Management Company Wheelock Family Theatre Zoo New England
Moderna
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Board of Trustees The Wellan Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the future of the School through strategic planning, fiscal oversight, and generative “blue sky thinking.” This past year, trustees had the added responsibility of writing the sections of the self-study for re-accreditation focused on mission, vision, governance, and fundraising. Many thanks to those who served on the Board in the 2022-2023 school year. Those whose terms ended in June 2023
Parent Association
(marked with an asterisk) were feted at a special end of year event. 2022-2023 WELL AN BOARD OF TRUSTEES
We are extremely grateful for the tireless work of the PA volunteers and for the contributions of all those who participated in PA activities. Thank you to the following volunteers for organizing several amazing community events! Karina Ku: Paddy’s Road Race Sabeena Chacko Raskin: Thanksgiving Feast Krisla Strand: December Service Saturday Kara Nemeth: MLK Service Saturday Jessica Alfermann: Elementary Snow Tubing Elizabeth Kane and Robin Bellinger: Staff Appreciation Week Jane Epstein, Allison Britz, and Krisla Strand: Scholastic Book Fair Sachié Karmacharya: Wellan Pride Parade
Classroom Volunteers
Officers Cara Candal, Chair Sabeena Chacko Raskin, Vice Chair Brian Alfermann, Treasurer Jill Dumas, Clerk Trustees - Wellan Parents David Bono* Amy Perrault* Erica DeRosa Ashwin Rajendra Chad Hinkle* Ruben Rodrigues Bob Kane Avi Spier Ian Lang Trustees - Former Wellan Parents Davina Harris Trustees - Area Educators Charles Rudnick (Dedham Country Day) Kerry Stevens (Nashoba Brooks School) Head of School Elizabeth Black
Whether they’re sharing cultural traditions or professional expertise, Wellan parents are always a big hit when they volunteer in classrooms. Many thanks to those of you who served as Mystery Readers or came in to give educational presentations this year.
Dr. Veena Matthews taught eye health in Primary.
Dr. Giovanni Traverso brought a team of colleagues to teach Upper Elementary students how to dissect pig hearts.
Alumni News
GUEST SPEAKER: Kourosh Farboodmanesh, a freshman at Wellesley High School, gave the alumni address at the 2023 End of Year Ceremony.
ALUMNI REUNION: Sebastian Perry, Kourosh Farboodmanesh, Aidan John, Calum Scott, Maria Alam, and Maya Dimmick.
A SPECIAL VISIT: Sophia DeDomenico and Petra Hinkle stopped by the grand opening of the third floor in West Hall. Sophia now attends The Cambridge School of Weston. Petra is a student at Dana Hall.
FROM STUDENTS TO EMPLOYEES: High school students Ben Jolly and Julian Youngblood graduated from the Voyager program in 2022. Ben is now at Newton South; Julian attends Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall. Ben and Julian work part-time at Wellan in the after school and summer programs. Duties include taking a group to the Crystal Lake beach for a swim.
VOLUNTEERING AT WELLAN: Priya and Meera Raskin returned to Wellan for a full day of volunteering. They completed administrative tasks in addition to helping out in classrooms. Both girls attend Ursuline Academy.
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Alumni News
ELI WORKING IN THE WELLAN MAKERSPACE (2018).
ELI STAFFING THE JCC MAKERSPACE (2023).
If you were looking for Eli Lewis back in 2018, the first place to
of Newton to collect discarded electronics and other
check would’ve been the Wellan Makerspace. Five years later,
building materials, and, using Wellan’s Makerspace as
not much has changed.
inspiration, developed a program that encourages complete freedom of the imagination. He continues to operate the
Constructed in 2015, Wellan’s Makerspace has been a creative
Makerspace, teach classes, and run workshops—all the while
oasis for hundreds of Wellan students. Brimmer and May student
working to optimize the space and develop systems that will
and Wellan class of 2021 alum, Eli Lewis, is no exception.
ensure the program continues to thrive when he heads off to college.
Recognizing the positive impact Wellan’s Makerspace had on his own education, Eli Lewis began working to introduce similar
Today, Eli’s efforts to develop accessible Makerspaces
creative spaces to his community after graduation. He noticed
extend even further. Partnering with Newton Free Library
that, although the benefits of Makerspaces were widely recog-
and Brookline Public Library, he and Olin College professor
nized, not many folks knew how to go about getting them start-
Sarah Adams run a traveling Makerspace, which offers a
ed—or how to keep them running smoothly. As part of his work
safe, creative space to disadvantaged communities. Acces-
with UPenn’s Social Innovators Program, Eli developed a system
sibility has always been one of his top priorities because for
of communication for Makerspace operators. As a sophomore,
Eli, Makerspaces and freedom are inseparable: “There’s a
he began working with a local JCC as the program developer
room with everything you can imagine, a ton of tools, and
for a newly funded Makerspace. He collaborated with the City
you have free reign. The only limit is your imagination.”
College Bound
TOBY OTTING will attend Brown University. After Wellan, Toby went to Beaver Country Day School.
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STELLA KERWIN-DERRICK will attend Northwestern University. After Wellan, Stella went to Deerfield Academy.
NEJMA REZA will attend Northwestern University. After Wellan, she attended BB&N
O N C E A N O W L , A LW AY S A N O W L Graduates and students changing schools — we know you'll succeed wherever you’re headed next.
As Linda Woodard, professional educational consultant and former Wellan Board Chair, notes: “Montessori students have a huge advantage over students who are more traditionally prepared."
We invite you to stay in touch! If you are active on social media, follow us! If you would like to schedule
a visit, volunteer during your school vacation, update us on your latest success, or just say hello, email us at alumni@wellan.org.
@wellanmontessori
@wellanschool
I N S P I R E.
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