A NEW HOME FOR ROSS MONTESSORI
HELP US GET THE
BEST
Carbondale, Colorado | www.ShapingOurFutureRMS.com | 970.963.7199
Dear Friends, We have a dream for the future of Ross Montessori School. With enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to the Shaping Our Future capital campaign, we can make the school of our dreams a reality. Supporting this campaign will fundamentally change the lives of hundreds of students now and in the future. From day one, the Ross Montessori School community has worked with passion and courage to establish a school that is second to none. Our Montessori-trained faculty set very high standards for our students and maintain an excellent quality of education. New educational resources such as dedicated science, music, and art facilities, a gym, and beautifully designed playgrounds, will enhance our programs by giving students room to play, imagine, learn, and experiment. Having a facility with basic amenities that we have not had before such as a fully functioning kitchen and a staff conference room will allow the administration to run more effectively. Our school has been awarded a BEST Grant (Building Excellent Schools Today) from the Colorado Department of Education for $11.8 million. To qualify for the grant, we must raise matching funds of $1 million before November 6th. This is a rare opportunity to be able to raise funds that are being matched by the State of Colorado at a 12:1 ratio. In order to make this vision a reality, we need your support. We have incredible students and outstanding educators who will thrive in a sustainable and beautiful school. Together we can shape our future for our children and communities for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Laura Smith President, Board of Directors Ross Montessori School
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Robin Cole President, Mark Ross Montessori Foundation
WHY SUPPORT THE RMS SHAPING OUR FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN? RMS is poised to become one of the top educational options in the state. A new facility will enable Ross Montessori School (RMS) to attract and retain the very best teachers and will allow us to offer exceptional programming to an even broader population of students. It will also give us financial stability and allow us to expand in the future. It is astonishing what the school has accomplished in an inadequate, bare-bones facility. Imagine how our programs will soar in a new campus that is designed specifically as an environment for education.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Help Us Get The BEST
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6
Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gift Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Picture This
.......................
8
Conceptual Renderings . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 The Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Naming Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Interior Floor Plans. . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
• Supporting the Shaping our Future capital campaign not only serves the community today, but research clearly demonstrates that an investment in education reduces the need for other social services in the long run. • Excellent, high performing schools are widely proven to be one of the keys to the health of any community. • We offer a unique educational choice and support the community through collaborative partnerships. With your support RMS can give generations of children an outstanding education and provide a long-term positive impact on the health of our community. Please join us with your donation to help us realize our vision.
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Overview Excellence In Education Serving The Entire Roaring Fork Valley Ross Montessori School (RMS) is a K-8 public charter school offering an authentic Montessori education in the heart of Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. The school currently serves 240 children from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and empowers them to develop at their own pace through individualized instruction, small group interaction, and active engagement in the classroom. RMS is the only Montessori elementary and middle school serving our geographic area and one of only 300 public Montessori schools in the country. MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY The school uses the teaching techniques and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori while simultaneously holding to the same standards as all Colorado public schools. RMS has proven it meets and exceeds state standards and it also develops the “whole child” with arts, sports, foreign language, music, drama, and community service. Students are taught courtesy, grace, and respect for each other and the environment. Community involvement includes volunteering at food banks and nursing homes and working on the public trail system. Older students at RMS increase their responsibility through a variety of internships with local businesses and projects that foster independence. R E S U LT S RMS has delivered some of the Roaring Fork Valley’s highest scores on the CSAP and TCAP standardized tests. In addition, Montessori children display above-average skills in practicing responsibility, asking provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning, and adapting to new situations. Alumni are thriving at Roaring Fork High School, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Interlochen Arts Academy, and beyond.
Currently, 17% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch, 72% are White, 20% are Hispanic and 8% are other ethnic minorities. RMS is representative of the diversity of the surrounding Garfield County which, according to the 2010 census, was 69% White, 29% Hispanic, and 2% other ethnic minorities.
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PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL Since inception, RMS has worked diligently to attract and maintain a diverse student body. The school is chartered through Colorado’s Charter School Institute (CSI), separate from the local RE-1 school district. Enrollment is based on a lottery system which means that all children in the Roaring Fork Valley have equal opportunity to attend. All written information is available in Spanish and English and RMS has several bilingual staff members, including the Head of School, who assist with integrating our Spanish-speaking families into our school community.
History Passion, Growth, Vision THE BEGINNING Ross Montessori School was founded in 2005 and in just seven years has developed into an invaluable educational resource for families in the Roaring Fork Valley. At every step, the high quality and dedicated staff, along with a passionate parent group, have led this growth. A TEMPORARY SCHOOL Prior to 2005, there was an optional Montessori educational track housed within Carbondale’s Crystal River Elementary School. When the RE-1 school district decided to discontinue this option, a group of the participating families felt so strongly about its benefit to their children that they applied for a charter from Colorado’s Charter School Institute to start a public Montessori school. Awarded the charter from the state in March of 2005, the school opened its doors five months later that fall on a leased site in leased modular buildings. GROW TH Because of the high quality of the education, the school became popular, enrollment increased quickly, and a middle school and preschool were added in response to demand. The current facility consists of 17,000 square feet of leased modular buildings on 1.6 acre parcel in downtown Carbondale. V I S I O N F O R A P E R M A N E N T FA C I L I T Y The school’s Board of Directors began to plan for a permanent facility and long-term sustainability in 2006. In the past seven years, a land committee has evaluated more than 100 sites and explored dozens of options for funding. A dedicated development committee is focused on applying for grants and preparing for a capital campaign. RMS also has a successful Annual Fund that raised $70,000 from parents, grandparents and community members this year. Parent involvement is especially strong; 70% of families volunteer and 68% contribute financially. While our Montessori program continues to grow and thrive, the temporary facility has become worn-down. We are bursting at the seams and making due with the bare minimum. RMS lacks a gymnasium, has an inadequate kitchen and insufficient land for playgrounds or outdoor education. A new facility will allow RMS to fully realize its potential.
The school’s Board of Directors began to plan for a permanent facility and long-term sustainability in 2006.
“We see how and what
our children are learning at Ross, we appreciate how the Montessori environment encourages and honors each child, and we value the school’s dedicated staff and supportive school community.” ~ Tim & Elizabeth Malloy, RMS Parents & Donors
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A NEW
S S O R R O F E M O H
Help Us Get The BEST After extensive research and preparation for a major fundraising effort, the school has been approved for a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant of $11.8 million. BEST is a grant opportunity through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) that funds capital construction projects for public schools in Colorado. The grant is contingent on raising matching funds of $1 million by November 6, 2012. As RMS is not part of the RE-1 school district and does not have access to local tax dollars, this money will be raised through individual gifts and grants. We need the support of our entire community including parents, grandparents, community philanthropists and local businesses to raise the matching funds. The opportunity to raise $1 million in private funds that will be matched approximately 12:1 with state funding is extraordinary. The success of this campaign is truly the key to the school’s future and depends on your financial support. Through this effort, Ross Montessori School will become an educational choice that is second to none.
PROJECT BUDGET Income BEST Grant Award
$ 11,800,000
Matching Funds to be raised by RMS
$ 1,028,000
TOTAL INCOME
$ 12,828,000
(contingent on raising matching funds)
Expenses
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Land
$ 1,500,000
Infrastructure/Land Improvements
$
Construction Costs
$ 9,893,000
Playground/Landscaping
$
500,000
LEED Certification
$
100,000
Montessori Materials
$
100,000
Furniture & Fixtures
$
80,000
TOTAL EXPENSES
$ 12,828,000
610,000
I R O S S E MONT 100% 75% 55% 40% 25% 13% 3%
$1,000,000 GOAL 1 Gift @ $250,000 = $250,000 2 Gifts @ $100,000 = $200,000
3 Gifts @ $50,000 = $150,000
6 Gifts @ $25,000 = $150,000
12 Gifts @ $10,000 = $120,000
20 Gifts @ $5,000 = $100,000
30 Gifts @ $1,000 = $30,000
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Picture This • Authentic Montessori classrooms with space and natural light for students to learn • A library and science lab to explore new horizons • Dedicated art and music rooms for creative learning
CONCEPTUAL EXTERIOR RENDERINGS
• A gym to help kids stay healthy and fit • A bright and airy cafeteria and full kitchen serving healthy, nutritious meals • A Montessori-inspired playground for creative play
INTERIOR CROSS SECTIONS 1
Lower Elementary Classrooms
6
Gym
2
Staff Planning Area
7
Stage
3
Library
8
Foreign Language Center
4
Upper Elementary Classrooms
9
Upper Elementary Classrooms
5
Cafeteria
10 Art Studio
1
4
2
3
5
8 6 -8-
7
9 10
“We are looking to the
future and want to give other children what our children have received at RMS – a great education and a bright future.” ~ Charlie & Megan Cook, RMS Parents & Donors
CAMPUS SITE MAP 1
Fenced Playground
2
Parent Drop Off
3
Bus Drop Off
4
Main Playground
5
Playing Field
1
5
4
2
3
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The Plan A design committee composed of teachers, administrators, students, parents, architects, and builders embarked on a planning process with a goal to imagine a future facility for RMS that features inspirational teaching spaces as well as key amenities such as a kitchen, gym, stage, science lab, library, and playgrounds. The new 35,000 square foot plan doubles the size of our current facility and incorporates additional elementary and middle school classrooms, allowing for growth in enrollment. The BEST grant award requires that the building project be LEED Gold Certified, a requirement that the RMS board and staff fully embrace. Much attention has been given to maximizing the usage of space. Each step of the design process focused on providing maximum efficiency in a footprint that minimized building costs. As a result, the building will be two stories and configured in a rectangular shape. It will make extensive use of solar energy and use green building materials and practices. This campus plan provides a learning environment that is sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective to maintain.
MAIN LEVEL 1
Art Studio
2
Kitchen
3
Cafeteria
4
Pre-K/K Classrooms
5
Welcome Area
6
Admin. Suite
7
Conference Room
8
Staff Planning Area
9
Elevator
1
2
3
4
13 4 14
10 Gym 11 Stage 12 Athletics Admin. Area 13 Science and Technology Lab
12
11 4
14 Library
9 5 10 8
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7
6
Naming Opportunities $ 250,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
Gymnasium Library Science & Technology Lab Cafeteria Playing Field Playground Art Studio Music & Performance Stage Foreign Language Center Kitchen Lower Elementary Classrooms (4) Upper Elementary Classrooms (4) Middle School Classrooms (2) Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms (3) Welcome and Reception Area
$ $ $ $ $ $
10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Conference Room Staff Planning Area Administrative Suite Community Deck Athletics Administration Area Elevator
• A donor plaque will be displayed in a designated area for naming opportunities. • All gifts of $5,000 and above will be prominently displayed at the school. • All donors at any level will be recognized in a special commemorative Shaping Our Future campaign report.
UPPER LEVEL 17
18
18
18
18
15 Foreign Language Center 16 Community Deck 17 Midschool School Classrooms
19
16 15
18 Upper Elementary Classrooms 19 Lower Elementary Classrooms 20 Elevator
19
17
19
20
19
19
“Seeing RMS grow from the beginning has given us great pride and satisfaction. Supporting its vital role in our community is an easy decision.” ~ Paul & Gella Sutro, Founding Parents & Donors
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A NEW HOME FOR ROSS MONTESSORI
PLEASE SEND GIFTS & PLEDGES TO:
Mark Ross Montessori Foundation | P.O. Box 521 | Carbondale, CO 81623-0521 F O R Q U E S T I O N S C O N TA C T:
Andrea Waldmann, Development Director | 970.963.7199 | ShapingOurFutureRMS@gmail.com F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N :
www.ShapingOurFutureRMS.com
Pledge Form In order to meet our BEST Grant match deadline, we request cash gifts and pledge payments before October 15, 2012.
A NEW HOME FOR ROSS MONTESSORI
P L E D G E I N F O R M AT I O N
D O N O R I N F O R M AT I O N
I/We wish to pledge a total of
Name(s) _______________________________________________________
$ _____________________________ to the Shaping Our Future capital campaign.
Address ________________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: $ ______________
Home Phone ______________________Bus. Phone ____________________
Remainder Pledged: $ ____________
Email __________________________________________________________
City __________________________________State ______Zip ___________
D O N O R R E C O G N I T I O N (Please check the appropriate box) Donors will be recognized in publications and tribute materials unless an anonymous gift is requested. Please use the following name(s) in all acknowledgments
I/We wish to remain anonymous
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please recognize my/our gift
In honor of
In memory of
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ I/We are interested in a naming opportunity For more information and to discuss naming opportunities, please contact: Andrea Waldmann, Development Director | ShapingOurFutureRMS@gmail.com | 970.963.7199
M A K I N G YO U R G I F T (Please check the appropriate box) By Check Please make checks payable to the Mark Ross Montessori Foundation/Shaping Our Future capital campaign. By Credit Card
VISA
MasterCard
Name (as it appears on the card)___________________________________________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________________________________________________ Card # ________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date ___________________ By Donation of Securities For stock transfer instructions please contact: Andrea Waldmann, Development Director | ShapingOurFutureRMS@gmail.com | 970.963.7199 Matching Gift My/Our gift will be matched by________________________________________________________________________ Matching gift form enclosed Matching gift form will be forwarded to the Mark Ross Montessori Foundation
T H A N K YO U F O R YO U R G I F T which is deductible to the extent allowable by tax law. The Mark Ross Montessori Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Tax ID# 20-2556775