Chiaravalle Montessori 2013-2015 Annual Report C2
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C1 CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI 2013-2015 ANNUAL REPORT C2 CONTENTS Welcome Head of School letter ..........................1 President, Board of Trustees letter ...3 Alumni Chiaravalle Recent Graduates ............5 Alumni Feature ....................................7 Educational Insights Feature Article: Technology as Disruptive Innovation in Education ......................9 Class Profiles ......................................12 Financials Financial Report .................................19 Donor Acknowledgements The Campaign for Chiaravalle .........20 Annual Fund 2013-2014 ....................25 Annual Benefit Event 2013-14 ..........28 Fund for Chiaravalle 2014-15 ............29 Diversity Endowment ........................32 CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI 1 WELCOME “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” These words by the Japanese poet Satoro fall, our physical space. While we continu- As I look to Chiaravalle’s future and the pos- characterize how the collective wisdom, ally evolve, we simultaneously reaffirm our sibilities ahead, I have been working with talents and support of our community has Montessori roots to firmly ground and nour- faculty and staff using three guiding princi- ushered Chiaravalle Montessori into a new ish our practices, and support optimal child ples to inform our program developments: era of possibilities. We are so grateful and development. We always consider how we • Enhancing integrated curriculum studies excited by these opportunities. may wisely “follow the child” and “educate the human potential” in the 21st century, • Fostering a culture of innovation and cre- Over the last 7-10 years, Chiaravalle has taking the most current research into con- ativity, and grown increasingly sophisticated in pro- sideration. I like to refer to this thoughtful gramming, systems, technology and, with • Cultivating compassion. adaptation as “Modern Montessori.” the opening of the North Wing this coming CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 ANNUAL REPORT Interdisciplinary studies are, of course, one of the key differen- both compassionate and accomplished. Chiaravalle families are tiators of a Montessori education. We want students to have growing compassionate achievers. the opportunity to learn meaningfully and deeply with passion, Together, our community is helping students unfold into the and, as you’ll see through their stories in this Annual Report, competent, curious, caring and engaged people they are meant this approach is working. With the additional space in the North to become. Every day presents Wing this coming school year, we aim to further personalize the precious new opportunities for learning experience by inspiring and guiding students through us to guide and respond to their expanded interdisciplinary studies outside the classroom. needs and interests. Not only does an interdisciplinary approach help children better Chiaravalle is honored to share this understand the world and engage in their learning, but it also marvelous journey with you and creates the optimal framework to develop creative thinking and grateful for the laudable support, innovation. As Tony Wagner, Harvard-based author of “Creating generosity and engagement our Innovators” states, “Montessori schools … have been respon- community shares. Thank you! sible for producing an inordinately high number of innova- tors.” Educational Director Clare Heath explores the idea of Warmest wishes, technology as disruptive innovation in the cornerstone article of this publication. Where does compassion fit into lifelong success and academics? Robyn McCloud-Springer Critical thinking and problem solving require understanding. Head of School I think of compassion as the gravity that holds knowledge Chiaravalle Montessori together and gives it context. It seems like this would be a given in schools. It is not. According to a recent study by Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, “Almost 80 percent of students ranked achievement over caring for others.” Furthermore, these kids believe their parents desire achievement from them over all else. It does not have to be one or the other. Thankfully, Chiar- avalle students are given the clear message that you can be Chiaravalle Montessori · 425 Dempster Street Evanston, IL 60201 · 847.864.2190 · www.chiaravalle.org CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI 3 CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI BOARD OF DIRECTORS LETTER FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT 2013-14 2014-15 The 2013-14 school year space that would reinforce our Lucinda Fox, President Lucinda Fox, President marked the beginning of a strong sense of community, Sarah Eck-Thompson, Jes Sherborne, Vice President powerful transformation at allow for more movement and Vice President Jill Greer, Treasurer Chiaravalle Montessori. In the creative projects, demonstrate Scott Barton, Treasurer Sarah Eck-Thompson, summer prior to the start of to the children how we care for Jes Sherborne, Secretary Secretary school, the Board of Trustees the larger environment, enable Kathy Baker Kathy Baker welcomed Robyn McCloud- our students to move about Rick Boynton Scott Barton Springer as our New Head of independently, and showcase Chris Brandt Rick Boynton School. Robyn had long been our performing arts program. a part of Chiaravalle, first as Margret Duvall Chris Brandt Working with our architecture an elementary teacher, then Jill Greer Margret Duvall team at Cannon Design and Elementary Program Director, Eileen Madden Matt Johnson our construction team at Bulley then Assistant Head of School Julie Matthei Eileen Madden and Andrews, we carefully for Curriculum. Shondi Nickell Shondi Nickell planned each part of our new Kristi Piccolo Kristi Piccolo Knowing we were about to space, holding tight to the core Paul Wright Steve Reed embark on our biggest project of who we are: a place where Garry Shumaker to date, the creation of a 19,000 each child is known, appreci- Paul Wright square foot addition, we felt ated, and supported in what sure that Robyn’s leadership they need to learn best. and her knowledge of Chiar- We are proud that we are able avalle’s pedagogy, faculty and to pursue LEED Platinum certi- values would enable us to best fication for this beautiful, light- shape Chiaravalle’s future. filled new space. The ‘13-’14 school year was a planning year, a year of envisioning how we could create CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 4 ANNUAL REPORT Just after school ended in June completed by the start of school instruction to each child. Our 2014, the old annex containing in 2015. community showed tremendous the gym and community room generosity by making multi-year We were supported in these ef- was demolished as several chil- pledges to our Phase II: Trans- forts by the generosity of our par- dren and long-time PE teacher formation Capital Campaign for ents, grandparents, and alumni Rose Adamczyk looked on, and Chiaravalle, helping fund our families. Your financial support of work began on the geother- North Wing. our Annual Fund meant that we mal system which will power the could offer a record amount of This annual report acknowledges new North Wing. Construction financial assistance to families in the donors who have made all continued throughout this last need while making good prog- of this work possible, including school year, and the children ress on a long-term strategic all Annual Fund gifts that came have enjoyed checking the prog- goal of increasing faculty salaries. in during both the 2013-14 and ress each day, peeking through We’ve created a more robust 2014-15 fiscal years and all Cap- the fence and the windows. The Lucinda Fox Learning Resources depart- ital Campaign pledges to date. Board, faculty, administration President, ment, and maintained high facul- On behalf of the Board, we thank and parent volunteers have con- Board of Trustees ty-to-student ratios to make sure you for helping us make Chiara- tributed many hours to bring we are providing differentiated valle even better. this project to fruition, on time and on budget, and to plan new programming for the students Montessori education encourages independence. In the when the North Wing opens in Toddler program, I have seen basics such as potty training, the fall. It has been a project that learning how to feed oneself, putting on a jacket with a cool flip has brought us together, and trick. In 3-6, I’ve seen my son grow, from learning to write his name through all of our work, we have to learning from peers. As a Kinder, he peer teaches others. This independence is also been tremendously inspired by self-motivation to want to do more and learn more, not just in academics, but in many the strong foundation we are life lessons. working from, and by what is yet Donna Wang Su to come. At press time, we are on Parent; Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University schedule to have the North Wing Chiaravalle Montessori · 425 Dempster Street Evanston, IL 60201 · 847.864.2190 · www.chiaravalle.org CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI 5 CHIARAVALLE RECENT GRADUATES 2012-2015 Beacon Academy Carlin Henikoff, 2015 Maya Sanghvi, 2014 Lily Madden-Neuleib, 2012 Allison Bernstein, 2015 Fae Kobernik, 2012 Chandler Seed, 2012 Northside College Preparatory High School Jacob Blustein, 2015 Amalia Loiseau, 2014 Latin School of Chicago Colton Ramsdell, 2014 Ava Dieden, 2015 Jonathan Neuberger, 2013 Olivia Gwilliam, 2013 Ella Neurohr, 2014 Celia Nicolson, 2014 Leo Mancini, 2015 Madeline Hoffman, 2013 Roycemore School Daryus Patel, 2012 Justin Morris, 2015 Lincoln Park High School Charlie Landon, 2013 Morgan Pierce, 2015 Anne Raspe, 2014 Ruby MacDonald-Bora, 2012