2015 Annual Report
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2015 Dear Woodland Hill Families, This year we reached and celebrated a mile- Dear Woodland Hill Families, stone with our 50th anniversary. Woodland Hill Montessori School now enters its 51st year! Thank you for your support of Woodland Hill this past year. We had We have accomplished much in the past years a wonderful year, with some new experiences to add to our time- thanks to our outstanding leadership. It is with honored traditions. One of the highlights this past year for me was to profound gratitude that I would like to thank attend the American Montessori Society Conference in Philadelphia Michael Endler for his years of service to Woodland Hill’s board of with all 35 members of our faculty and staff. trustees. His tenure as president has produced a strong foundation This past year we also have been working on the develop- for our school. It is with his vision and guidance that our school ment of our new Strategic Plan. We accomplished many grew in strength and structure. The board of trustees acknowledges of the goals from our previous plan, most notably adding Michael’s hard work and dedication. He warrants the highest of a Toddler program to our school. Other accomplish- accolades for his accomplishments. Michael is a gracious leader who ments included further development of our Middle has eased my transition into the position of president. Thank you, School program; two of our Middle School teachers were Michael. trained in Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Our school is a working machine with many different moving parts. Education Program and Latin was added to the curricu- Our dedicated staff puts forth great effort to get the job done right. lum. We also significantly increased teacher salaries and added a full- They put their heart and soul into everyday decisions. This solid infra- time administrator to help support our many programs. structure supports the teachers, allowing them to dedicate their full Improvements to our campus have included a beautiful new pavilion attention to our children. Our talented teachers holistically teach the to allow our children to have a shaded and dry area to play and new Montessori philosophy in a way in which each child is engaged. Our trees and plantings on the grounds that provide beauty and shade. children thrive within the classroom. They are excited to learn. They I was so inspired by a talk and book authored by Finnish educator Pasi are challenged. They are respected and loved. The children feel as Sahlberg (Finnish Lessons) that I visited a Finnish school in April. The though our wonderful school is their second home. Everyone knows opportunity to see the school and talk to educators was motivational their name, and chances are, the names of their family members. Our and confirmed many of my beliefs about education and independence. parents give every ounce of themselves to our school and community by countless ways of giving their time, resources, and knowledge. Our Our school cannot be the outstanding place it is without the talented mission states that we are “a diverse and engaging educational part- and dedicated faculty, our skilled administrative team, our caring nership of parents, teachers, children, and community.” Each of parents and eager students! I continue to be grateful to have such a us contributes to what makes Woodland Hill Montessori School the great place to not only be every day, but also to be able to provide this outstanding institution it is today. wonderful learning environment to our students. The positive energy within our school is palpable. We look forward to Thank you to Michael Endler for the many years of dedicated service to the future and strengthening our school. Thank you to all who have Woodland Hill. I look forward to my continuing work with Katie Singh. generously contributed to our success! Sincerely, Sincerely, Susan Kambrich Katie Singh Head of School President of the Board of Trustees OUR MISSION Woodland Hill Montessori School––a diverse and engaging educational partnership of parents, teachers, children, and community –– nurtures a child’s love of learning and sense of personal and social responsibility, using the child-centered Montessori philosophy and curriculum to develop the intellectual, physical, spiritual, artistic and academic excellence inherent in each child. 100 Montessori Place North Greenbush, NY 12144 518.283.5400 Fax 518.283.4861 www.woodlandhill.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES Christine Caruso Ashley Ciccone NEW FACULTY MEMBERS Katherine Singh Christine Claus President Sherrie Clune We welcomed five new faculty and staff members this year. Peter McCorkle Brittany Gonzalez Vice President Jennifer Graham Bethany Burroughs Michelle Edwards joined WHMS as our School Wendy Gilman Megan Eglin Counselor in June 2015. Bethany received a Treasurer Kristi Favaloro bachelor’s in Psychology from SUNY Oswego, Frederick Galt, Esq. Olga Febus and a master’s in Professional School Counseling Secretary Cassandre Hall Cora Heiser from Sage Graduate School. Before coming to Michael Endler, Esq. Marion Heller Immediate Past President Woodland Hill, Bethany worked in the Shenen- Katja Higgins dehowa School District, and in a variety of roles Leah Johnson Nancy Hillengas Teacher Representative Leah Johnson providing counseling services to youth and families as a Behavior Nicole Lenihan Specialist for children with Autism and Dual-Diagnosis, as well as MEMBERS AT LARGE Andrew McClain youth in foster care settings with Serious Emotional Disturbances Kristen McDermott Michael DeLeonardis and Developmental Disabilities. Sara O’Connell Tamara Gatchell Lourdes Ortega Nuhar Jaleel Stephanie Puchner Nicole Lenihan worked as assistant teacher in the Julie Massry Knox Michele Praileau Jonathan Ripchick Toddler classroom and is currently assisting in Vinita Shekhar Christopher Russell the Primary classrooms. A WHMS parent for Denise Stark Tobi Saulnier Leah Walsh several years, Nicole’s also served as a substitute Kim Seabury Thomas Steinke teacher at WHMS. Nicole has a bachelor’s in SPECIALISTS Psychology from the Sage Colleges, and a master’s Charles Austin ADMINISTRATION Marla Bracco in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Bethany Burroughs Capella University. Susan Kambrich Nieves Gonzalez-Montejano Head of School Ben Kelts Mary Maher provides support to students who Susan Evans Mary Maher Business Manager Tami Meek need additional help in math. Mary is a seasoned Matthew Olmstead teacher with bachelor’s and master’s degrees Kris Gernert-Dott Ted Riese from the College of St. Rose. She taught grade Director of Admissions and Janis Rink Community Outreach Toni Roland 2, 3, and 4 at Troy’s School 18 and currently also Moira Rienzo Catherine Schane-Lydon teaches math to fourth through sixth graders at Director of Development and Maggie Schmonsky Maimonides Hebrew Day School. Communications SCHOOL CARE STAFF Meg Parascandola Amanda Bentley Sara O’Connell is our new Spanish teacher. Sara is Office Manager and Testing Coordinator Jessica Bagley NYS-certified to teach Spanish for all ages. She Krysten Houser Danielle Hall Meghan Johnson has a bachelor’s in Spanish Secondary Education Business Office Assistant Alexia Rohl with a minor in theater from Russell Sage and a Amy Irwin Katy Whitcher master’s in liberal studies from the University at Director of Auxiliary Services Larissa Pierre Albany. Sara has over ten years of experience as Kristina Mayer Frank Carlascio Kristen Padula a Spanish teacher, with nine years at Bethlehem Director of Facilities middle and high schools, and has been a teacher since 1993, taking Jeremy Kelly FRIENDS OF WHMS time to be at home with her family for the past few years. Business Office Associate Ashley Parks and Jackie Santilli Co-Presidents Toni Roland provides math support for Middle FACULTY Jennifer Baltrush and Susie Calyer School students. Toni is a veteran teacher who has Co-Vice Presidents Head Teachers & Assistant Teachers taught math to elementary through high school Julie Adams Shari Mantini Ann Ayers Treasurer students for many years. Toni has a bachelor’s Cindy Bishop degree in education from SUNY Geneseo, a Kim Morton Sandy Blakeman Secretary master’s in Human Resources and Curriculum Liz Cahrenger from Georgia State University, and a master’s Patrick Cartwright degree in Mathematics Education from Texas State University. 2 A Sampling of WHMS Events There are 287 students at WHMS this year, including 32 in Middle School, 56 in Upper El, 72 in Lower El, 106 in Primary, and 21 in Toddler/ Toddler II. Our students come from 30 school districts across seven counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie. Sia Shah won the WHMS Spelling Bee in December 2014 for the second time in a row. She represented Woodland Hill at the Capital Region Spelling Bee at Proctors on February 24. After a four-year absence, the WHMS Talent Show Thirty-seven members of the WHMS faculty and returned on February 26. It was coordinated by staff spent the weekend of March 13-15 in Philadel- WHMS violin students and several Shari Mantini. phia at the annual American Montessori Society parents enjoyed performing in the conference. The teachers attended seminars and Winter Holiday Jam in the lobby on In early March, the held a keynote speeches and connected with fellow December 16. WHMS Green Team Family Dance led by Paul Rosenberg of Homespun Montessori teachers form around the world Occasions. Before the dance, Paul taught our In preparation for WHMS’ Strategic Primary-Upper El students a mix of contra, square Blueberry Buckle performed Celtic and bluegrass Planning, workshops were held and international folk dances. songs and played along with our violinists for St. on January 10 and January 14. Tobi Patrick’s Day. Saulnier, a current board member and former WHMS parent, facili- Opera Saratoga’s Opera to brought The Three Little Johanna Kuehnhenrich served as an tated the workshops and is leading Go Pigs to WHMS on March 4.