MSB
2020-2021
Annual Report
CULTURE OF GENEROSITY CULTURE OF GRATITUDE The MSB 2020-2021 Annual Report honors families, grandparents, students, staff, faculty, board members, alumni, friends, and all the businesses in our community who helped to make our 2020-2021 school year a success.
We are grateful for your generosity. In order to bring you a more dynamic and comprehensive report while simultaneously reducing the impact on our environment, we adopted a downloadable format for our annual report. If you prefer a paper version, a limited number are available at the front desk.
Todd Covert, Head of School Sarah Ober, Development Coordinator
This report is a publication of The Montessori School of the Berkshires. It recognizes gifts received between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible. If your name has been omitted or is listed incorrectly, please accept our apologies and contact: Avie, Community Engagement Coordinator Avie@BerkshireMontessori.org 413-637-3662
TABLE OF CONTENTS 03
Letter from Todd
05
MSB Faculty & Administration
07
Parent Community
09
Volunteers & In-Kind Donations
11
2020-2021 Annual Fund
15
Graduating Class of 2021
First of all, I am extremely proud of our community effort in making it through 2020-2021. As COVID threw us all a curveball, we regrouped and opened our doors once again for the school year. Our teachers and staff rallied to establish mitigation strategies to both keep our in-person children healthy, and also provide remote learning options for those in our community who needed it. Providing both in-person and remote options for our children was definitely a challenge, there were however, a few highlights of the year including our Zoom Italian Cooking Class, Zoom Parent yoga series, our spring in-person Shakespeare performance, and our in-person 8th grade graduation. I am extremely proud and grateful for our MSB children and families, and the effort and fortitude everyone showed during this complex time.
Warmly,
Todd Covert Co-Founder, Head of School The Montessori School of the Berkshires
Reflecting on the past. Looking to the future.
ADMINISTRATION 2020-2021 Todd Covert, Head of School Kehr Davis, Director of Operations & Admissions K. Meagan Ledendecker, Director of Education Jeanette Maguire, Director of Communication Avie Maloney, Office Manager Sheena Evans-Morris, Business Manager Sarah Ober, Development Coordinator Mark Losardo, Facilities & Grounds Manager Gilberto Marquez, Facilities Team Jessica Figueroa, Facilities Team Stephanie Andrews, Facilities Team Kathy Quiñones, Nurse
SPECIALISTS & CLASSROOM SUPPORT 2020-2021 Dana Harrison, Drama Joey Chernila, Integrated Learning Coordinator Natalia Bernal, Spanish Wes Buckley, Band
TEACHING STAFF 2020-2021 Launa O’Gara, Toddler Community Vanessa Luman Toddler Community & Children’s House Balinda Lennon, Toddler Community & Children’s House Mariya Cornwell, Toddler Community Meagan Ledendecker, Children’s House Vicky Sideropoulos, Children’s House Lisa Rebello, Children’s House & Elementary: Magnolia Shaylyne Mancivalano, Permanent Substitute Leia Bibiloni-Bastow, Elementary Program: Maple Kim Sinopoli, Elementary Program: Maple Najwa Squailia, Elementary Program: Maple Erika Chait, Elementary Program: Magnolia Gussie Greer, Elementary Program: Willow Lisa Blake, Elementary Program: Willow Julie Haagenson, Adolescent Experience Lori Nadig, Adolescent Experience Lorimer Burns, Adolescent Experience Barbara Roether, Adolescent Experience Caitlin Henke, Adolescent Experience
thank you
MSB FAMILY COMMUNITY As MSB’s first Community Engagement Coordinator, I am writing this note beaming with pride. For the families who have been with our school community since 2014, you know that I have been the school’s Office Manager (aka Director of First Impressions) for a number of years. To families and staff joining us this year, welcome! Over the years, I have grown to know our students, parents, caregivers, and extended families well. As the Community Engagement Coordinator, I hope to establish a family community as engaged with MSB as the children we support. The pandemic “separated” us last year and we were unable to hold on-campus events. Our main focus was to keep our Guides, our student communities, and our families safe. Even so, it was great to see some connections being made through small get-togethers or parking lot conversations during pick up and drop off. This year, we are planning to safely return to offering events on- and off-campus with family fun activities and parent education events. My first task is to harness the energy of our families who are eager for connection toward the common purpose of supporting MSB and the children’s experience here. Every family, including caregivers and grandparents, is part of the MSB Family Community. All are welcome to come to meetings, share ideas, and offer their talents. Our MSB Family Community will work to host meet-ups, volunteer at school events, support new families, and help spread the word about the work we do here at MSB. I look forward to this journey with you! Sincerely,
Averneile “Avie” Maloney
Kelly Minahan Thomas Minahan GRANOLA BARS
Stephanie Teator YOGA CLASSES
Sheela Clary ITALIAN COOKING & LANGUAGE CLASS
Flora Paladino Noelia Salinetti READ TO STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER Alison Quiñones Jagruti Patel Mary Hannigan Paula Kelley Jennifer Travis Melanie Greenberg Bridget Rigas Tessa Frissom TAKE HOME WORK
Neha Das CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Bridget Rigas LETTER WRITING Blue Point Design MSB Masks
Dr. Sandeep Kumar PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL
THANK YOU
VOLUNTEERS
Throughout the school year, families, grandparents, Alison Quiñones COOKIES
Erin Murphy TECH SUPPORT
caregivers, students, alumni, and other members of the MSB community helped to prepare lessons, make supplies, mentor students, donate supplies, lend us their talents, and so much more. To all the people who have donated their time, offered their expertise, or given goods to MSB, we thank you. Many hands not only make light work, they also build a better school.
Crispina ffrench VALENTINE CLASS I’in Cox Erica Spizz George Cox Abigail Mathews VIDEOS
Barbara May Fredrika Willgren I’in Cox Tammy Meranda SEWING
Neha Das AIR PURIFIER
Alison Quiñones Jagruti Patel Melisa Krzyzstof Laurie Coyle Jaimee Christinat COFFEE, CUT, & CHAT
Bridget Rigas LAMINATING
Kate Light Marta Kirsis John Coyle Erica Spizz Sheela Clary Ellen Rose Cunningham CLASSROOM LIAISONS
Maxamillion DIRT FOR BACK FIELD
Ari Zorn Chris Smith Sarah Sprague Noah Meyerowitz Natalia Bernal Dr. Sandeep Kumar Sheela Clary Officer Balestro & Beko the support dog AE CAREER WEEK
2020-2021 ANNUAL FUND Your gift towards the 2020-2021 Annual Fund underwrites new learning materials for our classrooms, professional development of our staff, and financial aid for students in need. Your philanthropy touches each MSB student and supports them on their path of self-discovery.
Thank you for your generosity!
ADVENTURER, PIONEERS & INNOVATORS ($1,500 and above) Anonymous (3) Todd Covert & Meagan Ledendecker * A Emily Melchior & Calvin Rodman * Jayson Messenger & Neha Das *
TRAIL BLAZERS ($1,000–$1,499) Anonymous Jim & Sheela Clary * The Sinopoli Family * The Villetto Deckert Family * Carrie & Sean Bettenger-Lopez * Melanie S. Greenberg * IBM Matching Grants Program
CULTIVATORS
($500–$999)
Margaret & Douglas Beeson ** The Chait Family ** Matthew & Catherine Chester * Matthew S. Chester * Rachel G. Fletcher Linda & George Goodwin ** Interprint, Inc. Paula Kelley & Al Bingham * Barb & Chris May ** Wendy Brown & Zack McCain III A Justin & Sarah Ober * Tom & Jean Porter ** Jennifer Travis *A David & Tammy Valicenti A Tony Zaniboni & Sue Allegrone-Zaniboni *
FAMILY TREE
* Current Family ** Student Grandparent(s) A Alumni Family S Current Student
($250–$499)
Anonymous, In honor of Children’s House Guides. Thank you! Dana Bixby Architecture Joan B. Burns ** Tessa Frissora & Brian Scolforo * Mary Hannigan & Crispin Tresp * Bill & Lee Mathews ** Jagruti Patel *, In honor of Kabir Patel Emily & Simon Shaw *
WOODLAND FRIENDS ($125–$249) Anonymous Anonymous, In honor of Eileen & Adrian Renee Harvitt A Matthew & Jennifer Knodler* Kate Light * Rosemarie D. Siegel **
* Current Family ** Student Grandparent(s) A Alumni Family S Current Student
TENDER ROOTS
(up to $124)
Anonymous (5) Anonymous, In honor of Raymond A. Wells, a wonderful father and grandfather. Anonymous, In honor of Sage Kruh. Lisa & Barth Anderson A Cara C. Barkett ** Andrew & Rachel Beckwith A Sara Burke Joshua Beckwith S Ellen Rise & Geoffrey Cunningham * Kehr Davis A Grace Haagenson *, In honor of Noah & Jonah Haagenson. Marta Kirsis * Melissa Beeson Higgins Karlis & Margaret Kirsis **
Susan B. Lord A, In gratitude for Jamie Lord’s education. Laura May * Erin & John Murphy * Tom & Linda Olson ** Charlie & Kathy Plungis Peter & Jo Podol ** Kathy Quiñones ** Neil Davis & Bridget Rigas * Jim & Sandy Salice ** Starr W. Snead Justin & Rebecca Soffer * Dr. & Mrs. Randall Soffer ** Jeanette Maguire & Erica Spizz * David Teator ** Declan Travis A
THE
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF THE BERKSHIRES
Class of 2021
“I have come to realize that what I was really learning here at MSB was [how to make] connections. Being with friends and connecting with them was like building a web; they are built and made stronger over time. I am going to miss many things here at MSB but I’m especially going to miss the community and the inclusiveness of the classroom space.”
Andrew Amado Monument Mountain RHS, Great Barrington, MA
“I have been at MSB since I was five. On my first day my friend Logan taught me how to spray and wipe the tables. It felt so cool and welcoming that even the youngest kids could have jobs and responsibilities. Through the years the jobs changed—collecting eggs from the chicken coop, running meetings in Elementary. As I’ve grown MSB has grown too. Each year our class would change, but it felt no different because it was still a community in which all were all welcomed. I want to thank the MSB community and staff for the making the school what it is.”
Cecelia Clary Monument Mountain RHS, Great Barrington, MA
“What I liked the most about MSB is that I got to work at my own pace. I never felt pressured or rushed when it came to learning. One quality that I have learned during my time here that I will take with me is patience. Whether it’s during group work or taking a test, I learned that taking my time is the key. I’ve also learned to value what it means to be part of a community that accepts everyone as they are and where they are. Thank you.
Da’Jaun Merenda Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School, Northampton, MA
“When I was in Children’s House, I spent a lot of time staring at our pet fish, Bubbles. Last week while on our Flying Deer overnight trip, a few of us went to a stream to cool down and collect rocks. I sat down by the water near a tree and stared as the water went flowing past me. As I was sitting there, watching the water glide over the rocks, I felt like my five-year-old self in Children’s House, staring at Bubbles the fish—scared, excited, and unsure about what lies ahead of me. I am so thankful for the eleven years I have been at this school. I have always felt so free and comfortable… so welcomed. Julie, Lorimer, Caitlin, and Lori, your patience has meant so much to me, especially during this last year.”
Flora Paladino
Berkshire Waldorf High School, Stockbridge, MA
“Here I am at the end of my time at MSB knowing how to find area and perimeter and how to write a five-paragraph essay. But Montessori has given me so much more than that. It helped me want to explore deeper into subjects, ones that I knew I liked learning about, and others that I was totally unfamiliar with. It also taught me how to talk to people and make new friends. But most importantly, it has given me the best school experience I could have asked for.”
Isabella Brown
Pittsfield High School, Pittsfield, MA
“I will never forget the people, the friends, who have been with me throughout this wonderful exploratory adventure and who have helped me to reach my potential and then helped to catapult me farther than I thought I could possibly go. When we did the ropes course, I thought ‘no way am I climbing that 70-foot tower.’ But after seeing friends climb all the way up, I tried it. I went 15 feet up and I was as happy as if I had gone all the way, because I had done what I thought I could not. This whole wonderful learning adventure has felt just like that; not wanting to do a thing, being nervous to do a thing, then being exhilarated once having done the thing.”
Liam O’Gara Monument Mountain RHS, Great Barrington, MA
“I came to MSB as an apprehensive fifth grader scared of being in a very new environment and doubtful about making new friends. If I could go back to my first day, I’d tell myself that I have nothing to fear. One memory I will always cherish, is going down to Children’s House to help the younger children get ready for nap. That was such a peaceful and relaxing time for me right after a bustling recess. From the first day when I came to visit and Cecilia met me at the door, to last weekend, sitting around the campfire with my class, every moment here at MSB will hold a special place in my heart.
Lucinda Burns Karp Frederick Gunn School, Washington, MA
“There is a quote from Dr. Seuss, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’ As I come to the end of my time here, I think of this quote and realize that I’m happy that I got to have this amazing opportunity in my life. This school has been so special to me, and I’ll always have it in my heart. Thank you Montessori.”
Ryan Baumgart
Monument Mountain RHS, Great Barrington, MA
“Thank you…to Julie, Caitlin, Lori, and Lorimer, for putting up with a classroom full of teenagers and for being the best 8th grade teachers I could have asked for. Thank you to my friends for making me laugh all the time. Thank you to all the people who made my time here special and unforgettable.”
Violet Swindlehurst
Berkshire Waldorf High School, Stockbridge, MA
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