Montcrest is a co-educational community, small enough to honour the individual and big enough to provide an exceptional academic experience with balanced opportunities in leadership, the arts, and athletics.
Our school challenges children to discover and acknowledge their own voices, so they can understand and make meaningful connections with the world.
It seems to me that institutions, schools, even families work hard to position each year as being somewhat more important than the last, or the next We all have short-term goals to meet in our lives and urgency can be a useful tool in achieving them. That said, it is also useful to value what has come before and to think carefully about where we want to be in the years to come.
With this in mind, I wanted to focus my final letter to the Montcrest community on how we got to this place and where I think we may be able to go.
It is hard to imagine that Montcrest started back in 1961 with only seven students in one little classroom somewhere in Toronto’s Annex. Enrolment today exceeds 320 students, yet the school is still able to really “know” each of these children - to see them as individuals with their own special gifts and unique potential Almost everything the school does is still designed to help each individual find their own voice and become the best version of themselves. For years now, Montcrest has been graduating confident wellrounded kids that go on to do amazing and important things.
Yet a school as magical as Montcrest doesn’t just happen Before some of us were even born, volunteer boards were selecting exceptional principals, setting strategic directions and allocating scarce resources. Highly skilled faculty were hired and developed. Together, the “community” donated money, gave time, and offered love to one another and most importantly to the children at the centre of it all. We cannot point to one event, one particular person or even one year. Montcrest literally has been built by its community and their collective philanthropy In this light, we all have a responsibility to give generously in whatever capacity we are able
On that note, I want to personally thank Don Durno for taking over as Chair of the Board. Don is already assembling a team of talented directors that will ask the right questions and help guide the school to becoming one of the most progressive elementary schools in the world If that sounds ambitious, I can assure you that with this team and the right support from our community, it is possible
Best wishes to you all,
J O H N C O O K Chair, Board of Governors
John Cook, Chair
Brad McLellan, Secretary
Marc Buklis, Treasurer
Alison Chapman
Rod Davidge
Don Durno
Cynthia Eldridge
Kathryn Finn
Kevin Kimsa
Ian Robinson
George Rutherford
Diana Thomson
One of the hallmarks of Montcrest School is its deep and rooted sense of community. It is unique. I often ask myself why that is; I believe it is because we care for each other. The concern that we demonstrate for one another is felt in our individual approach to studentcentred learning, in our commitment to enhancing the teaching professionalism of each faculty and staff member, and in listening, responding and engaging parents.
Events such as Fall Fair, Bingo Night, Pub Quiz Night, and Pink Shirt Day engage our parents in fun community-spirited events Our students not only help one another through opportunities such as Peacemakers and Primary Captains, but also reach out to help others beyond the Montcrest community. Individually we reach out when we can and where we feel that we can have the most impact All of this has helped to create a culture of civic engagement and responsibility and through this engagement create a Montcrest that is rooted in community and values
Giving of ourselves is deeply personal, and so is our financial giving. Philanthropy is not just about raising money; it is part of our mission We are not just another organization, or any school – we are driven by our commitment to support students and families in being the best version of themselves. When one links philanthropy and programming, that is when a true culture of philanthropy is developed because for each individual there is a heightened understanding of why giving is so important and meaningful.
We have seen Montcrest grow and thrive through the generosity of families and alumni. We should be very proud of what we have accomplished, and know that as we continue to develop our culture, it will give Montcrest the opportunity to be known as the best elementary school in Canada at bringing out the uniqueness of each child.
D
A V I
D T H O M P S O N Head of Montcrest School
$9,128,000
$8,991,000
Through strong enrolment and careful and prudent stewardship of financial resources, the school enjoyed a successful financial year with an operating surplus of $137,000, and ended the financial year in a strong cash position
This prudent financial management has allowed the school to make important decisions that support the work of the school to provide each child with the best possible learning environment and programs to achieve their full potential.
M A R C B U K L I S Treasurer, Board of Governors
SEPTEMBER 2016
Held Community Open House and Building Together Information Night
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
Official public campaign launch
DECEMBER 2016
$6 4 million committed to Building Together project
OCTOBER 2016
Project passes City of Toronto Committee of Adjustments
MARCH 2017
All office staff move out of 658 Broadview Ave. and into 664 Broadview Ave
FEBRUARY 2017
All tenders sent out and $7 million committed to the project
MAY 2017
Demolition of the Cabane, Facilities workshop, and back of 658 Broadview, and excavation of construction site
APRIL 2017
Project receives Site Plan
Approval and held Au Revoir La Cabane Graffiti Event
JUNE 2017
Foundation poured, and underground electrical and plumbing work completed
JUNE 2017
Montcrest Parents' Association pledges $500,000 gift to Building Together
L-R: Andy Cleghorn, Connie Castillo, Kirsten Posehn (Co-chair), Kirsten Cooney, Joanne Sterling, Caroline Coulson, Daphne Pressman, Cari Steinberg, Heather MacInnis, Alison Cook (Co-Chair) Absent: Heather Abbott, Connor Turnbull, Nancy Hollyoak, Craig Shibley
It was another busy year for the MPA and as always we focused our efforts on enhancing the environment for our children while continuing to cultivate a strong and vital parent community. With those goals in mind, we undertook a number of fun, enriching, and spirited initiatives, as you will see on the next page
Without each and every one of you there would be no community and no MPA You are part of the hub and your participation, small or large, is vital to maintaining its vibrancy While there’s no doubt life is a swirl of activity for all of us, we hope you continue to engage with the MPA. The opportunities are endless and we promise you, you won’t be sorry you did It’s a rich experience and through the process the threads of our awesome community are more tightly woven.
Treat Days
Co-Chairs of the Montcrest Parents' Association
136
generously gave their time and energy to a variety of MPA activities
240 received pizza lunch each Wednesday STUDENTS
70 AUCTION ITEMS
donated to the silent and live auctions at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
$126K for the Building Together project at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
$500K
pledged to support the Building Together project
At Montcrest, we believe that challenging children to reach their potential includes becoming engaged and responsible citizens Community Outreach is an essential component in fulfilling this mission. Our outreach strives to teach our students about issues within our community and on a global level. This is done by helping organizations within Toronto and internationally.
Once again during the 2016-17 year, our students participated in a wide array of outreach activities Through grub days, we helped organizations like The Daily Bread Food Bank, Kids Cook to Care, World Vision, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Kill It With Kindness, the Toronto Beekeepers Association, and the Toronto Cat Rescue Grub days alone brought in over $2000!
In addition to grub days, the Montcrest community collected over 770 pounds of food for the food bank, baked more than 70 dozen cookies to donate to three shelters and community centres around Toronto, donated winter accessories to the Red Door Family Shelter, and sold cat cookies to support Project Velcro at the Toronto Cat Rescue.
However, community outreach is not just about whole-school initiatives Around the school, throughout the year, initiatives like the Grade 2 birdhouse project with the World Wildlife Federation, the SKs endangered animals buttons, the Jump Rope for Heart campaign by the Grade 3s, Project Give Back in Grade 4, and the senior students’ work with an organization called New Circles, taught the students about how they can make a difference in their community and beyond.
Our many outreach activities would not be possible without the support of dedicated parent volunteers who give generously of their time and energy. Thank you to Kirsten Cooney and Connor Turnbull who were our Community Outreach leaders in 2016-17
770 lbs of food were donated to local food banks
$2000 for various charities through Grub Day donations alone RAISED
14 BIRDHOUSES
70
installed in Riverdale Park by our Gr 2 students with the help of a WWF Go Wild Grant
baked and donated to three shelters and community centres DOZEN COOKIES
21 from the Regent Park community received holiday hampers through Heart to Hand
Contributions to Annual Giving strengthen the school’s mission to offer students an academic experience with balanced opportunities in leadership, the arts, and athletics. Donations also fund building projects, academic programs, and much needed support for bursaries
Since the early days in our first brick home on Montcrest Blvd., Montcrest School has been renovating, building, and growing to help our students thrive. Over the past 55 years, the generosity of our parent and alumni community has been fundamental in supporting Montcrest's special place in education.
September 2016 marked the official launch of the Building Together campaign; Montcrest's largest ever building project to transform our learning and teaching spaces.
Building Together has been embraced by our community. This transformative project has been generously supported by Montcrest parents, staff, alumni and friends.
he Taber Family Bursary was created to onour the memory and spirit of the Taber amily. Through the bursary, the Taber amily's kindness and generosity will continue have a positive impact on Montcrest families nd students in need.
When our new building opens this fall, the chool store will be known as the Taber Tuck hop.
CASH RECEIVED $1,096,374
35% OF DONORS GAVE $1961 OR MORE
CURRENT FAMILY PARTICIPATION
47%
143% INCREASE IN # OF ALUMNI GIFTS
STAFF WITH 5+ CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GIVING
50%
The 1961 Circle honours Montcrest School’s founding year and recognizes donors who have made gifts of $1961 or more each year to Annual Giving. Each year Montcrest’s 1961 Circle members are invited to a special donor recognition event to thank them for their leadership giving.
A & Y Foundation
Angela & Shabir Amlani
Joanna Rotenberg & Andrew Armstrong
Karen Chu & Aaron Bennett
Kathryn Finn & JP Benson ◊◊
Ariana & Tim Botha
Alison & Chris Burrison
Alison & Martin Chapman ◊◊
Pattie & John Cleghorn & Family
Sarah Pendleton & John Cook ◊◊
Alexandra Webster & Robin Cruickshank
Sue & Fred Dalley
Elaine & John Danson ◊◊
Katy Waugh & Rod Davidge ◊
Davies Family
Jane & Don Durno
Mariano Elia Foundation (Rebecca Barrett & Paul Elia)
Cynthia Eldridge '88 & Philipp Frei
Farrow Hutcheson Family ◊◊
Laurie & Adam Felesky
Marian & Ryan Ferguson ◊
Carmen & Peter Griffis
Sherri & Daniel Glassberg
Pheona Wright & Timothy Godsall
Victoria Webster & Gabe Gonda
Mary Gray ◊◊
Shelley & Frank Halbert ◊
Shayne & Mikael Hansson ◊
Martha McCall & Tom Heintzman
Colleen McDermott & Mark Herzog
Nancy & Anthony Hollyoak ◊
Margaret Hudson
Donna & Richard Ivey
The Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman
Sarah & Elliot Johnson ◊
James C. Johnson
Jurisic Family ◊
Phyllis Keller
Kennedy Family
Mandi & Kevin Kimsa ◊
Judy Wong & Chris Laham
Melanie Lauber & Graeme MacGregor ◊
Angela LeBreton & Klaudio Leshnjani
Caroline Paxton & Tim Logan
Logan Family Foundation
Jessica & Wayne McDougall ◊◊
Hilary McKinley & Peter Gray
Andrea Cleghorn and Greg Moore
Daphne & Manny Pressman
Posehn Family ◊◊
Ann Wilson & Robert Prichard ◊
Jay Prichard '99
Corina Reynolds
David Rogan
Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation
Scotiabank
Kelly Shortt & Bob Shanks
Maria & Philip Smith ◊
Meghan MacGregor & Kent Sobey
Jane Greaves & Steve Tenai ◊
Jennifer & David Thompson ◊◊
Diana & Peter Thomson ◊◊
Sarah Dinnick & Colin Webster ◊
Samuel Webster
R. Howard Webster Foundation
Maureen Whelton & Sheilagh Turkington
Annabelle Choo-Kang & Richard Wong ◊
Susan & Ian Wood
Alev & Mark Wrobel ◊
1 Anonymous
We thank all community members who have supported Montcrest School over the years, and acknowledge those who have made contributions between July 2016 and June 2017 in this report Donors who have supported Montcrest School for five or more consecutive years are marked with a ◊ and ten or more consecutive years with ◊◊.
A & Y Foundation
Heather & Drew Abbott
Angela & Shabir Amlani
Angelakos Family
Andrew Armstrong & Joanna Rotenberg
Laurie & Brad Arseneau ◊◊
Jennifer & Rob Bairos ◊◊
Patsy & John Bell ◊
Aaron Bennett & Karen Chu
Kathryn Finn & JP Benson ◊◊
Boland Family
Ariana & Tim Botha
J D Boyes & Sarah Lerchs
Andrew Buck & Erin Pooley
Alison & Chris Burrison
John & Pattie Cleghorn & Family
John & Kirsten Cooney
Jennifer Cooper
Alexandra Webster & Robin Cruickshank
Rod Davidge & Katy Waugh ◊
Lily Davids & Family
Davies Family
Holly & Mark Dickinson
Jane & Don Durno
Susan ten Brummeler & Richard Emery
Facebook Canada
Adam & Laurie Felesky
Marian & Ryan Ferguson ◊
Derek Finkle & Julie Mitchell
Courtney & Warren Fireman
Cynthia Eldridge '88 & Philipp Frei
Eric Gangbar & Lisa Markson
Robert Gazey
Carmen & Peter Griffis
Daniel & Sherri Glassberg
Timothy Godsall & Pheona Wright
Victoria Webster & Gabe Gonda
Frank & Shelley Halbert ◊
Chris Hanson & Danielle Royal
Mikael & Shayne Hansson ◊
Martha McCall & Tom Heintzman
Colleen McDermott & Mark Herzog
Anthony & Nancy Hollyoak ◊
Dana Howes & Christina Spiropoulos
Margaret Hudson
Connor Turnbull & Ken Ishiguro
The Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman
Sarah & Elliot Johnson ◊
James C Johnson
Barbara Stock & Gary Joyner
Jurisic Family ◊
Leslie Kaufman
Hester Dunlap & Sean Keelor
Phyllis Keller
Kennedy Family
Mandi & Kevin Kimsa ◊
Klass Family
Feite & Norma Kraay ◊
Kim Lambert
Marla & David Larock
Judy Wong & Chris Laham
Angela LeBreton & Klaudio Leshnjani
Caroline Paxton & Tim Logan
Logan Family Foundation
Melanie Lauber & Graeme MacGregor ◊
Jackie & Sean MacPherson ◊◊
Malone Family
Carolynne Bell & JP Matthews
Andrea Cleghorn and Greg Moore
Sacha Neesham & Heather Harrison
Pasparakis Family
Kelly Szandtner & Mark de Pencier
Daphne & Manny Pressman
Posehn Family ◊◊
Corina Reynolds
Michele & Sean Robitaille
David Rogan
Tim Ross & Erin Wright
Schaffer Family ◊
Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman
Foundation
Scotiabank
Erica & Berkley Sells
Kelly Shortt & Bob Shanks
Tova White & Emmet Sheil
Caroline Coulson & Craig Shibley ◊
Maria & Philip Smith ◊
Meghan MacGregor & Kent Sobey
Kristen Socorro
Krista & Nick Spence ◊
Jane Greaves & Steve Tenai ◊
Penny Dimos & Alex Terpin
Sonia & Benjie Thomas
Diana & Peter Thomson ◊◊
Torq Ride Inc.
Maureen Whelton & Sheilagh Turkington
Mark Valcic, Sabina Hillesheim, & Ellie Valcic
Judson Venier & Tricia Smith ◊◊
Patricia Quintero, George & John Paul
Waggott
R Howard Webster Foundation
Samuel Webster
Mark Wilson & Gillian Kennedy
Matthew Wolochatiuk & Anne Woods
Annabelle Choo-Kang & Richard Wong ◊
Susan & Ian Wood
Alev & Mark Wrobel ◊
7 Anonymous
Alison Chapman ◊◊
John Cook ◊◊
Fred Dalley
Elaine Danson ◊◊
Rod Davidge ◊
Don Durno
Cynthia Eldridge '88
Susan Farrow Hutcheson ◊◊
Kathryn Finn ◊◊
Kevin Kimsa ◊
Brad McLellan ◊
Robert Prichard ◊
Ian Robinson
George Rutherford
Diana Thomson ◊◊
Lanny Abramson
Gilda Bissada & Yousry Bissada ◊◊
Cathi & Ritch Bremner ◊◊
Yvonne Boyd ◊
Lesley Byrne & Richard Bingham
Jennifer & Morey Chaplick
Alison & Martin Chapman ◊◊
Dawn Cohen ◊
Sarah Pendleton & John Cook ◊◊
Community Band
Geneva Dalley '04
Sue & Fred Dalley
Elaine & John Danson ◊◊
Andy & Laurie Faith
Farrow Hutcheson Family ◊◊
Cynthia Eldridge '88 & Philipp Frei
Anne & William Hepburn ◊◊
Donna & Richard Ivey
Bina John ◊
Catherine Bray & Andrew Kingissepp ◊◊
Dani Klein '99
Brett Ledger & Patricia Olasker ◊
Levitt Family
Mariano Elia Foundation (Paul Elia & Rebecca Barrett)
Carolyn Marrelli-Dill '10
Megan Marrelli-Dill '05
Robin & Jon Martin ◊◊
Jessica & Wayne McDougall ◊◊
Hilary McKinley & Peter Gray
Claire Trepanier & Brad McLellan ◊
Lisa & John McMeans ◊
Barbara Moore ◊◊
Hayley Mullen '11
Diane & Alex Nishri ◊◊
Pace Family Foundation
Jay Prichard '99
Prichard-Wilson Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation ◊
Natalie Herbert & Ed Robertson ◊◊
Dana & Steve Rostowsky ◊◊
Shuchi & Peter Stanger ◊◊
McLean Sutcliffe Family, Hugh, Jennifer, Sophie '10 & Amelia '15
Lisa Swarbrick ◊◊
Jennifer & David Thompson ◊◊
John Thompson '13
Brenda Hoffman & Allan Vice
Sarah Dinnick & Colin Webster ◊
Kara (Cathcart) Williams ◊◊
3 Anonymous ◊◊
Michèle Andrews
Laurie Arseneau ◊◊
Erene Augustyn ◊
Dan Bailey ◊◊
Jennifer Bairos ◊◊
Arlette Bax
Laura Bazilewich ◊◊
Mara Berzins
Gilda Bissada ◊◊
Ben Blakey
Jeff Borsten ◊◊
Yvonne Boyd ◊
Krista Cobham
Dawn Cohen ◊
Ryan Coutts
Geneva Dalley '04
Nicole Davies
Nicola Daykin ◊
Michael Dilworth ◊◊
Darcy Doone ◊
Dara Gellman
Mary Gray ◊◊
Kerry Hooton
Diane Kingstone ◊◊
Dani Klein '99
Susan Lincoln ◊
Blair Livingstone ◊
Carol Macfarlane ◊◊
Jackie MacPherson ◊◊
Shannon McEwen
Lisa McMeans ◊
Barbara Moore ◊◊
Sacha Neesham ◊
Grant Nix ◊
Mufridah Nolan
Carley Page
Silvia Pauksens ◊◊
Jay Prichard '99
Greg Reynolds ◊
Dana Rostowsky ◊◊
Terry Sherrard ◊◊
Megan Smith
Peter Smith ◊◊
Nick Spence ◊
Emma Stewart
Lisa Swarbrick ◊◊
David Thompson ◊◊
Tricia Smith ◊◊
Jennifer Vincent
Kara (Cathcart) Williams ◊◊
Amy Wise ◊
Taylore Yardley
Maggie Zegas-Tepper ◊◊
Anonymous ◊◊
A Special Thank You to Our Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Sponsors
