Montessori School of Maui A N N UA L R E P O R T F O R F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 1 6 – 2 0 1 7
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2016 – 2017
FACULTY & STAFF
2016 – 2017
officers
René Anderson-Vorfeld head of school
GROWING GLOBAL CITIZENS SINCE 1978
Dr. Heather Haynes
¯ ‘Ohi’a
The Montessori School of Maui provides a
president
administration
comprehensive curriculum from early childhood
Allyson Mattox
Cheryl Kaupalolo director of finance
primary classrooms
Momi Chun finance associate
Kamani Alejandra Carta, Lead Teacher Vanessa Valencia, Assistant
Sue Schmidt admissions director
Kukui Megan Lacasse, Lead Teacher Roopa Akkineni, Assistant Iolani Antonio, Assistant
into adolescence by following the principles, spirit and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori’s method of education. This approach features a collaborative
vice president
Salma Ansari treasurer
learning environment to stimulate each student’s
Dr. Frederick Rawe
critical thinking skills, cultivate inquisitive minds and
secretary
empower children to actively participate in the rapidly changing environment of the twenty-first century. The Montessori School of Maui promotes: • Academic excellence
directors Jeremy Baldwin Sarah Bredhoff Christy Churchill
Robert Pellettieri Klaus Simmer Christopher Smith
• A love of learning
Tess Hanson DeLisa
David Spee
• Mutual respect
Tulasi Root Dennis
Ben Summit
• Environmental awareness and responsibility
Karen Frampton
Erica White
toddler classroom
Jamie Athearn administrative assistant
Judy Doucette, Lead Teacher Jennifer Dempsey, Assistant Monkeypod Shana Driscoll, Lead Teacher Elianne Santin, Assistant Nara
Chrissy Charles, Lead Teacher Azusa Merril, Assistant
Plumeria
Janie Kunin, Lead Teacher Anne Colletta, Assistant
Melinda Lyle-Javier program support specialist Ali Grimes development director Maile Lopes development assistant Dheya Kealoha librarian, field trip & rentals coordinator
Jen, Janie, Megan, Anne, Azusa, Chrissy, Elianne, Shana, Judy, Vanessa (Alejandra not pictured)
• Individual accountability within a social framework • The development of each child’s unique potential The Montessori School of Maui is a non-profit organization. We are a non-denominational, co-educational school enrolling and providing education to children without regard to race, nationality, gender, ethnic origin or religious beliefs.
honorary board members Susan R. Graham Annie Nelson Cynthia Quisenberry Cherry Anne Sutherland
Maile, Dheya, René, Momi, Ali, Sue, Melinda, Cheryl, Jamie
resource teachers
The Montessori School of Maui is fully accredited by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Both associations awarded our school a full seven-year accreditation, the highest term any school can receive. An expansion during the 2004-2005 school year was awarded LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
lower elementary classrooms
upper elementary classrooms
Banyan
‘Iliahi
Emily Severson, Lead Teacher Whitney Brooks, Assistant
Alastair Hebard, Lead Teacher Emma Oberg, Assistant
Jacaranda Gloria Del Rivo, Lead Teacher Amanda Asue, Assistant
Mamane Shirah Minagawa, Lead Teacher Holly Hume, Assistant
Wiliwili
middle school classroom
Jolyne Rego, Lead Teacher Hidemi Hiraga, Assistant
Koa
Jeffrey Friedman, Lead Teacher Melissa Meeker, Math/Science Resource Teacher
Art: Sandra Guerard Garden: Scott Lacasse Physical Education: Sarah Pearson Fine Arts Integration: Maui Academy of Performing Arts Hawaiian Studies (Lower El): Jamie Athearn Hawaiian Studies (Upper El and MS): Melinda Lyle-Javier Mindfulness: Ali Grimes Spanish: Elianne Santin Holly, Shirah, Gloria, Alastair, Jolyne, Hidemi, Jeffrey, Whitney, Emma, Amanda, Melissa, Emily
extended care Primary: Anela Medeiros, Regina Splees Elementary: Sarah Pearson, Mira Nissim
maintenance Tony Akina, Head of Maintenance Micah Miller, Maintenance Assistant Ricardo DeRama, Custodian Jonathan Rebo, Custodian
Kaimana Cannella, Custodian LIST AS OF 5/30/16
Resource Teachers: Melinda, Sandra, Sarah, Elianne, Scott, Jamie
Maintenance and Janitorial: Ricardo, Micah, Tony ( Jonny and Kaimana not pictured)
About Our School A Message from the Head of School Dear Montessori families, friends and supporters, Change is such a constant in life, and yet a great majority of us (adults) have a difficult time with change. The unknowns, the unfinished and the what-ifs often weigh heavier on our minds than the prospects of new possibilities, new relationships and new endeavors.
Heather Haynes Board President and René Anderson-Vorfeld Head of School
The students in our school are so fortunate to have the time and opportunity to experience consistency, build strong relationships with teachers and other students, and look forward to change as a healthy and natural flow of life. Spending three years within their classroom environments, learning routines and having experiences with leadership and collaboration, students build solid skill sets and the independence necessary to “lean in” to change and embrace it when it presents itself. At the time you read this Annual Report, I will have experienced sweet endings and you will be experiencing new beginnings. Embrace them. Our school sits on a solid foundation – one that was created well before my time by exemplary individuals who worked together toward a dream. I am indebted to those who came before me in this journey. The school they created is one that I had the fortune to teach in and lead for a bit of time – a time I will hold dear. I know that this school has a long life ahead. Some of the great work we did this year includes: • HAIS and WASC Accreditation Self-Study & Granting of Full 7-Year Term • Inaugural Taste of Upcountry Success • New Elementary–Middle School Spanish Program • Expansion of our Hawaiian Studies Program • Board-directed Successful Head of School Search I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Eric Dustman to the Montessori School of Maui. He brings with him a long history of Montessori work and leadership experience. Dr. Dustman is inheriting a strong community. He gets the honor to work with a committed Board of Directors, passionate and highly trained teachers and staff, an involved and caring parent body and the most amazing and loving students one could hope for.
Primary Program (Ages 3 years through 6 years, Pre-K through Kindergarten)
The Montessori School of Maui, founded in 1978, began by serving just 8 students in a simple Quonset hut beside St. Rita’s Church in H¯a‘iku. Over the years, the organization has mindfully grown, stretched and evolved to a lovely 9-acre campus serving over 270 students, from 18 months through 8th grade. The school employs a collaborative learning environment, based upon the time-honored principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over 100 years ago, designed to stimulate each student’s critical thinking skills, cultivate inquisitive minds and empower children to actively participate in the rapidly changing environment of the twenty-first century. The Montessori teaching methodology is uniquely based upon observation, peer learning, tactile learning materials and intrinsic motivation. Within each classroom, multiple grades or levels of students are combined, creating an environment wherein students serve as leaders for one another. These elements all come together to create a truly distinctive and remarkable approach to education.
Lower Elementary Program (Ages 6 years through 9 years, Grades 1 through 3)
Our Programs consist of five classroom levels:
I am grateful for the opportunities I have enjoyed at this remarkable place of learning and I Upper Elementary Program (Ages 9 years through 12 years, Grades 4 through 6)
thank you for your continued support of our beautiful school. Mahalo nui loa,
René Anderson-Vorfeld Head of School
Toddler Program (Ages 18 months to 3 years)
Middle School Program (Ages 12 years through 14 years, Grades 7 and 8)
Our Mission • Academic Excellence
• A Love of Learning
• Mutual Respect
Academic excellence is a cornerstone of the Montessori School of Maui’s mission. Since we opened our doors in 1978, we have continually self-reflected as a school, and grown and developed our program to be a
One of the primary tenants of our school and the Montessori philosophy is to inspire a “Love of Learning” within each child. Teachers work on an individual and group basis with students to support the intrinsic curiosities within each child, so that they come to awaken their innate passions and love their days at school. Great attention is
The healthy social and emotional learning environment that Montessori School of Maui provides allows our students to learn and cultivate self-respect, respect for their environment, respect for their peers and respect for their teachers. By fostering this sense of mutual respect for each other, we encourage and develop a sense of peace within the school community. Students address their teachers by their first names cultivating a sense of connection and respect between teacher and student. When
model Montessori school. Student abilities vary across all academic areas of study. Therefore, our focus on academic excellence, layered with a flexible child-centered model, allows a child to work individually, or with peers, at the level that meets the developmental and cognitive needs at that particular point in time. The beauty of the Montessori methodology is that it allows flexibility for both teachers and students to build upon the intrinsic curiosity of the student to achieve growth and academic success. Many successful Montessorieducated adults accredit their Montessori education with giving them the ability to “think outside the box.” In a changing world, our education gives students the critical thinking skills, self-confidence and adaptability that will be necessary for them to thrive.
paid to finding a sense of contentment in our students’ daily workflow and their social and collaborative time. Of this, Maria Montessori said, “Joy, feeling one’s own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.” During the morning work cycle, our teachers create an environment of “joyful workflow” for our students, where they are given the freedom to choose their work, follow their curiosities and thereby strengthen their intrinsic motivation.
teachers model respect by being respectful to children, as opposed to a system of rewards and punishments, a true culture of respect can be created. Whether it is a gentle hand on the shoulder or soft words guiding better behavior, we see this respect modeled by our teachers and embodied in our students as they grow and develop. If our students can grow into adults who carry this sense of respect in their interactions and pursuits, we believe this is one of the foundations for a more peaceful and interdependent society and world.
• Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
• The Development of Each Child’s Unique Potential
• Individual Accountability within a Social Framework
Cultivating a love and respect for the Earth and our environment is tied into many aspects of our students’ education at Montessori School of Maui. Beginning in Toddler and Primary, students experience hands on activities with Living Classroom Teacher, Scott Lacasse, in the beautiful School Garden. As they grow into their elementary years, students continue to work and study in the Living Classroom and Peace Garden and also take field trip excursions within our wondrous
In our prepared environments, teachers become the ally of the students, in assisting them in their growth and achieving their unique potential. It was Maria Montessori’s belief that each child has a unique gift and purpose, and that the job of the educator was to help the student tap into that
At our school, great attention and care is given to each individual student, not only to bring out the intrinsic gifts within that child, but also to help the child embody individual accountability. With the tools they are given for mutual respect and healthy communication at our school, they also learn about personal integrity and accountability. Their hearts and emotions are held in great care, and they
environment of Maui. In Middle School, those trips and service work expand to include environmental care and sustainability projects on campus and community service work in the greater Maui community. As part of the mission of “Growing Global Citizens,” we feel that care for and sustainability of our planet is of paramount importance for our students’ learning.
potential. Our academic curriculum is rich and rigorous. Our Montessori teachers are trained in the art of observation, and appreciate the differences between students’ learning styles and interests. Teachers create individualized learning plans for each of their students, which allows them to realize their full potential.
are also taught about the responsibility that comes with their own actions and behaviors – how to humbly apologize and take ownership for their mistakes. The classroom ‘ohana is held with the highest regard, so that each individual also learns to care for and support the greater group.
Resource Classes
What are the fundamental assumptions or beliefs about how students best learn that guide the school’s work? How are those beliefs enacted in the classroom, and how effective are they in promoting student learning?
In addition to our students’ regular academic lessons and morning workflow, we have a rich program of special classes taking place in the afternoons at school. These resource classes allow our students to receive a holistic education in the spirit of the Montessori pedagogy. Resource classes include: Art, Hawaiian Studies, Living Classroom in the School Garden, Maui Performing Arts Academy (MAPA), Mindfulness, Physical Education (PE), and Spanish. Toddler and Primary students primarily engage in nature study in the Living Classroom. As our students grow older into Lower Elementary their studies expand to include more specialized study. In 2016-17, the Spanish Program (Lower Elementary – Middle School) returned under the valuable guidance of Primary Assistant and Ecuador native, Eilanne Santin. Additionally, Maui Academy of Performing Arts residencies were expanded from 6-week to 10-week sessions, much to the delight and engagement of our students. Our Hawaiian Studies program was also expanded to include longer class sessions with Program Specialist Melina Lyle-Javier (Upper Elementary and MS) and Jamie Athearn (LE). For the second year running, Development Director, Ali Grimes, offered weekly Mindfulness lessons (UE, MS and Staff.)
hawaiian studies
Accreditation YE AR 2 0 1 6– 2 0 1 7 spanish
mapa
mapa
pe
mindfulness
During the 2016-17 school year, our Head of School, René, spearheaded the lengthy accreditation self-study process, with the support of a committee of teachers and staff. All independent schools in Hawaii must go through a self-reflective process to receive accreditation status with Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), an entity that governs best practices for schools across Hawaii. Additionally, many schools (including our school) apply for accreditation status through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC.) This process has been required of schools every six years, although this year, HAIS’ new protocols offered the possibility of a seven-year Accreditation status. A visiting committee team comprised of four educators from Oahu and Kauai, came to campus in March to complete a visitation with our students, staff and families. In their report to staff and Board members at the completion of their visit, the accreditation team gave us a wonderful review. Our team leader said that she had never seen a school with so many “Highly Effective” ratings in her experience as an accreditation team member. We are thrilled to announce that we were granted the longest possible accreditation tenure: a seven-year accreditation status with a mid-cycle progress report and one-day visit in year 4. Please enjoy a few excerpts from our accreditation report, which highlight some of the strengths of our school:
Montessori philosophy, and our daily practice, operates on the fundamental assumption that student learning through work and study is most successful when children have purposeful, real world, personally meaningful, hands-on experiences. Each classroom environment is staged to foster these beliefs by placing developmentally appropriate activities, with materials, within the scope of the students’ choice. Movement is required of almost every chosen activity and every classroom has access to an outdoor yard space to support larger movement needs. Based on skills and responsibility previously demonstrated, students are initiated into a learning experience upon which they are the independent navigators of successive learning. When the community of students is actively engaged with a purposeful hum of work versus a wild and disparate classroom, or one that is overly adult controlled, this is the testimony that demonstrates effectiveness. Our classrooms have a hum of purposeful activity. With up to twenty-four individual choices of activity going on concurrently, the “energy” of the classrooms is alive. The student’s progress through the multi-year curriculums – documented and assessed with teams, between parents and students – is another means of measuring student learning. Describe the role of the preschool in the overall program of the school, and assess how effective it is in supporting the school’s mission. The Primary Program – or preschool – is the foundation of our school. Both the Montessori methodology and our school began at the Primary level. Maria Montessori started her first ‘Casa de Bambini’ in the slums of Rome in 1907 for the 3-6 age group. All other Montessori trainings for other age groups followed the Primary. The Primary program effectively supports the school’s mission. The Primary environments are comprised of mixed age groups of children three through six (3-6) years old and support the overall school’s mission of fostering independence and creating thinkers who solve problems and adapt to their time, place and culture. Within each environment, the children learn to first care for themselves and then for their environment, which allows the children to develop the skills needed to be independent learners, as well as critical thinkers who solve problems. The mixed age group allows the older children to act as leaders aiding the younger children when needed, and fosters a sense of community within the classroom. Lessons and materials are presented in a way that allows children to repeat and work toward self-perfection, thus allowing them to refine their skills and build the necessary building blocks of learning such as concentration and intrinsic motivation. In addition, this program introduces key elements of language and math through concrete materials to build the foundations for higher learning. Briefly describe the climate of the school. How does the school assess its climate, and how are members of the community engaged in conversations about the results? Our community climate/feel has been described in terms such as close-knit, open arms, ‘ohana, welcoming and inclusive. The school values community from the small classroom communities to the larger whole-school community and outward toward our greater Maui and world community. At any given time during drop-off or pick-up times a visitor will likely see multigenerational involvement of families in our school community. Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, older and younger siblings and cousins are commonly involved in bringing or taking children to and from school. Some of these moments are quick transitions and others involve lingering on campus visiting with others. School constituents are extended the Montessori principles of an open community. There are systems in place that allow for constituent voices to be heard via the proper channels and protocols. These systems are clear and allow for flexibility so needs can be easily addressed or directed to the proper areas. The school assesses its climate through casual conversations, scheduled parent meetings, dialogue in PTO meetings, attendance at Parent Education gatherings, participation in whole-school events, participation in parent volunteer hours and through our annual Parent Satisfaction Survey. Currently the HOS and the BOD have reviewed the two years of results of the Parent Satisfaction Survey. Some information has been shared regarding changes in programming in light of feedback from the Parent Satisfaction Survey in our Annual Report The school needs to look at how more of the information of the survey can be shared with the greater school community, as both a tool of celebration and also a tool of reflection and self-improvement.
Toddler and Primary F IE L D T R I P S A ND STU DY Maria Montessori believed strongly in the importance of early childhood education. Notably, she said, “The greatest development is achieved during the first years of life, and therefore it is then that the greatest care should be taken. If this is done, then the child does not become a burden; he will reveal himself as the greatest marvel of nature.” Along with a rich Montessori-based curriculum and beautiful materials to support independence and joyful workflow for these young children, our youngest students also benefit from special instruction and celebrations. Toddler and Primary Classes spend time in the Living Classroom in smaller groups, where they engage in environmental learning and activities led by Living Classroom teacher, Scott Lacasse. Primary students also host “Primary Teas” in the classroom three times a year, where parents, grandparents and friends are invited into the classroom for students to share their work with their family and enjoy tea. This year, some other special visits included parent Beth Liebling’s band, “Teleporter,” Alum Lukas Nelson’s band, “Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real” and canine visits from Assistance Dogs of Hawaii. Also, our 3rd Year students from all five Primary Classrooms attended a whale watch together last Spring.
Lower and Upper Elementary F I E L D TRI P S AN D STUDY In addition to our rich academic curriculum at school, our Lower and Upper Elementary students engage in off-site trips around Maui. This provides an opportunity for our students to get a hands on experience with science, culture and service work right her at home. This year, all three Lower Elementary Classes – Banyan, Jacaranda and WiliWili took an informative trip to the Maui Ocean Center. After spending the afternoon there, students were able to sleep overnight in the beautiful aquarium. Additionally, our Lower Elementary Classes traveled to the MACC to participate in “Can Do” days and attended the Maui County Agricultural Festival on Haleakala¯. Our Upper Elementary Classes also had a rich year of field trips. From tide pool study and snorkeling at Keawekapu, service work and cleaning at Kealia Pond, to performances at the MACC, it was an enriching year. The Upper Elementary Classes held their annual overnight hiking and camping trips in the beautiful Hosmer’s Grove and Camp Olowalu.
Middle School
Earth Day 2017
KOA CL A SS O CC U PATIO NS
RE D UC E , RE USE , REC YC L E
An integral part of the Montessori School of Maui Middle School program, Occupations are hands-on, project-driven collaborative learning experiences that emerge from needs of the land and community that serve a real, purposeful benefit. An engaging experience for the adolescent child, Occupations involve many opportunities for social organization, valorization through contribution, integration of the academic disciplines, real-world problem solving, plus the freedom to both make and learn from mistakes. This past school year, there were several successful Occupations projects in the Koa Class. Students were able to choose Occupations breakout groups to participate in areas of interest to them. For the Recycling Center Rebuild & Koa Store Renovation on campus, our Middle School students partnered with local architects, engineers and landscapers to redesign the new Recycling Center, and to make important modifications to the Koa Store building. From architecture to carpentry, the students were hands on every step of the way. Mahalo to Wally Vorfeld, Cliff Ryden, Hadas Metzler, Alika Romanchak and Scott Lacasse who helped by volunteering their time and professional talents for the success of this project. Among the other endeavors this year, our students participated in a project called “Solar Panels in the Garden” where, under the tutelage of Living Classroom Teacher Scott Lacasse and parent Cliff Ryden, they wrote and received a $1,000 grant from Kokua Hawaii Foundation for the purchase of materials to construct a solar panel powered vermicompost tea brewer. This vitamin-rich “tea” will be used campus-wide. Technology, Robotics & Engineering Instructor, Jason Verkaart, assisted in teaching several of the technology Occupations projects including “The Garden App Data Collection Project,” where students designed, coded and wrote an App for monitoring all aspects of plant growth in the School Garden. Additionally, Jason taught “Electronic Music,” where 8th grade students created and mixed their own music tracks that were shared with all of the school’s students at the end of the spring term. It was a busy year for the Koa Class, with two additional Occupations projects including sustained work on the evolving Plumeria Grove near the Root Family Center as well as building and designing of the Herb Garden in front of the Koa Classroom. The students learned graphic design for their first-ever Koa Class Literary Magazine (mag-e-zen), continued field work and study at the Merwin Conservancy, joined in volunteer service with Maui Food Bank, studied and worked on nationally published research at the Institute for Astronomy, learned T-shirt design and printing with MOMI parent Pete Norins, delved into Fine Arts with Art Teacher Sandra Guerard, and produced many high-quality video projects. One was ¯ another won a state-wide aired on PBS Hawai‘i’s HIKI NO, Middle School competition, and a heart-warming piece was made for MOMI’s Mahalo Reception. Most notably, the Koa Class took its biennial ten-day class trip to Washington, DC, culminating in previous and concurrent study of American History.
In honor of Earth Day this past school year, our Sustainability Committee, comprised of students and staff, planned a day full of learning and celebration with a focus on the theme, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The morning kicked off with an all-school drone photo and video on the lower lawn. The drone was a delight to our students and staff alike and it was not hard to get our students to look at the camera! After the photo, there was an all-school assembly in the Root Family Center, where University of Hawaii Maui College’s Kate Cheney gave an informative presentation on Zero Waste to our community. Following the presentation, the Sustainability Committee organized Reduce, Reuse, Recyclethemed games for students of all ages to participate in throughout the day to understand sustainability in a fun and collaborative way. Additionally, for the second year in a row all of our students participated in a service project for Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership. Students created native seed balls for use in the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership’s reforestation field work in Nuu/ Kaupo next planting season. The project was spearheaded by Keahi Bustamante, LHWRP Field Director and Montessori parent, and Scott Lacasse, our school’s Living Classroom Teacher. Kids were, again this year, given an opportunity to participate in meaningful, large-scale work for our local environment on Earth Day. The 2016-17 Student Philanthropy Committee also chose LHWRP as one of their beneficiaries and donated $2,000 to the organization through their fundraising efforts.
Kupuna Day 2017
Lei Day 2017
Each January, our students’ kupuna, or grandparents, are invited to spend the day with their grandchildren on our school campus. Locally-based kupuna, as well as those who visit from the mainland and beyond, spend the morning with their grandchildren in their classrooms. Our kupuna receive a hands-on experience with the Montessori materials and methodology, guided by both their grandchildren and classroom teachers. After a busy morning spent learning and observing in the classrooms, kupuna enjoy a potluck brunch in the RFC provided by Montessori parents. There is also an opportunity for family photos along with a craft project. We thank our kupuna for all of the ways they support their grandchildren, from drop-off and pick up, to paying tuition, making school donations and more. We hope to see many returning and new faces at our Kupuna Day next year, on January 19, 2018.
Our beautiful annual Lei Day festivities took place on May 5, 2017 – a favorite all-school celebration of spring and Hawaiian culture. Throughout the school year, students learned the history and culture of Hawaii through oli, mele, hula, lei making and other cultural practices under the tutelage of Hawaiian Studies teachers Melinda Lyle-Javier and Jamie Athearn. Middle School students Lea Stuart and Preston Summit emceed the event. Primary through 8th grade classes performed a Hawaiian song or hula. We are so proud of our students, who embodied the spirit of aloha in their joyful, heartfelt performances. To honor René at her last Lei Day as our Head of School, following the class performances, a student representative from each of our twelve classes, had an opportunity to offer René a lei and a phrase of gratitude. To conclude the Lei Day celebration, the students performed “Oli Mahalo,” an oli to express our school wide gratitude, admiration, thanks and love to René for years of dedication. We appreciate all of the parents, kupuna and friends who came out to join us this Lei Day to enjoy the student performances and aloha spirit of the day.
Honoring the Legacy of a Bright Montessorian and Leader René Anderson-Vorfeld – Head of School, 2011- 2017
R
ené Anderson-Vorfeld has a vibrant memory of setting foot on the Montessori School of Maui campus in 1993, then located in P¯a‘ia, to pick up her three-year old nephew from his Primary Classroom. Her reaction was akin to wonder and curiosity when she saw the classroom environment and sensed the aura of peace and equanimity in the classroom. René was pregnant with her first daughter, Kylie and living on Kaua‘i. Fueled by her fascination with what she saw at Montessori School of Maui and impending parenthood, René started reading as many books as she could about Maria Montessori and the Montessori methodology. René and Robbie returned to Maui when Kylie was one year old and then René gave birth to her second child, Kamryn, on Maui a year later. Excited to enroll both girls at the Montessori School of Maui, René travelled with the girls, ages three and one, to Boulder, CO and spent the summer immersed in her early childhood Primary Montessori training. During the 1998-99 school year, she started out as a Primary Assistant in Judy Doucette’s class (currently our Toddler Teacher.) The next two years, René moved to Primary Assistant in Sue Schmidt’s class (currently our Admissions Director.) During that time, when Kamryn and Kylie were six and eight, René left the girls with their father on Maui for the summer and completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler Certification. René started out as the Toddler Assistant in 2001 and then became the Toddler Teacher at MOMI in 2003. René’s ten years spent in the Toddler Classroom allowed her to feel as if she was completing her “cosmic task” in life, a term coined by Maria Montessori. Dr. Montessori hoped to awaken the curiosities and intrinsic motivation in each of her students, so that they fulfilled their “cosmic task,” as a part of her education methodology. Later on, during her time as Head of School, René often happily utilized her “toddler whisperer” and “nap queen” abilities to lend a helping hand in
the Toddler Classroom as needed. Of her time in the Toddler Class, René says, “I always felt it was my calling and honor to be able to provide that early childhood education foundation for all of the families I served over the years.” The 2012-13 school year marked René’s first year as Head of School, taking over the lead after longtime and beloved Head, Cynthia WinansBurns retired. The success of the school’s growth and fiscal health during René’s tenure as Head of School is a testament to her leadership. Although, René would shy away from taking credit for these successes and acknowledge the group of talented staff and Board members that made success possible, her leadership must be acknowledged. Montessori School of Maui saw a 20% increase in enrollment from 240 students in 2012-13 to 270 by the 2016-17 school year. Re-enrollment saw it’s lowest attrition rates on record in 2016-17, in René’s last year as Head. With the financial crisis of 2008, nationwide independent schools faced enrollment challenges, MOMI included. Unlike other schools, who have continued to struggle, our school has grown and thrived since then and reached a record number of students enrolled. President of the Board of Trustees, Heather Haynes shared about her work with René, “I had the honor of spending the last three years
working with René closely as the President of the Board of Directors at Montessori. René brought a wealth of leadership skills to our school. She is a brilliant educator with a deep understanding of the power and mission of the Montessori pedagogy. She facilitated growth and community-building among Board members, staff and the MOMI community at large. Best of all, those who have worked with René know that she always had a great sense of humor throughout the journey. I will miss my work with her, but am happy for the bright future ahead of her on her next adventure in life.” Of the Montessori staff and Board members, René says, “I feel so confident in the stability of the school and the people who are in place to carry on the immense amount of care that goes into the running of this school. I know that the team will continue to build upon the success of our school and care for it long into the future.” Some of the other accomplishments during René’s time as Head of School included opening a 5th Primary Classroom in the fall of 2012 to meet more demand and serve the needs of the community and the building of the Middle School Environment. Thanks to a fortunate construction
Robbie, Kylie, René and Kamryn
bid and a successful Middle School Capital Campaign, the Koa Class moved into the Middle School Environment in December of 2015. The adolescents are thriving in the space that is customized and built for their needs. About these growth initiatives, René remarks, “We have always had a culture of ‘team effort’ to get things accomplished here. I am very proud of our growth, planning and sustainable future on the horizon. Our Board and staff work hard in the best interest of children and know how to work as a team to move mountains.” René departs MOMI after nineteen years of loving service to this school community. Looking forward to the future, she and her husband are excited for retirement, and their next adventure, moving to Montana. Robbie is retiring from a long tenure working for Kaanapali Farms where he grew sugar cane and coffee on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains. René and Robbie will enjoy their new home with a beautiful mountain vista, road-tripping, fly fishing and enjoying all of the new opportunities and adventures provided by their new state. Having grown up in a rural ranch community in Wyoming, René says that the move feels, “like the completion of a circle, and we are very excited to be back living in the majestic mountains, with rivers and adventures ahead of us.” René’s daughter Kylie graduated this past spring from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in biological sciences. Her daughter, Kamryn, is heading into her senior year studying for an accounting degree at Colorado State University. Both young women look forward to living closer to their parents on the mainland this upcoming year. Our ‘ohana had an opportunity to say goodbye to René in many ways this year. Our Board and leadership donors had an opportunity to thank her at the Mahalo Reception last spring and our students and staff gave her a very special send-off at Lei Day. The send-off has been bittersweet, but full of gratitude and joy from our community. When asked about her favorite thing about her experience here, René responded, “I love the sense of community and the ultimate care that individuals have for one another. Our whole mission is about the best interests of children in their growth and learning, and every single member of the staff, Board and families past and present, are true to this mission.” We wish the best for René and her family as they continue on their life journey!
Welcome Dr. Eric Dustman New Head of School
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ormer Head of School, René AndersonVorfeld, generously gave our community notice of her retirement in June of 2016, allowing our Board of Trustees a full year to conduct a search for our next Head of School. The MOMI Board of Trustees promptly formed a Head of School Search Committee, made up of eight Board members plus Honorary Board member Susan Graham. The school was able to secure a grant from Hawaii Community Foundation to support the costs involved in hiring a search firm to conduct a nationwide search. Head of School Search Committee Chair, Tess DeLisa had this to say about the transition process, “The Head of School Search Committee did an extensive, nationwide search under the guidance of RG-175 consultant, Doreen Oleson. Our committee met throughout the summer and fall of 2016 to review resumes, conduct interviews via Skype, and thoroughly vet all candidates. We also invited three finalists to campus to visit with our community of staff, teachers and parents.” After months of interviews and hard work, the Board offered the Head of School position to Dr. Eric Dustman. A credentialed Montessorian (AMS Elementary I-II) and native Ohioan, Eric joined the Montessori School of Maui as our new Head of School this past July. Formerly a principal at Qingdao Amerasia International School in Qingdao, China, a Toddler – Grade 12 International Baccalaureate program, Eric spent the last two years collaborating to fuse the IB and Montessori pedagogies at the toddler through early childhood levels. Before moving
Amelia, Witt, Renée, Lucy and Eric
to China with his family, Eric enjoyed a long, 14-year tenure as Head of School at The New School Montessori (TNSM) in Cincinnati, Ohio. A dually accredited program, TNSM remains a local and regional leader in Montessori education as it approaches its 50th Anniversary. Extensive experience in international, private, and public schools attracted the Search Committee to Eric, while our exceptional record of promoting Montessori education and extending its benefits to children and adults alike, made our school a place of keen interest for him. Eric stated, “After spending the last two years in China, it is time for my wife and I to begin reestablishing our family and our roots within the United States. Doing so in Hawai‘i with and among those at MOMI who have been so welcoming, looks very promising.” Tess also had this to say about Eric, “Overwhelmingly, our community found Eric to be an excellent match for the Montessori School of Maui. He is a highly experienced, certified Montessori teacher with a PhD in Empathy Education, and many years of demonstrated success as a Montessori Head of School. Eric’s qualifications, along with his immediate rapport with our committee and community, give us great excitement for things to come under his leadership. We are very happy to warmly welcome Eric and his family to our school ‘ohana.” Of the transition, outgoing Head of School, René offers, “I have great confidence in Eric and his leadership abilities. Along with the passionate team that has been here for such a long time, I only see the continuing bright future for this amazing community.” Eric arrived on Maui on July 1, and his wife Renée and their three children Lucy (16), Amelia (14), and Witt (12) will arrive prior to the start of the new school year. Should you see them around the island, please wish them a hearty “Aloha” and welcome them to our MOMI ‘ohana.
MAHALO TO THE PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION! Our 2016-17 PTO Team led a successful year of fundraising and community building events including: the PTO New Parent Breakfast, PTO Fall Potluck, the Holiday Fair, Valentines’ Day Date Night and the Annual Staff Appreciation Party. We are grateful to our leadership team this year led by PTO President, Roxanne Gillespie, Treasurer, Carol Wentworth and Secretary, Jackie Goring.
A New Generation of Montessori School of Maui Alumni ALUMNI NEWS 2016
Carole Wentworth, Roxanne Gillespie and Jackie Goring
STAFF DEVELOPMENT Leading Schools of the Future Conference René, Cheryl, Sue and Ali were honored to participate in the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools-sponsored Leading Schools of the Future Conference in April 2017 on Oahu. Independent, Public and Charter school administrative leaders gathered to discuss and collaborate about the idea of education in this rapidly changing world. René was honored and thanked for her service as a retiring Head of School. Keynote speaker, Ted Dintersmith, who wrote a book and produced a film called Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing our Kids for the Innovation Era shared with our group he felt that the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Yong Zhao, Ali Grimes, René AndersonMontessori methodology Vorfeld, Cheryl Kaupalolo and Sue Schmidt was so successful that it should continue all the way through graduate school. The LSOTF Conference was an affirmation of our philosophy of education and offered inspiration for what is to come.
28th Annual International Montessori Congress Teachers Shana Driscoll (Monkeypod), Jeffrey Friedman (Koa), Janie Kunin (Plumeria) and Emily Severson (Banyan) traveled this past summer to attend the 28th Annual International Montessori Conference in Prague. The conference topic this year is “Pathway to Peace: Montessori Education for Social Change.” We look forward to the wisdom that our teachers will bring back from their learning and networking at this important international Shana Driscoll, Jeffrey Friedman and Janie Kunin conference. (Emily Severson not pictured)
Lily Janneck is dancing at Kintz Mejia Academy of Ballet in Virginia. This past summer Lily studied at the Boston Ballet.
Kaili Scheer (formerly Kaili Lickle) married Jeff Scheer on May 21, 2017 at her father’s property in H¯a‘iku. Kaili owns and runs Olympia Acitvewear and Jeff serves as head chef at The Mill House at Maui Tropical Plantation. Makala Kaupalolo graduated from Harvard Law School in May of 2017. She spent the summer on Maui studying for the New York State Bar Exam and will begin working at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City in September.
In 2016, Billy Kemper won the Pe‘ahi Big Wave Challenge at Jaws and he also won Billabong’s Best Wave of the Year. Shane Kiyota graduated in the Spring of 2016 from the University of Puget Sound. He recently was accepted into a masters program for Chemical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Shane’s brother, Tyler Kiyota is in his Sophomore year at the Naval Academy. Katy Gerondale came back to visit us on campus this year when she was visiting from Salem, Oregon where she is a 4th grade teacher. When asked what her best life lesson was from her Montessori education, Katy said, “I learned to take responsibility for myself – so that I know I need to be the one to act to get what I need to get accomplished in my life.” Kaimana Neil worked at our summer camp this past summer with his mom, Primary Teacher, Shana Driscoll. He is attending Roosevelt University in Chicago where he is majoring in Musical Theater. Of his biggest life lesson from MOMI, Kaimana says, “I learned to be independent and to trust in my abilities and myself. At the same time, the MOMI community is so supportive, and if I ever needed help with anything, someone was there for me. The community has a great support system.” Kaimana’s sister Lakota, also visited campus over the summer where she is currently in her last year at Kalama Intermediate School. Of our school, she says, “MOMI helped me discover my creative outlet through learning.”
Congratulations to the Montessori School of Maui 2017 8th Grade Graduating class!
Kai, Taiger, Aidan, Duke, Marysa, Lea
Kailie Ogasawara, Maya Grimm, Charlotte Clarke, Zyanya Lee, Nicholas Papritz and Preston Felker
We wish the best of luck to our class of 2013 8th grade graduates who recently graduated from high school: Charlotte Clarke – Linfield College Preston Felker – working in Malibu, CA Maya Grimm – Washington State University Zyanya Lee – working locally Kailie Ogasawara – Fashion Institute of Technology Nicholas Papritz – University of Hawaii at Manoa
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Emma Burns ’03
Rebecca Narrowe ’97
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e are pleased to announce that Alum Emma Burns will be joining our Board of Trustees beginning her 3-year term in the 2017-18 school year. Our Board of Trustees takes great thought in choosing new members who are passionate advocates for a Montessori School of Maui education, as well as intelligent and active community members. Emma has a lifelong connection to MOMI as a student from Primary through 8th grade. She was a graduate of the school’s first 8th grade class in 2003. Her younger sister, Charlotte, also attended MOMI through Middle School. In addition to being an Alumna, Emma’s connection runs deep through the legacy of her family members who have dedicated much of their lives to the school’s mission. Emma’s mother, Cynthia Winans-Burns, was not only one of the early advocates of MOMI and served at the school in multiple teaching and administrative roles, but most notably served as beloved Head of School for twelve years. After Cynthia’s passing in 2013, a scholarship fund was established in her name, the Cynthia Winans-Burns Scholarship Fund, that will provide tuition assistance to children of alumni. Emma’s grandfather, “Bugs,” was MOMI’s longtime Head of Maintenance, her grandmother, Norma, started the library and served as School Librariran. Her cousins, Eldon and Leila Christenson, also attended Montessori. Emma’s aunt, Pam Winans, also started our afterschool program with a crafting class for
children after school at MOMI. Emma has fond memories of starting out as a three year-old in Michelle’s class at the former P¯a‘ia campus location. From her years in Primary and Elementary, Emma recalls her love for Montessori materials, including the satisfaction of tracing the sandpaper cursive letters and how math was made much more understandable to her with materials like the fraction metal insets. After Montessori, Emma attended Seabury Hall and then completed her BA at the University of Oregon with a focus on Peace Studies and Human Rights. Emma then returned to Maui after graduation. She has worked for Mama’s Fish House for eleven years, five of the most recent years as Floor Manager. Emma finds that she uses many of the skills she learned during her Montessori education in her daily life as a manager. In dealing with 75 employees and 900 strangers every night, the communication and conflict resolution skills from Montessori
Cynthia, Scott, Emma, Charlotte, and DJ
serve to help Emma communicate with a multitude of personalities with differing communication styles. Also, the quality of respecting others’ thoughts and opinions, which is a paramount piece of Montessori learning, has served Emma well throughout her life. She says, “Montessori gave me the environment to learn to love learning. I was given the freedom to search for the tools that worked best for me to learn the tasks given, which benefits me now in the workplace with solving problems and creating solutions.“ One of the greatest things Emma recalls learning from her mom, Cynthia, is that the job of the teacher is to give the student the opportunity to become the best individual through growth and learning in their class, and to ultimately become an empowered, responsible and kind person in society.
Emma notes that children as young as toddler-aged are taught responsibility right from the very beginning at Montessori. “I believe that Montessori allows the child to develop a passion for learning that sticks with them throughout life; pushing them to constantly improve themselves and the world around them.” Emma shares that she feels deeply honored to be asked to be a part of the Board at MOMI, particularly because she is younger, “It’s amazing that I was invited to be a part of something that can directly effect the lives of children. Hopefully I can help to create dreams for children at Montessori, raise money for the school and contribute to the overall mission of the Board to plan for the future success of this school that is so dear to my heart.” Thank you to Emma for coming back to MOMI as an active member of the Board of Trustees. We as a school are truly grateful.
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ontessori School of Maui Alum Rebecca Narrowe, now 30, divides her time between Ashland, Oregon and Maui, where she grew up. Rebecca’s own school years at Montessori School of Maui inspired her to take her experience of “peace education in action” and expand upon it in her professional life in other ways. She spent her formative primary years through upper elementary schooling at MOMI. Following her time at Montessori, she attended Baldwin High School, then went on to attend Northwestern University, graduating with a degree in Theater & Film from the School of Communication. Rebecca is involved with many creative and environmental initiatives and works to expand the social artistry movement, started by Dr. Jean Houston in the 1960’s. Social artistry aims to utilize art and creativity as a way to activate social change, and ultimately intends to create a more peaceful society. Rebecca loves to help children and adults alike get in touch with themselves and their creative energy and works to this end in many different ways. She and her partner produce and facilitate a podcast called “The Story Connective,” where they share “Inspiring Stories of Resilience and Possibilities.” Check out and follow Rebecca’s work at: storyconnective.podbean. com or by finding Story Connective in any podcast app on your phone. Similarly, she is also Project Leader and a facilitator for Story Bridge Space – a community performance-based storytelling technique that combines art and science to establish the practice of social transformation and peace within and across communities.
Learn more about Story Bridge at: www.storybridge.space She also teaches, through the Jean Houston Foundation, a weeklong course in Ashland, Oregon, alongside Dr. Jean Houston, Peggy Rubin and other notable social artists. socialartistryodyssey.com In another role, Rebecca acts as Guardian Liaison / Communication Coordinator for the senior mentor teachers of Forrest Yoga. There are elements of social artistry that Rebecca brings to her work in the yoga world as well. In everything that she does, Rebecca asks herself, “How can I live my life in a way that exemplifies peaceful activism and inspires people to connect with themselves, each other, and the planet?” To this end, she is in Ashland for the summer beta teaching classes called “The Art of Social Permaculture” – combining the principles and observations of permaculture with the peaceful creativity-based activism of social artistry. This past school year, we were fortunate to have Rebecca back at MOMI on campus teaching our Lower and Upper Elementary Classes through Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA.) Rebecca loves to teach children how to access their intrinsic creative potential through creative movement. It is Rebecca’s belief that the exploration of movement practices can activate other creative and innovative centers in
the child’s mind. Rebecca’s classes were a huge success with our students, and we look forward to her joining us during the upcoming school year. She challenges herself as a teacher asking, “Can I give these kids the permission to express themselves truly creatively?” In her classes, Rebecca gets the students to contemplate, “Where does creativity come from? Where do artists get their ideas? How do you take that idea and express it physically?” This helps children get in touch with their own creative energy. Students are
guided to explore physical and sensorial practices and utilize their imaginative abilities with both. An example of an exercise would be asking students to close their eyes and pretend they are flying in the sky, then as they suddenly feel the need to get out of the way of an airplane, make a frozen picture with their body of that moment. Rebecca has enjoyed teaching at her very own school, noting that, “Montessori already gives that freedom of individuality of creative expression.” Of her own experience at MOMI, Rebecca says “My Montessori education has 100% influenced who I am today. Montessori taught me how to create for myself and be myself. It taught me to get excited about an idea, chart my own path on how to get there and see the world in terms of opportunities of how to get there. I feel like this is an important quality in this day and age, when the challenges we face compel us to rethink where we are going and how to get there. Montessori taught me to be resourceful and to know that we can find a new vision of resilience as a peaceful society.” We look forward to welcoming Rebecca back to campus this school year!
Financials: 2016–2017 Fiscal Year
Hawaii Petroleum Dr. Heather Haynes Kimo and Sheila Haynes Michael and Rosie Hesse Hope Builders Walter Vorfeld and Ellen Loucks Maui Economic Development Board Pacific Rimland/Goodfellow Bros. Robert and Michelle Pellettieri Javan and Keri Quinsaat Christopher ** and Sara Smith Stephen Smith
Montessori School of Maui’s fiscal health is paramount to our longevity and institutional success. As a nonprofit organization, our administrative staff and Board of Directors work hard to ensure our financial security by running a balanced budget; which includes yearly income from tuition, annual donations, grant monies and more. Typically, the School finishes the fiscal year slightly under-budget and keeps a small amount of reserve monies. This year, due to the importance and financial need to support a thorough, national Head of School search, we invested funds in our future towards this end and finished our year slightly over-budget. We did additionally receive a $20,000 grant from the Hawai‘i Community Foundations’s Organizational Capacity Building Program, the Robert Emens Black Fund, for our Head of School transition efforts.
Operating Budget and Financial Statement
Mahalo!
2016 – 2017 Fiscal Year
We are very grateful to all of the parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, alumni,
REVENUE
EXPENSES
Tuition and Fees $3,456,962 ________________________________________ Grants and Fundraisers 177,229 ________________________________________ Annual Fund 87,479 ________________________________________ Other Income 29,224 ________________________________________
Total Revenue
$3,750,894
community members, friends and institutions
Salary and Benefits $2,705,506 ______________________________________________ Classroom Supplies and Special Programs 114,494 ______________________________________________ Other Educational Expenses 37,274 ______________________________________________ Grants, Fundraisers and Marketing Expenses 97,429 ______________________________________________ Administrative Expenses 34,982 ______________________________________________ Depreciation, Land and Building Costs 629,989 ______________________________________________ Maintenance, Utilities and Insurance 151,056 ______________________________________________ Funds from Reserves -19,836 ______________________________________________
Total Expenses
$3,750,894
This year, our community members expressed their generosity by underwriting the following programmatic initiatives. Combined, these funds support the needs of each Montessori classroom, the diversity of our campus, restricted funding projects and help make a Montessori education available to members of our community.
Unrestricted Support $58,774 ____________________________________________________________________ Tuition Assistance Program $ 31,050 ____________________________________________________________________ Hawaiian Scholarship Fund $10,550 ____________________________________________________________________ Cynthia Winans-Burns Scholarship Fund $10,390 ____________________________________________________________________ Fundraising Events $87,015 ____________________________________________________________________ Middle School Capital Campaign & Interior Fundraising Project $18,000
Thank you to our many donors and benefactors who have provided us with a year of generous contributions. We appreciate each and every one of you, and all gifts, large and small. Mahalo! *Some of these donations contribute to annual funding and others to longer-term capital projects.
who supported our school this past year. The following pages reflect all gifts made to the Montessori School of Maui between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. In-kind contributions are highlighted separately at the end of this section. ** indicates Montessori School of Maui Alumni VISIONARY $10,000 and above Jeremy and Michelle Baldwin Rena and Jonathon Biel Sumner and Angie Erdman Frost Family Fund McInerny Foundation Robert Emens Black Fund The Family of William O. Taylor Wes and Barbara Verkaart ADVOCATE $5,000 to $9,999 Bendon Family Foundation G. N. Wilcox Trust Montessori School of Maui Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) STEWARD $3,000 to $4,999 Henry Brocklehurst and Lili Maltese Zadoc Brown Jr., and Hilary Brown Ben and Tess DeLisa Perley and Karen Grimes HAIS – Hawaii Schools Digital Media (HSDM) Grants
MENTOR $1,000 to $2,999 Keith and Anne Awad Gary and Greta Bandy Cameron and Carrie Belew Zadoc and Stephanie Brown Jene Buckner Pia Damon FEAST Productions LLC Felix Goldberg Susan R. Graham Terry Heath, Andrew and Lauren Plemel Coe Huston and Danielle Dewey-Huston Darryl Kawano Allyson Mattox Peter Norins and Salma Ansari Paia Fish Market and Restaurant, Inc. Bonnie Rice The Rice Partnership Leonard and Kathy Sakai Peter and Judith Siracusa Troy Tanga and Kelley Kramers Shaun and Denise Thayer David and Deesha Tucker Jed and Erica White Zadoc W. & Lawrence N. Brown Foundation PATRON $500 to $999 Anonymous (1) Daniel and Heidi Bigelow Jake Buckner and Britten LaRue Jared Chong Robert and Karen Covey Josef Erlemann and Roopa Akkineni Joe and Jamie Fuetsch Dominick and Lisa Gentile Trisha Joseph Mark and Tami Joslin DeWitt Lickle and Moonstar Greene Daniel and Missy Lickle Gordon and Annie Loo Alec and Maren McBarnet
Leadership Circle The Montessori School of Maui Leadership Circle has been established this year to honor the donors who have lifetime cash gifts exceeding $100,000. We would like to express our utmost gratitude and appreciation for their contributions. Because of the generosity of our Leadership Circle donors, the vision of our dedicated founders lives on, and thousands of children have flourished at Montessori School of Maui and beyond in their lives.
The Atherton Family Foundation Jim and Susan Bendon The Biel ‘Ohana Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation Harold K. L. Castle Foundation Pia Damon First Hawaiian Bank Foundation Susan R. Graham Hawai‘i Community Foundation Jimmy and Honey Bun Haynes Kimo and Sheila Haynes Wes and Diane Hickey Korg Foundation McInerny Foundation Willie and Annie Nelson Chapman S. and Susan S. Root Root Family Foundation David Spee Lindy and Cherry Ann Sutherland The Family of William O. Taylor
Patrick and Azusa Merrill Jazz Glickenhaus and Anjali Ohri Paul and Michele McLean The Ignacio Parente Family, In Honor of Shirah Minagawa and Holly Hume Douglas and Kaui Philpotts Terry and Cynthia Quisenberry Frederick and Maria Rawe Jordan Sharp Klaus and Michele Simmer David Spee Ben and Natasha Summit Heidi Thorson Sheri and Roger Thorson Robert Vorfeld and RenĂŠ Anderson-Vorfeld CARETAKER $250 to $499 John and Betsy Ardisana Sean Armstrong Luciana Vitali Gene and Beryl Bal Sarah Bredhoff Mark and Danielle Bridgeford Andrew and Oceania Castellini Lou and Catherine Bellafiore Ryan and Christy Churchill James Deckman Judy Doucette Mark and Jo Ann Ellis The Fitch Family Karen Frampton Warren Freeland Ariel and Carrie Gebb Kenneth and Jacqueline Goring Ali Grimes John Guarin and Kimmie Ouchi Marion Haskins Ashley Houge Jeff and Dawn Hudson Robert and Rebecca Judge John and Cheryl Kaupalolo Sam and Camille Lyons
Joyce Mattox Robert Medeiros Jr and Anela Medeiros ** Gabrielle and Donald Meeker Joseph and Patt Narrowe Kerry Nugent John and Judi Root Doug Severson and Miriam Geraghly Dudley Smith Jennifer and Isaac Stocks Alicja and Joseph Sumerlin Robert and Cherry Anne Sutherland Malia Vandervoort Ben Walin FRIEND Gifts up to $249 Anonymous (3) Tony and Sherron Akina Dianne Anderson Tomi Anderson Ansar and Shehnaz Ansari Iolani Antonio Sam Aruch and Susan Marshall Jamie Athearn ** Mischa Baker Steven and Anne Barber Erik and Rachael Barnard Ben and Carey Benander Liat Binyamin Gary and Eva Blumenstein Whitney Brooks Brooke Brown Virginia Brown Kasey Buchtien Keahi and Jasmine Bustamente Benjamin and Nohealani Cabanting Richard Campbell Priscilla Carmichael Alejandra Carta Robert and Gillian Carvalho Sharon Castile Chrissy Charles Sol Church Juliet Clark **
Tony and Anne Colletta Wendy Cooley Glenn and Jo-Ann Costa Benedict Cummins Robert and Nancy Dein Gloria Del Rivo Peter and Diana DeLisa Scott and Tulasi Dennis ** Ricardo DeRama Christina Domerego James and Shana Driscoll Joel and Uma Dugied Justin and Jodel Edwards Trisha Egge Oshri Elbaz and Hadas Metzler-Elbaz Dennys Eymard Daisy Finch Dennis and Marge Fitch Darren and Tamara Flanagan Foodland Super Market Ltd. Jeffrey Friedman Thomas and Kassia Gann John and Elizabeth Gillespie Dru Glass-Gracia ** Matt Godfrey Nicole and Zack Gonzales Taj and Kaia Gordon Dylan and Tracy Grafmyre Michael Greene and Pat Donovan George and Carolyn Griffin Carly and Eric Grimes Sandra Guerard Heather Harrison Satako and Yoshitaka Hata Alastair Hebard and Vivianne Campos Julia Holman DeBorah Hoopingarner Richard Howard Holly Hume Eleodora Ignacio Joe Imhoff and Sara Tekula Dan Judson Naki and Megan Kanekoa John and Susan Kaupalolo Donovan and Dheya Kealoha ** David Kingdon and Roxanne Gillespie Kathleen Klett Amy Kojima and Tim O’Connor Neal and Janie Kunin Scott and Megan Lacasse Jean-Luc Langlois and Lana Wilkinson Bena and Levi Larkey Helen Lee-Marien Beth Liebling Hazel Liebling Akasha Loo
Maile Lopes Melinda Lyle-Javier Gaston Martin and Andrea Panza Sabatini Dean Masao and Hidemi Hiraga Gene and Barbara Massad Hideharu and Ikuyo Matsumoto John Matthews and Stephanie Matthews Rosen James and Linda May Erik and Clare McFrazier Bo McKuin Tina and Jim McManus Melissa Meeker Kieu and Steve Meyer Micah Miller Keita and Shirah Minagawa Anahita Mosallai Craig Mullins and Jennifer Oberg Peter and Ann Mullins Zachary Murr Suzanne and Victor Musselman Luke and Laura Nagle Solomon Namauu and Eunice Sentinella-Namauu Michael and Konnie Newbro Mira and Shai Nissim Fernando and Angela Nolan Emma Oberg Yasuhito and Julie Okada Orchids of Olinda Pazivo Padilla Agna Pang Sarah and Mark Pearson Tim Perry and Carlita Tohtz Sigal Peterson Valerie Petredis Anthony and Dionne Phillips Joshua and Suzy Porter Matt and Erin Pritchard David Probst and Lara Cavak Keha Quinabo and Momi Chun Francis and Anna Quitazol
Ivan and Lenka Kubinova Jonathan Rebo Jolyne Rego Bernard and Carol Reimann Tim and Monica Reineke Uwe and Amy Reisenhauer Frank and Ursula Rhie Eric and Willa Romanchak Alika and Dorien Romanchak Paul and Holly Romero Chris and Tracy Root Charlene and Joseph Silva Cliff and Valerie Ryden Alberto and Elianne Santin Susan Schmidt Mike and Kimberly Seguin Emily Severson Tara and Daniel Shupack Mark and Lisa Vye Dori Smith Donny and Sada Smith Regina Splees Terra and Randy Stark Sierra Sylva ** Aron and Ann Mevis Nigel and Heidi Oberg Vanessa Valencia Maleta and Anthony LaBua-Keiser Norma Visitacion David and Naoko Vitarelli Wilma Vorfeld Daryl Ugalino and Jennifer Wallace Jessica Weatherholt Donald and Mindon Weiss Gayle and Carole Wentworth Elin Wichers Lance and Lauren Wilson Scott and Michele Winham Art and Karen Wong Daryl and Oklim Yamashita Richard Youssef
IN-KIND GIFTS The Montessori School of Maui welcomes gifts of products, equipment, services and other items that enhance our educational programs and physical campus. Special thanks goes out to the following families, friends and community partners for their contributions. 3rd Day Nursery Aloha Portraits Keegan Blake Mark Bridgeford Ben Diamond Ben Franklin Tommy Gann Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering Ariel and Carrie Gebb John Guarin Michael Hartman Kristin Holmes David Kingdon Scott Lacasse Allyson Mattox Maui Printing Company, Inc. Maui Time Luke Nagle Paradise Beverages, Inc. Pau Vodka Printer Pete Ethan Romanchak Cliff Ryden Greg Shepherd Set Maui Swan Interiors Jason Verkaart Volcano Signs Walter Vorfeld & Associates Wildheart Flowers You are important to us! If we have inadvertently listed your name and/or giving level incorrectly, please let us know by contacting the Development Office at 808-573-1062 so that we may update our records. Mahalo for your understanding and support!
Fundraising Events 2016-17
Ways to Give Back to our ‘Ohana
TASTE OF UPCOUNTRY | DINNER PROJECT FEATURING CHEF BEN DIAMOND | FEAST COLLABORATION
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or the past several years, our Dinner Projects have provided a social and festive way to raise additional funds for our educational programs, thanks to the support of parents and friends connected to the food service community on Maui. Out of the success of these smaller dinners, the idea for the largerscale fundraiser, Taste of Upcountry, was born. The first Annual Taste of Upcountry was launched on October 8, 2016. Parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, and friends came together as an ‘ohana to support MOMI and enjoy a night of delicious food, music and friends under a tent on our beautiful campus. Local Maui chefs partnered with Upcountry farmers and purveyors, to create an exceptional “tasting” experience for the community. Kainoa Horcajo emceed the evening and live auction with musical appearances including Benny Uyetake and ManaBrasil. The event doubled its $25,000 (net) goal, to raise over $50,000 in net profits in its first year. This year, the 2nd annual event will be October 7, 2017, 6:0010:00 pm on campus again on the Lower Lawn. Ticket prices start at $100. VIP Seating and previewing is available. For more information, please contact Ali Grimes: alisong@momi.org, or visit momi.org.
The Dinner Project event in February 2017 featured an intimate dinner created by local Chef Ben Diamond of The Wooden Crate at Lumeria. The lanai adjacent to the Root Family Center was transformed into a beautifully lit venue and dinner was served complete with exquisite wine pairings. We thank our guests and generous underwriter for supporting MOMI with yet another wonderful Dinner Project event.
A
s a volunteer-based nonprofit organization, Montessori School of Maui depends upon the support of the community to thrive each year. There are many ways to give back through volunteer opportunities and donations of gifts and services. We truly rely upon the annual generosity of our ‘ohana for monetary donations. These funds raised go directly back to the operating budget to support our student programs, staff development, campus maintenance and more. While “unrestricted” donations to our Annual Fund give us the greatest flexibility to utilize donations for the betterment of our students and school, we also offer several opportunities to direct your gift to our school: Annual Fund – General Operating Support
The Annual Fund underwrites all aspects of our education including school programs, teacher professional development, the maintenance of our campus, the purchase and replacement of classroom materials, computers and software and much, much more.
Cynthia Winans-Burns Scholarship Fund Cynthia Winans-Burns, former Head of School and member of our community for over thirty-three years, was a passionate advocate of the many benefits of a Montessori education. Following her wishes, the school established this scholarship fund in her name. Once the fundraising target is achieved, the fund will support the tuition of children of Montessori School of Maui alumni, enriching education here on Maui for future generations. Planned Gifts
Tuition Assistance Program
Our final and newest fundraising event last year was a spring May collaboration with MOMI parent and FEAST founder, Amanda Robson. A Flower FEAST for Montessori was held at the RFC Lanai, featuring Chef Brian Etheredge, Garnish Craft Cocktails and also featured a signature FEAST craft of Mother’s Day Bouquet-making with Amanda. FEAST brought many community members to our campus who had not been here before, and was a beautiful and delicious evening enjoyed by all.
offers a Hawaiian Scholarship Fund, designed to help students who came to us through the Pauahi Keiki Scholarship Program, to remain a part of our ‘ohana. Annually, an average of seven or eight young people from the Pauahi Program must leave our school as they reach age six and become ineligible for the scholarship. Our goal is to bring the generosity of interested members of our community together with these families – to allow more of these young people to continue to enjoy the many benefits of an enriching Montessori education.
Our Tuition Assistance program enables families who otherwise would not have the opportunity to provide their children with the benefits and enjoyment of a Montessori education, to become or remain a part of our ‘ohana. It also allows our students to develop diverse life-long friendships and helps assure the socio-economic diversity of our student body to mirror the greater world in which our children live. Hawaiian Scholarship Fund
In an effort to further reinforce the cultural diversity of our school, the Montessori School of Maui also
Planned gifts recognize your belief in the future of our school and your desire for its impact to be furthered for generations to come. By including the Montessori School of Maui in your estate planning through a bequest, life insurance policy, fund, trust or other planned gift, members of our community have the opportunity to make the gift of a lifetime. For more information about supporting the Montessori School of Maui, please contact Development Director, Ali Grimes at 808.573.1062. We are pleased to assist you in your philanthropic goals, as we partner together in support of a quality Montessori education.
photo credits: Trish Barker Whitney Brooks Cadencia Photography Judy Doucette Justin Edwards Jeffrey Friedman Angelina Hills Holly Hume Janie Kunin Megan Lacasse Scott Lacasse Maile Lopes Shirah Minagawa Emma Oberg Vanessa Valencia
Save the Date! Taste of Upcountry
Saturday, October 7, 2017 • 6:00-10:00 pm writer: Ali Grimes
editors: René Anderson-Vorfeld, Ali Grimes, Allyson Mattox, Sue Schmidt, Sara Tekula
designer: Patt Narrowe
is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, “ There where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.
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~ Maria Montessori
GROWING GLOBAL CITIZENS SINCE 1978
2933 Baldwin Avenue • Makawao, Hawai‘i 96768 808.573.0374 • fax 808.573.0389 • www.momi.org
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