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ILLUMINATIONS SHINING A LIGHT ON OAK FARM MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SUMMER 2026

Table of Contents A Note From Candice

Senior Profiles

Celebrating Flor Ortega

Senior Profiles

Alumni Celebrations & Milestones

Senior Profiles

Faculty High 5’s

Authors

Jordan Fiedler Editor

Bridget York Contributor

OAK FARM MONTESSORI SCHOOL’S MISSION STATEMENT “PROVIDING A MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRES STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK.”

ILLUMINATING OAK FARM MONTESSORI

A Note from Candice There is a particular kind of pride that comes with watching a graduating class walk across the stage, knowing that each of them carries a piece of everything Oak Farm Montessori School stands for. As I reflect on the Class of 2026, I am struck by how deeply our Montessori philosophy of independence, self-discovery, and purposeful learning has shaped not just their years with us, but the people they have become. This class leaves behind a legacy of leadership, adventure, resilience, and authentic connection. They have helped shape the growth of our high school program in ways that will continue to influence Oak Farm Montessori for years to come, and for that, we are deeply grateful. If there is one message that echoed across the Class of 2026, it is that life is about curiosity, relationships, and growth. Our students learned that challenges can be overcome, that mistakes are opportunities rather than setbacks, that leadership requires service, and that success comes from investing fully in experiences and in people. Most importantly, they learned that education is about far more than academics. It is about becoming thoughtful, capable, compassionate human beings, prepared to succeed, and to make a meaningful impact on the world around them. Their class motto says it best: “You get out what you put into it.” Watching this group over the years, I can say with confidence that they have done exactly that, and it shows in everything they have accomplished and everyone they have become. I’m excited to share this issue of Illuminations, which introduces you to each member of our Class of 2026 and the paths they are stepping onto next. This issue also celebrates the incredible growth of our faculty, including those who have completed their Montessori training and, notably, Steve Juillerat, who completed police training in service of our school’s safety and security. We’ll also take a moment to honor meaningful staff anniversaries and celebrate a well-earned retirement, marking the close of a chapter for someone who has given so much to this community. To the Class of 2026: thank you for the curiosity you brought to our classrooms, the courage you showed in trying new things, and the community you helped build along the way. We cannot wait to see all that you put into the world next.

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Claire Davidson Cherishing Connections

Now a graduate of Oak Farm Looking back, Claire recognizes Montessori School, Claire looks that growing up alongside her peers ahead with excitement and a offered unique opportunities to spirit eager for growth. Her plans become a strong voice and a leader are clear: college at Ball State within the community. To incoming University studying interior design, freshmen, she offers heartfelt new friendships, and continued self- advice: “Have fun, life isn’t that discovery. Claire is ready to explore serious. Don’t get too wrapped up in who she can become beyond your mind if you’ve made a mistake, the familiar halls of Oak Farm just consider it a chance to learn Montessori High School (OFMHS). and do better in the future. And if something doesn’t turn out the way Claire credits OFMS with shaping you want, it’s most likely because it her mindset in profound ways, wasn’t meant for you at that time.” especially in how she approaches challenges. She has learned to Summing up her experience, remain open-minded and receptive Claire echoes a lesson inspired to others’ ideas, a valuable by Ted Lasso: “Be curious, not perspective that has helped her judgemental.” As she prepares to navigate both academic and move on, Claire knows she will personal obstacles. Perhaps one deeply miss the teachers and the of the most meaningful skills she close connections she has formed will carry forward is her growing but is equally ready to grow beyond confidence, something OFMS her OFMHS community, eager to nurtured through its supportive meet new people and discover community and friendships. Claire more about herself in the wider reflects on her journey from being world. Claire’s journey at Oak Farm a shy child to someone who has Montessori has been one of growth, taken deliberate steps toward self- understanding, and friendship, a assurance, a transformation she foundation she will carry with her as embraces with gratitude. she steps confidently into the next chapter of her life.

Thank you, FORVIS LLP Foundation, for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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ILLUMINATING OAK FARM MONTESSORI

Ryker Elias

[Left] Claire Davidson [Right] Ryker Elias

You Get Out What You Put Into It Ryker Elias has been part of the Oak Farm community for as long as he can remember. He arrived as an infant, making his upcoming departure and his distinction as the first OFMHS athlete to sign with a university, something worth pausing to celebrate. He will pursue a degree in nursing at Huntington University, while competing on the tennis team. Ryker didn’t just grow up at OFMS; he helped it grow. As an eighth-year student, he was among those who advocated for a high school athletics program, seeing a possibility before it existed. He then helped build it, one season at a time by joining the bowling, golf, and tennis teams. The coaches left a lasting impact, teaching him that performance, confidence, and character are developed through effort and perseverance. OFMS also taught him to accept responsibility, face consequences, and take accountability, lessons that extend far beyond the classroom or playing field. One lesson took longest to appreciate. High School Administrator Jon Agler reminded students before every trip: “Whatever you put in, you get out.” At first Ryker brushed it aside. Over time, he came to understand it applied to learning, relationships, athletics, and life itself. When asked about his favorite Oak Farm memory, Ryker doesn’t point to a championship match or single accomplishment. Instead, he reflects on watching others be included—and later becoming the person who extended that same welcome to someone else. From the Infant Community to the Wellness Center, from observer to leader, from participant to programbuilder, and from student-athlete to the first collegiate spot signee in school history, Ryker’s story mirrors the growth of OFMS itself. Huntington University is gaining a talented athlete, a future nurse, and a dedicated teammate. But perhaps most importantly, they’re gaining someone who understands that meaningful things are built through commitment, effort, and community.

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Derek Hale caring for animals at the Middle School.

Thank you, Rich Specialty Trailers for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Derek Hale

Steady, Grounded, and Built to Help What Grows There is a particular kind of in FFA, where he grew from person a community relies on an active participant into a without always saying so. Derek respected leader. He was Hale is that person. When a elected District III Treasurer for newborn dwarf Nubian goat Indiana FFA and, in his very first was born with a lame leg, Derek year of agriscience competition, carefully examined the animal earned first place in Social and recognized that it needed Science at the Indiana FFA support to walk. He then went State Convention. to the InnoLab and designed and built a custom splint for the What is he most looking goat. Thanks to his initiative forward to? The freedom and and problem-solving skills, independence that comes with the goat was able to move being on his own. What will he more comfortably and develop miss most? His peers. “They successfully. were the best part of OFMS,” he says. Derek is part of the high school’s first cohort of athletes, He’s probably right. But if you a friend to everyone he meets, asked those peers what made and a devoted older brother OFMS special, many of them whose presence quietly would likely point to Derek. His strengthens every community steady presence, willingness he joins. to serve, and genuine care for others have left a lasting mark This fall, Derek will attend on this community. Purdue University, where he plans to study Animal Science Like the baby goat he helped to and work toward his goal of walk, Derek leaves things better becoming a veterinarian. than he found them. There is little doubt that he will continue His passion for animals, helping good things grow. agriculture, and the natural world found a natural home

Thank you, Gassafy Wholesale, for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Seniors with Upper Elementary students.

Reid Kaiser Built for What’s Next

Some students simply attend a school. Others help define its culture and community. Reid Kaiser is one of those students. As he prepares to attend Miami University in Ohio, to study Architecture, Reid leaves high school having made his mark, most notably as a member of the founding group that launched the school’s drone program. Reid credits OFMHS with helping him develop the time-management skills and discipline needed to pursue his goals. Being able to manage his own schedule and dedicate meaningful energy to his interests are lessons he knows will serve him well in a field that demands both creativity and perseverance. Years of Scouting further strengthened the resilience and determination that have become hallmarks of his character. What stands out most, however, is the way Reid talks about his teachers. The close-

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knit environment at OFMS created space for authentic relationships. These were not simply academic exchanges, but meaningful connections that fostered confidence and growth. Those relationships helped Reid become comfortable advocating for himself, seeking guidance, and building the skills necessary to thrive in college. He heads to Miami University prepared not only to succeed academically, but also to engage with professors and become an active member of the campus community. Reid is excited about living on campus, building greater independence, managing his finances, and surrounding himself with people who share his passion for design and innovation. At the same time, he’ll miss the community he’s leaving behind—the friendships, familiar faces, and unique culture that make OFMS feel like home. Fortunately, those experiences don’t stay behind. They travel with him, shaping the person he has become and the architect he is preparing to be. For Reid Kaiser, the foundation has been built. What’s next is his turn to design.

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Ryan Kochanski

Built to Last: Carrying OFMS Foundation into His Future Ryan Kochanski has spent his entire educational life at Oak Farm Montessori. Every classroom, every challenge, every lesson — all of it happened here. And now, for the first time, he’s heading somewhere new.

“Schooling sets the foundation for adulthood,” he says.

As an eighth-year student, Ryan completed a Passion Project focused on creating an athletic program at the high school level. When the program launched In fall 2026, Ryan will enroll at during his freshman year, he Bowling Green State University became one of its first student to pursue a bachelor’s degree in athletes. Ask Ryan for a memory Finance. he’ll never forget and he doesn’t hesitate: hitting 1,000 career What made him ready? He will tell points in basketball. It’s the kind of you without hesitation. “Attending milestone that means something Oak Farm Montessori has shaped because you earn it one game the way I approach challenges at a time, one season at a time, by giving me the cognitive skills across years of showing up. to think independently and take He’ll miss the athletic side of ownership of my learning,” he OFMS most — and he’s not quite reflects. That self-awareness is ready to close that chapter. “Is telling- he’s not just describing this considered my prime?” he a curriculum- he’s describing asks, with a grin that answers the himself. Ryan is someone who question. “I certainly hope not.” thrives in hands-on, experiential environments, who learns best As for the impression he hopes to when the challenge is real and leave behind? He keeps it simple: the work is tangible. That’s not “Hopefully people think of me as a a coincidence. That’s twelvecool guy.” Honest, unpretentious, plus years of Montessori doing and entirely Ryan. exactly what it’s designed to do.

Seniors with Athletic Director, Donna Wolfe. Class of 2026 asked her to speak at graduation.

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Una Maestra, Un Legado: Celebrating Flor Ortega

Some teachers leave a mark on a school. Flor Ortega leaves a language, a culture, a curriculum, and the echoes of hundreds of children discovering, often for the first time, that the world is larger and more beautiful than they imagined. After many years of dedicated service to Oak Farm Montessori School, Flor Ortega is retiring. Yet the word ‘retirement’ feels too small for what this moment represents. This is not so much an ending as it is a transformation. The energy, expertise, and love she poured into this community do not disappear. They live on in every student who can read, write, speak, and dream in Spanish because she was their teacher. Flor’s journey at OFMS began with deep roots. She completed her Montessori Elementary training in Mexico, bringing to her work not only exceptional pedagogical skill but also a lived connection to the language and culture she would spend her career sharing with students. She taught learners from Primary through Eighth Year and, as the school grew, focused her gifts on Primary through Upper Elementary while taking on another important role: mentor. Flor did not simply teach students. She helped develop teachers. Through her guidance, support, and example, she nurtured the next generation of Spanish educators at OFMS. She didn’t just build the Spanish curriculum — she helped build the people who would carry it forward. Her influence is perhaps most visible in Oak

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Farm Montessori’s Dual Language Immersion Program (DLIP), where she served as the first Upper Elementary DLIP Spanish guide. The materials she created, the lessons she crafted, and the systems she established provided both the foundation and the vision for a program dedicated to developing bilingual and biliterate students. Under Flor’s guidance, language learning became something more than vocabulary and grammar. It became an invitation into culture, history, and wonder. She had a remarkable ability to bring Montessori’s Great Lessons to life entirely in Spanish, transforming stories like the Coming of the Universe into immersive experiences that sparked curiosity and imagination. Humor, storytelling, and cultural traditions were woven naturally into her teaching because Flor understood something essential: language is not merely learned. It is lived.

And then there was the food. Friday Fiestas remain woven into the memories of her DLIP students—the aromas, flavors, laughter, and joy of a culture being shared with authenticity and love. Excursions to local restaurants and panaderías offered students the opportunity to experience the language beyond the classroom walls. These were not simply field trips; they were invitations into a broader way of seeing and understanding the world. Flor’s legacy endures not only in the curriculum she leaves behind, but also in the educators she mentored and the countless students whose lives were enriched by her teaching. The care, cultural authenticity, and deep respect she modeled continue to shape Spanish education at Oak Farm Montessori every day. In retirement, Flor will return to one of her great passions: the Camino de Santiago. Alongside her husband, she will continue serving as a guide and support for pilgrims undertaking their own journeys of reflection, growth, and renewal. It is difficult to imagine a more fitting next chapter for someone who has spent her career walking alongside others, offering wisdom, and guidance along the way. Family, always at the center of Flor’s life, will now have even more of her time as she

and her husband embrace this new season together. Although Flor may be retiring from the classroom, she will always remain part of the OFMS family. Her influence can be found in our programs, our traditions, our teachers, and most importantly, in our students. We look forward to every photograph, every travel story, and every glimpse of the adventures still ahead. She has spent decades helping others discover new paths, new cultures, and new possibilities. Now, a new journey awaits her.

Gracias, Flor. Por tu enseñanza, tu liderazgo, tu amistad y tu amor por nuestra comunidad. Tu legado seguirá caminando con nosotros por muchos años más. Thank you, Flor, for the countless lives you have touched. The lessons you taught extend far beyond language, and the legacy you leave behind will continue to inspire generations of OFMS students to come.

[Left] Alivia Miller [Middle] Spring Art Showcase 2026 [Right] Eliza Ley

Thank you,

JC Enterprises for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Porter Lowe

He Didn’t Just Attend OFMHS — He Built It Most students can say they grew up at their school. Porter Lowe can say he helped build his. During the 2024 expansion of the high school, Porter worked on-site as an intern with S&T Construction, learning alongside master contractors, electricians, and plumbers as the new building took shape around him. He wasn’t fetching coffee or observing from the sidelines. He was applying real skills, asking thoughtful questions, and demonstrating a work ethic that impressed the professionals around him. The hallways Porter walked through on graduation day are, in a very literal sense, hallways he helped create. That’s Porter in a nutshell: he doesn’t just study how things work. He builds them. His OFMS story has always been one of hands-on learning and determination. As a sophomore, he stood before his Passport Presentation audience and shared a go-kart he had built himself, not from a kit, but from his own vision, planning, and effort. Two years later, for his Capstone presentation, he arrived in a Pinto with an engine he had rebuilt himself, making an entrance that perfectly reflected the journey he had taken. Now Porter is taking that same curiosity, craftsmanship, and drive to Trine University to study Mechanical Engineering.

Some people wait for opportunities to be built for them. Porter Lowe has always preferred to build them himself.

Porter Lowe presenting his Senior Capstone Project.

Ryan Kochanski hit 1,000 career points in basketball as a Falcon.

Reid Kaiser preparing coffee for a customer at the Oak Leaf Cafe.

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Pierceton Matney Time Is What You Make of It

Now a graduate, Pierceton Matney heads to Trine University to study Finance. He admits to feeling both excited and nervous about what comes next. The honesty of that answer says a great deal about him. Pierceton credits OFMS with shaping how he approaches challenges by exposing him to different viewpoints and ways of thinking. But the deeper lesson he carries with him is about time itself. “OFMS taught me that time is what you make of it. You can sit there stressed about the future, worried about the past, or you can enjoy life and live in the present.” That philosophy wasn’t something he arrived with. It developed through years in a Montessori environment that felt more like college than traditional school, where freedom came paired with responsibility and students were expected to determine what to do with both. The skills he values most are not the most visible: time management, discipline, and a strong work ethic. They are the quiet habits that make everything else possible. Some of his favorite memories were made far from campus. He remembers sharing a meal with friends before seeing Hamilton in New York City, exploring Barcelona, and hiking the mountains of Montserrat alongside classmates who became much more than classmates over the years. He’s ready to leave behind the deadlines and the workload. The friendships, experiences, and lessons are coming with him. If time is what you make of it, Pierceton has made the most of his years at Oak Farm Montessori.

Thank you, J.O. Mory Inc for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Sullivan McCreery

[Left] Sully and Cohen McCreery at the Senior Key Ceremony. [Right] Pierceton Matney and Derek Hale in Middle School.

Do the Right Thing

Sullivan (Sully) McCreery has never been content to do anything halfway. It shows up in the way he carries himself, the way he leads, and the way others respond to the example he sets. Sully will become the first OFMS graduate to enter the United States Marine Corps, a fitting next chapter for someone whose life has been defined by discipline, service, and determination. He was part of the core group who advocated for and helped build the high school athletics program from the ground up, competing in multiple sports and helping establish a culture that future student-athletes will inherit. Along the way, he discovered another talent: coaching. Working with the Middle School track team, Sully brought the same calm confidence to the sidelines that he brought to competition. He understood that leadership is not about demanding excellence from

others; it’s about helping them discover it within themselves. When asked how OFMS shaped his thinking, he doesn’t hesitate. “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.” He has tried to live by a similar conviction throughout his time at OFMS: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Cohen, Sully’s younger brother, offered what may be one of the most meaningful tributes at the Senior Key Ceremony. Cohen shared that one of the greatest compliments he receives is being mistaken for Sully. It’s difficult to imagine a higher compliment. When asked about his favorite OFMS memory, Sully points to something similar. For him, the greatest moments weren’t personal achievements. They were opportunities to share experiences with someone he loves.

The Marine Corps is gaining a man of character, conviction, and quiet leadership.

Alivia Miller

Language, Leadership, and Learning Her Own Way

Alivia Miller has always been someone who finds the things she loves and dives deep. In Elementary School, that passion was porpoises. And because she was at OFMS, that interest wasn’t redirected into a worksheet or confined to a single lesson. It became research. It became a presentation shared with students across multiple levels. It became the kind of meaningful learning that stays with a person long after the project is complete. That experience captures what Alivia values most about her Montessori education. “You learn things and apply them,” she reflects. “You retain the information and structure it so that you can do that.” For Alivia, that isn’t just a philosophy, it’s something she has lived throughout her years at OFMS. For her Capstone project, Alivia explored the benefits of language acquisition in immersive settings.

But, true to her Montessori roots, she didn’t stop with research alone. She brought her work to life by partnering with Lower Elementary 1 (LE1) Dual Language Immersion students, sharing her Spanish fluency and helping younger learners experience the joy and power of language. Inspired by their experience with Alivia, the students created an extension exhibit on wolves entirely in Spanish. It was the kind of authentic learning experience that cannot be scripted. Alivia created the conditions for curiosity to flourish and the students rose to the occasion. When asked what she will miss most, Alivia doesn’t hesitate: working with the LE1 students. The relationships and the opportunity to watch language open doors for younger learners (the way it had for her) became one of the most meaningful parts of her OFMHS experience. Next fall, Alivia will attend Kent State University, to pursue a double major in Fashion Design and Spanish. She leaves OFMHS with a strong sense of direction and an equally strong belief in her ability to create her own path — exactly the kind of learner that Montessori education hopes to inspire.

[Center, back] Alivia Miller with Lower Elementary 1 students during the Senior Walk Through.

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Lilly Moser

Setting Her Sights on a Future in Medicine Lilly has enrolled at Trine University as a Biology major on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. But what sets her path apart is the distinction she earned before she even packed a single box: acceptance into Trine’s Direct Entry MPAS program. That means Lilly will complete her undergraduate degree in just three years before automatically advancing into her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies — no reapplication, no uncertainty, no waiting. For Lilly, the excitement isn’t only about the credential. It’s about everything that comes with it. “I can’t wait to go to college, meet new people, get involved in clubs, and start my journey to the healthcare field,” she says. The eagerness is genuine — the kind that comes from someone who has been building toward something and can finally see it on the horizon. She’s ready to expand her knowledge, grow her network, and step fully into the world of medicine that’s been calling her name.

forward motion. “Attending Oak Farm has given me the confidence to attack problems head-on,” Lilly reflects. “I’ve learned problemsolving skills and ways to handle obstacles so that when challenges arise, I know how to overcome them.” In a field like healthcare, where pressure is constant and the stakes are real, that foundation matters. Lilly’s enthusiasm lit up the tennis court as a member of the first OFMHS tennis team to play at our newly opened Sports Complex. In addition, Lilly has choreographed the OFMS Theatre Co. musicals including every move that lit up the stage during the perfomances of the play, ‘SIX.’ What will she carry with her? The people, the trips, and the memories that have shaped her these past years. With her determination, compassion, and clear sense of purpose, Lilly is well prepared for the journey ahead.

She credits Oak Farm Montessori with preparing her for exactly that kind of

Thank you, SDTEK for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Alumni Celebrations & Milestones

Devon Nichols (‘25)

Recently awarded $60,000 in scholarships to attend the University of Saint Francis to pursue a degree in Nursing.

Violet Landrum (‘21)

After graduating from Indiana Unversity, she headed to the East Coast to start her work at Brown University researching Adolescent Mental Health.

Ellie Cook (‘22)

Graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis. As part of her graduate program, she will complete a practicum at Oak Farm Montessori, where she will partner with the Student Services Team.

Alumni, let’s connect!

You are an important part of the Oak Farm Montessori community and our story. We would love to reconnect, celebrate your milestones, share alumni updates, and hear where life has taken you since your time at OFMS. Email Jordan Fiedler at jfiedler@oakfarmschool.com to reconnect and help strengthen our alumni community. Jordan Fiedler (‘13) Ryan Worman (‘14)

and Grace Worman were married in September of 2025. Ryan is currently a PE/Strength instructor at Central Noble Community Schools.

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Jenepher Nansamba Steps Into Her Next Chapter When Jenepher Nansamba arrived at Oak Farm Montessori from Uganda her freshman year, she stepped into a new country, a new school, and a community of strangers. By senior year, she had become the heartbeat of her graduating class — the person who loved everyone, accepted everyone, and made sure no one felt left out. That kind of presence isn’t manufactured. It’s who she is. Jenepher moves on to Grace College to pursue a degree in Nursing, living on campus and beginning what she describes, with characteristic honesty, as a genuinely new life. OFMHS gave her tools she’ll carry directly into a nursing career.

“OFMS taught me to advocate more for myself — to be able to speak more for myself and what I stand for,” Jenepher reflects.

In healthcare, self-advocacy isn’t just a personal quality, it’s a professional one. Patients need nurses who know how to speak up, push back, and stand firm. Jenepher has been honing those skills throughout high school. She also threw herself into the life of the school beyond the classroom. She participated in soccer and track, while also helping coach younger soccer players. Jenepher didn’t just participate in our community, she built it. Her involvement was never about a resume. It was about belonging and about making sure others belonged too.

She chose a song to represent her senior chapter — Golden by K-pop group Demon Hunters. It’s a fitting choice for a young woman who has already turned unfamiliar ground into something that shines. Grace College is about to meet its newest source of warmth. Congratulations, Jenepher.

Thank you, Aberdeen Group, LLC for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Seniors with Lower Elementary Students.

Rhiana Pelance

Open Reins: Following Her Passion to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Some students spend their senior year figuring out what they love. Rhiana (Ana) Pelance spent hers researching it.

Ana is headed to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to study Equine Science. Her internship and Capstone presentations focused on equine therapy. It’s a field that sits at the intersection of animal science, psychology, and compassionate care, and Ana arrived there by following her own curiosity straight to the source. Oak Farm Montessori helped shape the person who made that leap. “To have an open mind — to try new things, meet new people, and not be afraid to make mistakes,” is how Ana describes her years here. She also credits OFMS with building a skill she didn’t always find easy: public speaking.

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“Even if it’s not my best skill, Oak Farm has pushed me to be able to speak loudly and clearly,” she says. The presentations, the speaking roles, the moments of being seen — they added up to something real. The Montessori model, she reflects, offered something she didn’t fully expect: genuine one-on-one time with teachers who could meet her exactly where she was. That kind of individual attention doesn’t just fill academic gaps, it builds confidence in students. Ana is honest about the emotional weight of this transition. She’ll miss her friends and teachers deeply, and she’s not rushing to leave anything behind. Her willingness to embrace new experiences will serve her well as she begins her studies in Equine Science.

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Cooper Routsong

Boundless Horizons: Trading NE Indiana for Life in Barcelona Most seniors leave high school with a plan. Cooper Routsong leaves with a passport, a sense of adventure, and the kind of fearlessness that most people spend decades trying to find. This August, Cooper heads to Barcelona, Spain, where he will complete a foundation year- a bridge program required because GPA systems between the U.S. and Spain don’t directly translate. Once he finishes, he’ll be eligible to enroll in a Spanish university. It’s an extra step, but Cooper isn’t treating it as a detour. It’s part of the journey. The move is personal too. Cooper’s father once lived in Spain, and that history planted a seed. He’s also no stranger to the language as he traveled his junior year on the Barcelona Intersession; Cooper already speaks Spanish and is determined to become truly fluent.

[Bottom] Cooper Roustong was selected by his classmates to speak at Graduation.

What makes Cooper’s path stand out isn’t just the destination; it’s the awareness he brings to it. He knows this adventure will demand something real from him. “I will need to be crazy independent,” he says.

Cooper was an OFMS athlete and he developed teamwork, discipline, and resilience alongside his academic pursuits. His participation in athletics reflected the same courage and willingness to challenge himself that he’ll bring to life in Barcelona. As Cooper reflects on what he will miss, his teachers top the list, which is a tribute to the relationships that define OFMS. And what is he ready to leave behind- kitchen chore leader duties. Fair enough. For underclassmen still figuring out how to find their footing, Cooper’s advice is worth holding onto: “Don’t be afraid to talk to upperclassmen. A lot of freshmen were really shy at first, but then they got really comfortable. Now the freshmen are my new friends.” Connection, it turns out, is always available — you just have to be willing to start the conversation. Cooper’s curiosity and independence will serve him well as he begins this next chapter in Barcelona.

Seniors with Middle School students.

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Ivy Witmer

then helped research, design, and establish the space as the project became a reality. Future OFMHS musicians will record in a studio that exists, in part, because Ivy saw a possibility and helped bring it to life.

If you’ve ever sat in the audience when Ivy Witmer performs, you already know. There’s a moment— usually early on—when the room changes. People stop thinking about whatever they were thinking about and simply listen. That’s what Ivy does. She doesn’t just sing; she creates an emotional experience. For four years at Oak Farm Montessori High School (OFMHS), she has shared that gift with her community.

Ivy joined the tennis team, stepping outside her comfort zone and embracing opportunities for growth.

Original Songs, Standing Ovations, and a Studio She Helped She also challenged herself in ways Build that had nothing to do with music.

Ivy’s theatrical performances alone would be enough to leave a lasting legacy. Her portrayal of Maria in The Sound of Music earned standing ovations from audiences who may not have expected to be moved quite so deeply. True to the OFMHS spirit, Ivy didn’t just pursue her passion, she helped create opportunities for others to pursue theirs. Recognizing the need for a sound studio at the high school, she advocated for its creation and

Lilly Moser and Jenepher Nansamba during cycle work time.

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Alex Ormiston and Rhiana Pelance working on a painting.

Ivy will attend Trine University to study Psychology, with the possibility of adding a second major in Communications. It’s a fitting path for someone whose greatest talent has always been understanding how people connect with stories, with music, and with one another. She will also continue her tennis career at Trine. Whether she’s performing on a stage, recording in a studio, or helping others find their voice, Ivy has spent her time at OFMS creating experiences that bring people together. And whatever she creates next, people will be listening.

Ivy Witmer cutting her original song in the sound studio. She helped write the grant that secured funding for this project.

Lily Witmer

Seek First to Understand There are students who find their place at a school. And then there are students who seem to belong to it in some deeper way—who show up fully, in all directions at once, and leave the place genuinely better for having been there. Lily Witmer is one of those students. Her high school story resists a single category. She plays piano and sings. She interned with the maintenance crew. She may spend part of this summer perched on a ladder painting the Red Barn South Silo. She is, without question, one of the hardest-working students this school has known, and she brings to that work a kindness of spirit that makes everyone around her feel seen, valued, and included. Her Capstone project was characteristically ambitious. Lily designed, organized, and launched a cross-level mentoring and tutoring program connecting high school students with Upper Elementary classrooms. She called it Mentutoring. She wasn’t simply creating academic support. She was creating relationships. Real connections and opportunities for students of different ages to learn from

one another. It also happened to mirror the work she hopes to do for the rest of her life. Lily will be attending Trine University to study Education and is considering the undergraduate Montessori credential through Trine’s Center for Montessori Education. When Lily reflects on what OFMS gave her, she points to the 7 Habits principle of seeking first to understand. You can see it in the patience she extends to others, the care she takes in her work, and the intentionality she brings to every interaction. But perhaps Lily’s greatest contribution to OFMS isn’t any one project, performance, or leadership role. It’s the people she connected. The younger students who found a mentor. The peers who found a friend. The community members who felt seen because Lily took the time to understand them first. Schools are built by many hands, but communities are built by people who bring others together. Lily Witmer has spent her years at OFMS doing exactly that, and the relationships she nurtured here will continue to grow long after she has moved on to her next chapter.

Aaron Samra, music teacher, leads the 3rd, 6th and 8th year students through “Tall Oaks From Little Acorns Grow” at graduation.

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ILLUMINATING OAK FARM MONTESSORI

Faculty High 5’s We celebrate our faculty for years of service after 3, 7, 10, 15 and 20 years. Join us as we celebrate these faculty members’ time as part of our OFMS community.

3 Years of Service Kristy Carella Eliana Delgado-Medina Shelby Frazier Laura Gould William Krock Brittany Reynolds Megan Rowlison

7 Years of Service Rikki Colon Kimberly Davidson Kristine Moreland

10 Years of Service Sandra Deacon Sarah Holland Allena Knepper Katherine Lautzenhiser Nicole Lowe Abigail Roughia Donna Wolfe

15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service Ashley Knudson

Stefany (Nefy) Hathaway

Certification Completion Infant/Toddler AMS Montessori Credential April Adams Sarah Bosworth Leah Watson Primary AMS Montessori Credential Katie Munro Bayley Tieman Secondary AMS Montessori Credential Chea Parton Laura Gould ILEA TIER 2 Police Academy Steve Juillerat

Safety Specialist, Steve Juillerat, with Junior Safety Specialist (for the day), Saylor Feaker.

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April Adams completed her Infant/Toddler AMS Montessori Credential.

Laura Gould completed her Secondary AMS Montessori Credential.

Leah Watson completed her Infant/Toddler AMS Montessori Credential.

Chea Parton completed her Secondary AMS Montessori Credential.

Bayley Tieman and Katie Munro completed their Primary AMS Montessori Credential.

Sarah Bosworth completed her Infant/Toddler AMS Montessori Credential.

Thank you,

Rottman Collier Architects for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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Thank you, Blue Flame Management for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

Thank you,

Wayne Asphalt Construction for investing in Oak Farm Montessori School!

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ILLUMINATING OAK FARM MONTESSORI