St. Catherine’s Montessori
ANNUAL REPORT
2020- 2021
2020-2021 St. Catherine’s Montessori
B OA R D
O F
D I R E C TO R S
Ryan Patterson
President & Treasurer
Angie Gubitz
Vice President
Misty Matin Secretary
David Marks
Ex-Officio, Immediate Past President
Sr. Charles Anne Solomon, OP Sr. Sharon Steglich, OP Sr. Edna Ann Hebert, OP Ex-Officio; Emeritus
St. Catherine’s Montessori A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Susan Tracy
Head of School
Vivian Blum
Dean of Students
Holly Copeland
Business Director
Lyndsey Ray
Advancement Director
O U R
M I S S I O N
As a Catholic Montessori school, St. Catherine’s is dedicated to an educational experience which awakens in our students the awareness of their gifts and responsibilities as individuals in relationship with Jesus Christ and as stewards of the global community.
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M E S S AG E
F R O M
H E A D
T H E
O F
S C H O O L
Dear St. Catherine’s Community, Together Responsibly was our guiding principle as we embarked on a school year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and our steadfast commitment to keep the school doors open and our students, families, and employees healthy and safe. The 2020-2021 school year was full of challenges, but it was also a year of many blessings.
With creativity and planning, we were blessed to welcome children back to campus and also provide remote instruction. Students adapted to new health protocols, enjoyed more time in their outdoor classroom environments, and St. Catherine’s was again filled with the joy of learning in community and exploring the beauty of nature.
Throughout the year the students embodied our shared Montessori and Catholic heritages by discovering and sharing their intellectual gifts, caring for the environment, and serving their communities. The Adolescent Community and High School produced, performed, filmed, and screened theatrical performances. The High School also hosted its Inaugural Senior Capstone Presentation, during which students shared their research projects with the community. Upper Elementary students won the Houston Public Works “Imagine a Day without Water” essay contest and were recognized during a Houston City Council meeting. Lower Elementary students hosted a food drive in partnership with Houston Food Bank to support local families in need. Our Primary and Infant Community students cared for their classroom pets and gardens, and the youngest among them were able to enjoy the literal fruits of their labor by taking lemons home from the Infant Community tree.
Our extended community was blessed to celebrate our faith together in many creative ways. Father Jeremy Zipple celebrated Mass each month on Facebook Live, allowing current and alumni families to gather from all over the world. Our catechist, Sr. Theresa Josephine, created a mobile Atrium so children could explore the elements of their faith and deepen their relationships with God when protocols kept them from visiting the Atrium space. The PSO’s Friends of the Atrium invited the community to pray the Rosary via Zoom, and created an educational series on Doctors of the Church.
The PSO found other creative ways to support school mission and community by once again reimagining beloved events like Fall Fest and Spring Fling as virtual engagement opportunities, and by creating thoughtful gifts to thank faculty and staff members throughout the year. Additionally, with the PSO’s partnership, St. Catherine’s reinforced our commitment to fostering an inclusive community for all by sponsoring an anti-bias workshop for faculty and staff. We followed up on that training with a similar experience for parents and older students. Taken together, these learning opportunities allowed us to gain knowledge on how to empower students to establish strong self-identities, foster empathy for one another, and be a voice for an inclusive, equitable, and just society.
Thank you to everyone whose love for St. Catherine’s and dedication to our truly special community allowed us to recognize and celebrate the many ways in which we continue to be blessed.
Blessings,
Head of School
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F I N A N C I A L S
Revenue
W I T H O U T
D O N O R
R E S T R I C T I O N S
Tuition & Fees
3,449,637
SCM Annual Fund
185,250
Auxiliary Service Fees
36,139
Other Contributions & Income1
12,720
W I T H O U T
D O N O R
R E S T R I C T I O N S
Fundraising Events Other²
Expenses
45,295 490,412
Total Revenue:
4,219,453
Salaries & Benefits
2,580,432
Curriculum & Class Activities
62,200
Facility
692,527
Other Expenses³
218,091
Total Expenses:
3,553,250
¹Other Contributions & Income includes general donations, Sociables, investment income ²Other Revenue with donor restrictions includes PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) recieved in the amount of $441,050 ³Other Expenses includes insurance, accounting, legal fees, technology, supplies, hospitality
R E V E N U E
Tuition & Fees 81.8% SCM Annual Fund 4.4% Other 11.9% Auxiliary Service Fees 0.8% Fundraising Events 1.1%
E X P E N S E S
Salaries & Benefits 72.6% Curriculum & Class Activities 1.8%
Facility 19.5%
Other Expenses 6.1%
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SCM Annual Fund " E V E RY
FA M I LY
F O R
E V E RY
C H I L D "
The SCM Annual Fund is the foundation of all St. Catherine’s Montessori giving because it touches every member of our community and allows us to fully fund the cost of educating each child enrolled at school. Annual contributions to the Fund provide the necessary resources to cover classroom materials, salaries and benefits for our guides and staff, professional development, and campus utilities and maintenance. In addition, these funds allow St. Catherine’s to maintain affordable tuition rates for the benefit of all SCM families. SCM ANNUAL FUND REPRESENTATIVES Advancement Chair Misty Matin
Upper Elementary
Infant Community China Contreras
Adolescent Community Alexandra Gassan
Primary Misty Matin
High School Larissa and Tony La Matta
Lower Elementary Rachel Flay Angie Gubitz
Faculty/Staff Samuel Hemming
Christie and Jeremy Jones
2 0 fi 2 0 1
St. Catherine’s Montessori is blessed by the generosity of the following individuals, families, foundations, and corporations who supported us during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. These donors made SCM Annual Fund gifts between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Their commitment to our mission allows us to provide the best curriculum, environment, and facilities for the academic, emotional, and spiritual needs of St. Catherine's students.
G U A R D I A N S O F L I G H T : $5,000 +
V E R I T A S : $1,000 - $1,499
Anonymous
Anonymous
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Kristina Baizan and Roy Devereux
Ana and Bernardo Goarmon
China and Roberto Contreras
Sarah and Christopher Lewis
Thanatcha and Matthew Goitia
Amy Luedemann-Lazar and Marco Lazar
Jennifer and Absalon Gutierrez
Carrie and Kristen Procinsky
Wanda and Barry Harding
Michelle and Clifford Shedd in honor of Clara and Oliver
Andrea Hoxie in honor of Layla Wade
Shedd
Zsofia Intody and David Spencer
Jennifer Taylor and Jeremy Ward
Alison Jefferies and Lorenzo Cohen
Cathie and Mark Wamp
Nia Johnson-Jones and Thomas Jones Larissa and Antonio La Matta
F O U N D E R S ’ C I R C L E : $2,500 - $4,999
Shannon and Jamie Mann
Chanelle Clark and John Clark, Jr.
Carol and David McLarry in honor of Parker Homfeld
Elizabeth Dambouradijan and Kenneth Stemac
and Blaire McLarry
Deborah and Rock Gremillion
Julie McLarry and Justin Homfeld
Janna and Bill Harris
Meredith and Matthew Millik
Christie and Jeremy Jones
Susan Morrison in honor of Colin and Elizabeth Kappes
Amy and Alan Lindsey
Jin Sun Park and Elbert Kwak
Vanessa and Ryan Patterson
Nguyen Pham and Christopher Lav
Kristin and RJ Shedd
Tiffany Raczy and Chad Mavity
S T. C AT H E R I N E ’ S O F S I E N A S O C I E T Y: $1,500 - $2,499 Anonymous Catherine and Michael Barber Yun Shin Chun and Justin Segraves Virginia Giammaria Peters and Joseph Peters Mary Grimord and David Marks Megan and Christopher Jordan Misty and Surena Matin Amber McCarthy and Adolph Trudeau Nazia and Thaha Mirza Cynthia Moreno and Edgar Aburto Paula and Bill Palamountain in honor of Auden Smith Barbara Reese Linda and Hugh Tucker in honor of Eli and Jasper Tucker
Sarah and Craig Scherschel Ana Treviño-Godfrey and Jonathan Godfrey T O R C H B E A R E R S : $100 - $999 Anonymous Zaina Al-Mohtaseb and Rami Farasin Katherina Alsina and Alan Gueara Kathleen H. Alsina in honor of Kira and Oliver Guevara Katia Baizan Gonzalez and Jorge Gonzalez Kathleen and James Bertolatus Hillary Boswell and Carl Allen Naureen and Russell Brink Fernando Carmona in honor of Addison and Blake Gubitz Mariah and Lorenzo Castro in honor of Madeline Castro Ana and Chris Champion
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T O R C H B E A R E R S : $100 - $999 (continued):
Tracey Ledoux and Jerrid Gunderson
Vy and Jack Collett
Courtney and Eric Lerch
Holly Copeland
Melissa and David Lopez in honor of Laura and Sarah Lopez
Veronika and Luis de La Mata in honor of Ava, Lucas, and Olivia
Patricia and Steven Lopez in honor of Laura and Sarah Lopez
Harth
Connie Melton in honor of Freddy Melton
Paula deWitte in honor of Adam and Carolina Mayer
Cyndi and Jacob Melton
Cristina and E. Scot Dixon
Jaime Middleton Lawler and Theodore Lawler
Dominican Sisters of Houston in honor of Mary Magdalen Hanel,
Mary and Donald Millik in honor of Miles Millik
OP; Edna Ann Hebert, OP; Charles Anne Solomon, OP; and
Trish and Rock Morille
Sharon Steglich, OP
Lisa and Bruce Moses
Lois and Robert Dzik in honor of Eva Luijer
Tom Mouton
Mitra and Demetri Economou
Edith Napoleon-Segovia and Adrian Segovia
Jacinta Edussuriya in honor of Max Sharma
Patty and Frank Napoleon in honor of Frances and Mercedes
Samantha Edussuriya and David Sharma
Segovia
Ranya and Mohamed El Beheary
Kerri and David Neimeyer
Claire and William Elser
Thu Nguyen and Tom Tran
Helen Engelhardt in honor of Jacob and Julie Blackman
Mary and Nicholas Noe
Hannah Engelke
Brooke and Andrew Nyberg
Rachel Flay
Teresa Onofre
Eileen and Wesley Ford
Shea Palamountain and Rob Smith
Kylie and John Galfione
Joan Pappas and Christopher Pappas, Sr. in honor of Edie and
Pedro Garza
Miller Pappas
Alexandra Gassan
Mollie and Christopher Pappas
H. Stephen Grace, Jr.
Mary and James Peters in honor of Gianna Peters
Lindsay and James Gregory
Bruce Raby
Angie and Christian Gubitz
Susanne and Ron Raczy in honor of Benjamin, Daniel, and
Susan and Steve Gubitz in honor of Addison and Blake Gubitz
Ethan Mavity
Mary Ann and David Haberman in honor of Andrew, Caroline, and
Sania Rahim-Gilani and Aziz Gilani
Julia Lewis
Aimee and Matt Raley
Sheila Hall and James Hall, Jr.
Marcia and Leslie Randall in honor of Beatrix and Wenxuan
Jane Hamilton
Randall
Xiao Han-Maistry and Rene Maistry
Martha Reid and Donald Reid, Jr.
Veronica and Greg Harth
Shelley Robson and Devin Weiss
Sarah Hassan and Nadeem Tajuddin
Austin Rodriguez in memory of Pam Warren
Shirin and Larry Herman in honor of James Hall
Denise and Stephen Rodriguez
Carolyn Hooper in honor of Laura and Sarah Lopez
Justin Rodriguez
Helen Hsu in honor of Meylia Kumata
LuAnn and David Sanchez
Romesha and Joseph Jayasundera
Misu Sanson and Anthony Flores
Soraia and Nizar Jiwa
Jane and James Segraves in honor of Jesse Segraves
Claudine Johnson and Eric Tait
Janet and Sansar Sharma in honor of Max Sharma
Laura Lee Jones and David Reininger in honor of Maddie and
Mindy and Tim Snow
William Reininger
Jacqueline and Hasting Stewart
Vita and Ron Jordan in honor of Lauren and Matthew Jordan
Susie and Pete Straub in honor of Manu and Roberto Flores
Jamil and Mackale Joynerll
Susan Tracy
Anne and Christopher Kappes
Monica Tschen Hickok and Gary Hickok
Heather Kendall and Benjamin Mull
Lindsay and Brian Tucker
Debra Laporte
Mary and Chan Tysor
Jennifer and Nathan Uitenbroek
CORPORATE MATCHING
Andrea Upegui-Arroyave and Jose Cuellar-Silva
Chevron Corporation
Michelle and Craig Vinson
EDF Trading Limited
Sabina and Jacob Vizinat
Equinor
Han Wang and Gerald Soparkar
Phillips 66 Corporation
Elizabeth and Kyle Weaver
Shell Oil Company
Jennifer Wu and Kenny Kumata Alison Young and Jelani Kendrick Kathy and Francis Zipple in honor of Clara and Oliver Shedd F R I E N D S : up to $99 Anonymous Anne and Mark Bazin Hadley and James Cogan Anna-Leigh and Kevin Copeland Sophia Devereux Sr. Theresa Josephine Do, OP Pratibha Durgam Sandra Espinosa Heidi Flores and Fernando Cabecera Knights of Columbus Council 803 Mitsuko and Larry Kumata in honor of Meylia Kumata Karol Lara Lauren and Christopher Lee Nicole and Oliver Luijer Ely and Jose Marron Kristen Mattingly Jocelyn Ochoa Sharon Ortiz Teresa and Trey Palmer Sterling Richards Kesley Rodriguez Annie Sallans Ruth Scherschel Gabriela Velez Claire and John Paul Yabraian
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An Education F O R
L I F E
S T. C AT H E R I N E ' S M O N T E S S O R I T U I T I O N A S S I S TA N C E 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 Maintaining affordable tuition for families who wish to send their children to St. Catherine’s Montessori is a fundamental principle in which our Dominican foundresses firmly believed when they opened the school in 1966. Sr. Edna Ann Hebert, OP and Sr. Shirley Owens, OP also believed in providing education to children from diverse backgrounds, and these values set the stage for our long-held position to remain affordable and inclusive. In 2020-2021, St. Catherine’s awarded $70,000 in tuition assistance to 33 students from 22 families. Also in 2020-2021, with the combined contributions of individual giving, corporate matching, the annual Steps 4 Students 5K Run/Walk, and the SCM Virtual Gala, we received a total of $89,574 towards the SCM Tuition Assistance Program, which allows St. Catherine’s to provide future tuition aid directly to our families.
Individual Giving and Corporate Matching: $35,970 Steps 4 Students: $8,309 Virtual Gala: $45,295 Total Tuition Assistance: $89,574
Individual Giving & Corporate Matching Anonymous Katherina Alsina and Alan Guevara Kathleen H. Alsina Carmen and Jordi Baizan Beverly and Peter Barber Bayer Family Foundation Katie and Nick Gonzalez Hannah Engelke Christie and Jeremy Jones Jaime Middleton Lawler and Theodore Lawler Kerri and David Neimeyer Patrick Odneal Marilyn and Antonio Poy Lois Ramondetta and Nuri Nuri Austin Rodriguez in memory of Pam Warren Jennifer and Jason Schwartz Kristin and RJ Shedd Shell Oil Company
D O N O R S
Vanessa and Ryan Patterson
Kathleen H. Alsina
Lois Ramondetta and Nuri Nuri
Katia Baizan Gonzalez and Jorge Gonzalez
Sarah and Craig Scherschel
Yun Shin Chun and Justin Segraves
Mindy and Tim Snow
Pratibha Durgam
Denise and Vincent Stasio
Sandra Espinosa
Sr. Sharon Steglich, OP
Kathleen H. Alsina
Ana Treviño-Godfrey and
Katia Baizan Gonzalez and Jorge Gonzalez
Jonathan Godfrey
Yun Shin Chun and Justin Segraves
Saudia and Anthony Turney
Pratibha Durgam
Adriana Visbal and Alejandro
Sandra Espinosa
Contreras
Rachel Flay
Jennifer Wu and Kenny Kumata
Misty & Surena Matin
Deborah and Rock Gremillion
Marian Zinnante
Michelle Miller & Cliff Shedd
Olga and Miguel Grillo
Kathy and Francis Zipple
P I N K
TOW E R
B I N O M I A L
C U B E
Deborah & Rock Gremillion Mary Grimord & David Marks Claudine Johnson & Eric Tait Kidstown Dental Meritus/Melody & Eric Rodriguez Carrie & Kristen Procinsky Jennifer Taylor & Jeremy Ward Mary & Chan Tysor Adriana Visbal and Alejandro Contreras CO M M U N I T Y
B U I L D E R S
Angie and Christian Gubitz Zsofia Intody and David Spencer Alison Jefferies and Lorenzo Cohen Nia Johnson-Jones and Thomas Jones Megan and Chris Jordan Larissa and Antonio La Matta Tracey Ledoux and Jerrid Gunderson Sarah and Christopher Lewis Amy and Alan Lindsey Nicole and Oliver Luijer Shannon and Jamie Mann Amber McCarthy and Adolph Trudeau
Sarah & Christopher Lewis
Mary and John McCarthy
Shannon, Jamie, Ian & Emma Mann
Lisa and Bruce Moses
Nia Johnson-Jones & Thomas Jones
Tom Mouton
Amy & Alan Lindsey
Edith Napoleon-Segovia and Adrian Segovia
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Steps 4 Students 5K Walk/Run DONORS
Grecia Parra
Evie Galfione
Anonymous
Joseph Peters
Gwynn Galfione
Katherina Alsina
Carrie Procinsky
Sophie Galfione
Catherine Barber
Bruce Raby
Abigail Garza
Yun Shin Chun
Lyndsey Ray
Claire Glickert
John Clark
Karen Simar
Julia Glickert
Aaliyah Shafiq Ely
Ryan Smith
Isabella Godfrey
Ellen Fernandes
Dan Somerby
Jonathan Godfrey
Pedro Garza
Jackie Stewart
Sebastian Godfrey
Hilda Gentry
Eric Tait, Jr.
Genevieve Goitia
Tonya German
Monica Tang
Matthew Goitia
Kidada Gilbert-Lewis
Susan Tracy
Thanatcha Goitia
Matthew Goitia
Sabina Vizinat
Alessia Gonzalez
Thanatcha Goitia
Jennifer White
Amelia Gonzalez
Nicholas Gonzalez
Vanessa Winton
Juliette Gonzalez
Rock Gremillion
Penelope Gonzalez
Jaime Hope
TEAM SCM
Olivia Gremillion
Zsofia Intody
Edgar Aburto
Riley Gremillion
Joseph Jayasundera
Adam Allen
Rock Gremillion
Megan Jordan
Cecilia Barber
Addison Gubitz
Jamil Joyner
Fiona Barber
Blake Gubitz
Heather Kendall
Isaac Bazin
Kira Guevara
Larissa La Matta
Simona Bennett
Jerrid Gunderson
Tracey Ledoux
Jacob Blackman
James Hall
Courtney Lerch
Julie Blackman
Jim Hall
Nadine Lettman-Carswell
Gail Borden
Sheila Hall
Alan Lindsey
Angel Bush
Lucas Harth
Steven Lopez
Fraser Cardeau
Alessandra Hernandez
Chad Mavity
Genevieve Cardeau
Harrison Hickok
Simon Mayer
Madeline Castro
Jackson Hickok
Mary McCarthy
Jules Champion
Jaime Hope
Tim Mercer
Camille Clark
Anissa Jayasundera
Amy Metoyer
Chanelle Clark
Romesha Jayasundera
Jaime Middleton Lawler
Claire Clark
Claudine Johnson
Cynthia Moreno
Harrison Clark
Chris Jordan
Eric Nagorski
John Clark
Lauren Jordan
Edith Napoleon-Segovia
Isabel Cogan
Matthew Jordan
Andriy Nevidomskyy
Stewart Cogan
Megan Jordan
Billy Nowlin
Wilson Cogan
Kaleab Joyner
Lance Nowlin
Jose Cuellar
Heather Kendall
Mollie Pappas
Lucas Cuellar
Kenny Kumata
Keilani Parker
Mariajose Cuellar
Meylia Kumata
Mary Tysor
Lamees El Beheary
Larissa La Matta
Andrea Upegui-Arroyave
Nour El Beheary
Paolo La Matta
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T E A M S C M (continued):
Mollie Pappas
Lindsay Tucker
Vittoria La Matta
Grecia Parra
Devyn Turney
Deborah Lawler
Joseph Peters
Chan Tysor
Tracey Ledoux
Gabriel Poy
Mary Tysor
Everley Ledoux Gunderson
Carrie Procinsky
William Tysor
Hadley Ledoux Gunderson
Danika Procinsky
Jackson Uitenbroek
Catherine Lerch
Deklan Procinsky
Owen Uitenbroek
Courtney Lerch
Alana Raby
Andrea Upegui-Arroyave
Eric Lerch
Tiffany Raczy
Nathaniel Vizinat
John Lerch
Lyndsey Ray
Sabina Vizinat
William Lerch
Alexa Rivas-Gassan
Layla Wade
Amy Lindsey
Maximilian Rivas-Gassan
Abigail Ward
Jackson Lindsey
Kesley Rodriguez
Elliot Ward
Katherine Lindsey
Jason Schwartz
Jennifer Wu
Laura Lopez
Jennifer Schwartz
Claire Yabraian
Sarah Lopez
Oliver Schwartz
Eleanor Yabraian
Joseph Marron
Francis Segovia
Oliver Yabraian
Misty Matin
Mercedes Segovia
Nina Matin
Jesse Segraves
Surena Matin
Clara Shedd
Taraneh Matin
Oliver Shedd
Benjamin Mavity
Karen Simar
Chad Mavity
Ray Simar
Daniel Mavity
Dominic Smith
Ethan Mavity
Liam Smith
Adam Mayer
Kamilla Spencer
Carolina Mayer
Jack Sprafka
Simon Mayer
John Sprafka
Veronica Mayer
Mark Sprafka
Amber McCarthy
Melissa Sprafka
John McCarthy
Jordyn Stewart
Mary McCarthy
Payton Stewart
Cynthia Moreno
Eric Tait
Ben Mull
Kiran Tait
Catherine Mull
Lena Tait
Colin Mull
Abbie Tang
Lauren Mull
Annie Tang
Eric Nagorski
Joe Tang
Violeta Nevidomska
Monica Tang
Andriy Nevidomskyy
Phong Tang
Thu Nguyen
Jennifer Taylor
Andre Nichols
Susan Tracy
George Noe
Ana Treviño-Godfrey
Mary Noe
Adolph Trudeau
Nicholas Noe
Brian Tucker
Emma Nowlin
Eli Tucker
Jocelyn Ochoa
Jasper Tucker
St. Catherine’s is honored to partner with Whole Kids Foundation and The Bee Cause Project to expand integrated environmental education activities for adolescents at our Japhet Creek campus. In 2020, Whole Kids Foundation awarded us a garden grant in the amount of $3,000 to refurbish the existing garden beds at Japhet with new irrigation, enhance the greenhouse with solar technology, and plant more fruit trees on the property. These improvements will enhance our students’ farm school educational experience as they explore their interests in genetics, soil science, entomology, and ornithology. In partnership with The Bee Cause Project, Whole Kids Foundation also granted St. Catherine’s $1,500 to expand the SCM bee program by funding new hives, a queen, and additional beekeeping suits and equipment. Adding bees to Japhet is part of our plan to develop the campus to be a full expression of the environmental education activities we offer our adolescents. By caring for hives, students study biology, entomology and genetics; learn how bees have been critical to the development of the human race from the earliest of humans to present day; and explore mankind’s connection to the natural world. Having multiple hives at Timberside and Japhet will allow students to compare the hives and have several frames of reference for understanding bee activity. Many thanks to Whole Kids Foundation and The Bee Cause Project for their generous support to help guide our students in their exploration of the natural world and deepening understanding of their responsibility to preserve and enhance the earth they inhabit.
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T H E
P OW E R
O F
Community
PA R E N T S E R V I C E O R G A N I Z AT I O N ( P S O ) During the 2020-2021 school year, the Parent Service Organization valiantly continued to foster community and to meet the school’s needs through virtual activities and remote volunteering. Recognizing the value of keeping parents connected during such challenging times, many committees found ways to bridge the gap. For example, the Friends of the Atrium, co-chaired by Edith Napoleon and Heather Kendall, offered virtual meditation and rosary meetings while also supporting Masses that St. Catherine’s held virtually. The PSO Book Club, chaired by Tracey Ledoux and Amber McCarthy, held four virtual book discussions throughout the year. Furthermore, Grecia Parra re-conceptualized Fall Fest and Spring Fling as at-home celebrations, including guided activities and virtual cooking classes. The Friends of the Library, co-chaired by Kerri Neimeyer and Brooke Nyberg, sponsored an online book sale to raise funds for the library during the holidays. In the spring, Hadley Cogan led an online version of our Square One Art fundraiser, which provides funding for faculty and staff education. Both fundraisers were successful, and we are grateful for the community’s support of these initiatives.
A highlight of the year was seeing families come together to support our community. The Faculty and Staff Appreciation Committee, led by Mary Tysor, provided a variety of treats, meals, and gifts to our faculty and staff. Two of the most exciting expressions of appreciation were the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon, a safe yet fun celebration coordinated by Jennifer Schwartz; and the May Appreciation Month, coordinated by Mary Tysor and supported by parent volunteers. Also thanks to the leadership of Mary Tysor, SCM families generously donated back-to-school supplies in July and Christmas pajamas for Casa de Esperanza residents.
Finally, 2020-2021 saw the introduction of new PSO initiatives. The PSO by-laws received an update under the leadership of By-laws chair, James Cogan. A new group, the Social Justice Liaisons, including Dana Bayer, Chanelle Clark, Sheila Hall, Summer Kelly, and Amber McCarthy, began defining their role and produced a mission statement to guide their work on increasing equity in the PSO. In addition, the New Family Welcome Committee was transformed into the PSO Ambassadors, who worked during the summer to welcome new families and serve as a point of contact for families with children transitioning to a new level. Ambassadors include Katia Baizan, Audrey Glickert, Edith Napoleon, Grecia Parra, Mary Tysor, and Kristin Zipple-Shedd.
So many parents, in addition to those named above, have gone above and beyond in helping our community to stay connected and safe. On behalf of the entire PSO, thank you to everyone who has contributed their time, talent, and gifts to support these efforts!
Catherine Barber, PSO President
PSO Virtual Fall Fest PSO Faculty and Staff Appreciation Committee
Casa de Esperanza Pajama Drive
Teacher Appreciation Week
Friends of the Atrium
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9821 Timberside Houston, TX 77025 713 665 2195
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stcathmont.org