St. Catherine's Montessori Annual Report 2023-2024

2023-2024

St. Catherine’s Montessori BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Denise Stasio President

Angie Gubitz Vice President

Sarah Scherschel Secretary

Lauren Wasielewski Treasurer

Chad Mavity

Misty Matin

Sam McGlone

Eric Rodriguez

Kevin Smith

Lina Delgado Head of School; Ex-Officio

St. Catherine’s Montessori ADMINISTRATION

Lina Delgado Head of School

Emily Blackman Campus Administrator

Holly Copeland Business Director

Sam Hemming Facilities & Athletics Director

Bruce Moses Director of Lower School & Technology Director

Lyndsey Ray Advancement Director

Dr. Brian Tucker Director of Upper School & High School Guide

Amy Walz Enrollment Management Director

OUR MISSION

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.

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear St. Catherine’s Community,

It has been a truly remarkable year for St. Catherine’s Montessori! As we approach the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we can look back on a multitude of exciting achievements. We are deeply grateful for your support and generosity, which have played a significant role in these accomplishments. Your trust in us to educate and care for your children and adolescents is an honor and responsibility we hold with utmost respect. As you read this Annual Report, I hope you will recognize your part in making our school an extraordinary place and feel the depth of our gratitude for your contributions.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give,” Winston Churchill once said. This sentiment rings true at St. Catherine’s, where every volunteer and every financial contribution has made a significant impact. Your support has led to the most successful SCM Annual Fund in the history of our school, enabling us to provide enhanced educational experiences for our students.

As I reflect on my second year as Head of School at St. Catherine’s, I am humbled and proud to serve such a mission-driven Catholic Montessori school and energized by the bright future ahead. We’ve been able to provide more professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff, make improvements to our facilities and environments, improve compensation packages for our employees, and better meet the financial aid needs of our families. We are also excited to share that we received the permit from the City of Houston to begin construction at Japhet Campus, our urban farm that serves as an extension to our main campus.

As we look towards next year, I do so with excitement about the possibilities. We will begin the accreditation cycle with the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED), and we are set to continue working on our Strategic Plan. In the development of any school, you will always find a community of people committed to seeing it take the next step. I believe two of St. Catherine’s next steps within the next decade will be the continuous integration of the Japhet Campus into the fabric of our school and expansions to our Timberside campus as we continue to grow.

I am immensely honored to serve at this school and look forward to the journey of educating our students next year and beyond. On behalf of everyone at St. Catherine’s Montessori, thank you for your continuous support of our extraordinary mission.

God bless,

Lina Delgado Head of School

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear St. Catherine’s Community,

As we approach the conclusion of another school year, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the milestones and successes we’ve achieved collectively.

During the 2023-2024 school year, our Board of Directors successfully focused on two primary goals:

1. Supporting the Implementation of the New St. Catherine’s Montessori Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan serves as a dynamic roadmap for our institution's future as a Catholic Montessori school rooted in the Dominican tradition. Crafted meticulously by our dedicated team, led by Lina and SCM faculty and staff, this plan ensures our adaptability in a rapidly changing world. We extend heartfelt gratitude to Lina and her team for their exceptional work in formulating and carrying out actionable plans for each strategic goal.

2. Engaging the Board of Directors in Risk Analysis and Strategic Thinking to Identify and Develop Holistic School and Board Responses

We embarked on a vital journey to involve the Board in risk analysis and strategic thinking, aimed at developing comprehensive responses aligned with our school's holistic vision. This endeavor is critical to ensuring our preparedness and resilience in the face of challenges.

We also want to express our sincere appreciation for Lina's unwavering dedication and exemplary guidance. She continues to excel in fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and development. We eagerly anticipate the exciting initiatives ahead under her steadfast leadership.

Our community is the cornerstone of our success—past, present, and future. From our devoted faculty and staff to our committed parents, donors, alumni, grandparents, friends, and volunteers, each of you enriches the vibrant tapestry of our Montessori school experience. Your support through fundraisers, event participation, and volunteering has propelled us forward, enabling this year’s numerous achievements.

As summer approaches, we wish you rest and relaxation, embracing the well-deserved break. We eagerly look forward to reconvening in the fall, rejuvenated and ready to embark on new endeavors together.

Thank you for your invaluable contributions to our St. Catherine's Montessori community!

Warmest regards,

Denise Stasio Board President

EXPENSES

Tuition & Fees

SCM Annual Fund

Other

Auxiliary Service Fees

Fundraising Events

Salaries & Bene ts

Curriculum & Class Activities

Facility

Other Expenses

Philanthropy

As I reflect on this year of giving, I am filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of the St. Catherine’s mission that our donors have demonstrated through their generosity. Once again, our community of parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, board members, alumni, and friends has broken school fundraising records in providing us with the resources necessary to enrich the educational experience of every student who walks through our doors.

This year, you gave a remarkable $261,875 to the SCM Annual Fund. With these contributions, St. Catherine’s:

• will sponsor AMI diploma training for three guides;

• hosted an AMI Adolescent trainer for guide consultations and a parent education event;

• continued our annual program of professional development activities for employees;

• continued to increase employee compensation packages;

• purchased replacement furniture, storage solutions, and appliances for several classrooms and the school library;

• partnered with an organic lawn service to help care for our 10-acre main campus in alignment with our environmental stewardship ethos and Dominican principles; and

• awarded a record $123,750 in tuition assistance for 2024-2025.

These are just a few examples of how your annual giving has impacted our students, families, and faculty/staff members by funding St. Catherine’s needs and fueling our aspirations.

Additionally, we were pleased to introduce The 1966 Society—named in honor of our founding year—as our new leadership donor recognition society. We are honored that over 50 families have joined the inaugural class and helped lead the way in this year’s SCM Annual Fund with gifts of $1,966 and above.

Our spring fundraising event, Great Conversations, brought acclaimed author Catherine L’Ecuyer to our community for a fun and enlightening evening that raised $88,850 in gross revenue. Thank you to the host committee, sponsors, underwriters, donors, and guests who made the event a success and embraced our commitment to preserving the natural pace and rhythms of childhood. Proceeds will allow us to purchase a new slide and spinner to refresh and enhance the Elementary playground.

On behalf of our school community, thank you for your continued generosity and belief in our mission. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our students and shaping a brighter future for us all. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and honored to walk this path with you.

With sincere gratitude,

Lyndsey Ray Advancement Director

SCM Annual Fund

The following donors made SCM Annual Fund commitments between July 1, 2023 and May 28, 2024.

GUARDIANS OF LIGHT $10,000 +

Anonymous

Deborah and Rock Gremillion

Kristin Zipple-Shedd and RJ Hazeltine-Shedd

Michelle and Clifford Shedd in honor of Clara, Oliver, and Toby Shedd

FOUNDRESSES' CIRCLE

$5,000 - $9,999

The Bayer Family

Christie and Jeremy Jones

Sarah and Christopher Lewis

MONTESSORI SOCIETY

$2,500 - $4,999

Anonymous

Lina and Andres Delgado

The Jiwa Family

The Legaria-Mendoza Family

Amy and Alan Lindsey

Nazia and Thaha Mirza

Fan and Peter Morris

Sonja and Charles Novo

The Pelly Family

Tiffany Raczy Mavity and Chad Mavity

Jennifer Taylor and Jeremy Ward

THE 1966 SOCIETY $1,966 - $2,499

Anonymous

Catherine and Michael Barber

The Baula Family

Jennifer Chen and A. Edward Yen

Vy and Jack Collett

Fernando Cuartas

Angie and Christian Gubitz

Jennifer and Absalon Gutierrez

Mary Ann Haberman in honor of Andrew and Caroline Lewis

The Haskovec Family in memory of Betty Fleming

Nia and Thomas Jones

Harini Krishnamoorthy and Guhanand Venkataraman

Faiza and Fazeel Lakhani

Sonia Lopez and Gabriel Lopez-Berestein in honor of Manuela Lopez

Nicole and Oliver Luijer

Jennifer and Todd Lundberg

Misty and Surena Matin

Candace McCaddon

Julie McLarry and Justin Homfeld

Jaime Middleton Lawler and Theodore Lawler in honor of Theodore Lawler, Sr.

Cynthia Moreno and Edgar Aburto

Lisa and Bruce Moses

Casey and Matthew Ozuna

The Panneton Family

Melody and Eric Rodriguez

Christin and Luke Schaab in honor of Nathaniel and Jake Schaab

Sarah and Craig Scherschel

Elda and Kevin Smith

Denise and Vincent Stasio

Monica and Phong Tang

Linda and Hugh Tucker in honor of Eli and Jasper Tucker

Amanda Vlastas

Priscilla and Josh Yung

VERITAS $500 - $1,965

Anonymous

Naureen Ahmeduddin and Russell Brink

Paty and Trey Alava

Kristin and Gabriel Assaad

Kathleen and Jeb Bertolatus in honor Laura and Jebbie Bertolatus

Arthur Cheng

Elyne Cheng

Cristina and E. Scot Dixon

Lois and Robert Dzik in honor of Eva Luijer

Samantha Edussuriya

Kamisha and John Escoto

Angie and Nathan Fowler

Alexandra Gassan

Linh Ha and Duynh Hoang

Angel and Haskel Harvey

Shirin and Larry Herman in honor for James L. Hall

Lubna Kamal and Mohamad Abdalla in honor of Kamlah, Kinaan, and Rakan Abdalla

Naomi and Vincent Lambert

Melissa and Dave Lopez

Juan Mangini in memory of Oscar R. Mangini, M.D.

Shannon and Jamie Mann

Nancy and David Martin in honor of Elliot, Myers, and Riley Nyberg

Micaela and Sam McGlone

The Mehta Family

Meredith and Matthew Millik

Saira and Samir Najam in honor of Inaya and Safiya Najam

Jin Sun Park and Elbert Kwak

Carla Pulumbarit and Cam Le

Ami Tyagi and Kashyap Patel

Sania Rahim-Gilani and Aziz Gilani

Shelley Robson and Devin Weiss

Misu Sanson and Anthony Flores

David Sharma

Max Sharma

Christian Sosa

Ana Treviño-Godfrey and Jonathan Godfrey

Mary and R. Chan Tysor

Andrea Upegui and Jose R. Cuellar

Adriana Visbal

Lauren and Jonathan Wasielewski

Jennifer Wu and Kenny Kumata

Susie and Alfred Yung in honor of Hannah and Sarah Yung

Kathy Yadrick Zipple in honor of Clara, Oliver, and Toby Shedd

TORCHBEARERS $250 - $499

Nadia and Hamid Ali

Terri and Adan Alvarez

Maya Balakrishnan and Ramesh Venugopal in honor of Ashwin and Rishabh Venugopal

Emily and Jeff Blackman

The Cadena-Varela Family

Elizabeth Dambouradijan and Kenneth Stemac

The Dubay Family in honor of Cynthia Blessman and Kathy Hijazi

Out of the Box and into SCM:

THE MIRZA FAMILY

The Mirza family—Nazia, Thaha, Musa, and Iman—embodies what it means to be a St. Catherine’s family. Since joining SCM in 2017, they quickly became familiar and friendly faces on campus, attending and hosting Sociables, participating in the PSO, cheering for the SCM Owls, and enjoying many school events and traditions.

Nazia and Thaha’s parenting philosophy centers on fostering independence and critical thinking in their children. They believe in thinking outside the box and doing things that may not always align with traditional methods or ideologies. "We want them to do something because they truly want to do it, even if it goes against the status quo," Nazia explained.

The Mirza family’s journey to St. Catherine's began with love at first sight. Nazia shared, "I fell in love with the independence, the nurturing environment, and incorporating the natural environment into everything you do." The school’s passion for a holistic, nurturing, and inclusive educational environment resonated deeply, and experiencing the strong sense of community reinforced their decision. "There was a sense of family that we didn't see at other schools. I remember when we toured it, and we were like, this is it! This is what we want for our kids,” Nazia recalls of their initial tour. Now, they eagerly recommend SCM to other families; she emphasizes, "The community, the guides, and the administration are always willing to work with whatever situation comes up. The attitude is always finding a solution and cheering on the children.”

Trusting the Montessori process and witnessing the three-year cycles come to fruition were significant factors in the Mirza family's decision to stay with St. Catherine's. Thaha explained, "You have to have a little bit of patience. We are seeing now what everybody has been saying: ‘You have to let the cycle finish, and, at the end, this is how it's going to be.’” Their children's growth and confidence continue to impress them at the end of each new level. The Mirzas love the opportunities for authentic life experiences that progress from local Going Outs in Elementary to international travel and Spanish immersion as a culminating odyssey of the Adolescent Community. Nazia shares that Musa’s recent 9th-year trip to Costa Rica was particularly transformative: "He came home, and the first thing he told me in the car was, 'Wow, I am grateful for everything that I have. It was really humbling.'" Reflecting on Musa and Iman’s profoundly formative SCM experiences, Thaha also appreciates that the guides don’t shy away from presenting difficult topics and encourage respectful discussion and debate. This discourse develops an attitude and a remarkable norm of respect and inclusion, which is evident in student culture and friendships.

The decision to remain for the Adolescent Community and again through high school was influenced by the qualities they saw developing in their children. Nazia and Thaha are proud of the independence, grit, and kindness that Musa and Iman exhibit. "There's a sense of ownership that the kids have—a sense of 'I want to get things done.' They want to be here, they want to learn and thrive," Thaha noted. Commitment to their children's development led them to explore other schools, and the lackluster engagement they observed touring traditional options reaffirmed their choice to stay at SCM. "Musa was adamant. He said, ‘I don’t want to learn like that. I want to learn the way we do here,’” Nazia shared. Teenagers at St. Catherine’s are empowered to examine and speak out against injustice, and they love to work and learn through doing–in a safe and supportive social atmosphere.

Seeing the fruits of the experiences, relationships, and independence St. Catherine’s nurtures, the Mirza family’s commitment to SCM extends beyond participation—they are also consistent Annual Fund and event donors. “We donate to St. Catherine's Montessori because we value the school's holistic approach to education. We believe in the school’s mission and educational approach and want to celebrate and support that through giving,” said Nazia. The Mirza family’s experience demonstrates the merits of patience with the Montessori approach and each child’s unique unfolding. In the same ways they appreciate St. Catherine’s influence on their children, the school is mutually enriched by the Mirza family’s involvement, enthusiasm, and generosity!

Looking ahead, the Mirzas hope their children will recognize the formative nature of their SCM experience. "I hope they say that this school has shaped who they are. They are incredible humans and incredible children, and I hope they continue to be. At the end of the day, the most important thing apart from anything else is what kind of human you are," Nazia mused.

Thaha and Nazia Mirza with Iman (13) and Musa (14)

TORCHBEARERS $250 - $499 (continued)

Xiao Han-Maistry and Rene Maistry

Veronica and Greg Harth

Nicole and Bryan Holub in honor of Noah Holub

Molly Martin and Jason Karwacki in memory of Ed Martin

Mary and Donald Millik in honor of Micah and Miles Millik

Thu Nguyen and Tom Tran

Brooke and Andrew Nyberg

Austin Rodriguez in memory of Pam Warren

Bahar and Kinan Romman

Renee and Ryan Smith

Alexandra and John Stewart

Lindsay and Brian Tucker

Michelle and Craig Vinson

Amy and Marco Walz

FRIENDS up to $249

Anonymous

Carmen and Jordi Baizan in memory of Sr. Edna Ann Hebert, O.P.

Mariah Baker and Lorenzo Castro

Rachel and Josh Baker

Erica Berwanger

Jacob Blackman

Angel Bush and Andriy Nevidomskyy

Holly Copeland

Veronika and Luis de La Mata in honor of Ava, Lucas, and Olivia Harth

Elizabeth Deanda in honor of Andres Gomez

Maria Diaz

Sr. Theresa Josephine Do, O.P.

Kristi Duplichen in honor of Noah Holub

Jacinta Edussuriya in honor of Max Sharma

Sandra Espinosa

Zayd Farasin

Heidi Flores

Samuel Garcia

Katia and Jorge Gonzalez

Katie and Nick Gonzalez

H. Stephen Grace, Jr.

Sheila and Jim Hall

Miriam and Robert Hamilton in honor of Henrik Escoto

Amelia and Sam Hemming

Trang Hoang and Salman Amirali

Anna Holton in honor of Noah Holub

Claudine Johnson and Eric Tait

Heather Kendall and Benjamin Mull

Celia Ledet

Lauren and Christopher Lee

Laura Lopez in memory of Larry Hooper

Cathy and Jim Lundberg in honor of Ethan and Owen Lundberg

Ely and Jose Marron

Carrol and Jim Mavity in honor of Benjamin, Daniel, and Ethan Mavity

Hadley McIntosh

FRIENDS up to $249

(continued)

Catherine McLachlan

Danielle Mouton

Tom Mouton

Joan Mull in honor of Catherine Mull

Edith Napoleon-Segovia and Adrian Segovia

Patty and Frank Napoleon in honor of Francis and Mercedes Segovia

Antonio Neal

Todd Nies

Jocelyn Ochoa

The Ortiz Family

The Parra Family

Bruce Raby

Lyndsey Ray

Kathy and Bryant Richardi

Sterling Richards

Denise and Stephen Rodriguez

Kesley Rodriguez

LuAnn and David Sanchez

Kapila Sankaran and Aaron Love

Jean Claude Schepers in honor of Arthur and Elyne Cheng

Janet and Sansar Sharma in honor of Max Sharma

Meg Spesia

Jackie and Hasting Stewart

Sophia Therese Tamayo

Tomfoolery Toys & Books

Annis Turney in honor of Devyn and Dylan Turney

Billy Tyler

Jennifer and Nate Uitenbroek

Ricardo Vargas

Adrienne and Ryan West

Alison Young and Jelani Kendrick

MATCHING GIFTS

Thank you to the following companies who support St. Catherine’s through matching gift programs.

Matching Gift Companies

Chevron Corporation

ENGIE North America

Goldman Sachs

Huron Consulting Group

Phillips 66 Corporation

Shell Oil Company

Restricted Gifts

St. Catherine’s is grateful for the generosity of donors who made gifts designated for a specific purpose.

Athletics

Kriti Kitchen

Tuition Assistance

Bayer Family Foundation

Maurer Scholarship Fund

HOST COMMITTEE

Dana and Adam Bayer

Vy and Jack Collett

Deborah and Rock Gremillion

Sarah and Christopher Lewis

Misty and Surena Matin

Jaime Middleton Lawler and Theodore Lawler

Jennifer Taylor and Jeremy Ward

Saudia and Anthony Turney

Mary and R. Chan Tysor

CONVERSATION STARTERS

The Shedd Family

TABLE SPONSORS

Sparkling Conversationalists

Deborah and Rock Gremillion

Spirited Oraters

Dana and Adam Bayer

Vy and Jack Collett | Janna and Bill Harris |

The Panneton Family |Tam Phan and Leonardo Mirandola

Sarah and Christopher Lewis

Linda and Hugh Tucker

EVENT UNDERWRITERS

Venue

Ruhee and Keshuv Aggarwal

Misty and Surena Matin

Bar

The Pelly Family

Invitations

Deborah and Rock Gremillion

Carolina Gutierrez and Gabriel Lopez

Laura and Douglas Haskovec

Candace McCaddon Law PLLC

Melody and Eric Rodriguez

Denise and Vinny Stasio

Saudia and Anthony Turney

Mary and R. Chan Tysor

April 20, 2024

DONORS

Anonymous

Ruth and Joel Abrahams

Paty and Trey Alava

Catherine and Michael Barber

Kamisha and John Escoto

Jaime Middleton Lawler and Theodore Lawler

Judy and Don McCullough

Fan and Peter Morris

Jenny and Corey Paney

Mercedes and Andino Reynal

Karine Schepers-Cheng and Hao Cheng

Jonica and JP Tamayo

Jennifer Taylor and Jeremy Ward

Ana Treviño-Godfrey and Jonathan Godfrey

Reyna Valenzuela and Franklin Liao

Jennifer Wu and Kenny Kumata

Paddles Up

Ruhee and Keshuv Aggarwal

Dana and Adam Bayer

Kelley and Mike Bruso

Chanelle Clark and John Clark, Jr.

Vy and Jack Collett

Alejandro Contreras

Lina and Andres Delgado

Deborah and Rock Gremillion

Janna and Bill Harris

Veronica and Greg Harth

Lubna Kamal and Mohamad Abdalla

Amy and Alan Lindsey

Melissa and Dave Lopez

Cynthia Moreno and Edgar Aburto

The Panneton Family

Renee and Ryan Smith

Saudia and Anthony Turney

Mary and R. Chan Tysor

Pilar Uribe

Adriana Visbal

THE POWER OF Community

PARENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION (PSO)

It has been an honor to serve as PSO President for this school year, and a privilege to work alongside the selfless parents, dedicated faculty and staff, and bright students to fulfill the PSO mission of building community through service. As I reflect on the past year's achievements and milestones, I am filled with profound gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication of our parent volunteers. Your tireless efforts have been the cornerstone of our success, shaping every aspect of the PSO's journey.

I would like to thank Catherine Barber, President Emerita; Mary Tysor, Treasurer; and Tracey Ledoux, Secretary, who have each supported our efforts as PSO officers. Throughout the year, their commitment has transcended mere tasks; it has been a testament to their passion for our cause and their belief in the power of our community.

• Fall Fest and Spring Fling brought together SCM families, old and new, for potluck picnics and outdoor fun.

• PSO Ambassadors organized playdates, and Parent Potlucks welcomed new families and connected them with the community.

• Friends of the Atrium celebrated the liturgical year with Christian meditation, Rosaries, and saint dedications, and provided support for our monthly Mass.

• Sociables chairs coordinated unique parties and activities to strengthen our community.

• Friends of the Garden continued their efforts to maintain our beautiful campus by planting and weeding, and by preparing the grounds for community gatherings.

• Works of Mercy committee organized drives for back-to-school supplies and socks, underwear, and PJs in support of the children of Casa de Esperanza.

• Friends of the Library and Friends of the Arts organized and helped coordinate the annual Book Fair and Christmas Concert.

• Book Club selected a nice variety of titles and hosted fun and thought-provoking discussions.

• Friends of Athletics supported our student-athletes, and Steps 4 Students organized Team SCM so we could proudly display our St. Catherine’s spirit at the annual 5K Run/Walk in downtown Houston.

• Faculty and Staff Appreciation committee treated the amazing faculty and staff with goodies throughout the year, with highlights of the annual Chili Lunch and Dessert Soirée.

I am deeply grateful to each of the chairs and these committees, and to all the parents who attended events and meetings, chaperoned overnight trips and Going Out activities, and helped make school fundraising initiatives a success. Behind every successful event, initiative, or project lies the dedication and support of our parent volunteers. You helped St. Catherine’s continue to embrace much-loved traditions this year. Your contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Your willingness to share your time, skills, and resources has fostered a sense of belonging and camaraderie within our community. Your kindness and generosity have touched the hearts of many, inspiring us all to give back and pay it forward.

As we look ahead to the future, I am confident that with your continued support, we will reach even greater heights. Your involvement serves as a beacon of hope and a shining example of what can be achieved when we come together with a common purpose.

My sincerest thanks goes to each and every one of our parent volunteers. Your passion, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment are the driving force behind our success, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Vy Collett

PSO President, 2022-2024

Casa de Esperanza Back-to-School Supplies Drive

Mass

PSO Fall Fest

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon

Holi Sociable

Steps 4 Students 5k Run/Walk

First Day of School

Blessing of the Animals

Girls Varsity Basketball Game

Book Fair Christmas Concert

Leadership Donor Reception

Montessori Night School

Pancake Breakfast

Grandparents & Special Friends Day Commencement

Adolescent Community Portfolio Showcase

Total Solar Eclipse