Our community inspires students to discover joy and passion in their learning, purpose in their lives, and the confidence to express their unique selves in a nurturing, inclusive, and collaborative environment.
LAST YEAR, OUR COMMUNITY RAISED A GRAND TOTAL OF IN SUPPORT OF TEACHING & LEARNING
$1.4M
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
Students at St. George's are encouraged to balance the mastery of academic knowledge and skills with an exploration of their personal interests. In fact, inspiring students to discover joy and passion in their learning truly is at the core of all that we seek to cultivate within our school community.
I am proud to be carving out a new path here at St. George’s; one that invites community members to engage in, and contribute towards, the school’s advancement. With a growing number of volunteers and donors stepping forward to partner with us, we had a record breaking fundraising year last year. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised more than $1.4M
in support of teaching & learning; and we had fun doing it!
I hope you’ll enjoy reading this inaugural Annual Giving Report to learn more about how philanthropy and community engagement elevates our school. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead as we build upon this momentum, and strengthen the school's capacity to support students' passion for learning, purpose in their lives, and confidence to express their unique selves.
With gratitude,
RAYNA GOLDMAN
When I look back over the years at the people, places and things that exerted the most positive influence over my life, my time at St. George’s stands alone in the pantheon of great experiences. It was a place in which I felt supported, nurtured, encouraged, and empowered: to learn, to think critically, and to develop self-confidence.
ALUMNUS GIVES BACK
BY MARK PACKER ’77
A ST. GEORGE’S STORY
Mark Packer in 1977
I was blessed to have educators who encouraged risk-taking, who allowed me to learn from failure and success, and who took a genuine interest in my development as a well-rounded person and not just as a student.
St. George’s encouraged individualism and not conformity. It encouraged academic excellence but not academic competition. If I had an idea, my teachers didn’t say “you can’t do that,” they said “okay, let’s see how we can make this happen.”
I did cool things at St. George’s: with two classmates started an independent theatre ensemble, rappelled off the roof of the High School (that didn’t go over too well in some quarters), had access to computers before they were commercially available, and took the first AP English class ever taught at the school. I remember sitting in that class “unpacking” an
essay by Susan Sontag and discovering that brilliant thinkers don’t always write brilliantly.
That class however, taught by the principal, Vincent Skinner, instilled in me a love of the written and spoken word that has served me well throughout my professional career as a front-facing representative of the organizations I have served.
So, as I approach my retirement and the next chapter in my life, I made a decision to commit something substantial to this institution that helped shape who I am today. I made a bequest to St. George’s which I hope they won’t have an opportunity to collect on for a few more years!
If my story resonates with you when you think of your experience with the school, I heartily encourage you to do the same.
Mark Packer (right) in 1977 with fellow student
Class of 1977 graduation photo
“True education begins when the walls of a school extend into the heart of the community, creating a shared journey toward authenticity and inspiration.”
MICHAEL O’CONNOR, HEAD OF SCHOOL
YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION
The Head’s Fund is a vital source of discretionary funding that allows our Head of School to respond to emerging needs, and most importantly, to equip and support the exceptional team of faculty and staff with whatever they need to inspire St. George's students. Thanks to your generosity, we raised more than $176,000 for the Head’s Fund, which made the following actions and initiatives possible:
$176K
Program Innovation Diversity & Equity School Life
Advancing the computer science program through professional development
Launching a multiyear Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative in support of an inclusive school environment, including faculty, staff, and administrative training
Upgrading building security across both campuses
Investing in Athletics equipment and outdoor play areas
A MAJOR UPGRADE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“All parts of the school environment serve a purpose in helping our young learners to grow. Contributing to a child’s budding sense of self and autonomy, our physical spaces truly are a student’s third teacher.”
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR A MAJOR FACILITIES UPGRADE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Identified as one of four pillars in the 5-year strategic plan Creating Tomorrow, Together, we are committed to evolving and elevating our school facilities across both campuses. We strive to design and build educational spaces that mirror the quality of our education, prioritizing projects that will have the most profound impact on the student, faculty, and staff experience.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, and the expertise of architectural firm Atelier TAG, the High School Learning Commons renovation was completed last summer. Over the course of the 2023‒2024 school year, we saw this beautiful new space come to life. From quiet study time to lively mock United Nations class debates, the new Learning Commons truly is a communal learning space that inspires student creativity, collaboration, and inquiry.
Having completed the Learning Commons project, we set our sights on closing a $1.3M fundraising campaign for a major facilities upgrade at the Elementary School. Thanks to the strength, generosity, and creativity of our school community, we broke ground on this project in June 2024!
Encompassing nearly the entire first floor – including the reception, front offices, faculty & staff kitchen, the kindergarten cubby room, and the Center for Learning Enrichment – this revitalization project will modernize our facilities, and create new spaces for collaboration and learning. We look forward to the grand opening of our new first floor in November 2024, as we work towards the next exciting phase in campus planning.
DREAM BIG RAFFLE & SILENT AUCTION
MAY 16–30, 2024
A community gathering to remember!
A heartfelt thanks to all of our generous sponsors, dedicated committee members, participants, and volunteers, all of whom contributed to making the Dream Big Raffle & Silent Auction a smashing success. All proceeds raised have directly supported the Elementary School Capital Project.
THANK YOU TO MONTREAL’S LOCAL LEGENDS FOR CONTRIBUTING SO MANY INCREDIBLE PRIZES AND HELPING US BRING THIS MAGICAL NIGHT TO LIFE.
56 NEW DONORS
FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2023 – JUNE 30, 2024
300 GIFTS COMMUNITY GIVING BREAKDOWN
29% INCREASE IN AVERAGE ANNUAL GIFT SIZE
$1.16M IN
$1.4
Million Raised WE SET A NEW RECORD!
WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING
FACILITIES REVITALIZATION
79.12%
YOUR GENEROSITY DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR SCHOOL’S GROWTH AND SUCCESS. EACH AND EVERY GIFT IS APPRECIATED. THANK YOU HEAD’S FUND 12.19% ATHLETICS 6.26% FINANCIAL AID 2.42%
