Thank you for joining us in celebration of our “Diamond” anniversary honoring our legacy, our children, our community, and our bright future.
WELCOME
To the WMS community:
Welcome to our 60th Anniversary Auction! Let the fun and the bidding begin!
Our school creates a joyful and inclusive environment for children. Tonight, we create that for one another as a community of current and past families, educators and supporters. Whatever brought you to this party, we hope you enjoy the evening. We shine brightest when we shine the light of connection and appreciation on one another.
Tonight we celebrate the school’s six decades. We will also be joining together to provide essential financial support to our school. Every dollar you spend or donate this evening has a direct and positive effect on the quality of a WMS education.
So whether you bid on an auction item or raise your paddle high, thank you for supporting the mission of the school that has such an impact on the children we love.
A warm and gracious thank you to all the staff, donors, hosts of gatherings, volunteers, and sponsors who contributed and worked to make this evening successful, sparkling, and full of joy.
On behalf of the students and educators past, present and future of Washington Montessori school, thank you for coming tonight, and for giving the gift of Montessori education.
In Partnership, Launa
WMS PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the Parent Teacher Association, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your support of Washington Montessori. It is through your active involvement and commitment that we are able to create such a vibrant and nurturing community here at our school. Whether it’s volunteering your time, supporting teachers, or participating in Materials Workshop, your contributions do not go unnoticed, and they make a significant difference in the lives of our students and community.
One of the many reasons we love Montessori education is its holistic approach to learning, which fosters independence, creativity, and critical thinking skills in our children. We have witnessed firsthand the profound impact this approach has on our students’ academic achievement and personal development. As we strive to ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from a Montessori education, we recognize that financial circumstances may pose a barrier for some families.
If you are in a position to contribute to the tuition assistance program, your generosity will directly benefit deserving students by providing them with access to the transformative education offered here. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children and build a brighter future for generations to come.
Thank you,
Megan Sokolnicki and Joby Cheezic PTA Co-Chairs
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
Throughout the evening, be sure to sign up for WMS Gatherings.
5:30 PM Let the fun begin! Cocktails & Passed Hors d’oeuvres
6:20 PM
Welcome by Head of School, Launa Schweizer Heads or Tails (register at the door)
A Special Raffle
Live Auction: Round One!
Raise A Paddle (use the bottom portion on your paddle)
Live Auction: Round Two! Special Group Performance
8:30 PM
Thank you, Good Night & A Sweet Surprise
Whether you go home with a “Super Silent” item, play Heads or Tails, or Raise your Paddle for tuition assistance — or hopefully all the above! — we thank you for giving the gift of Montessori education.
*Winners of Live items may pick items up at the Check Out table in the upstairs lobby before leaving tonight.
THANK YOU To Our Generous Family Sponsors
Your generosity supports our students’ journey in recognizing their individual and collective potential, developing thoughtful approaches to learning and choosing paths towards responsible and fulfilling lives. Your generosity ensures that every child who attends the Washington Montessori School is confidently prepared to venture out into the world and accomplish great things.
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
Lisa Bachmann
Emily Littman Eisen
Valery Galasso & Nicholas Merrill
Rachel & Mike Jacobellis
Louise & John Lewis
Diana Orrego-Moore & Jonathan Moore
Kelly & Jonathan Opdyke
Helen Shu & Eliot Wadsworth
ALLY SPONSORS
Anna & Brent Stevens
Dina & Joe Wright
COMPANION SPONSORS
Clea Alsip & Danny Binstock
YuJung & Jonathan Chaplin
Lisa & Andrew Clark
Ines de Seroux & Matias Santa Cruz
Tal Fagin & Robert Copen
Caitlin & Collin Daulong
Phedpailin & Austin Farmer
Caroline & Jason Klein
Megan & Brendan Miller
Eszter Minar & Gergely Varady
Cassie Murdoch & Jack Fagan
Suzanne Paxton & Patrick Horan
Rod Pleasants & Steve Godwin
Eve & Eric Schneider
Launa Schweizer & Bill Lienhard
Nicole Oge & Richard Jordan
Allison & William Ryder
Victoria Sherwood & Fergus Atkinson-O’Sullivan
Candice Szu & Claudia de Coux
Beth & David Wellman
Meredith Whitehouse & Jeff Mascia
Listed above are those who provided sponsorship on or before 02/20/25.
Please accept our sincere gratitude to those who contributed after this date.
AUCTION VOLUNTEERS
Please take a moment to appreciate these often unsung heroes who generously give their time, dedication, talents, love, patience, and perseverance toward making this event possible.
Jean Baldwin
Amanda Carlson
Melissa Castonguay
Rebecca Castellani
Joby Cheezic
Krystyana Czeiner
Alyssa Chouinard
Jenny Cipoletti
Samantha Dunbar
Terri Durso
Mia Ferrara Pelosi
Jennifer Finch
Abby Hapworth
Gary Kertis
Ellen Kim
Melissa Kubin
Kendra Lacroix
Mark Landy
Kirsten Leon
Gemma Lewis
Jennifer Littke
Laura Martin
Gabe McMackin
Brendan Miller
Tracy Liz Miller
Laura Neminski
Trish O’Reilly
Gerry O’Reilly
Jessica Pleasants
Megan Sokolnicki
Rachel Sopko
Jamie Spannhake
Victoria Vetrano
Sarah von Dreele
Dina Wright
WMS Student Volunteers
Listed above are those who volunteered before February 20, 2025. Please accept our sincere gratitude to those who contributed after this date.
SPECIAL THANKS
THE 2025 AUCTION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE EFFORTS OF THE FOLLOWING TALENTED PEOPLE...
Rebecca Castellani, Joby Cheezic, Krystyana Czeiner, Terri Durso, Mia Ferrara Pelosi, Jennifer Finch, Jack Gilpin, Abby Hapworth, Ellen Kim, Kirsten Leon, Mark Landy, Laura Martin, Tracy Liz Miller, Laura Neminski, Trish O’Reilly, Gerry O’Reilly, Megan Sokolnicki, Sarah von Dreele, and WMS Student Volunteers.
Litchfield Distillery — for underwriting the cocktails & spirits Expert Rental — for always tending to the details Executive Cuisine — for their delicious food, catering & bar expertise
County Wine & Spirits in New Preston
Rob Alberti — for the spectacular lighting, decor & sound
Jon Veleas — for capturing all the special moments
Cotille Davis — for creating a memorable anniversary keepsake
A huge thank you to our incredible auctioneer, Jack Gilpin, and Raise a Paddle emcee, Tracy Liz Miller, whose enthusiasm and charm inspire us all. We are so grateful for their time, talent, and dedication in making this event a success!
Thank you to both our Head of School, Launa Schweizer, and our Director of Education, Melissa Hay, for your dedication and enthusiasm for our community.
To the WMS Teachers, Advisors and Administrators, who always offer their continued support in so many ways.
Listed above are those who volunteered before February 20, 2025. Please accept our sincere gratitude to those who contributed after this date.
Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
44 Old Ridgebury Road Suite 320
Danbury, CT 06810
203-744-1929
900 Main Street South Suite 102
Southbury, CT 06488
203-693-8530
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Westport, CT 06880
203-744-1929 Firm
James J. Flaherty, Jr.
Richard S. Land
Timothy M. Herring
Alyson R. Marcucio
Ward J. Mazzucco
Francis G. Pennarola
Christine M. Szafranski
Shelby L. Wilson
Richard L. Emerson
Thomas M. Rickart
Your home away from home
WASHINGTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL
New Preston, Connecticut
Washington Montessori offers a variety of summer camps and programs for students ages 3-14 on our 48-acre campus nestled in the Litchfield Hills. These offerings range from a Montessori-inspired program for our youngest campers, to sports clinics and specialty camps for our older campers.
Whether you are looking to fill just one week in your child’s vacation schedule, or to participate in a full summer of programming, we offer fun programming and flexibility to meet your family’s needs.
Young Campers (Ages 3-5)
Elementary Explorers (Grades 1-5)
Middle School Immersions (Grades 6-8)
Register online now at washingtonmontessori.org/programs/summer-programs/
Stacey and Pels Matthews
Florence de Dampierre | Rebecca Doh
Philippe Doh | Austin Farmer | John Gould
Marcy Grambo | Jacqueline Hornish
Christine Kell | Stephan Lavictoire
Travis Lipinski | Kim-Mai Mahon
Philippa Feigen Malkin | Jackson McCard
Beth Morgan | Eric Popilowski
Dana Serafine | Marguerite Starr
Jim Stewart | Alper Toydemir
Jessica Travelstead | Amity Wolfe
Follow the child, but follow the child as his leader. We provide the opportunities to learn, grow, and develop in a safe and carefully prepared environment. The environment is created with the child in mind, considering both his current development and his future needs.
— DR. MARIA MONTESSORI