chiaravalle montessori

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CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI2013-2015 ANNUAL REPORT

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CONTENTSWelcome

Head of School letter ..........................1

President, Board of Trustees letter ...3

Alumni

Chiaravalle Recent Graduates ............5

Alumni Feature ....................................7

Educational Insights

Feature Article: Technology as Disruptive Innovation in Education ......................9

Class Profiles ......................................12

Financials

Financial Report .................................19

Donor Acknowledgements

The Campaign for Chiaravalle .........20

Annual Fund 2013-2014 ....................25

Annual Benefit Event 2013-14 ..........28

Fund for Chiaravalle 2014-15 ............29

Diversity Endowment ........................32

1CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI

WELCOME“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

These words by the Japanese poet Satoro characterize how the collective wisdom, talents and support of our community has ushered Chiaravalle Montessori into a new era of possibilities. We are so grateful and excited by these opportunities.

Over the last 7-10 years, Chiaravalle has grown increasingly sophisticated in pro-gramming, systems, technology and, with the opening of the North Wing this coming

fall, our physical space. While we continu-ally evolve, we simultaneously reaffirm our Montessori roots to firmly ground and nour-ish our practices, and support optimal child development. We always consider how we may wisely “follow the child” and “educate the human potential” in the 21st century, taking the most current research into con-sideration. I like to refer to this thoughtful adaptation as “Modern Montessori.”

As I look to Chiaravalle’s future and the pos-sibilities ahead, I have been working with faculty and staff using three guiding princi-ples to inform our program developments:

• Enhancing integrated curriculum studies

• Fostering a culture of innovation and cre-ativity, and

• Cultivating compassion.

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2 ANNUAL REPORT

Chiaravalle Montessori · 425 Dempster Street Evanston, IL 60201 · 847.864.2190 · www.chiaravalle.org

Interdisciplinary studies are, of course, one of the key differen-tiators of a Montessori education. We want students to have the opportunity to learn meaningfully and deeply with passion, and, as you’ll see through their stories in this Annual Report, this approach is working. With the additional space in the North Wing this coming school year, we aim to further personalize the learning experience by inspiring and guiding students through expanded interdisciplinary studies outside the classroom.

Not only does an interdisciplinary approach help children better understand the world and engage in their learning, but it also creates the optimal framework to develop creative thinking and innovation. As Tony Wagner, Harvard-based author of “Creating Innovators” states, “Montessori schools … have been respon-sible for producing an inordinately high number of innova-tors.” Educational Director Clare Heath explores the idea of technology as disruptive innovation in the cornerstone article of this publication.

Where does compassion fit into lifelong success and academics? Critical thinking and problem solving require understanding. I think of compassion as the gravity that holds knowledge together and gives it context. It seems like this would be a given in schools. It is not. According to a recent study by Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, “Almost 80 percent of students ranked achievement over caring for others.” Furthermore, these kids believe their parents desire achievement from them over all else. It does not have to be one or the other. Thankfully, Chiar-avalle students are given the clear message that you can be

both compassionate and accomplished. Chiaravalle families are growing compassionate achievers.

Together, our community is helping students unfold into the competent, curious, caring and engaged people they are meant to become. Every day presents precious new opportunities for us to guide and respond to their needs and interests.

Chiaravalle is honored to share this marvelous journey with you and grateful for the laudable support, generosity and engagement our community shares. Thank you!

Warmest wishes,

Robyn McCloud-Springer Head of School

Chiaravalle Montessori


LETTER FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

The 2013-14 school year marked the beginning of a powerful transformation at Chiaravalle Montessori. In the summer prior to the start of school, the Board of Trustees welcomed Robyn McCloud-Springer as our New Head of School. Robyn had long been a part of Chiaravalle, first as an elementary teacher, then Elementary Program Director, then Assistant Head of School for Curriculum.

Knowing we were about to embark on our biggest project to date, the creation of a 19,000 square foot addition, we felt sure that Robyn’s leadership and her knowledge of Chiar-avalle’s pedagogy, faculty and values would enable us to best shape Chiaravalle’s future.

The ‘13-’14 school year was a planning year, a year of envisioning how we could create

space that would reinforce our strong sense of community, allow for more movement and creative projects, demonstrate to the children how we care for the larger environment, enable our students to move about independently, and showcase our performing arts program.

Working with our architecture team at Cannon Design and our construction team at Bulley and Andrews, we carefully planned each part of our new space, holding tight to the core of who we are: a place where each child is known, appreci-ated, and supported in what they need to learn best.

We are proud that we are able to pursue LEED Platinum certi-fication for this beautiful, light-filled new space.

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CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2013-14Lucinda Fox, PresidentSarah Eck-Thompson,

Vice PresidentScott Barton, Treasurer

Jes Sherborne, SecretaryKathy Baker

Rick BoyntonChris Brandt

Margret DuvallJill Greer

Eileen MaddenJulie Matthei

Shondi NickellKristi PiccoloPaul Wright

2014-15Lucinda Fox, President

Jes Sherborne, Vice PresidentJill Greer, Treasurer

Sarah Eck-Thompson, Secretary

Kathy BakerScott Barton

Rick BoyntonChris Brandt

Margret Duvall Matt Johnson

Eileen MaddenShondi Nickell

Kristi PiccoloSteve Reed

Garry Shumaker Paul Wright

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Just after school ended in June 2014, the old annex containing the gym and community room was demolished as several chil-dren and long-time PE teacher Rose Adamczyk looked on, and work began on the geother-mal system which will power the new North Wing. Construction continued throughout this last school year, and the children have enjoyed checking the prog-ress each day, peeking through the fence and the windows. The Board, faculty, administration and parent volunteers have con-tributed many hours to bring this project to fruition, on time and on budget, and to plan new programming for the students when the North Wing opens in the fall. It has been a project that has brought us together, and through all of our work, we have been tremendously inspired by the strong foundation we are working from, and by what is yet to come. At press time, we are on schedule to have the North Wing

completed by the start of school in 2015.

We were supported in these ef-forts by the generosity of our par-ents, grandparents, and alumni families. Your financial support of our Annual Fund meant that we could offer a record amount of financial assistance to families in need while making good prog-ress on a long-term strategic goal of increasing faculty salaries. We’ve created a more robust Learning Resources depart-ment, and maintained high facul-ty-to-student ratios to make sure we are providing differentiated

instruction to each child. Our community showed tremendous generosity by making multi-year pledges to our Phase II: Trans-formation Capital Campaign for Chiaravalle, helping fund our North Wing.

This annual report acknowledges the donors who have made all of this work possible, including all Annual Fund gifts that came in during both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscal years and all Cap-ital Campaign pledges to date. On behalf of the Board, we thank you for helping us make Chiara-valle even better.

Lucinda Fox President,

Board of Trustees

Montessori education encourages independence. In the Toddler program, I have seen basics such as potty training, learning how to feed oneself, putting on a jacket with a cool flip

trick. In 3-6, I’ve seen my son grow, from learning to write his name to learning from peers. As a Kinder, he peer teaches others. This independence is also self-motivation to want to do more and learn more, not just in academics, but in many life lessons.

Donna Wang Su Parent; Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University


CHIARAVALLE RECENT GRADUATES2012-2015 Beacon AcademyAllison Bernstein, 2015Jacob Blustein, 2015Ava Dieden, 2015Leo Mancini, 2015Justin Morris, 2015Anne Raspe, 2014Maya Muenala Reed, 2014Ben Senior, 2015Aidan Thompson, 2015

Evanston Township High SchoolBenjamin Baker-Katz, 2015Alexandra Balasanov, 2013Lauren Collins, 2014Evan Franchere, 2013Sam Frederickson, 2012Paige Haden, 2012

Carlin Henikoff, 2015Fae Kobernik, 2012Amalia Loiseau, 2014Jonathan Neuberger, 2013Celia Nicolson, 2014Daryus Patel, 2012Morgan Pierce, 2015Jakob Reinke, 2013Brennan Robinson, 2012Taylor Rosenthal, 2013Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites, 2013Grant Seufzer, 2012Brendan Sorensen, 2012 Nate Tracy-Amoroso, 2013Hunter Wortmann, 2013Van Wortmann, 2015

Francis W Parker SchoolMarissa Sanghvi, 2012

Maya Sanghvi, 2014Chandler Seed, 2012

Latin School of ChicagoOlivia Gwilliam, 2013Madeline Hoffman, 2013

Lincoln Park High SchoolRuby MacDonald-Bora, 2012

Maine West High SchoolDrew Sztukowski, 2013

New Trier High SchoolMichael Hoxha, 2013

Nicholas Senn High SchoolJulian Avar Campopiano

North Shore Country DayGabrielle Greer, 2014Phillip Hoffman, 2015

Lily Madden-Neuleib, 2012

Northside College Preparatory High SchoolColton Ramsdell, 2014Ella Neurohr, 2014

Roycemore SchoolCharlie Landon, 2013

The Thacher SchoolThomas “TJ” Gwilliam, 2015Isabel Ouweleen, 2013

Walter Peyton College Preparatory High SchoolAlicia Maynard, 2012

The Willows AcademyIsabella Schmitt, 2013

(Frankfurt, Germany)Katja Burau, 2013

2007-2011Beloit CollegeEmma Garton, 2008

The College of WoosterXander Nicolson, 2010

Colorado CollegeBenjamin Garfin, 2010

DePaul UniversitySteven Petchenik, 2007Natalie Vanderlaan, 2008

Emerson CollegeSarah Mania, 2009

Georgetown UniversityBram Ouweleen, 2008

George Washington UniversityCaroline Jevon, 2011

Hobart and William Smith CollegesJordan Rooth, 2008

Johnson & Wales UniversityEllie Sammelbraun, 2008

Kalamazoo CollegeClaire Matthews, 2009

Loyola University ChicagoMichelle Frazier, 2007

Northwestern UniversityKatie Christensen, 2011Noah Rosenthal, 2010

Oakton Community CollegeAriel Simmons, 2009

Oberlin College and ConservatoryAndrew Santiago, 2011

Ohio Wesleyan UniversityAudrey (Darcy) Miller, 2008

Pitzer CollegeBen Bleier, 2009

Pratt InstituteAlexander Berns, 2009

Professional Dancer, Colorado BalletMolly Klug, 2008

Rhode Island School of DesignGabriel Cohen, 2009Anya Drozd, 2011

State University of New York-PurchaseKeratin Jinakunwiphat, 2008

Williams CollegeWilliam Ouweleen, 2011

University of Colorado-BoulderMatthew Neuberger, 2009

University of Illinois-Urbana-ChampaignFrank Kurtz, 2009Kaliroe Pappas, 2011

University of Missouri-ColumbiaRose Brown, 2007

University of OregonSarah Matthews, 2010

University of San FranciscoKiara Augustin, 2009

University of Southern CaliforniaGabriela Santiago, 2009

Western Michigan UniversityAmber Augustin, 2007

Wesleyan UniversityConnor Brennan, 2009

Yale UniversityAdam Birnbaum, 2007Natalya Sanghvi, 2010

(Mexico City, Mexico)Natalia Salas, 2011

We love to hear from Chiaravalle alumni. Please contact Director of Communications Beth Caldwell with any updates or corrections at [email protected]

6 ALUMNI FEATUREChiaravalle recently caught up with Chiaravalle Class of 2006 graduate Simmone Seymour.

Simmone: “I graduated eighth grade at Chiaravalle in a class of five students — all girls. That meant we had a lot of one-on-one time with the teachers and our individual interests were factored into the curriculum. My best memories are of working on reports — riveting I know — but we were given the option of presenting our report in whatever way we saw fit so that it would ade-quately get across the information as well as entertain our peers.

For instance, I led my class through a mystery by giving them visual clues and presenting a story in a narrative format to introduce the Watergate Scandal. And once, I brought peanut butter filled celery sticks to class to depict eating marrow from a bone like the animals who predated humans. I was always having so much fun!

We sat on ideas longer, let them mar-inate, and then presented them with our own individual touches. Reflecting

on it now, I realize I remember what I learned in 3rd through 8th grade more vividly than what I learned in high school and college — though those learning experiences are more recent.”

Chiaravalle: “After graduating Chiaravalle in 2006, you went on to Northside College Preparato-ry High School, a highly compet-itive selective enrollment school in the Chicago Public School dis-trict.”

SS: “I did very well at Northside and was integrated socially and academ-ically almost immediately. I played three varsity sports: track, cross coun-try, and lacrosse and was involved — probably over-involved — in many organizations: president of prom com-mittee, Model UN, Debate, Junior States of America, Academic Decath-lon, and Manager of the Men’s Varsity basketball team. I interned on various political campaigns and volunteered to support campaigns as well.

My time at Chiaravalle instilled in me the constant desire to learn and ex-perience as much as possible and to drive myself forward through that pro-cess. I never wait for things to happen to me and if I am interested in some-thing, I take ownership over that and try to learn as much as I can. I really do think that is the result of the Montes-sori method.”

CM: After graduating from Northside, you headed east to Tufts University in Boston, MA.

SS: “Graduating high school, I missed my time at Chiaravalle in Evanston. So, I sought a community that was simi-lar to Chiaravalle (and maybe wanted to get far away from home). Tufts was the quintessential Northeast liberal arts experience. It was littered with in-tellectually curious kids on a trim pic-ture-perfect campus. I loved it imme-diately.

What was important to me was the approach to teaching, how the curric-ulum was established and the gener-al attitude at the institution, as well as

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the location. There are fewer “required” cours-es at Tufts, which meant we did not have to take classes in subjects that we did not like, yet needed a certain num-ber of courses from a few different areas — so we ended up pretty well-rounded.

Tufts professors were very, very interested in bettering their teaching methods to make cours-es more engaging for students, classes were small, and discussion -based. They even had a whole school dedicated to nontraditional classes called the Experimental College, where seniors and graduate students could lead courses. I explored A LOT and learned A LOT— and maybe changed my ma-

jor three time and added on a couple of minors — but loved the freedom to choose what educa-tional path I wanted to pursue. My own path as a Political Science major and Economics/Com-munications minor was much different than even the other Political Sci-ence majors. Students at Tufts are hyper-moti-vated and involved and excited and passionate about learning — so I fit right in. Montessori was definitely not a foreign word on that campus.

I loved all the opportu-nities and so I took full advantage. I was elected Vice President for Class Council Freshman year, helped start a campus political group, created a credit-bearing intern-ship program, was very

active with groups at Tufts Hillel, and joined a sorority called Alpha Phi, where I served as the New Member Edu-cator. I then worked at the school newspaper as an advertising manager where I sold ad space and developed their new business program. I was writing for anoth-er online publication at the time, which I conse-quentially became pres-ident of. In that position I organized marketing campaigns, planned a lot of events, and man-aged the website. I was admitted to the Tufts Writing Fellows program and taught students pro-fessional and academic writing until I graduated.

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Simmone Seymour Chiaravalle Class of 2006

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I always was working like two jobs, and not because I had to, because I loved it. I was a research assistant in the Community Health and Sociology De-partment and interned at a consulting firm, a fashion magazine, and in mar-keting for a social media site during the school year. I followed whatever I was passionate about and it ended up being a real eclectic mix of things, but I discovered two things I was really passionate about: writing and leader-ship.

CM: After graduating from Tufts last June, Simmone now works as a Business Analyst at West Monroe Partners in downtown Chicago.

SS: I was very scared not to be learn-ing anymore and that I would not like it! I really meticulously chose my job. I did not know — and still don’t defi-nitely — what I want to do, but I knew that I needed to be constantly learn-ing new things and in an environment where I could be a self-starter. I think I chose the perfect job for myself as a consultant for a mid-sized firm in the loop. I am constantly on new projects and learning about all different indus-tries. Today, for instance, I worked on an assessment of a call center, creating a cohesive brand message for our Life Sciences practice, doing a competitive analysis of an industry, and training for my Salesforce certification. Once I got over all the inconveniences of no lon-ger being in college (bills, no nap time, bills) it was a very smooth transition!

When I was in the third grade I had a work plan and various activities sprin-

kled throughout the classroom for me to engage with. This gave me the op-portunity to work at my own pace, to teach myself, and to be creative with the materials provided me in my free time. This is still how I approach the world today, as a large playground filled with learning opportunities and experiences that I then seek out and make my own.

Tufts University Graduation, 2014

I like how the teachers will stick with you and they won’t move on to the next person until they really think you’ve really got it. Even if you say, yeah, I’ve got it.

Jackson Baker-Katz Student, 4th grade

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TECHNOLOGY AS A DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION IN EDUCATIONClare Heath, Educational Director, Chiaravalle Montessori

Two summers ago I participated in a seminar on the future of technology in education at Kellogg School’s Center for Non-Profit Management. Here’s how the course began: two images projected up front, the first a sleek, open, modern classroom, each child with an iPad or laptop in front of him. The desks faced the teacher who was creating images in the air. The second image was of a darkened classroom circa 1950 with a wooden desk for each child nailed to the floor, books lay open and the eyes of children dutifully stared up at the teacher holding a stick to the black board. “Tell me about these images,” our instructor said.

Over 60 teachers and administrators studied them, ascrib-ing positive attributes to the first, more modern image, and

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harshly criticizing the second. Did no one else see that these were really the same?

“They are nearly identical,” said a voice to my right. It came from the one other Montessori educator in the room. The seminar instructor, a Research Professor in Computer Sci-ence, agreed.

This professor argued that technology should not be used as merely a new textbook or tool in traditional education, but should be used to “disrupt” the entire model. He described blended learning models where children spend much of their school day in front of individualized screens, then come together at different times for discussion. He shared the four basic elements of this technological disruption in education as time, place, path and pace.

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Disrupting time in education means that every second grad-er doesn’t have to sit through the same lesson on adjectives on the same day of school. Disrupting place frees up the teacher to move the lesson out of the classroom. By disrupt-ing path, the teacher can follow each child and respond to her needs and interests, and by disrupting pace each stu-dent can move through the steps to mastery of concepts at her own speed.

Sound familiar? These elements, posited as the future of technology in education, are, of course, the roots of Mon-tessori education. Teachers do not require each child to come to every lesson, they give children time to learn and internalize concepts. Based on age, children have access to places: they explore the room, the library, online resourc-es, other classrooms, and the local community. The path a Montessori child takes and the pace at which she learns is based upon her own needs, interests, and the teacher’s deep knowledge of that child. These directives are over a hundred years old, and shape the child’s experience much more than the introduction of an iPad..

At the core of the argument to use technology as a disrup-tor is essentially the Montessori philosophy, advocating for less of a one-size-fits-all model and more of a personalized, self-directed approach to learning. Michael Horn, writing for Forbes, states that online learning could, “transform teaching and learning to better serve each individual stu-dent within each school by personalizing and humanizing learning – and undo the factory-model assumptions that

dominate our schools and treat uniformly students in the process.” This movement toward reform is not really about technology, it’s about upending the underlying philosophy and practice of teaching in traditional education.

I love the attention that the concept of disruption in educa-tion with technology is getting right now, because it is a cry for how vastly different our educational model could be. But educators miss the mark when they simply replace a note-book with an iPad, since they miss the opportunity to shed the confines of time, place, path and pace, allowing instead children to choose their own work, go deeply into a subject that interests them, and practice a concept for as long as it takes to achieve mastery.

A philosophy, a practice, that has as its core the fundamen-tal idea that children should be at the center of their own education is what truly could transform schools. Technology should absolutely play a role in that change, but unless the

Teachers do not require each child to come to every lesson, they give children time to learn and internalize concepts ... The path a child

takes and the pace at which she learns is based upon her needs, interests and the teacher’s deep

knowledge of that child.


philosophy shifts with the implementation of new technolo-gy, the changes will be modest.

At Chiaravalle, we don’t see technology as a “disruptive in-novator” – a force that brings about sweeping fundamental changes, but instead, as a sustaining innovator that allows us to evolve our practices, enhancing the experience for our children without changing the underlying Montessori model that works so beautifully.

As Education Director, I see many roles for technology, par-ticularly with the older children, that expand the space of the classroom and help us more fully live our philosophy. Technology in our classrooms allows children greater access to information, and dynamic ways to experience and present that information. I recently observed in one 9-12 classroom where students were talking on cell phones while playing a driving game on the computer. They were able to experi-ence the impact of distracted driving firsthand. Teachers edit

and give comments on student work using Google Docs, which the children can access from home or school. Middle School kids create an animated video of the nitrogen cycle, demonstrating that they have mastered the content and can thoughtfully present the material to an audience. While we use technology minimally and thoughtfully at younger ages, we see its value and use it with greater frequency and com-plexity as children grow up here at Chiaravalle.

While we use technology minimally and thoughtfully at younger ages, we see it’s value and use it with greater frequency and complexity as children grow up here at Chiaravalle.

I like how the teachers at Chiaravalle will help you out to the level that

you need it -- even if you probably should know it and you don’t -- they

will teach it to you and be helpful until you understand it.

Isabel Story Mangum 6th grade

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TODDLERJoe Franchere, Head Teacher

When two year olds arrive in the toddler classroom, they have many skills that are just emerging and a drive for inde-pendence that will carry them through the challenges of the coming year. The skills that are coming into play the most for them at this time are language development, both expres-sive and receptive, recognition of themselves and others as social beings, and motor (both large and small) coordination and refinement.

Meeting the child’s natural drive for independence and pre-paring the classroom to be a place where she can work on her various developing skill sets are the responsibility of the toddler teacher. Activities are presented to maximize the child’s interest and so engage him in the work of self-con-struction. The classroom is a place of child-sized tools and age-appropriate activities; accessibility to what she needs to successfully explore the environment without undue reliance on the teacher; and adequate time to shape her own explo-rations and follow her own drives and interests. The teacher‘s presence is one of support and guidance. The child leads the way and reveals her own path.

This path follows each child’s individual development and so, of course, no child goes through and finishes a toddler program in exactly the same way. But every child, after join-ing a Montessori classroom community, and experiencing all

CLASS PROFILES


the opportunities for independence, growth, and real social connection that the classroom provides, emerges as a child stronger to some extent in her language and motor skills, and more confident and comfortable in both her role as a social being, and ability to independently explore her world. The child is thereby more ready to face the challenges, some new and some familiar (academic, deeper social complexi-ties, physical growth and change), that she will encounter soon enough as she continues to follow and determine her own development.

EARLY CHILDHOOD (3-6)Nora Gubbins, Head Teacher

“We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be

practiced to perfection only when working among children.” Dr. Maria Montessori

Dr. Montessori believed in the importance of human potential. The idea that each child carries within him the person he will become is a cornerstone of Montessori philosophy. As Mon-tessori teachers, we believe that each child is unique, and that we have a responsibility to help develop the whole personality of the child, not just the intellect. Our role is to help guide each child so that he may reach his fullest potential, and we do this by creating a thoughtfully prepared, multi-age environ-ment that sparks curiosity and helps the children develop crit-ical social skills and compassion for each other.

Children at the ages of 3-6 are becoming more socially aware, and are preparing to work and play in groups. As they use materials together in our classrooms, we continuously stress virtues such as fairness, responsibility, and respect. With the freedom to move around and interact with different children that is allowed in the Montessori classroom, the children learn to support each other as they develop a sense of compassion and empathy.

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The environment we create in the classrooms is designed to encourage children to practice grace and courtesy often, in a number of ways. As teachers, we use role-playing to give the children opportunities to strengthen good manners that are essential to social development. Children practice meeting new people and conducting a polite conversation with new acquaintances. Older students help younger students in ev-eryday actions, such as by presenting a practical life work or helping with a task they have already mastered, like rolling a rug, preparing snack, or observing another at work.

The 3-6 Montessori classroom provides an environment that beautifully integrates emphases on intellectual and social growth, and develops the whole person. By their third year in the Early Childhood classroom, Chiaravalle children have developed not just a spark for learning, but also a better un-derstanding of how to relate to and interact with others in the world.

LOWER ELEMENTARYLauren Cathcart, Head Teacher

When I look out into the classroom, I imagine what it must be like to be a child right now. In a world that grows increasing-ly complex and increasingly busy, with distractions both virtual and real increasing exponentially, I see children with the time-less attributes of childhood—I see their focus, their determina-

tion, and the many thoughtful, peaceful, optimistic ways these children approach their work, friendships and play. I see a class-room where distractions fall away leaving an almost elemental simplicity. In our Montessori philosophy, I see a space where the attributes of childhood are cultivated in such a way that the chil-dren will be able to meet the challenges of the greater world, whatever shape it may take.

The Conscious DreamersChildren are fearless in their hope and they put that hope into action. In countless ways these beautiful children are the con-scious dreamers. They do not distinguish between work and play, but bring their own rich imaginations to both. In our class-rooms, they choose their work according to their interests. As


teachers, we are their guides, responsi-ble for setting up challenging work that stretches their abilities. Through it all, the children never stop appreciating the beauty and complexity of the planet. They are our future writers, environmen-talists, politicians, urban planners, and mathematicians.

The Brave Mistake-MakersI believe that our program creates people who take a chance even if it means being brave enough to fail. Our program allows for mistakes in the making of a person who is learning. “This is a mistake-making place” is on our classroom constitution. I believe our program fosters a place for the brave. These are our future inventors, scientists, architects, artists, builders, and entrepreneurs.

The Truth SeekersFrom the fairness they expect on the play-ground to the curiosity with which they en-gage in the classroom, they are the truth seekers and fact checkers—enjoying the process of learning all the while. We honor the developmental stage where children seek fairness, and we actively engage in peaceful resolution to conflicts. They are

our future lawyers, judges, humanitarians, journalists, and visionaries.

The Decision MakersEvery hour of every day our program sews the seeds for young people to make de-cisions and choices for themselves. The opportunity to exercise independence and self-direction is fundamental to the Montessori philosophy. These import-ant life skills are practiced daily, whether managing personal time during a work, session, choosing meaningful work or de-ciding how to help a friend. They are our future executives, administrators, leaders, directors, and parents.

The Mentors and SharersThese children arrive in our care full of love, joy and trust. In our three-year cy-cle, the children discover how much they love to teach what they learn to others. They share themselves authentically, without fear of judgment. These children feel accepted and encouraged. Because of this, they can share and give back to the community which they love. Not only does our program support young learn-ers who seek out challenges. It also pro-vides a place for them to share their joy of

learning with others. These are our future teachers, professors, psychologists, social workers, wives, husbands, partners, and parents.

Time TakersUninterrupted work time is fundamental to a Montessori education. The children understand that it takes time to do a qual-ity job. They develop an appreciation for time and want to use it to the best of their ability. They are our future.

“In our Montessori philosophy, I see a space where the attributes of

childhood are cultivated in such a way that the children will be able to meet the challenges of the greater world,

whatever shape it may take.”

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UPPER ELEMENTARYSiobhan Donati, Head Teacher

What kind of person does Upper Elementary make, and how do we do it?

Maria Montessori said, “It is the child who makes the man, and no man exists who was not made by the child he once was.” To say that Upper Elementary “makes” a certain type of individual would be highly presumptuous of us. We humbly offer the child a prepared environment, rich in possibilities, with a high level of expectation where each child can reach his or her fullest potential. We offer an environment that bal-ances freedoms and responsibility. As a result, we observe

children at the end of the 3-year cycle in Upper El who are compassionate, inquisitive individuals and leaders.

Upper El students explore and demonstrate leadership qual-ities throughout their Chiaravalle experience. It is especially notable when a fifth year gives a lesson to a fourth year on how to divide by a two-digit divisor using test tubes. Even Fourth years take on a leadership role when teaching another students how to perform a classroom job that he or she has done before, or when he or she respectfully brings an issue to the group. These leadership qualities can also be observed around the Chiaravalle community. Upper El students can be seen leading toddlers in the building from carpool in the mornings, reading with first year reading buddies in the after-noon, and leading sun salutations with Kinders. This leader-ship is often accompanied by grace, courtesy and patience.

Upper El students are compassionate. They enjoy learning about the world around them and how, through action, they can effect change. We offer a variety of service learning op-portunities, from bundling diapers for families in need to collecting items for sheltered stray animals. Upper El encour-ages a culture of helping those in need; anyone can help an-other. Students are often overheard saying, “I can help you with that!” This is also a time when the students begin to think deeply and are able to discuss larger issues, like what it means to be true to yourself. Upper El students are able to have these discussions while listening to each other and respecting each other’s differences and opinions.


Lastly, Upper El students are inquisi-tive. They want to know about every-thing outside of their own, immediate environments. We offer the freedom to research topics of interest, and the

opportunity to present findings to the group. They want to figure the world out for themselves. The Montessori curricu-lum, especially in math and geometry, does not simply give the child the ab-stract rules for academic concepts. The children are encouraged to explore, analyze, and synthesize their own rule, and they test those rules in different cir-cumstances. An example of this is learn-ing how to multiply fractions. Teachers show students many equation examples with the materials, guide them to look for patterns, and then leave them to ex-plore. A student once exclaimed, “I am on the cusp of discovery,” just before realizing she had discovered the multi-plying fractions rule on her own. Within the Upper El classroom is a wide array of materials at varying levels that the stu-dents can discover when they are ready, or ask for a presentation when their in-terest is peaked.

Upper El is a wondrous journey filled with dramatic physical development, a drive for complete independence, a burgeoning concern for society, and in-creased movement toward abstraction.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Theresa Sparlin, Head TeacherWhat makes a Chiaravalle graduate? Af-ter years of deliberate investment and principled Montessori practice, what emerges? Our “portrait of a graduate” is one we hold dear. Middle School stu-dents craft their Chiaravalle portrait and the mosaic of our Chiaravalle communi-ty each and every day.

A Chiaravalle Middle School student is an enthusiastic, lifelong learner whose academic achievements reflect the best of his or her abilities. Our Middle School students work steadily through their two years setting long and short term goals related to math and language arts, study skills, projects, personal health, and self-reflection goals. Passionately focused students collaborate with their peers to conduct science experiments incorporating multiple intelligence mo-dalities into social and natural world group presentations. Striving for excel-

My daughter is thriving at Chiaravalle. This is her second year in Molly’s 3-6 classroom and it has been so neat to watch her take on more responsibilities, hear her talk about giving presentations, and see her grow into this sensitive period of language. Montessori education has given her the tools to work independently and to follow her interests. I love that the teachers are constantly observing and helping her in her development.

Kate Dugan Parent;

PhD Candidate Northwestern University

18 ANNUAL REPORT


lence, they advocate for their learning styles and find empow-erment through their academic mastery of complicated al-gebraic equations, geometry proofs, or the document-based persuasive essay. Chiaravalle Middle School graduates are academically prepared to maximize their potential.

Socially responsible, a Chiaravalle Middle School student embraces opportunities to reach out to others. Routinely and selflessly middle school commits to cooking and serving food at Hilda’s Place. Middle school students enjoy eating lunch with kinders and pre-schoolers and assisting with social groups, role-playing grace and courtesy for the classroom. Middle school students volunteered at Save our Starving Children, Bernie’s Book Bank, The Talking Farm, Adopt-a-Beach, and Growing Power as part of their “urban-Erdkind-er” experience. The Chiaravalle Middle Schooler applies ser-vice learning experiences to heart and hand.

With self-direction and assured competence, a Chiaravalle Middle School student demonstrates the willingness to per-severe in the face of obstacles and unfamiliar tasks. Middle schoolers plan, shop and prepare meals and activities at Ronora, our Erdkinder experience, two times a year. Middle Schoolers think globally, contemplate deeply, acting as glob-ally conscious citizens as they participate in Model United Nations. Accomplished, poised and confident, Chiaravalle students are ready to make a difference in the world.

In the words of Maria Montessori, “There is in the soul of a child an impenetrable secret that is gradually revealed as it

develops.” A Chiaravalle middle school students/graduates reveal themselves as empowered individuals, self-reflective learners, resulting in a masterpiece of responsible, compas-sionate people of integrity.

I like that the teachers at Chiaravalle can give us freedom with some stuff, but not other stuff,

because you have to prove you are responsible to use it. For example, computers in Upper El: You have to be responsible with them to keep the freedom. So I like that we have freedom with some stuff and that we are responsible enough to use it.

Matthew Agnew Student, 5th grade


FINANCE REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT

FY14Revenue

Tuition $4,704,636.82 89.73%

Fees/Other Misc Income/Interest $126,272.68 2.41%

Fundraising* $212,142.78 4.05%

Endowment Revenue $200,000.00 3.81%

Total Revenue $5,243,052.28 100.00%

Expenses Personnel $3,454,995.75 68.37%

Tuition Assistance $573,944.30 11.36%

Program $367,181.32 7.27%

Facility $246,852.07 4.89%

Debt Service $204,563.22 4.05%

Other (Insurance, Marketing, Development, Admission, Office) $205,640.54 4.07%

Total Expenses $5,053,177.20 100.00%CAPEX Contribution $100,000.00

$89,875.08

*Fundraising

Annual Giving Contributions $113,843.00

Paddle Raise $30,000.00

Fundraising, Events $68,299.78

Fundraising Revenue $212,142.78

A fully audited financial statement for the 2014-15 fiscal year will be available at www.chiaravalle.org in November 2015

20 ANNUAL REPORT


THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHIARAVALLE: PHASES I AND II $3,546,227 IN DONATIONS AND PLEDGES AS OF MAY 31, 2015

Thanks to the leadership of our board and the generosity of our community, Chiaravalle has secured a permanent home and fulfilled our dream of a new space designed to support our dynamic programming. This decade-long effort would not be possible without the energy and generosity of many dedicated supporters. We’re grateful to those who have contributed to both phases and who have really stretched to make this dream a reality for Chi-aravalle. This listing recognizes all donors who made this incredible transformation possible, starting in 2009 with Phase I: Foundation to purchase our building from the City of Evanston and continuing today with Phase II: Transformation to fund the construction of The North Wing.

Phase I: Foundation began in 2009 as a 5-year campaign to purchase and renovate our facility, establish a faculty endowment and strengthen our pro-gramming. The campaign raised $1.65 million. This accomplishment laid the foundation for an even stronger future.

Phase II: Transformation began in 2014 as a second 5-year effort. Donors to this campaign came together to make The North Wing a reality for Chiara-valle. Fundraising efforts are still underway as construction progresses toward the goal of $2 million. This tremendous support allows Chiaravalle to cre-ate a space built on our values and philosophy that facilitates greater learning, lets our community gather and share, fosters creativity and confidence, underscores the connection of mind and body, and respects and invites a connection to nature. Opening in Fall 2015, The North Wing will be complete in time for Chiaravalle’s 50th anniversary year.

All gifts to the Campaign for Chiaravalle are unrestricted and will be used for capital, endowment, and programmatic purposes as designated by the school’s Board of Trustees. Denotes members of The 425 Society which regocnizes donors who have made contributions to both Phase I and Phase II of the Campaign for Chiaravalle.

LEADERSHIP GIFTS

$200,000 - $450,000Joseph Brennan and

Leslie Shad Lucinda Fox and John

Mancini Jill and David Greer Jenn and Scott Gwilliam

Sharon and John WatrousThe Williamson-Johnson Family

$100,000 - $199,999Dennis and Gretchen EckSusan and Rich Gallun

Mark Ouweleen and Sarah Harding

The Holmes-Anderson Family

The Matthei-Schmidt Family Michael and Angela QuattrockiThe Rosenthal Family

Shabnum and Sunil Sanghvi


$50,000 - $99,999Jake and Shondi NickellAlexandra Piper and

Jon Seed

Jes and Leesa SherborneMatt and Farah SwaimHiry and Mary Beth West

MAJOR GIFTS

$25,000 - $49,999Larry Anderson, In Memory

of Dawn Holt AndersonJohn and Daphne CunninghamKent and Liz DautenAlex and Maria Hoffman Rodrigo and Pam LevySean and Kristie O’NeillJim and Sheila O’Neill

Fred and Kimberly RafilsonTonia and Chad SalsberySant’Anna-Skites FamilyArt Thompson and Sarah

Eck-ThompsonEdwin Wu and Schnabel SamsonAnonymous

$10,000 - 24,999Mary Kay Halston and

Scott Barton Rick Boynton and Criss

HendersonRonald and Debi Buzil The DeMet/Farriss Family

Gail and Mark Drozd Todd Furney and

Mariana RomanoThe Groothuis FamilyRob Hansen and Kristi Piccolo Cindy Hogan

Michael Klearman and Saralyn Sacks

Russell Lane and Nina DonnellyMichelle and Shane LarsonEileen Madden Danny and Jen O’Shaughnessy

The Reed-Campbell FamilyJeannette and Reid ScharCharles Mangum and

Rachel StoryThe Thomas FamilyPaul and Melanie Wright

COMMUNITY GIFTS

$5,000 - $9,999Carlin and Julie AdrianopoliStephanie and Jay AndersonWill Berndt and Shima RoyJulie Chenevert and

Chris Brandt Peter and Stephanie Clemson

Ellen SalkNick and Nancy GiampietroDan Hinkle and Lauren

Myers-HinkleChris Jones and Gillian

Darlow

Brian and Sarah MarshallEddie and Bonnie Maslana Stephanie MichelTom and Kathy RomanoKathleen and Karl ScheidtAlex and Nicole Schneider

Bob Sorensen and Yolanda Vanderlaan

Sarah Torri and Paul SwinandNancy Syburg

Our daughter is about to enter college as a self-confident, poised and

eager young scholar, fully curious to discover what the

world holds. Plus, her high school teachers have loved how she learns. We attribute all of that, in large part, to her nine years of Montessori education.

Mark Drozd Parent; Partner and Executive Creative Director

22 ANNUAL REPORT


Frank and Amy TuMary Pierson, Laura and

Jack Pierson Wadden

William and Barbara WelkeThe Wortmann Family

The Zematis Family Thomas and Renee Zipprich

$2,500 - $4,999Katharine Baker and Tilden Katz,

In Honor of Karen LanerRyan and Kristen BowieMatthew and Melissa ClaryJeff and Kim CohenGregg and Heather CollinsMatthew and Margret DuvallGabrielle and Peter Edgerton

David and Ramona FredericksonAlby and Tracy GallunSteve and Cara HermanRobert A. and Shirley J. Jones

Foundation, On Behalf of the Iseman / Jones Family

Charles Adler and Lucy Jeong-Adler

Christopher Jobson and Megan Stielstra

Amy and Jason KayeThe Mills-Kuncel FamilyAllen Rein and Ann Hudson Beth Caldwell and Mario

Santiago Jonathan and Jennifer Stern

Art and Judy ThompsonLisa Amoroso and Phillip TracyGretchen and Michael

WooldridgeAnonymous

$1,000 - $2,499The Barnett FamilyJeff and Kim BellPatrick and Carrie CharlesTzaras and Sarah ChristonMargaret and Michael

CunninghamKristine and Kyr Gaganidze Caitlin Fitz and Seth GreenAnubhav and Mita GoelZahlman and Susan GreenwoodJeffrey and Catherine Haden

Chris and Johanna HatzopoulosThe Ilko FamilySebastian and Blythe KazmierczakThe Lavoie FamilyThomas and Cindy LilligKenda and Robert LovecchioMark and Sarah Marinacci,

In Honor of Lucy, Frances, and Elizabeth Marinacci

Lou and Brenda MizelCarol Mullins

The Muriel FamilyThe Nelson FamilyAvi and Tresa Neurohr The Pappas FamilyTom and Jane PilsburyDavid Putzel and Anna NicholsJeff and Beth Scales, In Honor

of Molly Williams, Dorothy Schmid, Kathy Noone, and All 3-6 Teachers

Chris Schmidt and Erin Rowell Schmidt

Peter and Linda Seed The Senior FamilyJohn SherborneVictoria A. SherborneTom Springer and Robyn

McCloud-Springer Thomas and Ruth WelshTom and Melanie WendtBob and Carol Wooldridge

$500 - $999Chris and Mary AndersonSuzy Avril and Remy

Dercksen, In Memory of Charlotte Craig Avril

Josh and Erin BarneyThe Bouleanu Family Don and Marilyn Brocopp

William and Helen ChenevertMatt and Kari DotyThe David Graham FoundationThe Guo Family, In Honor

of Francesca Tappi and Debi Lincoln

David and Julie Karnes

Lizzy and Justin Kreindler Karen Laner John Leduc and Laura LittenAllan and Kathleen Lombardo Don Bora and Connie BickfordIvan Madera and Olya HavellJide and Uzo Nzelibe

Scott, Keiler, and Xia RobertsKuan and Donna SuBaris and Esra TasdelenEvan and Jen TerryBob and Libby Wolfe Chia and Nan WuChae Yi and Amalia Malos


$250 - $499Amjad and Liz Al-DajaniEugen and Sofia BurauAlex and Siobhan DonatiRafael Duque and Yael SimanJanet Fox, In Honor of

Lucinda Fox

Al Hennagir and Jen Frost Hennagir

Helena KaltezasGeorge and Marti Lannert Jim Lyons

Dori Mendoza, In Memory of David Mendoza

Stanley Parzen and Lynne Raimondo

William and Lynn Raspe Rodney and Deidre Robinson

Winfredo and Rosita SamsonThe Sennott FamilySuzanne and Garry ShumakerTheresa Sparlin Mic Yariv, In Honor of Brian, Sarah,

Graham, and Ainsley Marshall

$249 AND BELOWRose AdamczykIn Memory of Matthew

Adamczyk, Sr. (3)In Memory of Matthew

Adamczyk, Jr. Dorothy Schmid and John AgnewThe Allmart FamilyRoberto and Rosana AmatoErik Andersen and Robyn TannyOliver Bruce Anderson, In Honor

of Sophie and Clare AndersonCecelia Wallin and

Alejandro AñónIn Memory of Icelia ArcherEllen BadofskyIn Memory of Helen

“Honey” BankerThe Bennett FamilyShenaya Bhote-SiegelBeth Black and Keith Gillette Benjamin Blustein and

Virginia BellMary Broeckling Alex and Stacey BurkeMary Beth Burns

Isaias and Yue Chen CairampomaTodd Clark and Geeta

Maker-ClarkGeri CunninghamChristine Dunford and

Daniel CunninghamLilly DraganicClare Heath and Joel Emerick Mark and Frankie ErsfeldKatie and Aaron FinkThe Forsman FamilyAndre and Teresa FortunskaAmanda FosterJoseph Franchere and M.

Alison EisendrathBob Lew and Marion FranckRita Geer, In Honor of

Matthew AgnewElise GeigerLaura GranrosMerrilyn GronauJohn and Joann HallenbeckTonya JenningsJonathan Howells and

Lauri Olivier

Paul and Karrie JeffrisN. Joel and Margaret JohnsonCarolyn KeatsIn Honor of Sister Mary MotzIn Memory of Joseph LevatoMary LevatoAnn LousinMindy MackenzieIn Memory of James SpringerStephen MaslanaPhillip MaslanaJason MaslanaIn Memory of Micaela MendozaSeda and Gokhan MemikSabahete MetovicThe Miceli FamilyHillel and Rachel MorrisCurt Mueller and

Jennifer StephanIn Memory of Robert F.

Munson, Sr. and Frances Munson

Mark and Nancy MyersCary Nathenson and

Katrin Voelkner

Caroline Nation, In Memory of Ernie and Aaron Frank

In Memory of David NelsonRobert and Kathy NooneKirstin NordhausJohn Okon and Jennifer GilesMehrtash Olson and Sarah RogersRandy Palmer and Cindy FeyShannon LC Cate and CL ColeAngela Burkhart-Pierce, In

Memory of Carie BurkhartFelicia PlatzkeJose Muenala and Suzanne ReedMichael and Laura RomisherJacob and Sarah RothCasey ScherrerJohn Schmid, In Honor of

Matthew AgnewJane Schmid, In Honor of

Matthew AgnewPaul and Patty SeufzerAndria Shyjka and Brett CoolidgeChristopher and Danielle SiebertKate Dugan

24 ANNUAL REPORT


Lawrence Smith and Rachel Duda Smith

Tracey StefforaDan Stolar and Lauren CathcartMark Styslinger and

Cynthia RawsonCaitlin Terry

Adrienne ThomasNick ThomasStephen and Karen ThompsonCitlali Lopez-OrtizPaul and Emily TzurChristopher Voight

Andre Walker and Francesca Tappi

Chris Wallace and Darcie Price-Wallace

Charles Wattles and Rosemary Willey

Dale and Karen Weaver

Raymond and Mary Ann WexlerMolly WilliamsThe Witmer FamilyDiane Wolff-KlammerCarol ZsolnayAnonymous (2)

MATCHING GIFT EMPLOYERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORSAbbVie Inc. Employee

Giving CampaignBank of America Matching

Gifts ProgramChenevert Photography

Goldman Sachs and CoGoogle Matching Gift ProgramGreatlakes Architectural

Millworks LLCHuron Consulting Group

IBMJC Penney Matching Gift ProgramKraft Foods Matching

Gift ProgramMB Financial

The Mondelez International Foundation

Polk Bros. FoundationVanguard Charitable

GRANTMAKERSIllinois Clean Energy

Community FoundationIllinois Department of Commerce

and Economic Opportunity


CHIARAVALLE ANNUAL FUND 2013-2014

Chiaravalle is forever grateful to the families and friends listed on the following pages. Due to this outstanding generosity, the school attracts the best Montessori teachers, offers financial aid to families who need it, and maintains the low student to teacher ratios that ensure every student receives individualized attention. We’re also very appreciative of those parents who contribute time and talent by volunteering at the school. This involvement is part of what makes us who we are, a place for the whole family.

LEADER AND PACESETTERDavid and Jill Greer** Jenn and Scott Gwilliam** Ted Anderson and

Megan Holmes-Anderson*John Mancini and Lucinda Fox**

SUSTAINER Julie Matthei* Jacob and Shondi Nickell Shabnum and Sunil Sanghvi** Sarah Schmidt*

BENEFACTORCarlin and Julie AdrianopoliTilden Katz and Kathy Baker*The Barnett FamilyJeff and Kim BellRick Boynton and Criss

Henderson*Joseph Brennan and

Leslie Shad**Tzaras and Sarah Christon*

The Duvall Family*John and Jennifer Finlayson-FifeTodd Furney and

Mariana Romano*Matthew and Annie HarrisStephanie Nash Hart

and Paul B. HartSteve and Cara Herman*

Daniel Hinkle and Lauren Myers-Hinkle

Maria and Alex Hoffman**Matthew Johnson and

Keri AmbrosioMatt Johnson and

Amanda WilliamsonShane and Michelle LarsonBrian and Sarah Marshall

Sean and Kristie O’Neill**Regina Sant’Anna and

Doug SkitesJim Mavros and Maura Shea*Jes and Leesa Sherborne*Charles Mangum and

Rachel Story*Matt and Farah Swaim

PATRONWill Berndt and Shima RoyThe Blustein/Bell FamilyMark and Monique CashionThe Charles FamilyGeorge DeMet and Tiffany FarrissMargaret M. Eisendrath (G)*Susan and Rich Gallun**The Groothuis FamilyXiao Guo and Dan Hao

Robert and Sheila Hanford*Leo and Kristin HenikoffThe Lynch FamilyJim and Sheila O’NeillWonyoung Jo and Jinkuen ParkAdam and Sue SabowThe Salsbery FamilyKarl and Kathleen ScheidtChris and Erin Schmidt

Alex and Nicole SchneiderAlden and Kristen SeniorPamela Smith (G)*Jonathan and Jennifer SternNancy Syburg**Carolyn Thomas (G)The Tu Family*Tom and Melanie WendtThe Wortmann Family

The Zematis Family*Anonymous (2)Richard and Trish ThomasArt Thompson and Sarah

Eck-Thompson*Hiry and Mary Beth West*

Denoting those who consistently support Chiaravalle year after year, as well as grandparents: *5+ Years Consecutive Giving **10+ Years Consecutive Giving (G) Grandparent Donors

26 ANNUAL REPORT


SPONSOR Dorothy Schmid and

John Agnew*The Al-Dajani FamilyRoberto and Rosana AmatoChris and Mary AndersonCecelia Wallin and

Alejandro AñónJosh and Erin BarneyJack Bishop and Margot HodgsonDominic and Ira BoomgardenEllen Bouleanu*The Chenevert-Brandt Family*Don and Marilyn Brocopp (G)Mary BroecklingRichard and Caroline BullockMary Beth BurnsMartin Cabrera and Kim SteffenGreta and Andrew Connor*Suzy Avril and Remy Dercksen*Jane DickieTim and Amy Ditchman

The Donati FamilyMatt DotyLilly DraganicRafael Duque and Yael SimanPeter and Gabi EdgertonThe Heath/Emerick Family*Josh Fischman and Polly ClarkSeth Green and Caitlin FitzThe Forsman FamilyAndre and Teresa FortunskaAmanda FosterScott Foutz and Edie RubinowitzJoseph Franchere and M.

Alison Eisendrath*Elise GeigerAnu and Mita Sanghavi GoelLaura Granros and

Francisco AzeredoZahlman and Susan Greenwood*The Piccolo/Hansen Family*Richard and Jeanne Hay (G)The Hennagir FamilyJonathan Howells and

Lauri OlivierRyan and Megan HuntBrad and Jennifer IlkoCarrie Iseman and Kelly JonesKarrie and Paul JeffrisCharles Adler and Lucy

Jeong-AdlerChris Jobson and Megan StielstraThe Jones/Darlow FamilyMarielle Schmidt

George and Helena Kaltezas**The Khuri FamilyEllen King and Michal YarivKemper Kirkpatrick and

Treacy GreerLizzy and Justin Kreindler*Janice LacKeyKaren Laner**George and Marti LannertMarti LannertJean Marc LavoieDuritahara and Neelima LeleMary Levato*Tom Lillig and Cindy Ivanac-LilligThe Lillis FamilyKathleen Lombardo*The Ma FamilyKyle MacArthur and

Allison MaguireDon Bora and Connie Bickford*Bonnie and Ed Maslana**The Dynamite Superman FamilyThe McIntosh-Lombardo Family*Mark and Frankie Ersfeld*The Mills/Kuncel FamilyKapil Mishra and Pratikshya

Bohra-MishraJohn Modelski and

Petronela AnicaCurt Mueller and Jennifer

Stephan*The Muriel FamilyAndrew and Kristi Naidech

David and Jennifer Nelson*John and Lisa Nicolson*Kathy and Bob NooneMichael and Joyce NoserJamie OlahMehrtash Olson and Sarah RogersConstatine and Genevieve

Pappas*The Pilsbury FamilyFelicia PlatzkeDavid Putzel and Anna NicholsLaura Wade and Steve Ramsdell*William and Lynn Raspe*Steve Reed and Jessica CampbellAllen Rein and Ann Hudson*Cheryl Beachler and Joe RizzoScott and Keiler RobertsTom and Kathy Romano (G)Michael and Laura RomisherBeth Caldwell and

Mario Santiago*Jeff and Beth ScalesMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey

Douglas SennottJohn Sherborne (G)Andria Shyjka and Brett CoolidgeJulie and David SingerThe Sipkin-Chenn FamilyLawrence and Rachel SmithDylan Smith and Deb

Tuerkheimer*Theresa Sparlin

KEY Pacesetter $10,000 - $23,000Leader $ 5,000 - $ 9,999Sustainer $ 2,500 - $ 4,999Advocate $ 1,500 - $ 2,499Benefactor $ 1,100 - $ 1,499 Patron $ 500 - $ 1,099Promoter $ 250 - $ 499Sponsor $ 1 - $ 249


Tom Springer and Robyn McCloud-Springer*

Tracey StefforaSuzanne and Henry Stolar (G)Dan Stolar and Lauren CathcartMark Styslinger and

Cynthia Rawson*Kuan and Donna SuStephen and Karen Thompson**Phillip and Joyce UngarThe Waldron FamilyAndre Walker and

Francesca Tappi

Chris Wallace and Darcie Price-Wallace

Bob and Libby Wolfe*The Wolff-Klammer FamilyMichael and Gretchen

Wooldridge*The Malos-Yi FamilyAnonymous (3)

Paul and Melanie Wright*Ed Wu and Schnabel SamsonHarry and Michele Zander*Anonymous

EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFT CONTRIBUTORSAbbott Fund Matching Grant PlanAbbVie IBMPiper JaffrayPolk Bros. Foundation

Graphic Design for the Annual Report donated by The Brand Box: www.the-brand-box.com


SUPPORT THE FUND FOR CHIARAVALLEChiaravalle makes dynamic learning experiences possible by staying committed to what matters:

• exceptional faculty• a high ration of teachers to students, plus

additional support staff and specialists• tuition assistance programs• a prepared environment that facilitates each child’s

learning process• and dynamic programming that sparks curiosity and

supports self discovery

Tuition revenue doesn’t cover the costs of these commitments, so we rely on the generosity of our community to make up the difference. All gifts to the Fund for Chiaravalle directly support these initiatives, and are fully tax-deductible.

Support the Fund for Chiaravalle today by visiting our website, www.chiaravalle.org, and clicking on Donate

28 ANNUAL REPORT


ANNUAL BENEFIT EVENT 2013-14 FUND A NEED, SPONSORSHIP, TEACHER TICKET FUND, CLASSROOM RESOURCES

The annual Spring Benefit is an important event that builds community and raises much-needed funding to support those things that make Chiara-valle who we are: outstanding faculty, a robust Tuition Assistance Program, dynamic programs and thoughtful learning environments.

The 2013-2014 Benefit, “The Last Dance,” was a whimsical Parents’ Prom to send off the old school gymnasium before North Wing construction began. The following lists those donors who contributed charitably to Chiaravalle through the event.

INDIVIDUALS Rose Adamczyk in Memory

of Matt Adamczyk, Jr. Amjad and Liz Al-DajaniChris and Mary AndersonTilden Katz and Kathy BakerJosh and Erin BarneyRick Boynton and Criss

HendersonJulie Chenevert and Chris BrandtRonald and Debi BuzilGeorge DeMet and Tiffany FarrissAlex and Siobhan DonatiRafael Duque and Yael SimanMatthew and Margret DuvallCraig and Jenny ForsmanTodd Furney and

Mariana RomanoRichard and Susan GallunLaura Granros

Zahlman and Susan GreenwoodDavid and Jill GreerBecca and Derek GroothuisJenn and Scott GwilliamJeffrey Hansen and Julie MatijaRob Hansen and Kristi PiccoloPaul Hart and Stephanie

Nash HartLeo and Kristin HenikoffSteve and Cara HermanDan Hinkle and Lauren

Myers-HinkleAlex and Maria HoffmanCindy HoganRyan and Megan HuntKyle MacArthur and

Allison MaguireDon Bora and Connie BickfordJohn Mancini and Lucinda Fox

Eddie and Bonnie MaslanaJulie Matthei and Sarah SchmidtBryan Mills and Alexis KuncelMike Muriel and Donna

Richards MurielDavid and Jennifer NelsonMaurice NelsonJacob and Shondi NickellMichael and Angela QuattrockiWilliam and Lynn RaspeSteve Reed and Jessica CampbellPeter and Dawn SamarisShabnum and Sunil SanghviRegina Sant’Anna and

Doug SkitesBeth Caldwell and Mario SantiagoMaura Shea and Jim MavrosJes and Leesa SherborneGarry and Suzanne Shumaker

Charles Mangum and Rachel Story

Nancy SyburgBaris and Esra TasdelenDick and Trish ThomasStephen and Karen ThompsonArt Thompson and Sarah

Eck-ThompsonFrank and Amy TuTom and Melanie WendtBob and Libby WolfeMichael and Gretchen

WooldridgePaul and Melanie WrightEd Wu and Schnabel SamsonScott and Sarah ZematisZach Zises and Vanessa Filley

COMPANIESBulley and Andrews, LLCFaegre Baker Daniels

First Bank and Trust The Third Teacher + by Cannon Design

Northern Trust


FUND FOR CHIARAVALLE 2014-15

In 2014-15, Chiaravalle launched a new approach to fundraising with the Fund for Chiaravalle. The school is committed to having exceptional teach-ers and staff; maintaining a low ratio of students to teachers, specialists and staff; providing tuition assistance Programs to families who need it; and offering dynamic programming in aprepared environment.

Staying committed to these values means Chiaravalle’s expenses exceed tuition revenue. The school relies on the generosity of parents to make up the difference. A family’s participation in all annual fundraising activities counts toward this goal. Donors are recognized in the list below by total giv-ing, not necessarily tax-deductible, during the 2014-15 school year through charitable donations, Benefit Event donations and spending, and other fundraising project purchases such as the All School Art Project, Memory Book and Book Bucks.

PACESESTTERJill and David Greer**Jenn and Scott Gwilliam**

Jacob and Shondi NickellJohn Mancini and Lucinda Fox**

Sharon and John Watrous

LEADERTilden Katz and Kathy Baker*Joseph Brennan and

Leslie Shad**Becca and Derek Groothuis

Alex and Maria Hoffman**Matthew Johnson and

Amanda Williamson Sarah Schmidt

Charles Mangum and Rachel Story*

Art Thompson and Sarah Eck-Thompson*

SUSTAINERTzaras and Sarah ChristonRonald and Debi BuzilGail and Mark Drozd Matthew and Margret Duvall Craig and Jenny Forsman

Todd Furney and Mariana Romano*

Richard and Susan GallunBrad and Jennifer Ilko Mark and Sarah Marinacci

Steve Reed and Jessica Campbell Chad and Tonia SalsberyShabnum and Sunil SanghviFrank and Amy Tu Tom and Melanie Wendt

The Wright Family*Edwin Wu and Schnabel SamsonScott and Sarah Zematis

ADVOCATEJessica and Rey Andujar-RedmanRick Boynton and Criss

HendersonGeorge DeMet and Tiffany Farriss

Kyr and Kris GaganidzeXiao Guo and Dan HaoRob Hansen and Kristi PiccoloMatthew and Annie Harris

Leo and Kristin HenikoffTed Anderson and Megan

Holmes-Anderson*

Charles Adler and Lucy Jeong-Adler

Michelle and Shane LarsonEileen Madden

KEY Pacesetter $10,000 - $23,000Leader $ 5,000 - $ 9,999Sustainer $ 2,500 - $ 4,999Advocate $ 1,500 - $ 2,499Benefactor $ 1,100 - $ 1,499 Patron $ 500 - $ 1,099Promoter $ 250 - $ 499Sponsor $ 1 - $ 249


30 ANNUAL REPORT


Brian and Sarah MarshallMike Muriel and Donna

Richards Muriel

Dominic and Stacey RossiRegina Sant’Anna and

Doug Skites

Bill Schick and Julie BondJes and Leesa SherborneMatt and Farah Swaim

Hiry and Mary Beth WestZach Zises and Vanessa Filley

BENEFACTORJeff and Kim BellMichael and Amy BooneJulie Chenevert and Chris BrandtGretchen and Dennis EckBryn Wagner Hanson

and David Hanson

Paul Hart and Stephanie Nash Hart

Dan Hinkle and Lauren Myers-Hinkle

Amy and Jason KayeJim and Sheila O’Neill*

Kristie and Sean O’Neill**Adam and Sue SabowKarl and Kathleen ScheidtMaura Shea and Jim MavrosGarry and Suzanne ShumakerSean and Karen Swidler

Nancy Syburg**Dick and Trish ThomasRandy and Emily WexlerCraig and Jill Wortmann*Chae Yi and Amalia MalosAnonymous

PATRONRose AdamczykChris and Mary Anderson The Barnett Family Martin Cabrera and Kim SteffenPatrick and Carrie Charles*Peter and Gabi EdgertonLaura Granros and

Francisco AzeredoJack and Tucker Harris (G)Al Hennagir and Jen

Frost Hennagir*

Cindy HoganChris Jobson and Megan StielstraChris Jones and Gillian Darlow Helena Kaltezas**Geoff and Tess McGrathBryan Mills and Alexis Kuncel David and Jennifer Nelson*Jide and Uzo Nzelibe Constantine and

Genevieve PappasAllen Rein and Ann Hudson*

Robert and Melissa Rooth Peter and Dawn Samaris Beth Caldwell and

Mario Santiago*Jeff and Beth Scales Chris Schmidt and Erin

Rowell SchmidtAlexandra Piper and Jon Seed Mary and Charles Shea (G)Kuan and Donna SuEvan and Jen Terry

William Wadden and Mary Pierson

Matt Martin and Charlotta Weaver John and Fran Wiechart Joshua Kellar and Emily Withrow Robert and Carol WooldridgeAnonymous (2)

PROMOTERDorothy Schmid and

John Agnew**Amjad and Liz Al-DajaniJohn AvrilJosh and Erin BarneyRichard and Caroline BullockSusan Avril and Remy Dercksen*Gene and Joan Dieden

Lilly Draganic Seth Green and Caitlin FitzJoseph Franchere and M.

Alison EisendrathFreimuth FamilyAnu and Mita GoelZahlman and Susan Greenwood*Steve and Cara Herman

Ryan and Megan HuntEd and Kiera MaddenMiller FamilyJoe Miller and Jill BowmanStephen and Naomi Schiff MyersMartin and Minya Nance Robert and Kathy Noone

Stanley Parzen and Lynne Raimondo

Michael and Angela QuattrockiMichael and Laura RomisherJacob and Sarah RothAlex and Nicole Schneider Alden and Kristen Senior Theresa Sparlin

CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI

Tom Springer and Robyn McCloud-Springer*

Nancy SterlingJonathan and Jennifer Stern

Keith Wakefield Bob and Libby Wolfe*

Michael and Gretchen Wooldridge

SPONSORCarlin and Julie AdrianopoliRoberto and Rosana AmatoCathy BeckAndrew and Julie BernsteinBenjamin Blustein and

Virginia BellDon Bora and Connie Bickford*Ellen Bouleanu*Ronald and Nancy BrownAlex and Stacey BurkeIsaias and Yue Chen CairampomaGeorge Cheeren and

Joyce KalleekalWilliam and Helen ChenevertDaniel and Catherine ChoPatrick and JoAnn ChowaniecTodd Clark and Geeta

Maker-ClarkSabrina Townsend and

Nathaniel ClarkJeff and Kim CohenGreta and Andrew Connor*Alex and Siobhan DonatiSean Duffy and Lidia

Wachowska, In Memory of Mary Therese Duffy

Rafael Duque and Yael Siman, In Honor of The Teachers at Chiaravalle

Clare Heath and Joel Emerick*

Jean FeraKatie and Aaron FinkAndre and Teresa FortunskaMark and Frankie ErsfeldNora FreemanLeonid Greyz and Gillian

Muller-GreyzMatt Hallinan and Dana HancockRobert and Sheila HanfordKaren HansenJeffrey Hansen and Julie MatijaRintaro and Eriko HashizumeJeanne Marie Hay (G)Carrie Iseman and Kelly JonesPaul and Karrie JeffrisJennifer Jeffris and Douglas

Hanrahan, In Memory of James Caldwell

Matthew Johnson and Keri Ambrosio

Nabil Kahouadji and Sara CareyDavid and Julie KarnesKemper Kirkpatrick and

Treacy GreerAdam Krakow and

Aurora McManusJustin and Lizzy Kreindler*Karen Laner**Eric Lat and Anna SomeraJean Marc Lavoie

Mary Levato*Kathleen and Allen Lombardo*Bob and Kenda LovecchioJim Lustig in Honor of David

and Zoe Groothuis (G)Kyle MacArthur and

Allison MaguireMarder FamilyEddie and Bonnie Maslana**Stephen and Jennifer McCombJohn McDonald and

Aude RaymondSean and Jill McGrathPeter and Susu Meder Gokhan and Seda MemikBrian and Stephanie MillerCarol MullinsVenkata Murali and Padma

RamanathanMr. and Mrs. Herb Murrath (G)Mark and Nancy MyersAndrew and Kristi NaidechCaroline NationCaitlin HibdonKirstin NordhausJoy O’ConnellJohn Greene and Sara O’MaraJason PierceTom and Jane PilsburyWilliam and Lynn Raspe*

Donald and Nita ReedMichael and Margie Rein (G)Ari Reinfeld and Sara JacobsonScott and Keiler RobertsMrunal Salunkhe and

Minette Gill SalunkhePaul and Patty SeufzerDean and Rene SheikhAndria Shyjka and Brett CoolidgeBecky and DJ SiltonLawrence Smith and

Rachel Duda SmithHenry and Suzanne StolarDan Stolar and Lauren CathcartBaris and Esra TasdelenNora TaylorRachel TeuerStephen and Karen Thompson**Alex Weiner and Dori RubinMolly WilliamsShelley and Mike Witkin in

honor of our granddaughter Avery Faith Swidler (G)

Diane Wolff-Klammer*Terry YangMichele ZanderHarry ZanderCarol Zsolnay

25


32 ANNUAL REPORT


CORPORATE SPONSORS AND MATCHING GIFT EMPLOYERSAonBulley and Andrews, LLCCannon Design

Doherty, Giannini, Reitz Construction Inc

First Bank and Trust of EvanstonHagerty Consulting

Huron Consulting GroupIBM MB Financial BankNorthern Trust Company

Piper JaffrayWest Monroe Partners

DIVERSITY ENDOWMENT FUNDThe Diversity Endowment Fund enhances the school’s commitment to diversity. Its purpose is to increase the enrollment of under-represented minorities at our school. Interest from the endowment is used to grant supplementary need-based financial assistance to eligible students.

2013-2014Margaret EisendrathClare Heath and Joel EmerickKaren LanerMarti and George Lannert, In

Honor of Bonnie Maslana, Juan Zuniga, Diane Wolf-Klammer, and Dori Mendoza

Courtney Lannert, In Honor of Marti Lannert

Joe and Kay MaddenRobyn McCloud-Springer and

Tom Springer, In Honor of The Fourth Floor

Nancy Syburg, In Honor of The Administrative Team

2014-2015Clare Heath and Joel EmerickAllen and Ann HudsonKaren LanerKerry LannertMarti LannertBonnie and Eddie Maslana,

In Honor of Nancy, Beth, Lizzy, Ellen, Robyn, Clare, Libby, Elise, Diane, JZ, Dori, Juan, Marti, Pat, Bessy, Mary, Cindy and Schnabel

Robyn McCloud-Springer and Tom Springer

Nancy Syburg, In Honor of The Administrative Team

In Memory of James CaldwellKristin ArwoodClinton Community YMCAMark and Gail DrozdCindy HoganKaren LanerNancy SyburgTerry YangLibby WolfeAnonymous

3333

Chiaravalle is launching a new website this fall, inspired by our new look. More stories. More pictures.

Check it all out at www.chiaravalle.org.

SAVE THE DATEBe one of the first to explore

our exciting new spaces. Join us for the grand opening of

the North Wing.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 12:00 pm

S A V E T H E D AT E | J O I N U S

October 2 – 3, 2015

Chiaravalle Montessori425 Dempster StreetEvanston, IL 60201

chiaravalle montessori

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