The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of funding for TMS, which supports our school and the academic excellence for which we are known. The Annual Fund provides for a wide variety of academic programming, Montessori materials for our classrooms, professional development for our staff, and all aspects to running a healthy school especially vital during the COVID pandemic.
Last year, we named our Annual Fund the "Haines-Zaharchuk Annual Education Fund" in honor of alumni parent, Sue Zaharchuk. Your gifts will memorialize her wish to perpetuate The Montessori School for years to come. Gifts made to this fund will directly impact the children of TMS through scholarships, enriched Montessori programs and a financially stable school. In this historic year, your generosity is needed now more than ever.
We invite you to join other donors to this year’s Annual Education Fund. Contact development@themontessorischool.us for more information or to learn more about donating.
Thank You from Head of School
Dear TMS Families and Friends,
In this issue of Making an Impact we include our Annual Report for 2020-21. While presenting the school’s financial overview, we also want to take the opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone in our TMS community who has given in some way to TMS. In a year, unlike any we have previously experienced, we have been able to sustain our financial health and have seen inspiring gifts from our families and friends.
Through a combination of staff reductions, grants, loans and significant Annual Fund contributions, TMS was able to successfully weather a 30% reduction in enrollment and an increase in COVID-related expenses in this first year of the pandemic. In order to prepare a comprehensive Health & Safety plan for the 2020-21 school year, difficult decisions had to be made and executed before the school year began. Individual class cohorts that allowed for 6-foot distancing at all times not only limited class sizes, but also precluded the movement of children from room to room for specials. As a result, it was necessary to lay off non-Montessori staff, a reduction in personnel of about 35%. On the plus side, we applied for and received COVID-related grants, and a PPP loan, which was forgiven. Also, of significant impact on the 2020-21 operating budget, was the generous giving by so many past and present families and friends of The Montessori School.
Alumni parents were leaders in giving during the past year. It was gratifying to feel the support of families whose children have graduated and moved on from TMS, but who still hold dear the education that their children received. In our time of need, alumni families stepped up with generous gifts and even a challenge gift to lead Annual Giving during the pandemic year. Our families and friends participated in EITC to provide scholarships to TMS children, gave generously to the Annual Fund and provided an endless supply of much-needed supplies for cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. This is what I have come to call the “silver lining of the pandemic”—TMS families coming together to support the school in every way imaginable and keep their children coming in-person for learning the entire year. The staff was especially grateful for the incredible giving spirit that they felt from TMS families.
I feel honored to be part of this community, that through giving, models for our children how to connect with something greater than the individual.
With gratitude for all the gifts we have received,
Laurie on behalf of the TMS Board of Trustees, staff and children
“Let us give the child a vision of the whole universe... for all things are part of the universe and connected to each other to form one whole.” ~ Maria Montessori
Teacher Wish List Donations
Children's House Sandboxes
• Kadan & Yianni Avgiris
• Sarah Moffatt & David La Salle
Lower Elementary Charging Stations
• Amy Brickman & Ivan Maddock
• Rob & Roberta English
• Gregory & Misty Harth
Makerspace Shelving
• Kadan & Yianni Avgiris
• Nima & Jigar Desai
Outdoor Picnic Table
• Kadan & Yianni Avgiris
Outdoor Play Equipment
• The Elsey Family
Toddler Sandboxes
• Kadan & Yianni Avgiris
• Lisa & Keith Tietjen
Tribute Gifts
In honor of the Robinsons, Sutapa Bakshi, Miss Belinsky, Elena Janeczko, Mrs Roth, Miss Katie
• The Battistas
In honor of Ms Amy Robinson
• The Elsey Family
• Greg & Misty Harth
In honor of Mrs Bakshi and Miss Belinsky
• Sarah Moffat & David La Salle
In honor of Mrs Bakshi
• Ken & Cassandra Ruff
In honor of Mrs Kelly
• Meredith Matone & Ray Cross
In honor of Mrs Fastiggi
• Meihua Wang & M Domingo Tubio
In honor of Jackson and Lilly's teachers over the years
• Schein Family
In honor of Grace '18 and Jesse Sippl '18
• Nick Sippl & Linda Hart
In honor of Jackson Stoddard '21
• Alicia & Jack Stoddard
In honor of the Class of 2021
• Karen Walsh & Jay Lipschutz
In memory of Dorothy Roberts and Dorothy Ross
• Rashida & Timothy Welbeck
Sixth Grade Class Gift / Outdoor Classroom
• Dareus Conover
• Nima & Jigar Desai
• Sarah & Jason Schein
• Alicia & Jack Stoddard
How Can I Donate to TMS?
Gifts to TMS can be made in the following ways:
CASH / CREDIT CARD GIFTS The easiest way to make a gift to TMS is to write a check and mail it to TMS, 1701 Jarrettown Rd, Dresher, PA 19025. Or, donate from our website using your preferred credit card.
CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS Many companies match employees’ charitable giving. Check with the human resources department of your employer for more information, and double your gift!
GIFTS-IN-KIND These donations may consist of furnishings, art, musical instruments, books, etc. TMS will provide a gift receipt as your tax acknowledgment.
BEQUESTS A bequest is donation of cash, personal property or real estate provided in the donor’s will to a non-profit institution. Consult your tax advisor for assistance.
GIFTS OF STOCK A gift of appreciated securities can bring the donor greater tax savings than a gift of cash. Check with your financial advisor for assistance.
UNITED WAY Look for “The Montessori School Association” (or our former name, “New Horizons Montessori School Assoc”). For UW of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ, look for Code #3568: The Montessori School Association.
EITC The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) provides greater access to education through public/private collaboration. Pennsylvania offers a unique opportunity for businesses as well as individuals to reduce tax liability by contributing to registered scholarship organizations like TMS.