We've been hearing that question often of late, and we are pleased that so many members of our community are so excited about the project.

As some of you know, at last spring's Gala we celebrated the wonderful news that Roger and Michelle Marino were giving Summit ownership of the building at 283 Pleasant Street.  This extraordinary gift -- valued at over $1 million -- officially kicked off The Campaign for Summit, a $3 million capital initiative.  The focus of the campaign will be building a new addition to the school.  This new building will have a multi-use community space and additional classroom space as well.  (Click HERE for the April 2007 press release announcing the campaign)

The first phase of any capital campaign involves a concerted planning effort, and this year the Strategic Planning Committee has made great progress in this area.  Now that the school has adopted a carefully crafted strategic plan, the Committee is working on ways that the plan will inform the actual design of the new building.  It has created a Request for Proposals for architectural firms to put in bids for the design and construction of the addition.  It is developing a comprehensive cost estimate and phasing plan for the new construction.

In the next two months, the Committee will hire an architectural firm and finalize the building plan.  We will have architectural renderings so that we can show the community in tangible terms what our new building will look like.  Most exciting from a fundraising perspective, we will have a series of spaces -- like the multi-use room and individual classrooms -- that can be named to recognize significant donations.

Next academic year we plan to start talking with members of the community -- current and alumni parents as well as foundation and corporate sources -- about ways to participate in the campaign.  This is the fun part!  And we look forward to having those conversations with many of you.


You love Summit, the faculty, and how the school is benefiting your child.  You are a generous supporter of the Annual Fund.  How will the campaign affect how and when you make current and future gifts to the school?

First, the Annual Fund is the most important ongoing fundraising initiative of any non-profit organization, including Summit.  This is because gifts to the Annual Fund make up the difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating our children.  So in a very real way, the Annual Fund makes Summit the special place it is, by helping pay teachers' salaries, purchasing supplies, and maintaining our beautiful building.  Therefore, we encourage all parents to continue to give to the Annual Fund at or above their current level.

A capital campaign is a different kind of initiative, one that complements, rather than replaces, the Annual Fund.  Organizations usually only conduct such initiatives every 5 or 10 years or so, and they usually focus on a single "once in an education lifetime" project, something that calls for us to go above and beyond what we might consider our normal, baseline giving. 

For Summit, the campaign's focus is the new building project.  The project represents a watershed moment for the school, one that brings us to a different era in our history.  As Monica Shay, parent of two Summit students, member of the Board of Trustees, and generous supporter of the school for several years states: "Ten years ago the Marinos and the other founding families took a risk.  They were the ones to put in the time, effort and money to build this incredible school that is so special to us today.  We have benefited from their dream.  Now as we move into Summit's second decade, it's up to us, the current families, to leave our own legacy for future parents and students." 

Gifts to a campaign can be paid over a number of years -- usually 3-5 -- according to a payment schedule that we hope will encourage families to stretch to make a real difference in the future of Summit. 


As we announced in December, we are the proud new owners of the property at 2A Mill Street, which includes a residential building.  We are pleased that we were able to take advantage of this opportunity as it arose in the market, since ownership of any property contiguous to the school will allow for future expansion.  It also allows us to think about creating a new entrance to the school through a less-traveled road than Pleasant Street.  However, this property is not formally part of the campaign's scope, which again focuses on a brand new construction, which will most likely be an addition to our current building. 

For questions about the campaign and/or the Annual Fund, please feel free to contact Janice Thompson (click here to send Janice an email  message), co-chair of the Campaign Committee of the Board of Trustees.


Fundraisers such as the event at the Premium Theatre in October and the spring event scheduled for April 12th at the Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland make an important financial contribution to Summit's development budget. Just as importantly, they provide an opportunity for us to get together and celebrate all that is special about the Summit Community. 

 

This year we are also teaming up with Big Brother Big Sister of Central MA/Metrowest to promote both organizations in the Metrowest area.  We will provide more information in upcoming issues, but for now mark the date on your calendar for what promises to be a very entertaining event.  To volunteer, contribute an auction item or simply find out more information, contact Gail Gregory (gail.gregory@verizon.net) or Monica Shay (shayfamily@charter.net).

Did you know that the money that the Summit Montessori Parents' Association (SMPA) raises through events, projects, and parent dues supports many different facets of the school, including cultural enrichment programs throughout the year, the Community Picnic in May and the teacher and staff appreciation luncheon and gifts in June?  These projects add a wonderful depth to the Summit experience of everyone in our community, and we hope that all parents participate in our fundraising events.

 

The SMPA met on January 16, 2008, when we discussed our plans for several fundraisers slated for the spring:

 

The cultural enrichment programs offered this year blend with the classrooms' study of the history and culture of Asia.  Recently puppeteer Deborah Costine conducted a hands-on puppet-making workshop where elementary students created puppets that represent the culture and customs of China and characters from the Silk Road such as merchants, artisans, and bandits.  The Children's House students were wowed with their own special puppet show, "The Twig Family," by Ms. Costine.

In March, the children will see Odaiko - Taiko Japanese Drumming and in May, Rafael De Gruttola will present Haiku poetry. 

In late May, Children's Technology Workshop will come to Summit with presentations on animation and uses of pulleys and gears. 

The total cost of these programs is $2,880 and is funded through SMPA fundraising, contribution from a generous parent and by Summit Montessori. Our thanks go to Whitney Johnson (parent of David, Upper El, and Miranda, Lower El) who coordinated all of the upcoming programs.     

If anyone has any questions or suggestions, please contact co-Presidents Mary Ann Ciampa (maryann.ciampa@comcast.net) or Diane Michelson (RDMichelson@comcast.net).  If you have not had an opportunity to pay volunteer dues ($25 per family), your check can be made out to Summit Montessori-SMPA and given to Lorna in the school office.  Thank you for your volunteer time, good ideas and financial support!