Dear Parents,
One of the common misconceptions is that Montessori is only for the rich.
That is actually point number 4 on the "Common Misconceptions About Montessori" right on our website. I contend that this is a realistic viewpoint. The reality is that people perceive private school families as relatively wealthy. I certainly held that viewpoint when considering MCS, and I still do. It's realistic for people to feel that way, based on the evidence. Simply observe the vehicles driven in the drop off line at any private school, compare that with a school bus, and that's an easy conclusion. I would like to share my family's experience with "private school."
During the spring of last year, my wife and I decided to move to Verona from Wilmington. I'd never heard of Verona. I consciously decided to suspend my "judgments" about living in "Jacksonville" that had been formed by the comments of others since childhood. In retrospect, it's a bit shocking that the decision was so easy, because I LOVE Wilmington. During my last 2 years at North Carolina State University, I arranged my schedule so that I could come down to Wilmington to surf every Friday morning, and stay all weekend. I spent as much time in Wilmington as possible. I decided that I would live there, and live there for the rest of my life! I've even had clients ask me to assure them that I'd live there forever.
As a parent of two boys and a husband who adores his wife, I've found that "my life" is centered on my relationships with my family, and not on a geographical location. Pick us up and move us to Topsail, Topanga, or Topeka, and it wouldn't make a difference. Given that surfing is still 10 minutes away, Verona is almost the same as Wilmington. Plus, being a CFP® (we're cheap), I simply couldn't turn down a "free house." Annie's parents really wanted their grandchildren to be close by! At this point I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. That's 100% because of Montessori Children's School.
As we were considering the move, the biggest question was where our children would go during the day. We were blessed to have a wonderful caretaker in Wilmington that truly became a part of the family. Annie began to ask around, and fortunately, our board president, Sheila VanNest recommended MCS. When Annie presented that idea to me, I couldn't grasp the concept of my 2 year old son Ralphie going to an actual school! Furthermore, almost immediately, something inside me said... "we probably can't afford a private school." The teenagers brand new $60,000 cars in the parking lot of Cape Fear Academy had made a strong impression on me! Add to that, the strain on our budget caused by doubling the "daycare" bill with the addition of Doc in July. I was nearly in disbelief when Annie said that it actually costs less than our caretaker in Wilmington! After I learned more about the school, toured the school, learned about the Montessori method, and met Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Hampton, Shane, and everyone else, it was an easy decision. I remember jumping up and down and high fiving Annie at the mailbox when we received the acceptance letter.
Had the tuition reflected the true cost of having Ralphie in the school, I don't know that we would be here. And being here is making us rich. The energy of this community is so strong, I can feel it the moment that I drive into the parking lot. I love walking Ralphie into the school so I can soak up some of that wonderful feeling, and take it into my day. Working with Mrs. Higgins, Shane , Margaret, and Catherine on the Annual Fund Committee is absolutely invigorating. The passion and love that Mrs. Higgins emanates for this school and this community is infectious. I'm not sure if it's the fact that this is mainly a group of mommies with mommy power, but I have never been a part of a group that is as powerful, as dynamic, and as successful. Being a part of this community has enriched our lives in a fundamental way. Annie and I have said so many times that the Montessori school is forcing us to raise our standards. Our whole family has been elevated, raised up, and exalted. Being part of this community makes us feel rich!
Montessori schools ARE for the rich, but we must work to make sure that the richness remains a result and not a prerequisite.
We have a responsibility to children and families in our little corner of the world to give them this opportunity for enrichment. I truly believe that this experience will affect Ralphie for the rest of his life. I expect that MCS will propel Ralphie... and Doc starting next year... to have an incredible life. I have no doubt that there is nowhere better for my child to be than in the care of this school, and these individuals. If it weren't for the successful fundraising efforts that kept tuition affordable, I don't think Ralphie would have that chance. We thank everyone who has worked so hard (and probably had a lot of fun!) in those fundraising efforts.
To keep MCS affordable, and to have a tremendous impact on both children and families in the area, we are inaugurating the MCS Annual Fund. These funds will be used to supplement tuition and help cover the true operating costs of the organization. This not only promotes the viability of the school for our own children, but it allows area families to have an incredible and transformative experience. Furthermore it allows the school to continue operating from a stable and empowered financial position.
We have already requested donations from "friends of the school" that have been very supportive in the past. This money will be used to "seed" the campaign. In 2000 a joint-study was conducted by researchers at the Departments of Economics at the University of Central Florida, and Vanderbilt University. The study demonstrated that while notifying the target audience of the launch of a fundraising campaign, including a statement that a significant portion of the total fundraising goal had already been collected through substantial donations of "seed money" a resultant increase in total donations up to sixfold! That means that instead of donations being $10,000, they are $60,000. And in our case, instead of raising $60,000, we're going to get $360,000!
You should have read Margaret Melton's letter in a previous issue of the newsletter which served to notify you of the Annual Fund. We will also be sending letters to each family that include pledge cards, and also lets you know to expect a phone call on the evening of November the 18th. Thanks to Shane Terzaken we will have a "thermometer" chart posted in the front walkway area to track our progress. Please expect, and allow this to be another "enriching" experience.
As a student of wealth, the pursuit of wealth, the management of wealth, and the attainment of a "sense" of wealth, I've concluded that "wealth" doesn't correspond with numbers, and accounts, and statements of "net worth." Academic research has found that for those above a designated poverty level, happiness (perhaps the truest measure of wealth) does not correlate with dollars and cents. Richness is a state of being, and it's independent of money, but it can be supported and enabled with money. Proverbial wisdom states that "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children." Proverbs 13:22 Let's all make an investment that's guaranteed to grow, is totally secure, and certain to return the very truest sense of richness to many generations.
Thank you,
Sonny Rains
Annual Giving Co-Chair
