Letter from the Headmaster

Dear Families,

We are off and running! Each day, I count myself as a very lucky man, to drive my children to work at a school where I can serve in support of the teachers who dedicate their lives to cultivating excellence. As a father of three Rivermont students, I am happy to report that we are beginning to settle into the school year bedtime and morning routines. I hope your children are settling into their routines as well. Please, if there is anything that our team can do to help you and your student, let us know. In addition to the teachers, Mrs. Weeks, Ms. Hildebrand and I, all stand ready to listen and help where we can.

 

I've been enjoying my meetings with the Parents' Council leadership. If you have not attended parent council meetings, please do. A strong parent/school partnership is one of the hallmarks of the independent school experience and a major contributor to our culture of excellence. Be sure to read these Paw Postings with a careful eye for opportunities to engage and help your fellow parents. Parents' Council does tremendous good for all students enrolled at Rivermont. Please join me in expressing deep gratitude for their service.

 

The Parents' Council is planning its annual fundraiser, The Founders' Day Fun Run! This event helps families in many ways. First, it helps us avoid a calendar of multiple student fundraisers. Most of us don't need overpriced chocolate bars or magazine subscriptions we won't read. The Fun Run is a great community event that engages students in supporting our beloved school. The funds from the event will be allocated by the Parents' Council, to help teachers with their requests to fund important school projects. This is also a fun way to engage students in building a culture of philanthropy, which is key to all independent schools' survival. It's important for us all to remember that an army of dedicated supporters of the school has come before us, each giving to the school and generating the funds that now support its operation. Each of us, in turn, has an opportunity to pay it forward to future generations of Rivermont Collegiate students.

 

Many of our families may not realize that their tuition does not come close to covering the actual cost of giving their children the Rivermont experience. In fact, even our full pay families' tuition does not cover the $17,816 that we spend for each child, each year. Many might be surprised to learn that this year, our projected net tuition per student is $9,133. This reflects our commitment to diversity of culture and intellect. We want to make sure the Rivermont experience is available to everyone who wants to attend. The Fun Run proceeds do not go towards covering the gap between our revenue and our expenses. (See below for what these proceeds do cover.) That's why we have several opportunities to give to our Annual Fund. Stay tuned for more information about that.

 

I'd like to close with heartfelt thanks to our board of trustees, faculty, and staff. This summer the trustees kicked off the annual fund drive by committing and giving at 100% participation. Using that momentum, we asked every employee of the school, part time and full, to contribute. I was surprised and delighted when the faculty responded by achieving something I've never seen in my other schools: 100% giving by the second day of school! Later this year, I will ask for your support in giving to the annual fund. The percentage of participation from the Board, employees, and families is an important considerations when we approach large donors and foundations. Stay tuned for more information and updates on our annual fund drive throughout the year.

 

Enjoy a wonderfully restful three-day weekend!

 

Sincerely,