PINES MONTESSORI SCHOOL K I N G W O O D
T E X A S
Annual A p p r e c i at i o n
Repor t Pines Montessori School prepares children for life through learning experiences based on authen c Montessori principles and prac ces.
2014 — 2015
F r o m t h e B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s
Jeff Choyce Board of Trustees
Dear Families and Friends,
Executive Committee
The Board of Trustees offers the 2014-2015 Annual Appreciation Report of Pines Montessori School as a way to keep you informed of how we utilize our resources to plan and prepare for our future. We are guided by our commitment to Montessori principles and practices, and also by the mission and vision of our school.
Jeff Choyce, Chair Joe Dunleavy, Finance Member-at-Large Connie Chandler Yvonne Catala
Administrative Team
The Board’s commitment to building a foundation for growth, realizing the vision of a school that offers state of the art facilities, and maintaining our amazing professional staff continues. In the past year, our school has accomplished so much, including:
Head of School
• • •
Patricia Sobelman Finance, CPA
A growing infant community with a waiting list Lower elementary that is growing and improving A new Upper Elementary Classroom
Joy Fields
~ With your support, the vision is being realized! ~
Facilities
“Growth is not merely a harmonious increase in size, but a transforma on.” - Maria Montessori.
Libby Egan Communications & Media Sabrina Padgett Enrollment Wendy Stephens
Our work is not complete. The Board of Trustees needs your talents, effort, and enthusiasm to complete the vision. Leadership and support opportunities are available through participation on the Board or on a Board committee. Opportunities include: Legal advice, Advertising, Development/Community Relations, IT/Communications, Finance, Human resources
Christine Rock
The possibilities are endless. Contact me if you are interested at
[email protected].
Table of Contents
I challenge you to show your support for our amazing school through your talents, service, or financial support. With the dedicated effort of our parents, staff and our community, we can realize this vision and fulfill the hopes and dreams or our children.
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From the Board of Trustees
In my final year as the President of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank all of you for your support and prayers.
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From the Finance Committee
Sincerely,
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From the Head of School
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Facilities
Jeffrey S. Choyce President, Pines Board of Trustees
Pines Montessori School Facts...
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Of Upper and Middle School students have been enrolled at Pines between 5-8 years.
Years is the average tenure of a staff member at Pines.
Teachers are at 10 plus years of employment.
Years as a school Established in 1977.
Families with enrolled students.
10+ years faculty Hina Patel—18 Maria Nicholls—16 Maria Spinnato—16 Adriana Anderson—13
Jessica Aylesworth—13 Kahkashan Sohail—13 Libby Egan—10
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From the Finance Committee Joe Dunleavy The Bylaws of Pines require the Treasurer to carry out the mandates of the Board of Trustees and to oversee the financial affairs of the school. In this regard, the Treasurer is responsible to work with the Head of School to: •
monitor the school's financial accounts and records;
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report financial information to the Board;
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direct the preparation of the annual audit; and
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assist with the annual budgeting process.
These responsibilities are carried out under the umbrella of two overarching financial goals: i) to achieve financial stability; and ii) to secure the long term growth of Pines. The economics of Pines are reasonably straightforward. Our operating costs are comprised primarily of fixed costs and our revenues are highly correlated to our enrollment. Thus, as our enrollment increases or decreases, our revenues should increase or decrease, correspondingly. However, our operating costs are less likely to move in correlation with enrollment. Thus, we need to carefully monitor enrollment in order to ensure we will cover the costs of operating Pines. During the 2014 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2014, our financial metrics, as noted in the accompanying table, remained consistent with the prior fiscal year. Additionally, the results of our 2014 financial statement audit indicate sound financial policies and fairly stated results of operations and financial condition. This combination of consistency and robustness of financial performance have helped to solidify our financial stability. With regard to securing the long-term growth of Pines, Administration of Pines undertook two significant projects in fiscal 2014: •
the refinancing of our long-term debt; and
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the construction of a new upper elementary building.
The refinancing of our debt provides Pines more security related to interest rates and future cash out flows than allowed under the terms of previously existing indebtedness. The receipt, and now opening, of a new upper elementary classroom provides Pines with additional enrollment opportunities and greater flexibility related to facility usage and available programming. Our Head of School, Patty Sobelman, Chief Financial Officer, Joy Fields, and Head of Facilities, Libby Egan, have the appreciation and thanks of the Finance Committee and Board for their hard work this past fiscal year and their commitment to Pines. Looking ahead, we currently have about 160 students enrolled at Pines. This enrollment is up from 150 students at this time last year. As Pines grows, our need for additional infrastructure and support also grows. To meet this need, the Finance Committee proposed, and the Board approved, the creation of a new administrative position to ease the increased work load resulting from this growth. Additionally, the Board currently is soliciting feedback and assistance with the development of a plan to meet the future maintenance and infrastructure requirements of Pines. Your input and active participation to create Pines of tomorrow is greatly appreciated. Finally, Administration currently is preparing the budget for the 2015 – 2016 academic year. Consistent with prior years, the Finance Committee will consider this budget after taking into account our goals of financial stability and sustainable growth. The Finance Committee welcomes input from Pines Community on this annual report or any other financial matters to ensure that we are being responsive to the Fundamental Values and Beliefs of Pines.
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2012—2013 Income
2012—2013 Expense
Income
Did you know? Many families double their donations to Pines Montessori School by applying to matching funds through their employers.
Pines is a 501(c)3 non-profit educa onal ins tu on. The school’s opera onal financial expenses are covered through tui on revenues, while major capital budget projects are typically funded through fund raising, donor contribu ons and other ini a ves. The Board of Trustees and the Finance Commi ee, along with the school’s administra on, prepare a budget that is opera onally balanced. This is then approved by the Board. Federal Tax ID Number is 74-296448
Expense
Box Tops for Education— With this year’s earnings, we have purchased a large brew coffee pot and a sewing machine for our campus. Play in the Park Bake Sales—Money raised enabled Upper Elementary to donate over $480.00 to St. Jude’s Research Hospital and helped Middle School on their Adventure Trip to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. Grant Awarded—Pines was awarded $125.00 from the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas Grant.
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From the Head of School Patty Sobelman
Alumni Note Our graduate, Sheillagh O’Brien, received the C.V.I.
Recently, I had the pleasure of presenting a lesson to our Robotics team. This year our team represents four Upper Elementary students, one Middle School student and a Lower El junior team member. The 2014 theme for the First Lego League Robotics competition is Learning, a perfect fit for Montessori students. I began my presentation with a very simple question, “How many teachers are in your classroom?” When our Middle School student said, “One”, I turned my head slightly and looked at her to which she changed her answer quickly to, “Seven!” I turned to the Upper El students who figured out where I was going with this line of questioning and said, “Seventeen!”
school, to Incarnate Word
Montessori students recognize that they are teachers as well. Every person should consider him or herself a teacher. The popular phrase Life Long Learner is only half of the equation. Learning is valuable, but teaching your knowledge to someone else multiplies that experience. As educators and as parents, we must also be open to learning from these young teachers. Their insight and passion is inspiring! We all have a lot to learn as well as a lot to teach!
Academy in Houston.
Best Wishes,
Scholar award, that recognizes the efforts of exceptional incoming students who have excelled academically in middle
Polski-Texas? Over the past 4 years, our school has developed a very close relationship with the Montessori schools in Poland. This collaboration began over ten years ago when my family lived in Toronto, Canada. I had the distinct pleasure of developing a friendship with a passionate Montessori teacher, Joanna Maghen. Her dream was to return to her home country of Poland and bring back to life the Montessori schools that were thriving before World War II. During the years of communist rule, both during and following the war, Montessori all but faded away. In 1989 Poland emerged as an independent country once again. Since this time the country has lourished and now, with the founding of the Polski Instytut Montessori, Montessori teacher training is taking place in Poland and neighboring countries and more and more schools are opening. With great excitement, Pines Montessori School will host 10 Montessori teachers from Poland this December 1st-10th. During this time, our guests will observe our school, and other Montessori schools throughout Houston. We are so very honored that they have chosen to visit us and we look forward to learning from our Montessori colleagues.
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Community Speaker Events
New This Year
Pines, along with LoneStar College Kingwood, began a Community Education Speaker Event. These informative talks focus on child development are open to the community. Our irst speaker was the National Bestselling Author and International Speaker, Barbara Coloroso. Ms. Coloroso spoke about her book, The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander. We continued the series by inviting Dr. Andrew Cutler to speak about The ADD Brain. Dr. Cutler has been a Principal Investigator on over 400 psychiatric and medical clinical trials. He has also been published in numerous scienti ic and medical journals.
Earth Connections—this school year began our new afternoon exploration of the environment. Spring Sing—Lower El began this new event, now a new tradition. Ecofair & Kleenwood—Partnering with Kingwood Chamber of Commerce, Pines held our irst ever EcoFair event after Kingwood’s Kleenwood community cleanup. Family Dance & Picnic—Many families came out to dance on the Gazebo, under the stars, and enjoy a picnic dinner.
Building the Pink Tower Pines played an important role in supporting the Building the Pink Tower documentary being produced right now. This ilm will reimagine schools and learning through the lens of Montessori education. In a climate of concern and criticism about schools, Building the Pink Tower will remind us of what we want in education: eager learning, creative thinking, and collaborative work. The ilm will change the debate about education by showing how the 100-year-old Montessori method nurtures the imagination of children and lays a solid foundation for their success in life. Visit their website Buildingthepinktower.org to ind out more.
NAEYC 2014-2015 school year will be busy as we prepare for our upcoming NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) re-accreditation visit. Thank you to all the parents this past summer who returned your surveys as we gather our documentation to continue our 20th year as an accredited school for children birth through age 6. Pines Montessori continues to be the only NAEYC accredited school in our area.
International Peace Day—Peace is an important part of the Montessori curriculum. We celebrated this special day by sharing displays of works and giving demonstrations of peace lessons to other classes and to attending parents. Faculty Training & Professional Development In March, Eleven of our teachers attended the American Montessori Society conference in Dallas, TX. The conference featured keynotes by Montessori leaders and famous promoters, such as Temple Grandin PhD, John Chattin-McNichols PhD, Andrew Solomon PhD, and Rob Evans EdD. Our teachers attended workshops on everything from Cosmic Curriculum to Sensorial and Practical Life Extensions. With renewed minds and fresh perspective, the teachers returned to share their training experiences. The opportunity for Pines to send these representatives was made possible with donations from the 22nd Annual Gala. Thank you for investing in your teachers!
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Fa c i l i t i e s PERGOLA The summer months were very busy ones here at Pines. One of the big projects that was inally completed was that of our Infant Playground Pergola. This has been something we have been planning for since we opened our Infant Community. Thanks to the funds from our 2014 Gala, the project was completed this past summer. Don Arnold of Don Arnold’s Landscape Architects created the structure out of cedar. This was no small task to do, during the hot summer months. Don has been a wonderful friend of Pines and continues to be a familiar face around campus, working with us on many of our grounds projects. We are always grateful for the generous support of our Pines families with our projects around the school grounds. We look forward to continuing to add small structures to enhance, not only the Infants’ outside environment, but other areas as well. Be sure to be on the lookout for the changes and additions, as well as little hands and feet enjoying the space! PEACE GARDEN We hope that everyone has had the opportunity to enjoy the new additions to our Peace Garden. We received delivery of our beautiful benches over the summer months, and what a wonderful space it has created to enjoy. Our Lower Elementary students have been able to use the space for reading. Moms and Dads have been given a quiet spot to await their children at the end of the school day. We have even spotted a teacher or two taking a quick break! We invite everyone to take advantage of our Peaceful space. As you sit and enjoy the surroundings, please notice all the new bricks that have been added over the past few months. As an on-going fundraiser, bricks and tiles will continue to be available for families to purchase throughout the year. If you are interested in getting your own, please contact the of ice. We have order forms available at school, or, if you would prefer, order forms can be emailed to you directly.
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It’s a great way to pay tribute to those closest to you, while supporting Pines all at the same time! Order forms are online on the Giving tab of PinesMontessori.com.
A New Building
QUAD When we began thinking of the possibility for growth here at Pines, we never imagined what an involved journey it would turn out to be. We maneuvered through the ins and outs from site plans to construction and everything in between. We have learned how the process of receiving a City of Houston Building Permit can be long and frustrating. But we have learned a tremendous amount from so many professionals who have taken the time to teach us. We have discovered that perseverance, attention to detail, and slow and steady will win the race! When our new building arrived, it was a sight to behold as we watched the workmen slowly, carefully move the pieces into place. But the moment that made the entire journey worthwhile, was the day we were able to bring the children out, open the door and let them look inside. To see the joy in their faces and know that every frustration was worth it made the end result that much sweeter. We are blessed to have the ability to utilize every inch of our campus as a learning environment. With the addition of this new space, we can see the potential that awaits as we look forward to the future. With the hours and hours of time that were spent in the process of gaining this new beautiful space, we know that we are prepared to put the hard work into the growth of our school. Thanks goes out to our families for their patience and support, as well as to all those who helped in the process, from the truck drivers to the engineers and everyone in between!
Start to Finish!
Ribbon Cutting
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4th Annual Snowball Run This family fun event for adults and children, from the Kingwood and surrounding communi es, could not be produced without the support of so many individuals. Volunteers, family and corporate sponsors, running groups, adver sers, Bear Branch community, and the runners, all make this event a success. Close to $10,000 was raised and will be put to use maintaining the play structures and adding some wonderful new signage for our Infinity Science Park. Corporate Sponsors
Babette Bourgeois & Jamie Lavigne
Paul & Schura Normand
Brite Success, LLC
Bo & Catherine Hall
Phillip & Kathleen Goerner
BRW Architects
Brian & Nanette Baker
Stephan & Sara Perry
Crossfit 1836
Charles & Stacey Higginbotham
Steve & Tammy Dietrich
The Dietrich Family
Clinton & Jennifer Richey
Theresa Head
Fish Tales Kingwood
Connie Chandler
Tim & Christy Duncan
Hallmark Technologies
Dale Lutz
Planning CommiƩee
Johnny’s Pizzeria
Dave & Jennifer Bohner
Angela Mahmood
Minuteman Press
Don & Courtney Pearce
Catherine Hall
The Mudpie Company
Glenda Borne
Jennifer Bohner
Northshore Medical Supply
Jeff & Christina Nieland
Kathleen Goerner
Pines Board of Directors
Jeff & Regina Choyce
Linda Harris
Richey Insurance Agency
Jim & Sarah Berry
Tammy Dietrich
South Coast Terminals
Joan Schnepp
Tina Thibodeaux
Talos Energy LLC
Joe & Karen Wadsworth
Twice the Ice
Joe & Nora Dunleavy
Family Sponsors
John Arthur
Ali Athar & Fariha Ashan
Len Kluft & Yvonne Catala
Angela & Shahid Mahmood
Margaret Fraissinet Meredith Sharp
Save the Date… 6th Annual Snowball Run Saturday, December 5, 2015 @ 9:00 am Visit PinesMontessori.com/Events for more information
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Giving Fund Brian & Nanne e Baker Equip TX Gary & Chris na Spears Jim & Sarah Berry Joyce Webb Jus n & Jennifer Ma hews Kevin & Kim Murphy Kelly & Pa y Borders Mark & Valerie Wanner Ryan & Lindi Kudlacek Stacy & Charles Higginbotham Tim & Christy Duncan
*We hope every donor has been included on these pages, but if you were inadvertently le off the list, please know how much you are appreciated.
23rd Annual Spring Gala “Flora & Fauna”
A Big Thank You!
Maria Pham Adams Tea Shop Mathnasium Allegro School of Music Ma and Kathleen Veley Amaryllis Floral Design Mike Stock & Dr. Jennifer Browning Antonio Armstrong Minuteman Press Atascocita Dental, Dr. Gary White The Mud Pie Company Baby’s 1st Furniture The Nail Spot Becker Vinyards Nhan Nguyen Photography Beau & Catherine Hall Pirates Cove Car Wash Ben and Susan Awalt Rebecca & Bud Hall Bill’s Cafe Rebecca Steinberger Bone Spirits Redneck Country Club Central Market Rick and Pa y Sobelman Chris an Brothers Car Care Rowland Ballards Clinton & Jennifer Richey Sacred Emo ons Photography Conservatory Day Spa Sco and Joy Fields Cordua Restaurants Shine on Tanning Crossfit 1836 Showbiz Cinemas David and Jennifer Bohner Silverlight Photography David Hyde Skeeters Mesquite Grill Denise Cowan Photography South Texas Flyboard Don Knight Spectrum of Hope Dosey Doe Steve & Tammy Dietrich Doug & Carol Greve Steve Sobelman Dr. George & Melody Nunez Theresa Head Dynamic Cheer Tim & Christy Duncan Eastex Rentals Timeless Barn Emily Hall (doTerra oils) Walden Country Club Fireheart Photography Wildca er Ranch Gold’s Gym Which Wich Golf Advantage School Zachary’s Cajun Café Greenling.com Hope Sarver Thank you to all the participants of the Gala The Houston Zoo Committee; the amazing team of decorators, Hun ngton Learning Center coordinators, and volunteers that made this Jamberry Nail Design year’s Gala a night to remember. It could not Jeff and Catherine Waters have been done with out your help! Jeff and Regina Choyce Joan Schnepp & Theresa Head Joe Goerner Joe and Karen Wadsworth Joy Fields Kimberly Rehmeyer (Bidinger) Kingwood Country Club Kingwood Skin Essen als La Tore a Lake Resort & Spa Lassiter Graphic Architecture Len Klu & Yvonne Catala Libby Egan Lone Star College Magnolia Hotel Mann Eye Clinic—Dr. Amanda Hunt
Gala Underwriters Monarch Beau & Catherine Hall Joan Schnepp & Theresa Head Monarch Jeff & Chris na Nieland Steve & Tammy Dietrich Texan Crescent Dr. George & Melody Nunez Jeff & Regina Choyce Michael & Amanda Snowden Paul & Schura Normand Tim & Christy Duncan Miami Blue David & Jennifer Bohner Mike Stock & Dr. Jennifer Browning Pros Revenue AdverƟsers Fireheart Photography Gap Plumbing George Poe Band Maegan Simmons with Scentsy Minute Man Press Humble Night Light Pediatric Urgent Care Richey Insurance Spectrum of Hope
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Pines Montessori School 3535 Cedar Knolls Drive Kingwood, Texas 77339 (281) 358-8933 PinesMontessori.com
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