LETS GROW

1
Montessori School of Casper

• LETS GROW
• 9/28/08

2
Introduction

• We are a certified A.M.I1 private school
  operating under non-profit 501(c)(3) status,
  providing a quality environment for children
  between the ages of 3-6 years of age. The
  schools curriculum is based on the educational
  theories and methods originated and developed by
  Maria Montessori and her associates, and now
  continued under the Association Montessori
  Internationale.
• Our Mission is to provide a value-centered
  education based on Montessori principles and
  philosophies that foster a love for learning and
  prepares children to be productive students and
  citizens.

1Association Montessori Internationale
3
Introduction (Continued)

• Maria Montessori's pioneering achievement was to
  recognize the fundamental importance of a child's
  first six years of development. During this time
  a child's powers of absorption are at their
  highest, forming lifelong attitudes and patterns
  of learning.
• The Montessori Method we use focuses on reading,
  writing, sensory awareness and practical life
  skills that instill a sense of discovery in your
  child and serve as a foundation for future
  learning.

4
History

• We have been serving the local community for 35
  years.
• We were originally founded as a non-profit
  corporation under the name Meadowlark Montessori
  School in 1973.
• During this time we have served approximately 400
  families and 600 children.
• Our Director, a certified A.M.I Instructor, has
  been with the school for 26 years.

1Association Montessori Internationale
5
Our Challenges

• We have waiting lists of families that exceed our
  resources forcing us to turn away hopeful
  students every year.
• For example
• During the 08-09 school year space limitations
  necessitated that we turn away

6

• 19 Children

7

• Resulting in an immeasurable loss of unrealized
  potential in those children and a measurable loss
  of unrealized income to the school
• in the amount of.

8

• 79,800

9
Our Challenges (Continued)

• Typically we accept 7-11 new students per year
  depending on classroom vacancies.
• Our enrollment waiting list for
• 09-10 school year is currently at17 children.
• 10-11 school year is currently at 8 children.
• 11-12 school year is currently at 5 children.
• (enrollment list status as of 9/29/08)

10
Our Challenges (Continued)

• Due to space constraints and high demand during
  the 09-10 school year
• Without action we will not be able to honor
  priority to all siblings of existing students to
  allow children of the same household to receive
  the same education.

11
Our Challenges (Continued)

• Weve reached the maximum student capacity for
  our single primary classroom with few options to
  expand in our current building.
• If we drop our daycare program in 09-10 school
  year we could have room for a starter class of
  only 8 students. However, the following year we
  must move to allow the second year and third year
  additions of students to fill the new primary
  classroom.

12
Our Challenges (Continued)

• One of our classroom assistants, who has a long
  history with the school, first as a parent and
  now as a classroom assistant, has furthered her
  training to become a certified A.M.I Instructor.
• Having a second certified A.M.I Instructor
  provides us with an opportunity to add an
  additional primary classroom if space were not a
  constraint.
• The urban blight area that we are currently
  located in requires that we usher children into
  the building under school lockdown on a routine
  and regular basis due to happenings in the
  neighborhood such as warrants for search and
  seizure, drug arrests, etc.

13
Impact to the community

• It is estimated that the Natrona County
  population is expected to grow by 20,000 in the
  next two decades.
• All services industries will need to be prepared
  to accommodate this influx, including our school,
  which is presently unable to meet current demand.

14
Our Short-term Vision

• Step 1(09-10 school year) Accommodate the
  waiting list by dropping the daycare program for
  a starter classroom of 8 at our existing
  facility.
• Step 2 (10-11 school year) Find, procure,
  remodel and move to a temporary facility before
  the 10-11 school year begins to allowing us to
  fill the second primary classroom in the second
  and third year. Meanwhile continuing our new
  building campaign raising funds for our ideal
  building.
• Step 3 (5-10 years out) Conclude our building
  campaign after raising enough money to facilitate
  several acres of land and build a sizable new
  building.

15
Our Long-term Vision
This new facility would ideally sit on 7-10 acres
of land
Multi-purpose Room 1150 SF
Daycare/Classroom 3 1450 SF
Library 275 SF
Classroom 2 1800 SF
Classroom 1 1800 SF
Conservatory/Lunch Area 850 SF
16
Our Long-term Vision (Continued)

• Accommodate every family interested in a
  Montessori approach to education in an up to date
  new construction facility that provides the
  flexibility required to meet our growth.
• We are committed to building the most
  environmentally-friendly school. 
• We are researching the feasibility of
  incorporating "green" building into our design
  and construction.
• A new facility would give us the flexibility to
  add an elementary program should we establish 3
  full classrooms and the sustainability of an
  elementary program be justified with a sound
  business case.

17
The Help We Need

•  Monetary Donations.
• Visit our Online Donations Page at
  www.montessoriofcasper.com
• Make a one-time donation
• Set a payment schedule
• Donate in honor of someone else
• Direct Deposit/Bank Draft We welcome monthly
  direct deposits of all amounts. Simply select the
  amount you would like to give each month and the
  length of the commitment, and we set up the bank
  draft for you.
• Donations can also be mailed into the office

18
The Help We Need

• Capital Campaigns.
• We currently are seeking contributors to fund our
  up front expenses relating to new building
  construction such as
•  Gifts in Kind.
• General We gratefully accept in-kind gifts and
  services.
• Champagne Chocolates Donate an item or service
  for auction at our annual Champagne Chocolates
  fundraiser.
• Building materials or construction industry
  discounts.
• Wish list items such as computer projector.

19
The Help We Need

• Planned Giving Many planned giving methods
  benefit the donor by reducing or eliminating
  income, gift, and estate taxes.
• Gift Appreciated Securities or Real Estate and
  benefit by
• Receiving a charitable income tax deduction
• Avoiding capital gains taxes
• Real estate not new school material? It may be
  able to be sold for proceeds.
• Gift business interests in a closely-held or
  family business
• Gift by will or living trust
• Gift by life insurance
• Set up bank accounts to be payable on death
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness
• Raise funds
• Grant seeking writing
• Attend and support our fundraisers

20
Credits

• Thank you to Keith Vlastos for donating his time
  and considerable skill to create the drawings and
  artist renditions of our dream school pictured
  throughout this presentation.