2014-2015 Annual Report - Penn

PENN–MONT Academy
Annual Report
2014-2015
Penn-Mont Academy
131 Holliday Hills Drive
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
814-696-8801
Penn State Altoona
Child Development Center
Cypress Building
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
pennmontacademy.com
info@pennmontacademy.com
A Letter from our Head of School
M
Dear Friends and Families,
aria Montessori observed that the child’s work, his mission if you will, is to create
himself as he moves forward toward life. Here at Penn-Mont Academy, we too are
moving forward with our mission, evolving and growing in our efforts to provide excellence in
Montessori education for our students. Last year, 272 toddlers through elementary children
had the opportunity to joyously grow and learn lessons for life in beautiful, safe, and nurturing classrooms led by a caring and
committed staff. This record breaking enrollment is a result of a strong retention of current students coupled with growing
recognition in our community of the value of a private-school education.This past year, our students came from 13 school
districts across 4 counties representing a truly diverse population.
Strong leadership makes a big difference at an independent private school. Our school’s leaders have dedicated themselves
to meeting challenges and helping the school constantly improve. Some accomplishments this year have been relatively
invisible, yet they have the power to make a big difference in the future of Penn-Mont Academy. The Board of Directors made
a commitment to the following areas of growth this year:
• Montessori Professional Development: The school financially supported Montessori Teacher Training for
4 teachers, sent 15 staff to the American Montessori Society Conference, and provided on-site AMS
webinars to help all staff grow in their ability to deliver an authentic Montessori curriculum.
• Development: The hiring of a Director of Development in January moved the school forward in its ability to secure the needed resources to achieve short and long-term goals consistent with the school’s mission.
• Staff Compensation: A special task force of the board surveyed staff and researched salary and benefit
packages. The first phase of a strategic plan to improve compensation for our highly-trained and dedicated
Montessori teachers and staff members was implemented in 2015-16 contracts. • Scholarship support: Penn-Mont actively solicited business contributions through the EITC program which
assisted 47 families last year.
The most significant areas of growth and improvement are in areas that directly benefit the child.
• Toddler program: A 5-day option was added to all of our classrooms allowing us to serve 35 toddlers in half-day, full-day, and all-day programs.
• Outdoor Classroom: Our new nature environment allowed children to “Learn, Play, and Grow – Naturally” in ways that research shows bring significant benefits.
• Summer programs: These were expanded to include elementary children, providing meaningful learning and
physical activity utilizing the new outdoor space.
• Partners: Penn-Mont partnered with many local university and community groups to enrich and extend
our programs.
• Community involvement: Students had many unique experiences, as learning moved out beyond the walls of
the school, and staff participated in educational events that benefitted the local community.
• Penn State Altoona Child Development Center: Penn-Mont worked closely with the University to provide unique educational experiences.
I am very proud to be a part of Penn-Mont Academy and our collective efforts to bring a Montessori education and all of its
known benefits to so many. Our students grow before our eyes into independent learners who become the caring, innovative
adults that we need for the future. It is no secret that for 55 years Penn-Mont has graduated students who are not only
academically prepared but motivated, self-directed, and socially responsible. We are proud of our alumni as they move out
into the greater community with a strong foundation for life, and we feel privileged to be a part of their development.
Warmly, Mary Zajac / Head-of-School
Our Classroom at Penn State Altoona
The Child Development Center operated by Penn-Mont Academy is, in
the words of Chancellor Lori Bechtel-Wherry, “a source of pride for Penn
State Altoona.”
In a recent article Dr. Bechtel-Wherry described the Center as her proudest accomplishment during her past ten-year tenure with the University.
We at Penn-Mont are equally proud of this program that just completed
its fifth year of operation. Located in the Cypress Building on Campus, the
program provides a beautiful learning environment offering Montessori
education to preschool age children.
The satellite program offers many enriching, learning opportunities
afforded by its unique location and connection to the University.
As you will see, the children were truly immersed in the
university community throughout the school year. They
participated in many activities including: a diversity and
cultural awareness series providing an opportunity to
experience African, Indian, Native American, and Central
American dancing and story-telling; the African American
Read-In; walks to the art gallery for exhibition openings,
meeting with the artists, and learning more about various
mediums; a music class for kindergarten students, led by
the Penn State Altoona education students; Agricultural
Day held on the campus; and, regular walks around campus, even visiting the class tree where they did numerous
observations during all seasons of the year. Comes t
o Life
Learn, Play, Grow—Naturally!
A
Outdoor Educational Classroom Ribbon Cutting
dream came true when
students, staff, and other
members of the Penn-Mont Academy
community celebrated the opening
of the school’s Outdoor Classroom
last September with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony. Speakers Mary Zajac, Head
of School, Sean McLanahan, Board President, and others,
shared their enthusiasm for the opportunities this new outdoor
learning space will bring Penn-Mont’s students. Donors are recognized on the major donor wall in the school lobby as well as on the
beautiful new mural created by local artist and Penn-Mont friend
Joe Servello. The 2.5 acre Outdoor Classroom features an education
pavilion, several learning circles, a large kite field with surrounding
walking track, exercise areas and more, all connected by a series of
“I Wonder” nature trails. Throughout the year this setting gave children the opportunity
to have hands on lessons that made the curriculum come
alive in this authentic learning environment. Botany, biology
and environmental studies in the classroom were connected
to opportunities to observe and apply knowledge to the real
world.
Art lessons included opportunities to draw from nature and to
collect and build sculptures from natural materials.
Walks on the nature trails provided physical activity as well
as exercise using the balance beams and other natural
“equipment”.
Annual school traditions such as Harvestfest were enhanced
in this natural setting creating expanded opportunities for
seasonal activities such as pumpkin bowling, leaf necklaces and
seed creations.
This summer raised beds for gardening were installed and
have been utilized by summer camp participants. Future plans
include a peace garden, labyrinth and natural amphitheater.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM education integrates concepts that
are usually taught as separate subjects, and emphasizes the application of knowledge to real-life situations.
A lesson is typically based around finding a solution to a real-world problem and tends to emphasize
project-based learning. Sound like Montessori? It is.
Research studies show that Montessori schools do more than most
when it comes to STEM. In particular, Montessori preschools are actually doing more STEM, better, than most other educational environments.
At Penn-Mont we are proud of our integrated curriculum that develops
strong science and math skills for our students of all ages.
Community and University Partnerships Enhance
Science Programs at Penn-Mont
Beth Garner, an environmental education specialist with PA’s Department for Conservation and Natural Resources, visited Penn-Mont’s
Outdoor Classroom to teach how animals compete for available
resources.
Dr. Pedro Muino, professor of Physical Science at Saint Francis
University, brought his college chemistry majors throughout the year
to engage elementary students in hands-on experiments using the
scientific method to explore topics such as thermodynamics, solubility,
and the properties of heat.
Dr. Justin Merry, Associate Professor of Biology at Saint Francis
University, visited the preschool and elementary summer programs to lead their study of birds in the natural environment.
Scientist, writer, researcher, and inventor, Dr. Harry Kloor
spoke about the role of technology in our lives. He encouraged
students to be creative thinkers, problem solvers and innovators
in an ever-changing world.
Dr. Richard Flarend, associate professor of Physics at Penn
State Altoona, guided upper elementary students in building
and launching their own simple rockets, compiling data,
graphing results, and predicting the length of future
flights.
Elementary Science teacher, Mrs. Kathy Moran, worked
with upper elementary students on many topics throughout the year as they explored the Outdoor Classroom and
learned how they could become stewards to the school’s
new natural environment. Our students participated in five Math Olympiad
contests throughout the year. Math Olympiad is an
international math problem solving contest to stimulate
enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics. STEM and
Montessori
L
Development Notes
ast January, Penn-Mont welcomed April Sherry, to our administrative
team as Director of Development. With April in this role, heightened efforts
have focused on a strategic plan for development, increasing revenue streams,
marketing and communications plans, and building alumni and community
relationships. Behind the scenes, several functional components have been added
or enhanced including: a formal database to capture and retain alumni/constituent/
donor related gifts and information, an email system identifiable as Penn-Mont
Academy, the messaging alert system “One Call Now” that will provide information
and priority messages to our parents and Penn-Mont community, a website redesign,
and the IT upgrades needed to make all this happen.
Fundraising recap: The 2014-15 fiscal year realized an overall increase in regular
annual giving: $66,147 to $80,947 or a 22% increase. [Annual Giving $51,135;
Basket Bingo $14,889; and All School Fundraisers (hoagies, pies, magazines, Box Tops,
Martin’s A+, Target, etc.) $14,923.] Thank you to the many parents, teachers and
volunteers who assisted with our efforts!
What can you expect next year? Expect that we will be calling upon our entire Penn-Mont family to join in philanthropic
support for our wonderful school. To paraphrase an old saying, “it takes an entire community to raise a child,” well, we need
our entire Penn-Mont community to reach out in support of all the important initiatives planned for our students. The
desired outcome of development efforts is two-fold; 1) keep tuition costs as affordable as possible, and 2) provide a highquality, one-of-a-kind educational program for children and families in our community.
Income
Be on the lookout for: 1) Our annual fall Harvestfest will evolve to support
$14,487.10
$1,614,869.50
$89,061.00
1%
our Learn, Play, Grow-Naturally project, adding fun elements for the family
and
5%
finding ways to draw community support. 2) The annual fund will take on a
formal name —The Penn-Mont Fund— and appeal to all segments of our PennMont family. 3) Penn-Mont Academy and New Pig Corporation, as Presenting
& Fees
Sponsor, are proud to announce a new social event, “Celebrating the Heart of Penn-Mont, Cocktails & Culture.”Tuition
The event
will make the scene next spring, led by co-chairs Annie Stapelfeld and Claudia Montero. The event will provide Fundraising
an evening
Other
of grand celebration, fun and fundraising. Mark your calendars and plan to join us Saturday evening, April 30, 2016.
And, 4)
$1,511,321.40
alumni relation efforts will be a priority with establishment of a formal alumni95%
networking group to reconnect and engage
our alumni, friends and dedicated supporters.
2014-2015 Financial Overview $89,061.00
5%
$14,487.10
1%
Income
$1,614,869.50
$105,240.00
7%
$13,250.87
1%
Expenses
$1,624,345.44
Instructional Support
Tuition & Fees
$409,889.97
25%
Operations &
Management
Fundraising
Depreciation &
Amortization
Other
$1,511,321.40
95%
$1,095,964.60
67%
Fundraising
The Penn-Mont Fund The Penn-Mont Fund is a top fundraising priority. As with most independent schools, we rely on these unrestricted
contributions to provide the critical resources needed to cover the cost of operating our school. All gifts to the Penn-Mont
Fund have an immediate and enormous impact on our ability to enhance our standard of excellence. Your gift fuels the
success of the school and allows us to allocate resources where they are needed most.
Penn-Mont parents and alumni know firsthand the transformative benefits of a Montessori education. Consider sharing
that gift with others. Those who financially support Penn-Mont uphold the spirit of philanthropy that has sustained our
school since its founding. Donations to the Penn-Mont Fund can be made online, by phone, or by check. It’s quite possible
that your workplace will match your gift. Imagine…doubling your gift with one easy ask!
$ Raised
$45,000
$30,000
134
Donors
$34,739
101
Donors
132
Donors
150
$51,135
100
$38,031
50
$15,000
$0
# Donors
Penn-Mont Fund 3 yr History
$60,000
During the 2014-15 fiscal year, your gifts to the
Penn-Mont Fund raised over $51,000 to support
the mission of the school. This represents a 35%
increase in $ raised over the previous year. Let’s
each challenge ourselves to make a gift to the
Penn-Mont Fund during 2015-2016. Thank you
for your generous support!
0
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) provides
a way for the business community to be involved with education
by directing their tax liability dollars to a school of their choice.
Contributions provide financial aid to families of current students.
Contact our Development Office to learn how your business can
participate.
Funds Dispersed Fall 2014
# of Participating Businesses
17
$ Donated:$145,204
# of Families Receiving Aid
47 or 20% of our students
Director of Development, April Sherry
presents a certificate of appreciation to
Dr. Lance DeFrancisco of Allegheny
Regional Endoscopy.
Current EITC 2014-15 (To Be Dispersed in Fall 2015)
# of Participating Businesses
18
$ Donated:$153,555
# of Families Receiving Aid
44 or 20% of our students
Penn-Mont is very grateful for the time and energy that businesses take with their financial planning so as to provide these funds
to our school. This year, Penn-Mont presented each business with
a very special certificate of appreciation.
ThankYou
Thank you to the following businesses:
Allegheny Regional Endoscopy
Northwest Savings Bank
The Bravo Foundation
Okonak Ciocca & Lechner, P.C.
First Commonwealth Bank
Penn-Oaks Services, LLC
First National Bank of PA
Pretzel Place
The Hite Company
Rockland Manufacturing
Luther Development, LP
S&T Bank
M&T Bank
Seltzer Financial Strategies, LLC
McLanahan Corporation
TDS Foods, Inc.
The Music Emporium
UPMC
2 0 1 4 - 2015
DONOR
LISTING
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
Annual Fund
Penn-Mont Founders Circle
Gifts of $2000 and up
Steve & Patti Bickley
Joe & Betsy Lehman
Mr. G. Robert Sheetz
Lou & Holly Sheetz
Stanton Sheetz
Andy & Christine Tyndall
Chantel Ventura-Garofalo
Dr. John & Susan Waibel
Penn-Mont Association
Gifts of $1000-$1999
Naveed & Abeeda Arshad
Jody Christen & Michael Dinger
Chad & Jackie Clouser
Rick & Paulette Cornet
The Faber Family
Nancy & Andrew Gurman
Ziad & Nada Khoury
Sean & Diane McLanahan
Amy Seltzer
Ryan & Julie Sheetz
Clark & Annie Stapelfeld
Gerald & Aline Wolf
Penn-Mont Golden Bead
Gifts of $500-$999
The Brouse Family
Cooney Family Trust
Mr. and Mrs. R. Lee Hite
Horace & Petra McAnuff
McLanahan Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. McLanahan
Bill & Judy Ward
Mary & Tom Zajac
Penn-Mont Hundred Board
Gifts of $200-$499
Don & Sharon Beckstead
Rita & Thomas Brouse
Rakesh & Meera Chopra
Andrea & Michael Cohen
Tomislav & Lauren Deur
Philip & Colleen Devorris
Dick’s Homecare
Brad & Stephanie Doliveira
The Jabbour Family
Mark & Rachel Gingrich
John & Donna Gority
Elisabeth W. Hopkins
Cora Jones
John F. Knepp
Melanie Walton Lee
Sam & Jackie Long
Edward & Jane Maruca
Pedro Muiño & Penny O’Connor
The Okonak Family
David & Daphne Ollman
Mark & Fiona Pearson
William & Laverne Penn
Law Offices of Joel Peppetti
Dennis & Jan Seffernick
Irving & Judith Seltzer
Steve Seltzer
The Siglin Family
Erich & Barbara Sokolower
Barbara Tyndall
Charles & Betty Whitfield
Joel Wilkinson
Penn-Mont Pink Tower Gifts up to $199
Emily K. W. Adams
Sharon Horn Adams
David & Jan Andrews
Vic & Patti Ashland
Scott & Gina Atwell
Walt & Jeanie Bagley
Eric, Karen & Justin Biddle
John Bruning
Eric Daum & Carrie Freie
Leonard & Deborah Daum
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Devorris
John & Charlotte Eichelberger
Bruce & Cathy Erb
George & Mona Ferris
Diane & Jerry Galanti
Edmundo & Elena Grab
Les & Linda Hart
Michelle Hartye
Tom & Susie Haught
Bill & Linda Hollobaugh
The Horetsky Family
Neil & Lois Kaneshiki
Jeremy & Nancy Klapper
Carole Korngold
Cindy Lamont
Adam & Elizabeth Lardieri
The Lawhead Family
P. Joseph Lehman
Karl & Jutta Lorensen
Mr. and Mrs. David Loth
Gail Maatman
John & Joyce Maguda
Mr. and Mrs. Randy & Patty Manning
George & Amy Mitchell
Vince & Diane Morgan
Pat & Lisa Myers
Jack O’Connor
Brent Ottaway
Dr. & Mrs. Ben Pazcoguin
Allan & Cindy Rabold
Mary Anne Rawlings
Julia Hudson-Richards & Dylan Richards
Randy & Debra Romani
Therese Schneider
Alex & Lisa Seltzer
Joe Servello
Lee Peterson & Steve Sherrill
Stephen & April Sherry
Mandi & Jerry Singer
Maureen C. Smithe
Rebecca Strzelec & Adam Vorlicek
Frances Sweatman
Evelyn & Summer Tang
Judy Thaler
Floris & Lloyd Van Horn
Faber & Joyce Weakland
Thomas Weimer
Bill & Dee Wolf
Dennis & Diane Zink
Restricted Gifts
The Tyndall Family
Grants
Wolf-Kuhn Foundation
Brick Campaign
Scott & Gina Atwell
Steve & Patti Bickley
The Brouse Family
Rita & Tom Brouse
Michael & Wendy Cannarsa
Rakesh & Meera Chopra
Tim & Grace Clarke
Tomislav & Lauren Deur
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Devorris
Phillip & Colleen Devorris
Charlene Dodson
John & Charlotte Eichelberger
The Faber Family
Mehrdad Ghaffari & Haleh Haerian
Nancy & Andrew Gurman
Mr. and Mrs. R. Lee Hite
The Horetsky Family
Heather & Derek Jones
Penn Oaks Services-Ed Kaplan
Drs. David & Sheela Kerstetter
Joe & Betsy Lehman
Robert Lingenfelter
Sam & Jackie Long
Ken & Rebecca Maguda
Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. McLanahan
Sean & Diane McLanahan
Brandon & Jessica Mills
Pedro Muino & Penny O’Connor
Pat & Lisa Myers and Family
The Okonak Family
David & Daphne Ollman
Mark & Fiona Pearson
Penn-Mont Staff
Betty Ritchey
Mary Ann Salyards
Tom & Gretchen Schneider
Kevin & Tracy Sensenig
Amy Seltzer
Steve Seltzer
Shaun & Khara Sheehan
Ryan & Julie Sheetz
Jarrett & Lauren Sidney
Gang Tang & Ying Li
Jonathan & Barbara Thaler
Andy & Christine Tyndall
Chantel Ventura-Garofalo
John & Susan Waibel
Michael Waibel
Melanie Walton Lee
Ward Transport
Dan Wasney
Hayden & Tiffany Weber
Mary & Tom Zajac
Basket Bingo
A Body Mind Connection
Advanced Vein Care
Allegheny Pain Management
Allegheny Street Coffee Company
Altoona Curve
Altoona Family Dentistry
Altoona Grand Hotel
Amar Fine Jewelry
Appalachian Coffee Roasters
Barnes Chiropractic
Beerbower Jewelers
The Bickley Family
Black’s Home Sales
Blair Companies
The Bouchard Family
Brew Zoo
The Brouse Family
Wendy & Michael Cannarsa
Cardiology Assoc. of Altoona, LLP
R.K. Chopra, M.D. Pediatrics
Chuck E. Cheese
Michael & Andrea Cohen
Cohen Law Offices
Curo Health Services
Curry Supply
The Degol Organization
DelGrosso’s Amusement Park
Dr. Lauren Deur
Philip & Colleen Devorris
Dick’s Homecare
D’Lites
doTerra Consultant, Holly Sottile
DQ Grill & Chill
Kathy Draskoczy
Eclips Salon & Spa
Steve, Brenda & Alex Fix
Jessica Foley
Dr. and Mrs. James Garofalo
General Cable
Geomatics Solutions
The Gergely Family
Ieva Grimm
Happy Tails
The Higgins Family
Hollidaysburg Auto Parts, Inc.
Hollidaysburg YMCA
Hometown Market
Hoss’s
Imler’s Poultry
It Works: Wraps by Erin Marie
Jazzercise
Ziad & Nada Khoury
Lake Raystown Resort
Lakemont Park
P.Joseph Lehman Inc. Consulting Engineers
Lena’s Café
The Lieb Family
Linda Shuma’s “Special Treatments” Day Spa
The Lutz Family
Gail Maatman
M&T Bank
Martin’s Grocery
Mary Kay Consultant, Sarah Mowry
Matilda Jane Trunk Keeper, Kelly Adams
McCabe’s Custom Leather
McCabe’s Custom Nutrition (AdvoCare)
McDonald’s
McQuaide Blasko, Inc.
Meadow’s
Dr. and Mrs. Frank Meloy
Nails by Trena
New Pig Corporation
Olive Garden-Altoona & State College
OzzVen, LLC
Robby & Andrea Okonak
The Pearson Family
Atty. and Mrs. Joel Peppetti
Perfectly Posh Consultant, Dawn Hoover
Planet Fitness
ProCare Therapy & Fitness
Radiance Day Spa
The Ritchey Family
The Rutherford Family
The Schneider Family
The Schutt Family
Seltzer Financial Strategies, LLC
SHAG!
Sheetz, Inc.
April Sherry
Slinky Action Zone
Rebecca Smith
S.P. McCarl & Company, Inc.
Clark & Annie Stapelfeld
South Beach
Subway-Hollidaysburg
Tame Your Mane
Tea Merchant 101
The Tyndall Family
The Summit Tennis & Athletic Club
The Van Horn Family
Chantel Ventura-Garofalo
The Ventura Family
Dr. and Mrs. John Waibel
Wendt’s Florist
Wild Tree Consultant, Diane Zink
Mary Zajac
Memorial Gifts
Debbie Ferris
Michelle Hartye
Joe & Betsy Lehman
Gifts in Kind
The Azad Family
Karen Beerbower
Susan Boston
The Clarke Family
The Faber Family
The Gergely Family
Michelle Hartye
The Higgins Family
Ed Kaplan & Marianne Shaw
Ziad & Nada Khoury
Lehman Engineers
Paula Johnson
Eric & Stephanie Lieb
Gail Maatman
The McLanahan Family
Brandon & Jessica Mills
The Pearson Family
The Rhyne Family
The Steinbugl Family
Denise Stoneberg
TNT Graphics
Mary Truesdale
Kristi Ventura
Sharon Weyandt
Thank you to our Learn, Play, Grow - Naturally! campaign major gift donors.
Looking Ahead to 2015-2016
The Montessori Professional
Development Fund and the
Gerald P. and Aline D. Wolf
“Heart of Penn-Mont” Distinction
The Montessori Professional Development
Fund is being established by Penn-Mont Academy in an effort to provide scholarship opportunities for current and future Penn-Mont teachers desiring to further their Montessori Training
and Professional Development. In an effort to
secure and perpetuate resources for this fund,
Penn-Mont is initiating the Gerald P. and Aline
D. Wolf “Heart of Penn-Mont”
Honoree. This distinction is so
named in honor of our founders, leaders, supporters and
innovators, Gerald and Aline
Wolf. Each year, Penn-Mont
will honor an individual considered a true champion of
our school by virtue of their
leadership, dedication
or philanthropic efforts.
Penn-Mont is organizing
a committee to lead
this process and effort.
We are delighted to announce that the inaugural honoree is Michelle Hartye, long-time
Head of School, true Montessori educator and
engaged community leader. Michelle’s decision
early in her career to become a Montessori
teacher and administrator came at the encouragement and support of the Wolfs. It has
always been Michelle’s vision that the same
professional development opportunities be afforded to other dedicated Penn-Mont Academy
teachers and professionals. This vision ignited
the inspiration behind establishing the Montessori Professional Development Fund. Please
join us in congratulating Michelle! A formal
campaign soliciting donations to the Professional Development Fund, in her honor,
is forthcoming. Penn-Mont will present
Michelle as the Gerald P. and Aline D. Wolf
“Heart of Penn-Mont” Honoree during a
reception next spring.
Artist in Residence Program
Penn-Mont will host two Artists-in-Residence from the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA), Tom McCarty and Terry
Johnson. The program is designed to nurture mutual involvement
in the creative process between artists and students. Tom is a
sculptor from Lily, PA and incorporates the natural beauty and
design of wood into his artistic statement. Students will design,
create and carve their projects. Terry is a mosaic artist from
Lemont, PA, and will teach the art of tile making, working with
students to experiment and create individual and group projects.
Each artist will spend 20 days with our students. The school will
host a “Meet the Artist” assembly for students and their families.
Tom will join us in the fall and Terry in early spring. Penn-Mont
received a grant from the Central Pennsylvania Community
Foundation (CPCF), as well as a program subsidy from SAMA to
help cover a portion of the costs associated with bringing in the
artists and materials needed. If you are interested in helping to
support this program, you may restrict a gift to Penn-Mont for
this purpose. With the subsidy and grants, we still need $1500 to
fully cover our costs.
Elementary Alumni Graduating Class of 2009
When Penn-Mont’s Elementary Alumni graduate from high school, we celebrate that time with them by inviting
them back to the school for a very special alumni reception. On April 26th, many of the sixteen 2009 elementary
graduates returned to reminisce, share fond Penn-Mont memories, and visit with classmates, faculty and staff. As
you might expect, post graduate plans are impressive. This Fall, Penn-Mont Alumni will be attending: George Washington University, NYU, Penn State, Kent State, UCLA, Kutztown, Haverford and California University of PA.
Congrat
ulations
L-R: Back Row: Rachel McKinney, Katarina Parowski, Max Devorris, Greg Morgan (in the picture being held), Brandon Gergley,
Makayla Baron, Kate VanHorn, Front Row: Mia Russo, Nicholle Ventura, Clarissa Budd, Hannah Boston, Taylor Stewart.
6th Grade Graduating Class of 2015
On May 27th, Penn-Mont made history graduating its largest
elementary class to date! Twenty-two graduates were recognized
in a ceremony at Penn State Altoona’s Misciagna Center thanks to our University host. The Alumni speaker
was Arianna DeReus who has worked extensively in
support of global causes since graduating from PennMont. We are proud of each talented member of this
year’s class for their achievements and the positive
impact they have had on our school and community.
L-R: Back Row: Matthew Khoury, Lydia Lieb, Nodoka
Masamune, Madison McLanahan, Paige Miller, Isabela
Montero Pequignot, Elizabeth Pearson, Lillian Rhyne,
Andrew Schneider, Ashley Steinbugl, Riley Steinbugl, Blaise
Ventura. Front Row: Sabrina Azad, Nadia Boston, Elijah
Bundy, Aragorn Clarke, Tyler Faber, Chadric Flarend, Brielle
Gergley, Joshua Higgins, Brian Johnson, Derek Kaplan
Kindergarten End of Year Program
Thirty-six Penn-Mont Academy Kindergarten students, from both the Hollidaysburg site and the Penn State Altoona
Child Development Center, joined together on May 28th for the traditional year-end program under the direction of
Mary Truesdale, Preschool Music Director. The program was presented to a packed audience of parents, grandparents, friends and community members at the beautiful Penn State Altoona Misciagna Center.
PENN–MONT Academy
131 Holliday Hills Drive
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
814-696-8801
info@pennmontacademy.com
pennmontacademy.com
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 26
ALTOONA, PA
Mission and Beliefs Statement
Penn-Mont Academy is a non-profit, non-sectarian Montessori
Community that nurtures the unique gifts in each child and educates the
whole child by fostering independence, cooperation, service to others, selfesteem and a love of learning.
Penn-Mont Academy is dedicated to achieving academic excellence
through the Montessori method of education. Beginning with the early
years as the most important for cultivating a lifelong love of learning, we
provide a beautiful Montessori environment where children can experience
the joy of learning according to their individual periods
of interest.
Our concern is for the whole child’s physical, emotional, intellectual and
spiritual development. We strive to particularly nourish the unique gifts
in each child by developing a positive self-image coupled with respect for
others. To implement Montessori’s global view of education, we teach
service to others, care of the environment and appreciation of the arts and
traditions of all cultures.
We pledge to provide fully certified Montessori staff for each level of
education that we offer and to encourage the parents of our students to
relate to their children in a manner consistent with
Montessori principles.
Penn-Mont Academy Board of Directors
2015-2016
Sean McLanahan, President
Pedro Muíno, Vice President
Nancy Gurman, Secretary
Bryan Horetsky, Treasurer
Elizabeth Benjamin, Katie Brouse,
Dr. Sabesan Karuppiah, P. Joseph Lehman, Jr.,
Jutta Lorensen, Brent Ottaway, Mark Pearson,
Mark Ritchey, Annie Stapelfeld,
Christine Tyndall, Debra Yeskey,
Gerald & Aline Wolf (Emeritus)