Soaring in the Past, Present and Future

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Soaring (Annual Report), November 2022

2021-2022 ANNUAL REPORT

LETTER FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

We are so excited to have welcomed many new and returning families back to GCS in what is our second full year in our beautifully renovated and expanded school building! It is definitely rewarding to be able to work inside such a remarkable facility, especially after more than 10 years in the making.

While we continue to be affected by COVID, we remain cautiously optimistic about the current path. Many opportunities have opened up for us as restrictions can be more relaxed. Children have full use of the beautiful new Library and can mingle with other classes during outside play and extended day sessions. Families and guests are welcome inside the building, and the expanded foyer and wider hallways allow for gathering and conversation with teachers and other adults. I know the entire GCS community is grateful for the additional social connection these changes provide for the children and their families.

We continue to put the finishing touches on the facility, including the recent installation of beautiful landscaping at the front of the school and the fenced in dismissal area. As part of the master plan for the school grounds, the Memory Garden was relocated, and child-sized picnic tables were added to the playscape. Projects slated for later this year include acoustical work, cabinetry, and a meandering brick walkway that families will be able to personalize.

Your support of the Annual Fund makes all of this happen. There is still more work to do to fully realize our dreams for Groton Community School. With friends like you, I know that we will achieve all the goals we have set to continually deliver an exceptional first school experience to the young children and families in our community. Without your friendship and generosity, we could not do what we do. Please know how grateful I am for each of you and your contributions that allow GCS to help children SOAR every day.

With Gratitude,
Linda Kosinski, Director
Groton Community School

 

HOW WE HELP CHILDREN SOAR

 

“To reach real peace in
the world, we will have to
begin with the children.”
– GANDHI

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

John Amaral, President
Debbie MacDonald, Vice President
Randy Barron, Treasurer
Betsy Kehoe, Clerk

Eric Bach
Tom Delaney
Rob Moore
Stephanie Morrison
David Moulton
Peter Myette
Natina Perrotti

Dan Barton, Honorary Member
Steve Webber, Honorary Member

Linda Kosinski, ex officio
Lisa Stafford, ex officio

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Laura Cummings, Co-President
Cindi Lane-Hand, Co-President
Colleen Neff, Treasurer
Caera Monahan, Secretary

Kaitlyn Brokaw, Fundraising
Beth Christoforo, Parent Representative
Kelly Lopez, Building & Grounds
Christina Sutherland, Parent Representative
Brianne Weider, Public Relations

Linda Kosinski, Director
Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director
Terri Martin, Full Day Coordinator and
Summer Camp Director

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Groton Community School has been serving young children in the community for more than 75 years
  • GCS Head Teachers hold degrees in a variety of disciplines, including Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Psychology, Brain Development, Music Education, and Growth & Development, to name a few
  • The GCS staff has a history of longevity, with experienced and highly educated teachers who combined have over 250 years’ experience teaching at Groton Community School ALONE

The cornerstone of every successful early childhood school is the teaching staff!! Your gift to the GCS Annual Fund helps to ensure that we can continue to recruit and retain high quality educators so that every child who comes through the GCS doors has an exceptional first school experience.

“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of
learners, and the love of bringing the first two together”
– SCOTT HAYDEN

FINANCIALS | 2021-2022

DIGITAL LITERACY AT GCS

We are so grateful for your support of our 2021-22 GCS Annual Fund! Donations this year were focused on upgrading and introducing new technology in classrooms and throughout GCS, to the benefit of children, families, and staff. Each classroom now has a large, wall-mounted screen for mirroring activities from their classroom iPads.

In addition, we have also added large interactive panels in our GCS Library, Staff Room, and Big Room which are essentially computers in and of themselves, with touch capability for teachers and children to engage in a variety of online activities, educational games, whiteboard experiences, Zoom opportunities to connect with others, and more! We have a training in the works for our October Curriculum Day to more fully utilize these tools for experiences with children, and also for collaboration among staff, families, our Board of Directors, and our Trustees.

Our philosophy is to introduce children to digital literacy activities, just as we do with reading and writing literacy activities.  Interactive flat panels, iPads and screens enable teachers to utilize technology to enhance and expand the curriculum in many areas. All technology activities and apps must be age appropriate, have educational value and be nonviolent, with a strong preference for activities that are interactive, collaborative, and self-paced.

“Technology will never
replace great teachers, but
in the hands of
great teachers, it’s
transformational”
– GEORGE COUROS

In addition to these technology improvements,  GCS has also earmarked Annual Fund contributions to the following goals:

• Library laptop for tracking our incredible collection of children’s books

• Staff laptop for portable family communication, lesson planning, curriculum research, assessment and children’s observation writing

• Essential and overdue upgrades to staff and administration hardware and software

GCS is always learning and growing together and your support is crucial to this endeavor!!

 

DONATIONS | BY GIFT CLUB

Groton Community School is tremendously grateful for the following individuals and corporations who supported the Annual Fund in 2021- 22. Your gifts help GCS children to soar!

* Have given to Annual Fund 5 consecutive years
† Members of the Adelaide Luca Giving Society

1930s CIRCLE $10,000+

Deborah and Scott MacDonald*†
David Moulton*†
Albert Stone*†

LEADERS $5,000+

Steven and Jennifer Stone*†

PARTNERS $2500+

Randy and Kathleen Barron*†
David and Pamela Stone*†

ASSOCIATES $1000+

John and Diane Amaral*†
Eric and Katie Bach †
Robert Collins †
Rick and Lindsay Guaraldi †
Miriam and Stephen Helfgott*†
Scott and Betsy Kehoe*†
Steve Lane †
Jon and Lorrie Morgan*†
Stephanie and Mark Morrison †
Ray Murphy and Beth Lindstrom †
Bryan and Natina Perrotti*†
Raj and Priya Palakkal*†

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $500+

Eric and Katie Bach
Tom and Jennifer Delaney
Tim and Rowe Luca*
Rob and Laura Moore*
Peter and Andrea Myette*
Kelly and David Rowe
Scott and Tamara Swain
Alfred and Kristen von Campe*
Mary B. Wills
The Karen and Dave Riggert Family Fund

BENEFACTOR’S CIRCLE $250+

Anonymous
The Abraham Family
William and Susan Ellerkamp
Karen Keogh
Anna MacDonald*
Jarred and Amanda Gagnon
Andrew and Jennifer Halloran
Laura and Monty Hankin
The Lane-Hand Family*
Linda J. Luca*
Geoff and Stacie Moeser*
Andrei Peters and Fay Raynor
Barton and Kaitlin Phinney
The Pudans/Collins Family
The Roberts Family
Jim and Liz Welch

RED & BLUE CIRCLE $100+

Anonymous
Sarah and James Belcher
Jonathan Blandford and Rosanna Yuen
Olivia Bouris
Thomas and Jean Brady

Scott and Kaitlyn Brokaw
Hao Cai and Jiayue Sun
John and Pat Cherkowski
The Crouse Family*
The Doherty Family
Mark and Deborah Driscoll
John Ellenberger and Patti Thompson
The Feingold Companies
Steve and Jennie Fitzkee*
Ray Ciemny and Wendy Frank
Joseph and Tracy Guth
Robert and Donna Halloran
Lee Muir Hamen and Mark S. Hamen*
The Hawes Family
Eric and Lori Healy
The Ingram-Hill Family
Kurt and Karen Johnson
Priyanki and Mihirraj Joshi
Linda Kosinski*
Cynthia Maxwell
Agnes McKinney
Chuck McKinney
Gabriel and Jacob Miller-Quinn
Mary and Ned Mitchell

Bill and Shelby Morris
Michael and Colleen Neff
The Novak Family
Paul and Inga Nuccio*
John and Janet O’Brien*
Catherine and Eric Pauly*
Ronald and Evann Peck
Bruce Tannenbaum and Juliana Perrissinotto
Susan Randazzo
The Resca Family
Lisa Stafford*
Virgil and Caitlin Vaillancourt
Joe Walch and Laura Cummings*
Clay and Sue Yost

FRIEND’S CIRCLE up to $99

Anonymous
Michael and Amanda Barry
Dan Courcy and Mandy Callahan
Beth and John Christoforo
Kate and Steve Engstrom
Michael and Carrie Eubank
Matt and Kate Ferriola*
Robert and Lindy Hanninen

Molly and Colin Igoe
Sandy and Dan Irvin
Josh Kosinski*
Ryan Kosinski*
Ben and Lisa Krywucki
The Maillet Family
Carol Ann Mandra
Cliff Maxwell
Miss Heidi E May
Jon and Caera Monahan
The O’Connell Family
Carlo Perrotti
Michael and Martha Resch*
Richard Fichera and Julie Rodwin
Jeff and Linda Rubens
Bonnie Stanton and David Quintin*
Michael and Christina Sutherland
Mrs. Jennifer Tramontozzi
Evan and Brianne Weider*
Meghan Zocchi
Bruce and Jolene Zukauskas

 

DONATIONS | BY AFFILIATIONS

* Denotes persons applicable to the designation

ALUMNI

Olivia Bouris
Josh Kosinski
Ryan Kosinski
Anna MacDonald
Carlo Perrotti
John Ellenberger and Patti Thompson
Mrs. Jennifer Tramontozzi

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Scott and Kaitlyn* Brokaw
Beth* and John Christoforo
Rick and Lindsay* Guaraldi
The Lane-Hand Family
Laura* and Monty Hankin
Jon and Caera* Monahan
Michael and Colleen* Neff
Michael and Christina* Sutherland
Joe Walch and Laura* Cummings
Evan and Brianne* Weider

CURRENT FAMILIES

The Abraham Family
Michael and Amanda Barry
Hao Cai and Jiayue Sun
Dan Courcy and Mandy Callahan
The Doherty Family
Michael and Carrie Eubank
Andrew and Jennifer Halloran
Priyanki and Mihirraj Joshi
The Maillet Family
Bill and Shelby Morris
The O’Connell Family
Barton and Kaitlin Phinney
The Pudans/Collins Family
Virgil and Caitlin Vaillancourt
Jim and Liz Welch

FRIENDS OF GCS

The Feingold Companies
Karen Keogh
Linda J. Luca
Tim and Rowe Luca

GRANDPARENTS

Mark and Deborah Driscoll
Robert and Donna Halloran
Miriam and Stephen Helfgott
Carol Ann Mandra
Gabriel and Jacob Miller-Quinn
John and Janet O’Brien
Albert Stone
Bruce Tannenbaum and Juliana Perrissinotto
Mary B. Wills

MATCHING GIFT CORPORATIONS

Agilent
Apple Inc.
BAE Systems
Dell Technologies, Inc.
Arthur J Gallagher Foundation
Google, Inc.
IBM
Hologic Charitable Fund
The Home Depot
Microsoft
Raytheon Company

PAST BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sarah* and James Belcher
The Crouse Family
William and Susan* Ellerkamp
Matt and Kate* Ferriola
Eric and Lori* Healy
The Ingram-Hill Family
Cynthia Maxwell
Agnes McKinney
Chuck McKinney
Mary* and Ned Mitchell
Geoff and Stacie* Moeser

Ray Murphy and Beth* Lindstrom
Catherine* and Eric Pauly
The Resca Family
The Karen* and Dave Riggert Family Fund
The Roberts Family
Kelly* and David Rowe

PAST FAMILIES

Jonathan Blandford and Rosanna Yuen
Ray Ciemny and Wendy Frank
Kate and Steve Engstrom
Jarred and Amanda Gagnon
Joseph and Tracy Guth
Lee Muir Hamen and Mark S. Hamen
The Hawes Family
Molly and Colin Igoe
Kurt and Karen Johnson
Ben and Lisa Krywucki
Cliff Maxwell
The Novak Family
Raj and Priya Palakkal
Ronald and Evann Peck
Susan Randazzo
Andrei Peters and Fay Raynor
Michael and Martha Resch
Richard Fichera and Julie Rodwin
David and Pamela Stone
Steven and Jennifer Stone
Scott and Tamara Swain
Alfred and Kristen von Campe
Clay and Sue Yost

PAST STAFF

Thomas and Jean* Brady
Robert and Lindy* Hanninen
Sandy* and Dan Irvin
Jeff and Linda* Rubens
Bruce and Jolene* Zukauskas

PAST TRUSTEES

Robert Collins
Steve Lane

STAFF

Steve and Jennie* Fitzkee
Linda Kosinski
Miss Heidi E May
Jon and Lorrie* Morgan
Paul and Inga* Nuccio
Lisa Stafford
Bonnie Stanton* and David Quintin
Meghan Zocchi

TRUSTEES

John* and Diane Amaral
Eric* and Katie Bach
Randy* and Kathleen Barron
Tom* and Jennifer Delaney
Scott and Betsy* Kehoe
Deborah* and Scott MacDonald
Stephanie* and Mark Morrison
David Moulton
Peter* and Andrea Myette
Rob* and Laura Moore
Bryan and Natina* Perrotti

 

DONOR PROFILE | BETSY KEHOE

Former GCS parent, past Board member, and current Trustee Betsy Kehoe recently shared her thoughts on her family’s experience with the school and her motivation for continuing to support Groton Community School.

When Betsy and her husband Scott moved to Groton in 1994, they surveyed many friends about local preschools. “Everyone with whom I spoke said that GCS was by far the best place for a child’s first school experience. As soon as our twin girls were of age to attend GCS, we enrolled them in the Preschool Program. They both continued to attend GCS through Kindergarten, including many summers participating in GCS’s Camp Kaleidoscope,” said Betsy.

“Seeing how much our girls enjoyed GCS, I did not hesitate when I was asked to join the Board of Directors. I wanted to volunteer for the school that was making such a difference in our children’s lives. I enjoyed working with the other parents as well as the GCS administration and staff to ensure that GCS continued to be the amazing school that it is.” Betsy ultimately became President of the Board of Directors, and 10 years ago joined the Board of Trustees. She shared, “I have so enjoyed being a part of GCS and I want to inspire other people to give and get involved in GCS.”

Betsy appreciates the continued impact GCS has on the community, “From the various fundraisers that bring the school families, staff members and community together, to the children singing to the residents of Rivercourt, to the scholarships that GCS offers, and so much more, I continue to be amazed at the impact GCS has on the town.”

In addition to donating to the GCS Annual Fund every year, Betsy and Scott also made a pledge to the Forward Motion Campaign that supported the renovation and expansion of the decades-old building. Betsy shared their reasoning, “We donate to the annual fund every year as we believe it is essential that GCS can meet expenses that may otherwise not be covered by tuition alone. It is gratifying to know that contributions to the annual fund support teacher development and
curricular excellence.”

“As a Trustee, I was involved in the Forward Motion campaign that allowed GCS to grow and expand. Whether you are an alumnus of the school, a parent, a member of the community, or just a supporter of early childhood education, you should consider donating to GCS. Your contribution is helping young children receive the most positive first school experience. This will be the foundation for his or her future development and will provide a strong base for life-long learning.”

When friends ask why Betsy is still so involved with GCS now that her twins are in college, she tells them, “I volunteer as a Trustee, and we continue to donate, because we believe that our daughters’ educational success is due in large part to the positive and enriching experience they had at GCS. It is a school that prioritizes a child’s uniqueness in a nurturing, caring, and learning environment. The welcoming and committed administration, and experienced teaching staff are a testament to Director Linda Kosinski’s leadership and support of the community in making GCS a success.” When she is not volunteering for Groton Community School, Betsy can be found traveling, visiting her daughters at college to watch them play lacrosse, reading or working out.

 

MATCHING GIFTS

The Home Depot
Raytheon Company
BAE Systems
Apple Inc.
Agilent
Dell Technologies, Inc.
Arthur J Gallagher Foundation
Google, Inc.
Hologic Charitable Fund
IBM
Microsoft

 

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