On Board Newsletter, Summer 2023
As we conclude the 2022-2023 school year, I am filled with happy memories. While we navigated some challenges throughout the year, we joyfully returned to beloved GCS traditions and created new social opportunities. I enjoyed seeing many of you at the Family Picnic on June 13th – such a fun way to celebrate our year together. Thank you to all of the Room Parents and families who donated time, talent, and items to support the school. Volunteerism truly helps make GCS the wonderful community that it is. Thank you especially to our outgoing Board of Directors members: Laura Cummings, Vice President (and former President); Colleen Neff, Treasurer; and Kelly Lopez, Member-At-Large (and former Public Relations and Buildings and Grounds Co-Chair). We are so grateful for your expertise and service to GCS over the years. I wish you all a relaxing, peaceful, and fun summer. I hope to see many of you at GCS Camp!
With gratitude,
Kaitlyn Brokaw, Board of Directors President
Want to have fun and help GCS grow? Join the Board!
The GCS Board of Directors supports daily school operations and assists the staff in creating a strong community for the entire school. Members play an important role in fundraising efforts and spearheading many fun events. Get an inside glimpse at how it all works, experience a stronger connection with the staff and teachers, and make some great new friends! Interested? The Board of Directors is always looking for new members to join our team! Feel free to speak with any Board of Directors member, or join us at our upcoming meetings in August and/or September.
We have a positive, fun group of parents/guardians happy to jump in and welcome you on board. Please reach out anytime!
Buildings and Grounds Update:
The 2022-2023 school year was full of action for Building & Grounds. Thanks to the efforts of many, our greenhouse is fully functional, we have picnic tables for outdoor meals and crafts, there is a new patio in front of Sam’s Shed, the yellow slide platform has been replaced, and more!
We are extremely honored to receive a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. This grant focuses our efforts to “Dig Deeper” into our school wide conservation efforts. With this grant, we have added compost tumblers to reduce waste, rain barrels to minimize town water use, and gardening tools, as well as “Big Dig” excavators and a mud kitchen on order for students to explore and play in our natural environment.
A big thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time as part of the Fall Fixup and Spring Spruce Up! With your help and muscle we were able to tackle a laundry list of items that ultimately saves money for the school. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
As Building & Grounds Co-chairs, we take great pride in making sure the playground is fun and safe. We look forward to continuing to work on Building and Grounds in the 2023-2024 year. If you are interested in pitching in with any tasks or projects, please reach out to buildingandgrounds@grotoncommunityschool.org. We would love to hear from you!
Laura Hankin & Jess Barie
Parent Representative Update
The GCS Board of Directors would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the 2022-2023 Room Parents. Their handwork, time, care and dedication helps keep our GCS community thriving. They are always ready with fundraising efforts, classroom projects, teacher appreciation efforts and more. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for a wonderful year!
We would also like to show great appreciation to our generous GCS Volunteer Bakers. Their continuous support throughout the year “stocking the fridge” for healthy snacks for our wonderful sensational staff members, as well as many other events is always greatly valued. We are always so overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you to all.
Questions? Reach out to Beth Christoforo, Parent Representative at: parentrepresentatives@grotoncommunityschool.org
Fundraising Update – Every Bit Counts!
We are grateful to GCS families for your willingness to volunteer your time and participate in our fundraisers. The fundraisers provide services, activities, or fun products for your family while helping to keep our tuition rates affordable. Plus, they provide meaningful opportunities to participate in your child’s educational experience. We had a very successful year again this year, raising a total of $15,618! Thank you for your continued support and generosity!
2022-2023 Board of Directors
Kaitlyn Brokaw, President
Laura Cummings, Vice President
Linda Kosinski, Director
Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director
Terri Martin, Full Day Coordinator and Summer Camp Director
Colleen Neff, Treasurer
Justine Mannix, Secretary
Brie Weider and Abbey Lambert, Public Relations
Laura Hankin and Jess Barie, Buildings and Grounds
Lindsay Guaraldi, Kaitie Phinney and Melissa Sulprizio Fundraising
Beth Christoforo and {open}, Parent Representative
Otonye Braide-Moncoeur and Kelly Lopez, Members-at-Large
Contributors to the 2022-2023 Annual Fund
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generous contributions to this year’s Annual Fund. Your donation makes a difference for every child at GCS. This year’s donation is directed to our Exceptional Teacher’s Fund!
There is still time to donate! The 2022-2023 Annual Fund runs through Aug. 31.
Donate here now
ALUMNI
John Ellenberger* and Patti Thompson
Elizabeth Reeves
Joshua Kosinski
Ryan Kosinski
Molly* and Rocco Laurano
Carlo Perrotti
Jennifer Tramontozzi
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jessica* and Dan Barie
Scott and Kaitlyn* Brokaw
John and Beth* Christoforo
Rick and Lindsay* Guaraldi
Laura* and Monty Hankin
Chris and Justine* Mannix
The Moncoeur Family
The Neff Family
Barton and Kaitlin* Phinney
Joe Walch and Laura* Cummings
CURRENT FAMILIES
The Abraham Family
Dan Courcy and Mandy Callahan
Michael and Carrie Eubank
Jonathan and Heather Gerteisen
The Howell Family
Priyanki and Mihirraj Joshi
Cassidy and Karla King
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Kujala
The Maillet Family
The Tirella Family
Caitlin and Virgil Vaillancourt
Catherine and Brian Wong
FRIENDS OF GCS
Hologic Charitable Fund
Timothy and Rowe Luca
Gerard and Linda Luca Tarpey
GRANDPARENTS
Robert and Donna Halloran
Stephen and Miriam Helfgott
Lenore Miller in Honor of Gabriel and Jacob Miller Quinn
John and Janet O’Brien
Mr. Albert Stone
Chuck and Kathie Vella
Mary B. Wills
MATCHING GIFT CORPORATIONS
AbbVie Bioresearch Center
Agilent
BAE Systems
Red Hat
Bose Corporation
Google, Inc.
Hologic Charitable Fund
Microsoft
Millipore
Thermo Fisher
Viasat
Z Zurich Foundation
PAST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael and Jennifer* Burke
Dave and Sarah* Eisenklam
Cynthia Lane-Hand
The Healy Family
Agnes McKinney
Mary and Ned* Mitchell
The Moeser Family
Paul and Hannah* Pugh
The Resca Family
The Riggert Family Fund
The Roberts Family
Scott and Trisha* Winroth
Clay and Susan* Yost
PAST FAMILIES
Jonathan Blandford and Rosanna Yuen
Ray Ciemny
Peter and Jean Cunningham
The Dagle Family
The Dewing Family
David and Mara Edgar
Jarred and Amanda Gagnon
The Gibney Family
Joe and Tracy Guth
Lee Muir-Hamen and Mark Hamen
The Herberich Family
Eric and Danielle Hillenberg
Thomas and Christine Horsman
Cliff Maxwell
Steven Onishi and Dawn Alling
Rajesh and Priya Palakkal
Mike and Martha Resch
Joan Denaro and Carl Rodrigues
David and Pamela Stone
Steven and Jennifer Stone
Alfred and Kristen von Campe
Doug and Hannah Woodbury
PAST STAFF
Jean Brady
The Rubens Family
Bruce and Jolene* Zukauskas
PAST TRUSTEES
Stephen Lane
Rob* and Laura Moore
Peter* and Andrea Myette
STAFF
Jennie* and Steve Fitzkee
Rick and Noreen* Keras
Linda Kosinski
Jon and Lorrie* Morgan
Katy* and David Niose
Paul and Inga* Nuccio
David Quintin and Bonnie Stanton*
Lisa Stafford
Meghan* and Steve Zocchi
TRUSTEES
John* and Diane Amaral
Kathleen and Randall* Barron
Scott and Betsy* Kehoe
Deborah* and Scott MacDonald
Mark and Stephanie* Morrison
David Moulton
Bryan and Natina* Perrotti
*Indicates past or present service to Groton Community School
