2024-2025 Annual Report
LETTER FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
“With your support, we are planting the seeds for the next chapter of Groton Community School.”
As we embark on a new school year, I am excited to share that Groton Community School is embracing “Story Seeds: Planting a Love for Literacy” as our 2025–26 school-wide theme, inspired by Stacy Benge’s The Whole Child Alphabet. Because of your generosity, children at GCS will continue to experience early literacy in joyful, purposeful, and child-driven ways. We will focus on opportunities to explore indepth pre-reading curriculum activities that connect to children’s interests, development, and environment, while also building the necessary physical developmental foundations—such as visual development, core strengthening, motor control, and crossing the midline—that prepare young children for reading and writing. Teachers will be present and responsive, gently guiding exploration, preserving children’s authentic thinking, and encouraging meaningful language. You help us nurture curiosity and plant the seeds for a lifelong love for literacy and learning overall.
Just as “Story Seeds” fosters discovery in our children, we are planting seeds for the future of GCS itself. With your support, we are developing our 2025–30 Strategic Plan—a roadmap to sustain what makes our school so special while being progressive and preparing for exciting opportunities ahead.
Highlights include reimagining the playground with new designs and equipment to spark outdoor explorations and physical development, and we are also continuing to equip the (newly completed) Community Room with gross motor materials, performance components, and audiovisual tools. To keep our curriculum exceptional, we will reexamine math and phonics programming, add developmental rubrics and revised progress reports, and strengthen assessment practices. We are also advancing technology upgrades across classrooms, offices, and our library, while refreshing our website to enhance communication and outreach. It is an ambitious time, for sure.
As John Amaral, President of the GCS Board of Trustees, affirms: “Our priorities are all about ensuring GCS children continue to have the very best first school experience. Your generosity helps us nurture today’s children while planning boldly for tomorrow.”
Together with you, we are paving a bright path forward – honoring our mission, inspiring lifelong learning, and ensuring that GCS remains a place where children and families truly belong. None of this would be possible without your incredible generosity!
HOW WE HELP CHILDREN SOAR
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
John Amaral, President, Deborah MacDonald, Vice President, Randy Barron, Treasurer, Betsy Kehoe, Clerk,
Caroline Bouris, Tom Delaney, Stephen Janes, Stephanie Morrison, David Moulton, Natina Perrotti,
Linda Kosinski, Ex-Officio, Lisa Stafford, Ex-Officio
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Dan Barton, Peter Myette, Steve Webber
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kaitlyn Brokaw, President, Otonye Braid Moncoeur, Vice-President, Lindsay Guaraldi, Treasurer, Justine Mannix, Secretary,
Jessica Barie, Building & Grounds, Brianna Borek, Public Relations, Abbey Lambert, Public Relations, Kaitlin Phinney, Fundraising, Melissa Sulprizio, Fundraising, Luella Simakauskas, Parent Representative, Mai Tirella, Member-at-Large, Samantha Wall, Parent Representative, Catherine West, Member-at-Large,
Linda Kosinski, GCS Director, Lisa Stafford, GCS Assistant Director
MEET ELSIE
“Play is the highest form of research.” — ALBERT EINSTEIN
Elsie, a proud kindergartener at GCS, reminds us how learning, kindness, and play come together to make early childhood magical.
Elsie’s Top 5 Favorite Things About GCS:
1. My teachers, Ms. Debbie and Ms. Laura
2. The baby chicks
3. Giving hugs and coloring pictures for friends
4. Swings, hide-and-seek, and sledding on the playground
5. Learning sight words, French, songs for Rivercourt, and fun facts like… baby chicks have a tooth on their beak!
With your support, Elsie—and every GCS child—can explore, discover, and blossom into a lifelong learner. Thank you for helping every GCS child grow with curiosity, confidence, and joy.
FINANCIALS 2024-2025
YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION: EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS
When families walk through the doors of Groton Community School today, they immediately get a sense of excitement. They see bright classrooms and inviting spaces that inspire curiosity and joy. Thanks to generous donors, our school building has been transformed into a place where young children can learn and explore in an environment that feels every bit as warm as it looks.
But the true heartbeat of GCS has always been its people. Your support ensures we can hire and retain exceptional educators whose knowledge, creativity, and compassion shape the first school experiences of every child. Former Board Member Laura Cummings once reflected, “GCS quickly became more than a preschool for my son; it became a community for our family.” Her words capture what so many families feel—our staff don’t just teach; they weave connections that endure far beyond the classroom.
As GCS celebrates 80 years this September 2025, we take pride in adapting to meet the changing needs of young learners while remaining constant in our mission: nurturing kindness, community awareness, and good citizenship. That legacy lives on in the teachers and administrators we recently honored for their milestone anniversaries:
• Linda Kosinski, Executive Director – 40 years
• Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director – 30 years
• Terri Martin, Head Teacher and Summer Camp Director – 30 years
• Inga Nuccio, Head Teacher – 20 years
• Jean Kennedy, Assistant Teacher – 5 years
These milestones are more than numbers and very unusual in the field of Early Childhood Education. They are a testament to the kind of place you have helped to build—a school where dedicated educators choose to dedicate their careers, and where families find both learning and belonging.
“Longevity like this doesn’t just happen. It comes from creating an environment where teachers feel valued and supported, and that is exactly what your generosity has helped to make possible. At GCS, we don’t just celebrate years of service—we celebrate the countless children and families whose lives have been enriched along the way.” – Deborah MacDonald, Trustee
DONATIONS BY GIFT CLUB
Groton Community School is tremendously grateful for the following individuals and corporations who supported the Annual Fund in 2023-24. Your gifts help GCS children to soar!
1930s CIRCLE $10,000+
Anonymous†, George and Janika LeMaitre†, Deborah and Scott MacDonald*†
LEADERS $5,000+
Charles and Rhenise Lucot†>, Jon and Lorrie Morgan*†, David and Pamela Stone*†, Steven and Jennifer Stone*†
PARTNERS $2500+
John and Diane Amaral*, Randy and Kathleen Barron*†, The Kehoe Family*†, Steven Onishi and Dawn Alling†
ASSOCIATES $1000+
Ralph and Kathy Giles†, The Guaraldi Family†>, Miriam and Stephen Helfgott†,Stephen and Paula Janes*†, Steve Lane†, Mark and Stephanie Morrison†, Raj and Priya Palakkal*†, Bryan and Natina Perrotti*†
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $500+
Anonymous*, Dan & Alisa Barton, Tod and Caroline Bouris, Robert Collins, Lori and Jim Herberich, Dr. Kenneth Janes, Chris and Justine Mannix>, Andrew and Katherine Maroney, Peter and Andrea Myette*, Alfred and Kristen von Campe*
BENEFACTOR’S CIRCLE $250+
John Ellenberger & Patti Thompson*, William and Susan Ellerkamp, Scott and Kristina Hepburn, Tom and Christine Horsman, Mihirraj Joshi and Priyanki Thakore, The King Family, Tim and Rowe Luca*, The Moeser Family*, David Moulton*, The Pugh Family>, Mary B. Wills*, Clay and Susan Yost*
RED & BLUE CIRCLE $100+
Anonymous, The Belcher Family, Jean and Thomas Brady, Scott and Kaitlyn Brokaw*, Ray Ciemny, The Clinton Family>, Daniel Courcy and Amanda Callahan, The Crowley Family, David and Sarah Eisenklam, Matt and Kate Ferriola, Jennie and Steve Fitzkee*, The Gagnon Family*, Robert and Donna Halloran*, Monty and Laura Hankin, Pete and Kelli Hnath, The King Family, Linda Kosinski*, The Kritzer Family, Linda Luca and Gerard Tarpey*, Cynthia Maxwell, Agnes McKinney, The Moncoeur Family, Rob and Laura Moore*, Lee Muir-Haman and Mark Haman*, Katy and David Niose, The Nitti Family, Paul and Inga Nuccio*>, John and Janet O’Brien*, Jodi-Joy and Matt O’Keefe, Debbie and Mike Penney, Bob and Becky Pine, Andrei Peters and Fay Raynor>, The Roberts Family, Lisa Stafford*, Steve and Melissa Sulprizio, Mai and Andrew Tirella, Chris and Tracy Towers, Virgil and Caitlin Vaillancourt>, Joe Walch and Laura Cummings, Samantha and Alec Wall, Catherine and Seth West
FRIEND’S CIRCLE up to $99
Anonymous, Brian and Bri Borek, Rye Daily and Danielle Recco, Andrew and Melissa Dewing, Joe and Tracy Guth, Sandy and Dan Irvin, Joshua Kosinski*, Ryan Kosinski*, Jason and Abbey Lambert, Molly & Rocco Laurano, Carol Mandra, Cliff Maxwell*, George and Peggy Moore, Catherine C Pauly, Carlo Perrotti, Mike and Martha Resch*, Linda and Jeff Rubens, Brian and Luella Simakauskas, Bonnie Stanton and David Quintin*
* Have given to Annual Fund 5 consecutive years
† Members of the Adelaide Luca Giving Society
> Matching Gift
DONATIONS BY AFFILIATION
ALUMNI
John Ellenberger* and Patti Thompson, Joshua Kosinski, Ryan Kosinski, Molly* & Rocco Laurano, Carlo Perrotti
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 24-25
Brian and Bri * Borek, Ronald and Otonye* Braid Moncoeur, Scott and Kaitlyn* Brokaw, The Clinton Family (Jesi Clinton*), Rick and Lindsay* Guaraldi, Scott and Kristina* Hepburn, Jason and Abbey* Lambert, Chris and Justine* Mannix, Rye Daily and Danielle Recco*, Brian and Luella* Simakauskas, Steve and Melissa* Sulprizio, Mai* and Andrew Tirella, Samantha* and Alec Wall, Catherine and Seth West
CURRENT FAMILIES 24-25
The Crowley Family, Charles and Rhenise Lucot, Andrew and Katherine Maroney, Matt and Kate Nitti
FRIENDS
George and Janika LeMaitre, Tim and Rowe Luca, Jodi-Joy and Matt O’Keefe, Linda Luca and Gerard Tarpey
GRANDPARENTS
Donna and Robert Halloran, Miriam and Stephen Helfgott, Dr. Kenneth Janes, Carol Mandra, John and Janet O’Brien, Mary B. Wills
MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
Apple Inc., BAE Systems, Eli Lilly, IBM, Microsoft, Raytheon Technologies, Salesforce.com, Inc., Thermo Fisher, Z. Zurich Foundation
PAST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Belcher Family, David and Sarah* Eisenklam, William and Susan* Ellerkamp, Matt and Kate* Ferriola, Cynthia Maxwell, Agnes McKinney, Geoffrey and Stacie* Moeser, Catherine C Pauly, Paul and Hannah* Pugh, Kelly and Susan* Roberts, Joe Walch and Laura Cummings
PAST FAMILIES
Anonymous, Anonymous, Ray Ciemny, Daniel Courcy and Amanda Callahan, Andrew and Melissa Dewing, The Gagnon Family, Ralph and Kathy Giles, Joe and Tracy Guth, Lori and Jim Herberich, Pete and Kelly Hnath, Thomas and Christine Horsman, Mihirraj Joshi and Priyanki Thakore, The King Family, The Kritzer Family, Cliff Maxwell, George and Peggy Moore, Lee Muir-Haman and Mark Haman, Steven Onishi and Dawn Alling, Rajesh and Priya Palakkal, Andrei Peters and Fay Raynor, Bob and Becky Pine, Mike and Martha Resch, David and Pamela Stone, Steven and Jennifer Stone, Christopher Towers, Alfred and Kristen von Campe, Virgil and Caitlin Vaillancourt
PAST LEARNING EXPRESS BOARD
Clay and Susan* Yost
PAST STAFF
Jean* and Thomas Brady, Sandy* and Dan Irvin, Lorrie* and Jonathan Morgan, Linda* and Jeff Rubens
PAST TRUSTEES
Robert Collins, Steve Lane, Rob* and Laura Moore
STAFF 24-25
Jennie* and Steve Fitzkee, Monty and Laura* Hankin, Linda Kosinski, Katy* and David Niose, Paul and Inga* Nuccio, Debbie* and Mike Penney, Lisa Stafford, Bonnie Stanton* and David Quintin
TRUSTEES 24-25
John* and Diane Amaral, Randy* and Kathleen Barron, Tod and Caroline* Bouris, Stephen*and Paula Janes, Scott and Betsy* Kehoe, Deborah* and Scott MacDonald, Mark and Stephanie* Morrison, David Moulton, Bryan and Natina* Perrotti
Honorary Trustee
Dan* and Alisa Barton, Peter* and Andrea Myette
* Denotes persons applicable to the designation
TOGETHER, WE MADE IT HAPPEN!
Last spring, our Soaring newsletter told the story of a long-awaited project nearly realized. Today, we are excited to announce that the Community Room — always a highlight of the vision for our Forward Motion Campaign — is now complete. Once an unfinished shell, this remarkable space has become the heart of GCS, made possible by the generosity and dedication of our community.
The finishing touches make the room welcoming and versatile. Gross motor equipment is being added for active play, while comfortable adult chairs now allow families and community members to gather for school-wide events. At its heart is a stage that will be dedicated in memory of our beloved friend, past parent, and talented musician, Wendy Frank — a fitting tribute to her love of music and community.
Already, the Community Room is buzzing with life. The Kindergarten Closing Ceremony became the very first classroom event, followed by our Staff Longevity Celebration and a wonderful staff training to kick off the school year. The laughter and songs of summer camp filled the space during camp singalongs, and campers came together for a joyful movie event shown on our new state-of-the-art AV equipment to close the season.
Looking ahead, children will soon enjoy a weekly Creative Movement Program with an outside consultant — just one of the many ways this space will enrich learning. And this is only the beginning. From performances and celebrations to community gatherings and new traditions, the opportunities are limitless.
We are so grateful to our community of supporters for helping to make this space a reality. Every chair, every piece of equipment, and every joyful moment here reflects your generosity and commitment to GCS.
The Community Room would never have been possible without the vision and guidance of the former President of the GCS Board of Trustees, and current Honorary Trustee, Dan Barton from Maugel DeStefano Architects, Inc. A dear GCS friend, Dan, has been an unwavering and steady partner in this endeavor since day one.
Stay tuned for your invitation to the Community Open House on Nov. 22nd when we look forward to welcoming you to celebrate all this new space makes possible!
