2009-2010 Annual Fund

Working For Our Children and Making The Difference

We are pleased to introduce to you the 2009-2010 Annual Fund Committee.  The committee is made up of parents whose volunteer efforts have helped grow the Annual Fund since its beginning in 2004. 

The tuition we pay covers only ninety-two percent of the cost of running our great school. Each year the Annual Fund makes up the difference, giving us the means to make improvements and implement programs that would otherwise not be possible. Over the last five years, Oak Meadow has:

• hired a Learning Specialist,
• increased financial aid,
• upgraded playgrounds,
• purchased new Montessori materials for the classrooms,
• and increased expenditures for faculty and staff’s professional development.

Few of these advancements could have happened without the additional revenues that come from our Annual Fund.

This year, we have set an ambitious goal for the Annual Fund of $70,000 and 100% community participation. Your donation at any level strengthens our ability to continue to provide an excellent Montessori education for our children. More than ever Oak Meadow is depending on each member of the community to be as generous as possible. Our school is strong and financially sound, despite the current economic climate, and a successful  Annual Fund will help to keep it that way. Your gift matters!

This year, we have two easy ways to show your support:

To make a donation online, select the following button -

OR

Download a Pledge Card to send your donation in today!

View answers to frequently asked questions here.

Meet the 2009-2010 Annual Fund Committee

Anita Tarantino, Chair – Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Parent

Ying Chen - Lower Elementary Parent

Beth Dube – Children’s House and Lower Elementary Parent

Kathy Luce - Past Children's House Parent

Beth Hodgkinson - Upper Elementary Parent

Lisa Lilliott - Children's House Parent

Gail Burati – Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Parent

Anita Tarantino, Chair

Anita Tarantino and her family joined Oak Meadow in 2003.  Kathryn, her oldest child is in Mrs. Erwin's Upper Elementary class as a fourth-year student.  Angela her youngest, is in Mrs. Fidrych’s Lower Elementary class as a first year student.  Anita has had the pleasure over the years of being the room parent, Brownie Assistant, Children's house Library Mom and is excited to serve again this year on the Annual Fund Committee.  Anita works full time at Monster in nearby Maynard.  Anita is committed to Oak Meadow and all the wonderful things it brings to our children on this journey of Montessori education.

Ying Chen

Ying Chen joined the Annual Fund Committee in 2008 and is happy to continue her service to the Oak Meadow community. The Chen family is spending their third year at the OMMS now -- their son Kyle is a second grader in Mrs. Puleo's Lower El classroom.  Ying and her husband Yonghao believe in the successful Montessori education offered at Oak Meadow and are fully committed to an active, all-round participation as parents in making our school stronger and better in the years to come.  Ying works as a Finance professional in Burlington, MA and teaches Mandarin over the weekend in local Chinese language schools.  A fan of classical music, she also enjoys reading, camping, skiing and skating. 

Beth Dube

Beth is in her sixth year as an Oak Meadow parent.  Her oldest son Jamieson is in his third year in Lower Elementary in Ms. Wise’s classroom.  Her youngest son Brendan is in his third year in Children’s House in Mrs. Bayfield’s classroom.  She has become active over the past several years with fundraising while working on national and local political campaigns.  When not shuttling her boys to sporting events and activities, Beth enjoys running, skiing, music and reading.  

Kathy Luce

This is Kathy’s second term on the annual fund committee, now serving as a past parent representative.  Kathy’s oldest son Dalton attended Oak Meadow for two years.  In her previous life, Kathy was assistant dean for development at MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning and also worked with college presidents and senior administrators at the independent colleges and universities in New Jersey.  She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Kathy is currently on the Minute Man Arc Board of Trustees and serves on the development committee.  She is also a member of Boxborough’s Blanchard Memorial School PTF Grants Committee.  When time allows, the Luce family enjoys relaxing on Cape Cod.

Beth Hodgkinson

Beth and her family joined Oak Meadow in 2008 when daughter Victoria entered Mrs. McKay’s Lower Elementary classroom as a third-year student. Today, Victoria has moved on to Upper Elementary and is thrilled to be joining her peers and older students in Mrs. Erwin’s classroom. While relatively new to the Oak Meadow community, this fall the Hodgkinson’s mark their seventh year as a Montessori family. Beth or her husband Bob can be seen chaperoning various activities including ski club and, soon, Nature’s Classroom. Beth serves as a public-relations consultant to technology companies in Massachusetts and Silicon Valley.

Lisa Lilliott

Lisa and her husband Scott are excited to start their second year with Oak Meadow.  Their son, Erik, is a second-year student in Mrs. Siedlar’s Children’s House classroom where he is thoroughly enjoying himself and keeping everyone on their toes.  Working full-time at New York Life Retirement Plan Services in Westwood, Lisa gets involved with OMMS activities when she can.  She assisted at last Spring’s Carnival, is a Mentor for new families, and is looking forward to serving on the Annual Fund Committee.

Gail Burati

- Oak Meadow Montessori School - 2 Old Pickard Lane, Littleton, MA 01460 - 978-486-9874 - F: 978-486-3269