LIVE MONTESSORI

Chiaravalle Montessori SchoolAnnual Report 2010-2011

IndividualityRespectDiversityLearningResponsibCooperaCompasIntegritySelf-Re

Individuality

Respect

Diversity

Learning

Responsibility

Cooperation and Empowerment

Compassion

Integrity

Self-Reflection

Letter from the Head of School

From the moment I first walked through Chiaravalle’s doors, I saw that this is aplace where people live by their beliefs. The Montessori classroom is set up toencourage students to share, respect each others’ space, work together as well asindependently, and explore their curiosity. Teachers model our values, and inturn, students learn the importance of putting them into practice.

The Annual Report highlights the reason we are all here — our students. Webegin by demonstrating how Chiaravalle as an institution lives by our core val-ues. We showcase the donors and volunteers whose support helps us providethe special moments and everyday activities that are part of the student experi-ence. And, we conclude by reflecting on our forty-six-year past and looking toour young alumni for a glimpse into what the future holds.

Our ideals guide us, not only as a school and institution but also as individualsin the Chiaravalle community. Living by these principles, our students grow frominfants to children to young adults who are articulate, confident, independent,aware and compassionate. Because we care about intrinsic rather than extrinsicmotivators, our students start in a place deeply rooted and enjoy the process ofdiscovery and achievement throughout their lives.

I am honored to be a partner with you, parents and friends, as we continue thelegacy of Montessori education in the Evanston community. Together, our workenables the next generation of learners to be planted in the values of this specialplace we call Chiaravalle.

Edward B. HollingerHead of School

Letter from Board President 2011-Present

As I begin in my new role as President, I find that this is an extremely excitingtime to be serving on the Board at Chiaravalle. The school is in such a strongplace: We have a new Head of School, Ed Hollinger, who is passionate about pro-gressive education, and we have dedicated faculty, long-time administrative staff,and a Board of Trustees composed of people with expertise in education, busi-ness, finance, architecture, law, and the non-profit world. We have the largestMiddle School program in our history, and, with the introduction of the JourneyGrant component of the Tuition Assistance Program last year, we were able toenroll a record number of first graders. With the purchase of the building andthe first phase of renovations behind us, we can continue our work to makeChiaravalle strong for the next generation of children.

In 2011-2012, our Board will focus on helping our new Head of School gain adeeper understanding of the programs, families, culture, and faculty that makeour school unique. We will also begin to formulate the next Strategic Plan. Highon our list is investigating how changes to our facility can support program en-hancements. We continue work toward our long-term goals of ensuring that fi-nancial assistance is available for families who need it and that facultycompensation and professional development are attractive and rewarding. Anew section of the Chiaravalle website will keep the community informed ofour progress.

I look forward to another great year for Chiaravalle and welcome your thoughtsalong the way.

Lucinda FoxPresident, Chiaravalle Montessori School Board of Trustees

Letter from Board President 2008-2011

It has been my honor to serve as the President of the Board of Trustees from thefall of 2008 through the spring of 2011. During that time, it was my privilege towork with leaders of our community to shape a bright future with customizedfacilities, gifted faculty and staff members, and solid financial footing.

During my tenure, the school’s significant milestone was securing a permanenthome at 425 Dempster Street through the purchase of the building. This mean-ingful step in the history of our school had long been discussed and planned, soits actualization was a major achievement for Chiaravalle, as was the successfullaunch of the Campaign for Chiaravalle which partially financed this effort.

It was important to have a permanent home so that we could invest in the reno-vations we undertook in the Summer of 2010. These improvements to the 3-6classrooms and Elementary floor allowed Chiaravalle’s facility to match the ex-cellence of our programming. As I step down, at the end of Chiaravalle’s 45thanniversary, I think we are uniquely poised to face the next half century withconfidence and pride.

Shabnum SanghviChiaravalle Montessori School Board of Trustees

Chiaravalle According to Our Core ValuesCore values are attributes that help define our school’s identity and pur-pose. We make a concerted effort to live by our core values every day inour commitment to Chiaravalle and the Montessori philosophy. Reflectingon the 2010-2011 school year, we find many examples of students, teach-ers, staff, parents, and the institution at large acting in accordance withthese beliefs.

IndividualityChiaravalle purchased our histori-cally-significant building from theCity of Evanston and subsequentlyrenovated many of the classroomsand hallways, giving Chiaravalle anupdated and customized look.Working together, teachers, adminis-trators and board members carefullymade layout, design and materialdecisions to meet our unique needs,making this truly a one-of-a-kindplace and our special home.

ResponsibilityIn April 2011, Chiaravalle volunteered as a tour site for the AmericanMontessori Society (AMS) conference. Faculty from all over the countryand around the world visited Chiaravalle as part of the experience. Hav-ing the AMS Conference in Chicago also meant that more than fortyChiaravalle faculty members had the chance to participate in this pro-fessional development opportunity. Active involvement in our Montes-sori-accrediting organization gives Chiaravalle the chance todemonstrate responsible leadership.

LearningWe extended our commitment to learning beyond students to adults inour community. While some parent education events were planned, oth-ers sprung up as opportunities arose. From Foundations in Montessori,to the presentation by Dr. Betsy Coe, to the Just for Dads of Daughtersnight, Chiaravalle parents came together throughout the year for theirown learning and exploration.

Self ReflectionTeachers in the 3-6 Program dedicated part of their year to rethinking analready wonderful program: Kindergarten Enrichment. This was done inresponse to our joint accreditation self-study for Independent Schools As-sociation of the Central States (ISACS) and American Montessori Society(AMS). After reflecting on the program, the Kinder teachers unveiled aplan to reorganize specials schedules and groupings in an effort to allowfor more uninterrupted work time and fewer transitions for children.

Annual Fund & Fund-A-NeedAt Chiaravalle, we are deliberate about teaching students the impor-tance – and the rewards – of social responsibility. Through activities likewatering plants, feeding animals, engaging in community service, andeven fundraising, Chiaravalle students learn that things they value don'tjust happen, but in fact require ongoing support.

In the same way, all adults in the community share a responsibility formaintaining the excellence of our programs. On-going and generous sup-port helps us to maintain what makes a Chiaravalle education special:Dedicated, well-qualified Montessori teachers; developmentally-appro-priate educational methods; individualized attention.

The 2010-2011 Annual Fund was notable for achieving 76% participationof current families — the highest to date. The following listing combinesAnnual Fund donations with contributions made to Fund-A-Need in sup-port of professional development.

Sponsor

Anonymous (2)The Abraham FamilyRose AdamczykDorothy Schmid and John AgnewSuzanne and Husayn AllmartThe Alyamani FamilyStephanie and Jay AndersonJames Austin and Amy LofstromDavid and Nancy BennettEllen BouleanuJulie Chenevert and Chris BrandtMary BroecklingEugen and Sofia BurauJulia and Tony BustamanteMartin Cabrera and Kim SteffenSteve Reed and Jessica CampbellRoger and Linda CholewiakStan Chou and Anita Elizondo-ChouJohn and Karen CieloClaire George and Steven ClineGeorgia CohenShannon LC Cate and CL ColeGreta and Andrew ConnorRon and Catherine CoreyCarol CoughlinChristine Dunford and Daniel Cunningham

Thomas and Dana DavenportElizabeth and Nathan DavisSusan Avril and Remy DercksenTimothy and Amy DitchmanAlex and Siobhan DonatiDoug and Lisa DowneyClare Heath and Joel EmerickNancy EngelhardDerek and Courtney EovaldiMark and Frankie ErsfeldZelig and Iva FalevitsHayes Ferguson and Ellen MagriniEduardo Frajman and Marla ClaymanJoseph Franchere and M. Alison Eisendrath

David and Ramona FredericksonToni FriedmanGregg Fuesel and Elizabeth Carvlin Fuesel

David and Esther Galantowicz

Richard and Susan GallunJohn and Diane GavinHilary GeyerAnubhav and Mita GoelMax Gojakovic and Ana KuzmanicThe Greenwood FamilyJeffrey and Catherine HadenDavid and Pat HaferdJohn and Joann Hallenbeck, Grandparents of Daryus Patel

Mickey HandelmanRobert and Sheila HanfordJeffrey Hansen and Julie MatijaRobert Hansen and Kristi PiccoloChris and Johanna HatzopoulosJean K. HeinoldThe Hennagir FamilyJack and Sandra HermanSteve and Cara HermanDaniel Hinkle and Lauren Myers-Hinkle

Jonathan Howells and Lauri OlivierBahtiar Hoxha and Cynthia GordonWilliam and Cheryl HubbardKatie and Greg HughesKristin and Ben HussmannKota and Miho IkeuchiDick and Betsy JevonAaron and Lorna JohnsonChris Jones and Gillian DarlowGeorge and Helena KaltezasThe Kass FamilySebastian and Blythe KazmierczakAndrew and Stephanie KerrAnwar and Esther KhuriTaejin and Bokyung KimBodee Kittikamron and Iliana MoraLizzy KozakImran Laljivirani and Shireen ViraniKaren LanerMary LevatoYongchao Ma and Huanqiu LiThomas and Cindy LilligCara LockwoodCharles and Edith LoiseauDoris Lomax JuzangKathleen Lombardo

Allan LombardoCitlali Lopez-OrtizAnn LousinMichael Hays and Judy MacDonaldCharles Mangum and Rachel StoryDan and Nicole MarroneEddie and Bonnie MaslanaDavid Matthew and Anne DutroJim MavrosTom Springer and Robyn McCloud-Springer

John McDonald and Aude RaymondSean and Jill McGrathCheryl and Barrett McIntosh-LombardoRob and Beth McLennanJohn and Carolyn McNultyVictor and Stephanie MichelBrenda and Louis MizelMartin Monahan and Victoria LandauCurt Mueller and Jennifer StephanMark and Nancy MyersTimothy Nangle and Jean RoDavid and Jennifer NelsonJanice Neuleib (Lily Madden Neuleib)The Nicolson FamilyPetrine NielsenHenry Nutkevitch and Jordana Binstock

Danny and Jen O'ShaughnessyGus and Gen PappasThrasos Pappas and Melanie WestMichael and Florence ParksPhiwan Phonwiang and Colleen Loeffler

Jason Pollack and Liza KobernikDavid Putzel and Anna NicholsSteve Ramsdell and Laura WadeWilliam and Lynn RaspeAllen Rein and Ann HudsonMartin Reinke and Hille HakerSuzanne Clores and Kurt RiemersmaThe Robinson Colleton FamilyErick Rudiak and Marjory Clements Rudiak

Johnathan and Rosemary RussBill and Janet RussStephanie RustJeremy and Monika RyanEllen SalkScott and Jessica SandstromBeth Caldwell and Mario SantiagoKarl and Kathleen ScheidtBetsy ScherrerOlga SchmittDoug and Meghanne SennottRon She and S. Sanna ChenMaura SheaAndria ShyjkaGreg Simonian and Laura JeffrisNancy Sheila SimonianDavid and Julie SingerPeter Slevin and Kate MasurDylan Smith and Deb TuerkheimerHarry and Pamela SmithJeff and Cardelle SpanglerMark Styslinger and Cynthia RawsonLee Sun and Jane ZhangMatthew and Farah SwaimSarah Torri and Paul SwinandNick Switanek and Liz GerberNancy SyburgCary and Patty TanamachiStephen and Karen ThompsonLisa Amoroso and Phillip TracyFrank and Amy TuGene and Trudy UlanowiczPhillip M. and Joyce L. UngarMichael and Melissa ValentinasMichelle ValletRoom 202 in Memory of Shelley Wardlow

Kurt and Julie WeilerThomas J. Welsh IIILibby WolfeDiane Wolff-KlammerMichael and Gretchen WooldridgeMaria Mora and Carlos Zambrano

PatronDon Bora and Connie BickfordRick Boynton and Criss HendersonRonald and Debi BuzilPatrick and Carrie CharlesPaul and Jennifer ChristensenPeter and Stephanie ClemsonJeff and Kim CohenRoger Derrien and Melissa GardnerPierre and Charlotte DurandThe Duvall FamilyMargaret M. EisendrathThe Fagin FamilyTodd Furney and Mariana RomanoMichael Klearman and Saralyn SacksChirag Shah and Aarti MalikAngelo and Ann MaynardJim and Sheila O'NeillChristopher and Danielle SiebertLinda SimardAndrew and Kila SztukowskiArt Thompson and Sarah Eck-Thompson

Craig and Jill WortmannHideki and Geri YoshiokaScott and Sarah Zematis

BenefactorTilden Katz and Katharine BakerMary Kay Halston and Scott BartonRyan and Kristen BowieTzaras and Sarah ChristonMark, Gail and Anya DrozdEdward Anderson and Megan Holmes-Anderson

Tom and Cindy JevonTimothy and Elizabeth LandonRodrigo and Pam LevyEileen MaddenKathleen and Joseph MaddenAvi and Tresa NeurohrCharles and Mary SheaRobert Sorensen and Yolanda Vanderlaan

Hiry and Mary Beth WestPaul and Melanie WrightThe Zander FamilyFan and C. Laura ZhangEvan and Vince Ziolkowski

SustainerYuri and Elena BalasanovGregg and Heather CollinsNick and Nancy GiampietroAlexander and Maria HoffmanJulie Matthei and Sarah SchmidtSean and Kristie O'NeillThomas and Renee Zipprich

LeaderMark Ouweleen and Sarah HardingFred and Kimberly RafilsonAndrew and Robin RosenthalAlexandra Piper and Jon Seed

PacesetterJoseph Brennan and Leslie ShadDavid and Jill GreerJenn and Scott GwilliamLucinda Fox and John ManciniShabnum and Sunil SanghviJohn and Sharon Watrous

Sponsor $499 and UnderPatron $500 - $999Benefactor $1,000 - $2,499Sustainer $2,500 - $4,999Leader $5,000 - $9,999Pacesetter $10,000 and Above

Annual Fund and Fund-A-Need Donor Levels

Corporate Sponsors & Matching Gift Companies

Bank of America Matching Gifts ProgramDiscover Financial ServicesFidelity Charitable Gift Fund

Hospira Employee Giving CampaignIBM

Kraft Foods Matching Gifts ProgramPactiv

Sara Lee FoundationWhole Foods

Diversity Endowment Fund

The Stolar Cathcart FamilyMarti Lannert

The Robinson Family FoundationNancy Syburg

Campaign for ChiaravallePhase 1 of the Campaign for Chiaravalle began in 2009 as a 5-year cam-paign to improve and expand our facility, establish a faculty endowmentand strengthen our programming. Already underway, it has allowed forthe purchase of our building and the 2nd and 3rd floor renovations. Allgifts to the Campaign for Chiaravalle are unrestricted and will be usedfor capital, endowment, and programmatic purposes as designated by theschool's Board of Trustees.

These transformations will ensure that the quality of education Chiar-avalle students receive is reflected in their daily environment. In the sameway that we challenge children to stretch the boundaries of what is com-fortable for them, the Campaign for Chiaravalle invites adults to go aboveand beyond in securing Chiaravalle's future.

PillarJoseph Brennan and Leslie ShadJenn and Scott GwilliamNina Donnelly and Russell W. LaneLucinda Fox and John ManciniSarah Schmidt and Julie MattheiRobin and Andrew RosenthalThe Sanghvi FamilyJohn and Sharon Watrous

LeaderThe Greer FamilySarah Harding and Mark OuweleenAlexandra Piper and Jon SeedHiry and Mary Beth West

BuilderJohn and Daphne CunninghamAlex and Maria HoffmanPamela and Rodrigo LevySean and Kristie O'NeillThe Rafilson Family

StewardAnonymousRamona and Dave FredericksonTom and Cindy JevonSaralyn Sacks and Michael KlearmanEileen MaddenDanny and Jen O'Shaughnessy

SustainerStephanie and Jay AndersonThe Clemson FamilyGail, Mark and Anya DrozdNick and Nancy GiampietroEdward Anderson and Megan Holmes-Anderson

Victor and Stephanie MichelRobert and Melissa RoothEllen SalkYolanda Vanderlaan and Bob SorensenSarah Torri and Paul SwinandWilliam and Barbara WelkeIn Memory of Frances Young Welke

Thomas and Renee Zipprich

MemberAnonymousKristen and Ryan BowieRonald and Debi BuzilThe Clary FamilyTracy and Alby GallunThe Piccolo/Hansen FamilyBonnie and Ed MaslanaAllen Rein and Ann HudsonThe Caldwell/Santiago FamilyLisa Amoroso and Phillip TracyScott and Sarah Zematis

FriendBeth Black and Keith GilletteMargaret and Michael CunninghamGeri CunninghamChristine Dunford andDaniel Cunningham

Susan and Rich GallunThe Greenwood FamilyCatherine and Jeff HadenJohn and Joann HallenbeckThe Hatzopoulos FamilyChris Jones and Gillian DarlowGeorge and Helena KaltezasDavid and Julie KarnesBlythe and Sebastian KazmierczakKaren LanerThomas and Cindy LilligAllan LombardoKathleen Lombardo

Brenda and Louis MizelCurt Mueller and Jennifer StephanKatrin Voelkner and Cary NathensonAvi and Tresa NeurohrRandy Palmer and Cindy FeyShannon LC Cate and CL ColeWilliam and Lynn RaspeThe Robinson Family FoundationPeter and Linda SeedChristopher and Danielle SiebertNancy M. SyburgCitlali Lopez-OrtizCharles Wattles and Rosemary WilleyRaymond and Mary Ann WexlerCarol Zsolnay

Campaign for ChiaravallePledge LevelsPillar $100,000 and AboveLeader $50,000 to $99,999Builder $25,000 to $49,999Steward $10,000 to $24,999Sustainer $5,000 to $9,999Member $2,500 to $4,999Friend $2,499 and Under

Corporate Sponsors & Matching Gift Companies

Bank Of America Matching Gifts ProgramChenevert PhotographyGoldman Sachs & Co.

Google Matching Gift ProgramGreatlakes Architectural Millworks LLC

JCPenneyKraft Foods Matching Gifts Program

Gold Rick Boynton and Criss Henderson

Joe Brennan and Leslie ShadPaul and Jennifer ChristensenAlan Garfin and Janet OlsonMike and Alyse GamsonS. Caecilla HubbardSteve and Cara HermanJim MavrosPam and Rod LevyAlexandra Piper and Jon Seed

Tom and Kathy RomanoChirag Shah and Aarti MalikMatthew and Farah SwaimSharon and John WatrousFan and Laura Zhang

Platinum David and Jill GreerJenn and Scott GwilliamMark Ouweleen and Sarah Harding

Fred and Kimberly RafilsonArt Thompson and Sarah Eck-Thompson

Paul and Melanie Wright

Multi-Platinum Nagle Hartray Danker Kagan McKayPenney Architects LTD

First Bank and TrustVillage Bank and TrustRon and Debi BuzilKate and Bill MacdonaldJohn Mancini and Lucinda FoxShabnum and Sunil SanghviThomas and Renee Zipprich

Super Stars Husch Blackwell LLPChiaravalle Montessori School Board of Trustees

King of Rock Northern Trust

Chiarapalooza

Gold $100 and UnderPlatinum $150-$399Multi-Platinum $400-$999Super Stars $1,000 - $4,999King of Rock $5,000 and Above

Event Sponsorship Levels

Revenue

Tuition 90.31% $3,942,788.00Interest 2.39% $104,527.00Annual Fund 3.42% $149,173.19Fund A Need for 0.92% $40,175.00Professional Development

Fundraising Projects, Events 2.96% $129,023.00

100.00% $4,365,686.19

Expenses

Personnel 66.95% $2,839,954.00Tuition Assistance 11.29% $478,948.00Program 6.20% $263,193.00Facility 6.04% $256,398.00Debt Service 5.05% $214,363.00Other 4.46% $189,251.00

100.00% $4,242,107.00

­Contribution­to­reserves $130,000.00

Please note that a complete set of audited financials is available on our website.

Operating Revenues and Expenses

Volunteer Leadership

Board of TrusteesShabnum Sanghvi, PresidentLucinda Fox, Vice PresidentMark Drozd, SecretaryJill Greer, TreasurerScott BartonKristen BowieSusan GallunEileen MaddenTresa NeurohrSarah SchmidtChris SiebertHiry WestVince ZiolkowskiRenee Zipprich

Head of CFAKimberly Rafilson

Head Room Parent CoordinatorGretchen Wooldridge

Head Room ParentsMary Kay HalstonSofia BurauStephanie ClemsonMadeleine CusickEsther GalantowiczDiane GavinNancy GiampietroJill GreerKristi PiccoloLauri OlivierKatie HughesCindy JevonGillian DarlowSaralyn SacksJudy MacDonaldLucinda FoxJennifer NelsonLisa NicolsonKristie O’NeillGen PappasMelanie WestJane PilsburySuzanne ReedRobin RosenthalS. Sanna ChenRachel StoryMelissa ValentinasStephanie WooSarah ZematisLaura Zhang

Annual Fund VolunteersRick BoyntonMark DrozdJill GreerMariana RomanoKristi PiccoloAlex HoffmanEileen MaddenCindy JevonRenee ZipprichSarah Zematis

Spring Benefit Planning TeamKate and Bill Macdonald, ChairsSusan AbrahamStephanie AndersonScott BartonDebi BuzilSarah ChristonAlex DonatiSiobhan DonatiSarah EckKarin EricksonLucinda Fox Diane GavinJill GreerMary Kay HalsonPam Levy Julie MatijaJim Mavros Jodi NavtaKurt RiemersmaJon WebbHiry West Melanie Wright Renee Zipprich

ESSCA CoordinatorsMadeleine CusickAlexandra Piper

Memory Book TeamDon BoraAllen ReinJean Marc Lavoie

Multicultural Potluck CoordinatorsCheryl McIntosh-LombardoSuzanne Reed

Movie Night CoordinatorSusan Abraham

All-School Art Project CoordinatorsAmy LofstromGenevieve Macnamara

Book Fair CoordinatorsCara LockwoodCheryl McIntosh-LombardoMelanie Wright

Gift Card TeamCheryl BeachlerDebi BuzilFlo ParksLaura Zhang

A Brief History of Chiaravalle1965Chiaravalle Montessori School was incorporated by nine couples com-mitted to offering a Montessori education to children in the RogersPark/Evanston area.

1973Parent/Child and Toddler classes were added and full-day care optionswere enlarged.

1980Chiaravalle, which had previously been in the basement of BethlehemLutheran Church, settled into its present location, the historically signifi-cant H.H.C. Miller Public School building, designed by Daniel Burnham.

The Elementary program was inaugurated, coinciding with the finalmove.

1992The Middle School program of sixth through eighth grades was added.

Mid-1990sChiaravalle had achieved full accreditation by the American MontessoriSociety and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States.

1998Chiaravalle was granted a long-term lease with the City of Evanston toremain in its present location. The School launched a Capital Campaignin support of a $1.5 million renovation to bring the building up to code.

2003Chiaravalle made additional infrastructure improvements to the infant/toddler floor and replaced the boiler through the investment of $500,000.

2006The Middle School was moved to rented space at the First CongregationalChurch of Evanston.

2009The City of Evanston agreed to sell 425 Dempster to Chiaravalle.

2010The purchase of the building was officially closed in April of 2010. Weowned our new home!

The Elementary floor was gutted and reorganized to make room for newscience facilities and an Upper Elementary Suite. These class rooms, alongwith most of the 3-6 classrooms on the second floor, were renovated withnew environmentally-sustainable flooring, efficient storage, new paintand better lighting.

Alumni NewsAt Chiaravalle, we value a lifelong commitment to learning how to learn.Read on for news from young adults whose commitment to learningbegan at Chiaravalle and has propelled them to explore and succeed innew ventures.

Matthew Neuberger (’09) was recognized as a Student of the Month forthe month of October 2010 at Evanston Township High School. Matthewwas nominated by his math teacher for several reasons, but especially fortaking the initiative to assist students in Algebra during AM support(where help is offered for students before the start of the regular schoolday) when the teacher was busy with other students. His mom points out,"Montessori education at work!"

Alex Berns (’09) placed second in the 31st annual Evanston TownshipHigh School Straw Bridge Building and Breaking Contest. The winningbridge held 8 kilograms. Alex's bridge supported 7 kilograms or 15.4pounds. Each year, the bridge competition is a right-of-passage for Geom-etry students, with Chiaravalle graduates regularly appearing among thefinal four. Dale Leibforth, contest coordinator, said "As always, there weremany interesting bridges."

Darcy Miller (’08) was honored in April of 2011 for her volunteerism ef-forts at the 2011 Evanston Volunteer Recognition Reception. Darcy wasamong thirteen volunteers honored from Northwestern University,Evanston Township High School and the city of Evanston as a part of Na-tional Volunteer Week.

Adam Birnbaum (’07)was named as a National Merit Semifinalist. About1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 NationalMerit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/NationalMerit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQ). Semifinalists representless than one percent of US high school seniors. Adam has activities asvaried as being behind-the-scenes at YAMO (a student-created sketchcomedy program) and excelling in Project Lead the Way Engineering pro-grams, just to name two. We look forward to hearing more about Adam'sacademic adventures now that he's a freshman at Yale University.

Alumni, do you have news to share with Chiaravalle? Send in your

update to Ellen Bouleanu at ebouleanu@chiaravalle.org or send a card

to 425 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL 60201.

Our Core Values in Action:Examples from Head Teachers RespectChiaravalle believes in the importance of treating students of all ages,infant through 8th grade, as competent individuals. In the toddlercurriculum, students are taught to respect others and the classroom. Forexample, at mealtimes, students use sponges and buckets to clean tablesand dishes. In respecting our environment, toddlers demonstrate theirability to appreciate and honor each other.

Joe Franchere, Toddler Full Day

Cooperation and EmpowermentRecently, a Kindergartner was helping a 3-year-old classmate hang up hercoat after recess. Alone that is not extraordinary; we ask the older kids tohelp the younger ones all the time. What was impressive was herapproach. Often the older children will hang up coats for the little ones,which is sweet but doesn't allow them to practice zipping and turningsleeves inside-out. Instead, this Kindergartner talked the younger studentthrough the process. In the end both were very proud of themselves.

Dorothy Schmid, 3-6 Program

IntegrityLower El students write a Classroom Constitution together in thebeginning of the year to propose and agree on policies that govern theclassroom. The creation of the Classroom Constitution lays thegroundwork for each student to act with integrity. Our weekly classmeeting reminds them throughout the year of their intention to act as theirbest selves. Students often use the rules to frame discussions and solveproblems. For instance, when some students noticed the pencil cup neverhad pencils, they brought up at a classroom meeting the importance ofrespecting the space and each other. Students learn to integrate integrityinto their everyday behavior by upholding their word and using it toaccomplish positive goals.

Clare Heath, Lower Elementary

CompassionWe regularly see compassion in the Middle School classroom. Fromhelping a peer who is struggling with an assignment, to cooking andserving each month at Hilda's Place (a local shelter), to making sure allare included in group activities, and to reassuring those with fears andconcerns about an overnight outdoor education trip, Chiaravalle studentsdemonstrate compassion in our community every day.

Theresa Sparlin, Middle School

Self-ReflectionSelf-Reflection is a huge part of the Upper Elementary curriculum. Studentsdraw connections to their world on a daily basis by reflecting on a proverbor quote for our “daily message” every morning and by reviewing theirown work. We ask students to write a reflection on a work of which theyare proud; they explain the process involved, why they have chosen it, howthey might do things differently. As a culmination of the three-year cycle,the 6th-Years do a Coming of Age project where they study ceremonies andrituals of other cultures and think about their own values and goals for theirfutures. Students spend the year reflecting on their growth and changingroles as they move into adulthood in our society.

Susan Greenwood, Upper Elementary