A Mindful Year · 2016. 3. 29. · 20142015 Friends’ School Annual Report to the Community 1 Dear...

2014/2015 Friends’ School Annual Report to the Community 1

A Mindful YearExpanding compassion and empathy

in our community.

2014-2015 Annual Report


Dear Friends’ School Community,

The 2014-15 school year was a momentous one for our school. Two of our teachers won back-to-back Teacher of the Year awards; We Starts With Me, a film made by the 2nd grade class was an official selection of the White House Film Festival; one of our students made it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.; we dedicated our year to the understanding of mindfulness; and, through it all, we continued to fulfill our mission of teaching to the whole child, Head, Hand and Heart, and preparing children who know themselves for a successful middle school experience.

There were many highlights this year.

Diane Bramble’s 2nd grade class entered their short film into the White House Film Festival, where the theme was The Impact of Giving Back. The film, We Starts With Me, was named one of only fifteen (out of more than two thousand entries) to become an official selection. Diane, along with parent and filmmaker Rachel Lederman and her daughter Sadie Melendez, traveled to Washington, D.C. where Sadie got to meet President Obama. Later, we adopted the theme The Impact of Giving Back for the following school year at Friends’.

Preschool teacher Jessie Vanden Hogen was selected as Educator of the Year by the Boulder chapter of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children. Jessie followed her colleague Christie Stanford who won the award the previous year. It is the first time in the history of the award that one school has received the Educator of the Year award in back-to-back years.

Third grader Cameron Keith not only won the Friends’ School spelling bee, he was victorious at the Regional Spelling Bee. This meant that Cameron, at 9 years old, became the youngest participant in the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Cameron spelled both his words correct on the national stage, but unfortunately didn’t make it through to the semifinals because of the written spelling and vocabulary test.

Our fourth graders got in on the act, with their Destination Imagination teams qualifying for district and state tournaments, and the class performing a scene from As You Like It at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

We are extremely proud of all of the accomplishments of our students and staff.

Letter from the Head of School


Letter from the Head of School (continued)

Each year at Friends’, we select a school-wide theme on which to focus and incorporate into our classrooms and culture. In 2014-15, that theme was mindfulness. We hosted author Dr. Kristen Race at an evening for the Boulder community. Teachers and students alike learned many ways how the practice of mindfulness enhanced their learning.

We enjoyed a record-breaking Annual Fund and an extremely strong Auction, which directly benefited our students’ classroom experiences and our financial aid program.

This report would be incomplete if I did not mention Ewa Borowska. Ewa stepped down after three years as Board Chair. Her leadership and wisdom have guided the school through a strong period of consolidation and firm preparation for the next stage in the school’s growth.

Throughout the entire year, we worked and played together to create a school that is like no other —one where children are challenged to know themselves, where subjects are taught in experiential, fully-integrated ways, where creative and critical thinking and children’s natural curiosity are celebrated, where we all become an integral part of a caring community, where everyone is challenged and honored in a lifelong journey of learning.

Thank you to all of you for being part of it, for everything that you do.

Sincerely,

Steve de Beer Head Of School


Letter from Friends’ School Board of Trustees Chair

Dear Friends’ School Community,

In many ways, the 2014-2015 school year completed a process in which Friends’ School’s Community Board had been engaged for many years: setting the stage for growth. Previous Boards had done much preliminary work, including paying off all school debt, creating an endowment, professionalizing financial management, building financial reserves, and discussing options for the future. It was in 2014-2015, though, that the Board at last reached the point of being able to articulate to the community the goal of increasing the size of the school by 2019. Board steps in 2014-2015 leading to that announcement included reflection on and articulation of what Friends’ already does well, continued emphasis on improving financial management of the organization and strengthening its financial position, and concerted efforts to research threats and opportunities inherent in Friends’ current place in the school marketplace in Boulder County.

Continued preparations for the 2016 site visit by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools reaccreditation team afforded both the Community Board and staff the opportunity to revise our mission, values, and philosophy statements and to articulate for the first time a concise vision for Friends’. After considerable discussion and input from many segments of our community, including our Founder Trustees, we retained our trademark emphasis on “head, hand, and heart” but added an additional phrase noting that Friends’ mission now includes not only educating children but also “training exceptional teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms.” Our renowned

Teacher Preparation Program annually graduates more than 30 licensed teachers who have spent a full year as apprentice teachers and are truly ready to create classrooms where Friends’ spirit of creativity and collaboration thrives—in both public and independent school settings. Our desired goal of impacting the world beyond our building doors and beyond our own preschool-fifth grade students is expressed also in the new school vision: “Making the world better by challenging minds, nurturing spirits and honoring individuality.”

While the Board spent much time thinking through these statements of our mission and vision, we also focused on finances. Specifically, the Board continued to oversee improvements in the School’s financial position. The extremely positive fiscal tone of the year was marked by the particular record-breaking success of the Annual Fund, which continued to draw extremely impressive support from the Board, staff, parents, and other community members. I am extremely grateful for the efforts of our Development staff and volunteers who made this success possible. In addition, as part of continuing efforts to strengthen Board governance, the Board created a new Audit Committee to select firms for


Letter from Friends’ School Board of Trustees Chair (continued)

the annual independent financial audit and to meet with the auditors upon completion of their work. The Audit Committee will now receive audit reports and make recommendations to the full Board regarding acceptance of those reports and will discuss and recommend any needed changes in financial management and controls. Operation of an Audit Committee as a group independent of the Finance Committee is considered best practice in governance, and the Board was pleased to take this step to strengthen our already sound financial management.

Looking into the future, the Board also conducted significant internal and external research to identify threats and opportunities impacting Friends’ long-term financial sustainability. A team of trustees and staff spent countless hours on financial modeling of different growth and no-growth scenarios and concluded that growth in enrollment, beyond that which is possible at our current campus, will in the next several years become essential to allow the school to maintain the caliber of our programs while keeping tuition levels competitive. In addition, the school commissioned a market research study which confirmed that the student pool in Boulder County is growing modestly and that our students will likely continue to come from a variety of locations within Boulder County, including both the heart of the City of Boulder as well as East County suburbs.

Together, the steps taken in previous years and the Board’s actions in 2014-2015 provided the impetus and foundation for the culminating events of the Board year: adoption of a new 5-year strategic plan with the over-arching goal of a new, larger facility for Friends’ in 2019 and announcement of that goal to the larger school community in the spring of 2015. Spoiler alert: the 2015-2016 Community Board promptly acted to shake up that new strategic plan with a new goal that is at once bolder and more conservative, but that news is for another Annual Report, or you can read about it now on the School’s website. In any case, though, the history remains the same: 2014-2015 was the year in which the Community Board wrapped up the preparation phase for Friends’ School’s growth and paved the way for the growing excitement to come.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Henna Chair, Friends’ School Community Board


Ewa Borowska – ChairAmy CarpenterBev Cole Steve de BeerMike FolwellMarv FranklinPaul GagnerLarry GoldJennifer GreeneCarol HampfElizabeth Henna

Diane HulletAnne HunterCaroline LongFred MarienthalHope MorrissettShelby PawlinaAllison ShorsEd WalentChris Wirth

Board of Trustees


Preschool East ................Mindy MullinsPreschool West ..............Karen Donohue, Christina CarlsonPreK East ........................Hillary SodhaPreK West .......................Allison FaldiKindergarten ..................Melissa Vangelis, Michelle PluzynskiFirst Grade .....................Karen Brungard, Laura LeeSecond Grade ................Sheila WrightThird Grade ....................Lisa Mandel, Caroline BlecherFourth Grade .................Cinder Trout, Carolyn ArrasFifth Grade .....................Nancy Travis, Dena Nishek

Parent Council


Each year, Friends’ School makes an award to one or more of our staff from the Polly T. Donald Enrichment Fund. This fund was created by generous parents and community donors as a tribute to our former Head of School,

Polly Donald. Its purpose is to provide a unique opportunity for faculty and staff to revitalize and grow outside the classroom. Polly believes that an individual’s personal growth inevitably enriches those with whom she/he comes into contact. The fund aims to revitalize, inspire, and support personal growth, enriching the Friends’ School community at large.

This year’s recipients of the Polly T. Donald Enrichment Fund were Jana Bledsoe and Jessie Vanden Hogen. Their stories of how they used their awards follow below.

Jana Bledsoe

Jana has been at Friends’ School since 1998. She oversees our Alumni Association, as well as supports the work of the development, business, and admissions offices and helps to keep the administrative office sane and organized.

Namaste!

Last summer I was generously awarded a grant from Friends’ Polly T. Donald Enrichment Fund. I chose to use my award to attend a week-long intensive mindful meditation program at the Shambala Mountain Center at Red Feathers Lake. My goal was to do something radically out of my comfort zone. I was hoping for an experience that would shift my paradigm from a “tasking” lifestyle, working two jobs and single parenting, to one of mindful awareness, adding more depth and breadth to my life.

I was a bit nervous when I discovered that I was the only participant in the program who had never meditated before. I thought perhaps I should have reflected upon the meaning of “immersion” before registering. The next seven days would consist of 14 hours of meditation....each day. The 14 hours involved sitting meditation interspersed with walking meditation as well as three meals, which were “performed” ritualistically, in silence, on our cushions, using the basic principles of Oryoki.

Polly T. Donald Enrichment Fund

My meditation instructor Ingrid and I at the Stupa


I actually found the first day exhilarating and remember thinking “oh, this isn’t so hard.” I came to realize that I wasn’t actually meditating at all but instead “thinking” about all of the things that I was grateful for. I struggled the next day to try to “clear my mind,” which proved to be about as easy as herding 120 cats with a couple pit bulls thrown in for additional distraction.

In theory, mindfulness meditation practice couldn’t be simpler: take a good seat, pay attention to the breath, and when your attention wanders, return. How could something so simple be so difficult? Fourteen hours felt like 14 days when it was broken up into 60-second intervals of success before the next assault of “thought” bombarded me like a Star Wars fleet. The paradox was that when I was able to just be present to my mind and body, the stress would quiet down—but when I tried to quiet my mind down, I would just add fuel to the fire. This realization eventually allowed my intervals of “quiet” to increase. Over the course of the week, I found my entire nervous system slowing down. Every day seemed to bring with it a profound introspection and appreciation for the simplicity of eating, breathing, walking, essentially just “being.” The practice became somewhat easier. By the end of the week, my eyes had been opened to the richness of simple, mindful living. I had a set of tools to work with, and most importantly, my heart was open.

Shambala Mountain Center – The Great Stupa

Polly T. Donald Enrichment Fund (continued)

“Meditation is not escape from society, but to come back to ourselves and see what is going on. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. With mindfulness, we know what to do and what not to do to truly help.” – Thich Nhat Hanh



Jessie Vanden Hogen

Jessie has taught hundreds of our preschool students at Friends’ School since 1999. In 2015, Jessie was awarded the Educator of the Year award by the Boulder chapter of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children.

This past summer I was fortunate enough to receive a PTD grant, which afforded me the opportunity to connect with my entire family on a memorable trip to Kauai. With half of my family living in the states (Boulder, CO and Green Bay, WI - go Pack!) and the other half living in Australia (Sydney and Old Toongabbie, NSW), we try to get together every five years and this was our summer to all be in one place.

After a month-long traumatic event with my nephew last January (with many complications still ongoing), my family felt a pull towards needing to honor our plan to spend some quality time together to decompress, continue healing, and celebrate life. What are the first words that come to mind to describe your feelings of spending 10 days in the same cozy house with 13 of your family members…as an adult? Believe it or not, mine are: Rejuvenation, Renewal, Laughter, Love, Fun, Connection, Balance, and even Growth! It

was hot, hot, hot and humid, humid, humid, but there was no shortage of connection, fun and love. Everyone had his or her moment to shine. We snorkeled, cooked amazingly colorful, tasty meals, took photos, told stories, played bar dice, hugged, cried, danced, and laughed.

This grant gave me the gift of quality time with my family that fed my soul. It was a therapeutic trip for all of us. I am so lucky to be able to leave my family and come home to my Friends’ School family. I am so grateful to everyone who contributed to this fund and to Polly who always helped me to think and grow outside of my box.

Getting a hug from her little brother Pieter who lives in Australia.

Near Ke’e Beach - the northern tip of Kauai.


This experience refreshed and reenergized me, as well as inspired me to grow as a teacher, co-worker, aunt, sister, daughter, granddaughter, and friend.

As far as my nephew Connor, his journey and his ability to live by his hero Vince Lombardi’s quote was a lesson to all of us to persevere…

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi

He has taught us all to celebrate life and that is what we were all doing in that cozy house on a tiny island inbetween the States and Oz.

Good on ya mate, no worries.


Grateful for the trip! Back home in Colorado.

Connor, Liam, Annabelle, & Adel — first time all of the cousins have met across the ocean!


Every now and then, the stars align, you feel the wind at your back, and fortune finds you. Or, to put it another way, you make a short film, submit it to the White House

Film Festival, and within a few weeks discover that your movie is a finalist out of 1,500 entries. Here’s how it happened.

Associate Head of School Mandy Stepanovsky forwarded an email to the teachers in January 2015 about an upcoming film festival sponsored by President Obama and the White House. Coincidentally, a few weeks earlier, Rachel Lederman a mom of a second grader named Sadie, offered to make a short film with the class. It was that email, the expertise of Rachel, the enthusiasm and energy of the kids, and the event itself that came together for the stars align part.

The theme of the film festival was The Impact of Giving Back. The second graders brainstormed ways that they give back at school, from recycling to being kind to one another to helping the teachers. Rachel decided how to film the second graders (one of the ways was to use a drone flying over our playground!) and set to work. Our music teacher, Monica Benko, also jumped wholeheartedly into the project. She taught the children the film’s theme song, “We Starts With Me,” choreographed movements to accompany the song, and directed the kids as they recorded their voices at a professional music studio. This is the wind at our backs part.

We submitted the film and eagerly awaited the results of how it would be received by the selection committee. A few nail-biting weeks passed and, at long last, we got word that the film was an official finalist and Friends’ School could send three representatives to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to attend the festival!

In March, Rachel, her daughter Sadie, and I traveled to D.C. to attend the 2015 White House Student Film Festival. Fortune found us!

We arrived at the White House on a cold, rainy morning. We came bearing gifts—Sadie had dog toys for Sunny and Bo, the First Dogs, and I had a book filled with letters that the second graders had written to President Obama. We were whisked through four checkpoints run by the Secret Service and suddenly found ourselves standing in the hallowed halls of the White House.

White House Student Film Festival 2015by Diane Bramble


The student filmmakers were taken to the State Dining Room, where they met President Obama, and the adults were escorted to the East Room where the films would be screened. The East Room of the White House—it’s where Abigail Adams hung her laundry during a renovation, it’s where President Lincoln lay in state following his assassination in 1865, and 100 years later, it’s where President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. The East Room was packed with press and photographers, decorated servicemen and women, dignitaries, and the student filmmakers. There were a number of Hollywood notables, like two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank, director Steve McQueen, and Emmy and Tony award winner Ken Howard. The entire day was magical and the films were inspiring and uplifting. We Starts With Me was a crowd pleaser and had the audience tapping its toes to the beat and smiling at the images of our second graders making the world a better place.

Rachel, Sadie, and I picked up a number of gifts for the second graders—official White House Film Festival finalist certificates, bookmarks from The Newseum, pencils from the White House store, and mini-Oscar statuettes. Plus, we capped off our celebration back at Friends’ School with a delicious cake shaped like the White House.

The children learned about the impact they can make on the world through caring, how to work as a collective to create art (thank you Rachel Lederman and Monica Benko), how to have patience, how to win graciously, how to support each other (thanks second

graders), how a community can make a significant impact (thank you parents, teachers, and staff, Steve and Mandy), and how one spark of an idea can make the world of difference.

White House Student Film Festival 2015by Diane Bramble


The Legacy Circle

For more information, please

contact Steve de Beer, at

[email protected]

or (303) 499-1999 ext. 226

Making a gift to Friends’ School through a

bequest or with other assets is an impactful

way to acknowledge the excellent education

Friends’ School provides to so many children.

Even a small amount can make a big impact over

time. Individuals who inform the school of a planned

gift are included in the The Legacy Circle.

A bequest will provide crucial funds for Friends’

School and will enable you to leave a larger gift

to support our work more than you may have ever

thought possible. A charitable bequest may be added

or modified by a codicil so you don’t have to draw a

new will.

Putting Friends’ School in your planned giving

is an easy way to leave a legacy to Friends’ School.

Your assets remain under your control until death.

Please consult your attorney.



There are 11 million spellers entering spelling bees across the United States. Cameron Keith was carried from The Great Room down the hall to his classroom on the shoulders of his schoolmates, upon winning the 2015 Friends’ School spelling bee. Cameron, son of Gregory Keith and Synte Peacock, a third grade student in Tyler Voorhees’ class won the 8th annual Friends’ School Spelling Bee with the word “cryonics.”

Out of those 11 million spellers, 30,000 spellers made it to their regional spelling bees. He was one of 52 spellers competing in the Boulder regional spelling bee. Then it was down to 3 spellers, including a former three time Friends’ School spelling bee champion. After a tense 6 hour competition, with the word “tilapia,” Cameron won the Boulder County spelling bee, sponsored by Barnes & Noble. He won an all expense paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee as 1 of 2 spellers representing Colorado.

Out of those 30,000 spellers, 285 spellers made it to the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. On the last day of his 2014-2015 school year, the entire school yelling “Cameron, Cameron, Cameron” formed a victory tunnel for his passage to The Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. He was the first Friends’ School student, the youngest speller and the only third grader to compete at the national level in 2015. Round 1 took place at the crack of dawn on the last Tuesday in May. Cameron took a preliminary written spelling exam including words such as, “tarsorrhaphy,” “gorgoneion,” and “schmierkase.” He also took a vocabulary exam including words such as,”lenitive,” “viridigenous,” and “hypercryalgesia.” On the following day, Friends’ School students, teachers and staff gathered in the 3rd grade classroom, watching ESPN and cheering as Cameron correctly spelled his first word “Kabuki,” in round 2. He successfully spelled his second word, “odontiasis,” in round 3.

Out of those 285 spellers, 49 spellers made it to the semi-finals of the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Cameron did not make to the semi-finals. However, he was selected as the Colorado representative and seated on the front row of the national telecast of the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Prior to his departure to the national spelling bee, Denver news channel 7 anchor Kellie Patterson interviewed Cameron and wrote, “We will be rooting for him.” Upon hearing he was Cameron’s hero, author T.A. Barron sent this message, “How marvelous! The special dedication for a young person to make it all the way to the national level is inspiring—I am truly honored. Way to go, Cameron!”

Some schools never have spellers competing at the national level, Friends’ School has had 2 students spell their way to Washington, DC. In 8 years of hosting a school spelling bee, Friends’ School sent 5 different spellers to the regional spelling bee. In addition to Cameron’s win in 2015, former Friends’ School student Teddy Schoenfeld won the Boulder County Spelling Bee as a 7th grader in 2014.

Friends’ School Spelling Beeby deana harragarra waters


Chris Moody and Sarah Ahn

Carolyn and William Arras

John and Linda Axe

Mary and Doug Barakat

Julianna Bellipanni and Matt Ludemann

Lou Bendrick and Hal Clifford

Monica and Craig Benko

Lindsey and Bo Bergstrom

Caroline and Herb Blecher

Jana Bledsoe

Lonna and Mark Borden

Ewa Borowska and Christopher Usher

Diane Bramble

Karen Brungard and Blayne Rawsky

Russell and Jean Brungard

Tricia and Kyle Callahan

Cayman and Casey Campbell

Shayne Cardinale

Steve Cardinale Sr.

Marty Carlock

Christina and Jim Carlson

Amy and Steve Carpenter

Christine and Rick Case

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Catlin

Robin and Dan Catlin

Harold and Susan Chotiner

Candy and Jack Clevenger

Bev Cole

Patsy Colhoun

Mr. H.P. Colhoun

Shannon and J.J. Collier

Jennifer and Thomas Cope

Aeron and Matthew Cox

Jennifer Cunningham and Chad McDaniel

Anne and Paul Cure

Sarah Daignault

Angel and Will Dailey

Will and Ginger Dailey

Meg Daniel

Steve de Beer and Stephanie Bruno

Melanie and Will Deaver

Polly Donald

Karen and Keith Donohue

Jenefer and Terry Donovan

Heather and James Doran

Rhea and Mike Dow

Natalie and Cameron Dye

Kate Ellard

Mari Engle Friedman and Markiah Friedman

Maureen and Jorge Espinoza

Yana and Ali Etemadi

Allison and Finn Faldi

Brad Beck and Laura Farrelly

Alden Faulkner

Gail and Mike Folwell

Marvin and MaryAnn Franklin

Ann Fuller

Victoria and Paul Gagner

Emily and Justin Gazlay

Shel and David Gerding

Missy and Rick Gill

Susan GilmoreCharlene and Josh Gorman

Jennifer GreeneJeffrey Magner and Catherine Griffin

Melissa and Drew Grumhaus

Ginna and Anders Halverson

Gina and Bill Hander

Meg Hansen

Eddie and Peggy Harding

Jen and Brian Harper

Lars Harrison

Gracia and Richard Hegener

Beth and Thomas Heinrich

Elizabeth Henna and Tim Commons

Jenny and Stephen Herrington

Julie and Chris Higgins

Lindsey and Zach Hilliard

Raquel and Eric Hink

Steven Frank and Surrie Hobart

Carol and John Hoeffler

Aarin and Jamie Holmes

Dacia Horn

Boon Sim and Audrey Huang

Beth Huennekens

Diane and Russ Hullet

Donna Hullet

Tara and Chris Hume

Anne Hunter and Dan Abell

Debbie and Michael Huttner

Diane Huttner

Mary Johnson

Emily and Gerry Jones

Paul Beckman and Tracy Jones

Ron Kertzner and Sue Jordan-Kertzner

Jenifer and Aaron Kennedy

Jennifer and Jason Kiefer

Adam and Beth Kimberly

Michael Behar and Ashley Kissinger

Chris Sacco and Deb Knapp

Virginia Knowlton

Timothy and Candace Larsen

CONTINUED PAGE 16

Annual Fund Donors

Thank you to our generous community who support our Annual Fund. The Annual Fund makes a huge impact on our budget, and allows Friends’ to offer teacher specialists in music, art, literacy, math, PE, and Spanish. The Annual Fund supports

field trips, provides up-to-date technology, and brings engaging guests and speakers as part of our Afternoon Gatherings.


Dawn Larson

Xavier Melendez and Rachel Lederman

Deborah-Sharon and Richard Lee

Laura and Andy Lee

Melanie and Roy Leggett

Jessica and Ilan Levy

Debbie Lidge

Lindsay and Brad Lidge

Joan Lieberman and Robert Pelcyger

Pia and Robby Loeb

Kasey and Mark Lohman

Caroline Long and Katie Ruiz

Hilary Long

Casey and Dave MacKenzie

Lisa and Konoy Mandal

Sally Sporer and Fred Marienthal

Gary and Gail McDaniel

Jenny and Seth McGuire

Katherine and Ryan McIntyre

Neville Harson and Kristin McLean

Cecile and Matt McNulty

Sandra and Jonathan McQueen

Ali and Marc Melaina

Catherine Meng and Gregg Miller

Wendy and Dave Michael

Kris and David Miller

Kim Millison

Ciska Moore

Hope Morrissett and Larry Gold

Jeremy Sebor and Mindy Mullins

Laurie Nakauchi

Dena and Sam Nishek

Lawrence Armstrong and Khandro Noble

Lauren and Geoff Noyes

Brian Daugherty and Rosalie Olson

Caroline Landry and Paul Orbuch

Tara and Jason Orr

Caroline and Matthew Osofsky

Preston and Barbara Padden

Shelby Pawlina and Marcos Bradley

Synte Peacock and Greg Keith

Mary Pearsall

Mary Cary and Clifton Peterson

Jennifer and Andy Pillari

Michelle and Scott Pluzynski

Rosanne Pollard

Sheila Powers-Wright and Martin Wright

Tara and Dan Powers

Brooke and Alexi Rakow

Gretchen and Bryan Rech

Susan Rech

Ann and Cameron Reid

Bill Townsend and Dawn Reinfeld

Amber and Alex Reish

Mary and George Reish

Rachel Relin

Mr. Martin Revson

Liz Richards

Jim Risner and Jenny Eberhardt

Sandra Risner

Ania and Michael Roberts

Abhinav Keswani and Fiona Robertson

Chuck Rogers

Kate and John Ruder

Charlie and Mary Jane Sacco

Amy and Scott Scheff

Gwen and Jim Schell

Jaime and Kurt Schlomberg

Julie and Bruce Schoenfeld

Amy Sebring

Bulend Corbacioglu and Sonja Seitamo

Steve Dieter and Rosemary Shambaris

Kathy and David Sherwood

Sandra and Jeremy Shevlin

Allison and John Shors

Gary Zabow and Ewa Slojka

Hilary and Fateh Sodha

Bill Spencer and Patti Bruck

Christie and Paul Stanford

Mandy Stepanovsky and Catherine Smith

Greg Stroh

Davis Tailer

Kate and Norm Taylor

Marion Taylor and Tim Rastello

Alex Teller and Rick Frankel

Ana and David Tenzer

Toby Minear and Sarah Thomas

Hetta Towler

Maia and Robby Tozzi

Nancy and Brian Travis

Brett Schell and Cinder Trout

Corinne and Bret Turner

Kelly Usubillaga

Jessie Vanden Hogen

Melissa and Damon Vangelis

Lisa and Doug Velick

Mary and Karl Volz

Tyler Voorhees

Tami and Michael Wakeman

Ed and Denise Walent

deana harragarra waters and Richard Waters

Sage and Chris Wirth

Michelle Worster

Janet and Joe Wright

Pesha and Rob Wright

Mary Anne and Daniel Zacek

2012-2013 Annual Fund Donors Annual Fund Donors


Friends’ School Annual Fund Leadership Giving Circles

We are extremely grateful for the support from the families and individuals in our community. Every donation makes a difference and allows our school to best educate our students.

The Annual Fund Leadership Giving Circes include donations to the Annual Fund of $1,000 or greater. Thank you to the 54 donors at these levels in 2014-2015.

*(Icon) Indicates the number of donors at each level.

Friends’ Circle:

$1000 - $2499

12*Head, Hand, Heart

Circle: $2500 - $4999

7*

Silver and Gold Circle:

$5000-$9999

5*1987

Circle: $10,000+

30*


Grandparent Giving CircleJohn and Linda AxeMary and Doug BarakatRussell and Jean BrungardSteve Cardinale Sr.Marty CarlockMr. and Mrs. Daniel CatlinHarold and Susan ChotinerCandy and Jack ClevengerPatsy ColhounMr. H.P. Colhoun Will and Ginger DaileyRhea and Mike DowAnn FullerEddie and Peggy HardingGracia and Richard HegenerDonna HulletDiane HuttnerMary Johnson

Emily and Gerry JonesVirginia KnowltonTimothy and Candace LarsenDebbie LidgeGary and Gail McDanielPreston and Barbara PaddenRosanne PollardSusan RechMary and George ReishMr. Martin RevsonSandra RisnerCharlie and Mary Jane SaccoGwen and Jim SchellKate and Norm TaylorKatherine TaylorWren and Tim WirthJanet and Joe Wright

Other Generous Donors


Teacher Preparation Program Donors Bill Spencer and Patti Bruck

Honor and Memorial DonorsDiane Bramble ............................................................. In memory of Dennis Donald

Meg Hansen ................................................................ In memory of Dennis Donald

Caroline Landry ........................................................... In memory of Dennis Donald

Gracia and Richard Hegener ....................................... In honor of Verity Rech

Harold and Susan Chotiner ......................................... In honor of Gavin Orr

Laurie Nakauchi ........................................................... In memory of Mary Nakauchi

Sandra Risner ............................................................... In memory of James S. Risner, Sr.

Jim Risner and Jenny Eberhardt .................................. In memory of James S. Risner, Sr.

Colorado Capital Management .................................. In honor of Debbie Huttner

Polly T. Donald Fund Harwood Ferguson

Polly Donald

Friends’ School Music ProgramHarwood Ferguson

Other Generous Donors


Auction Donors

Carolyn and William ArrasStephanie BinghamJana BledsoeLonna and Mark BordenEwa Borowska and

Christopher Usher Diane BrambleBtown Wine and SpiritsChristina and Jim CarlsonAmy and Steve CarpenterChristine and Rick CaseNite Ize, Inc.Jennifer and Thomas CopeJennifer Cunningham and

Chad McDaniel Angel and Will DaileySteve de Beer and

Stephanie BrunoCumberland Construction, LLC

Karen and Keith DonohueKate EllardMaureen and Jorge EspinozaBrad Beck and Laura FarrellyAlden Faulkner Shel and David GerdingCheryl GibbonsSusan GilmoreCharlene and Josh GormanMelissa and Drew GrumhausGina and Bill HanderMeg HansenMichael HansenLars HarrisonBoulder Global CapitalElizabeth Henna and

Tim Commons Lindsey and Zach Hilliard

Steven Frank and Surrie HobartCarol and John HoefflerJohn Hoeffler Real Estate Sales, LLCDiane and Russ HulletChad JohnsonTrineoCaroline LandryKande LarsonLaura and Andy LeeMelanie and Roy LeggettLindsay and Brad LidgeKasey and Mark LohmanCaroline Long and Katie RuizCasey and Dave MacKenzieLisa and Konoy MandalSally Sporer and Fred MarienthalKutak Rock LLPGoogle

The annual Auction is an important fundraiser and a fun opportunity for our community to come together. Close to 180 guests attended the “Motown Dinner, Dance Party and Auction” at the St. Julien Hotel. The event netted over

$83,000 that goes directly to student materials and programs, teacher salaries and benefits, and financial aid. Thank you to the many volunteers who gave their time to put on such a fabulous event! And thank you to the generosity of our sponsors and donors for your generous support!


Auction Donors (continued)

Katherine and Ryan McIntyreCecile and Matt McNultyWendy and Dave MichaelJeremy Sebor and Mindy MullinsDena and Sam NishekShelby Pawlina and Marcos BradleyJennifer and Andy PillariMichelle and Scott PluzynskiPODSAnn and Cameron ReidLiz RichardsJim Risner and Jenny Eberhardt

Roberts Family FoundationVotigo Abhinav Keswani and

Fiona RobertsonKate and John RuderAmy and Scott ScheffSteve Dieter and Rosemary

ShambarisHilary and Fateh SodhaChristie and Paul StanfordMandy Stepanovsky and

Catherine SmithHetta Towler

Maia and Robby TozziNancy and Brian TravisBrett Schell and Cinder TroutJessie Vanden HogenMary and Karl VolzVotigo Ed and Denise WalentValerie Walsh and Rick SchwolskyPesha and Rob Wright


Auction Corporate Sponsors

Friends’ School would like to thank our generous Corporate Sponsors who supported our 2015 Auction.

Cheryl Gibbons, Occupational Therapy ServicesColorado Capital ManagementCumberland Construction, LLCGoogleGreen Point RoofingJohn Hoeffler Real Estate Sales, LLC

Kutak Rock, LLPNite Ize, Inc.Roberts Family FoundationSkills 4 Life Votigo Anonymous

Boulder Global CapitalCheryl GibbonsCumberland Construction, LLCGoogleJohn Hoeffler Real Estate Sales, LLCKutak Rock LLPNite Ize, Inc.

Roberts Family FoundationTrineoVotigo AnonymousBtown Wine and SpiritsBingham Arts PODS

Event Sponsors


Auction Paddle Raisers

Carolyn and William ArrasJana BledsoeLonna and Mark BordenEwa Borowska and

Christopher Usher Diane BrambleChristina and Jim CarlsonAmy and Steve CarpenterChristine and Rick CaseJennifer and Thomas CopeJennifer Cunningham and

Chad McDaniel Angel and Will DaileySteve de Beer and Stephanie BrunoKaren and Keith DonohueKate EllardMaureen and Jorge EspinozaAlden Faulkner Shel and David GerdingSusan GilmoreCharlene and Josh GormanMelissa and Drew Grumhaus

Gina and Bill HanderMeg HansenMichael HansenElizabeth Henna and Tim Commons Lindsey and Zach HilliardSteven Frank and Surrie HobartCarol and John HoefflerDiane and Russ HulletChad JohnsonCaroline Landry and Paul OrbuchKande LarsonLaura and Andy LeeMelanie and Roy LeggettLindsay and Brad LidgeKasey and Mark LohmanCaroline Long and Katie RuizCasey and Dave MacKenzieCasey and Dave MacKenzieLisa and Konoy MandalCecile and Matt McNultyJeremy Sebor and Mindy MullinsDena and Sam Nishek

Shelby Pawlina and Marcos BradleyJennifer and Andy PillariMichelle and Scott PluzynskiAnn and Cameron ReidLiz RichardsJim Risner and Jenny EberhardtKate and John RuderAmy and Scott ScheffHilary and Fateh SodhaChristie and Paul StanfordMandy Stepanovsky and

Catherine SmithStephanie BinghamHetta TowlerMaia and Robby TozziNancy and Brian TravisBrett Schell and Cinder TroutJessie Vanden HogenMary and Karl VolzPesha and Rob Wright

Thank you to the 61 generous individuals who raised their paddles high at the Auction to support Financial Aid. Together, we raised $42,800!


Each year the fifth grade class raises money to give back as their legacy to Friends’ through the Fifth Grade Legacy. The students in the Class of 2015 along with their families raised $5,677 to support future fifth grade class

fieldtrips, plays and other experiences.

Students in the Class of 2015Alden FaulknerDiane and Russ Hullet

Katherine and Ryan McIntyreWren and Tim Wirth

5th Grade Legacy Donors


Audited Statement of Activities

REVENUE, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORT

Tuition and Fees

Education $ 2,179,632 75.6%

Teacher Candidate $ 225,600 7.8% Contributions & Fundraising $ 390,029 13.5%

Other Income $ 87,833 3.0%

TOTAL REVENUES, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORT $ 2,883,094 100.0%

EXPENSES

Program Services

Education $ 1,341,144 47.2%

Teacher Candidate $ 252,882 8.9%

Supporting Services

Management and General $ 1,092,243 38.5%

Development & Fundraising $ 154,156 5.4%

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 2,840,425 100.0%

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS $ 42,669

Finances Year Ended June 30, 2015

Audited Statement of Financial Position

ASSETSCurrent Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 3,826,507 Accounts Receivable $ 1,129 Other Current Assets $ 99,073

Total Current Assets $ 3,926,709 Noncurrent Assets Property and Equipment, Net $ 2,294,491

Total Noncurrent Assets $ 2,294,491 TOTAL ASSETS $ 6,221,200 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $ 28,067 Accrued Salaries and Benefits $ 121,432 Deposits - Tuition $ 202,604 Deferred Revenue - Tuition and Fees $ 976,745

TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 1,328,848 NET ASSETS Net Assets, Beginning Balance 7/1/14 $ 4,849,683 Change in Net Assets $ 42,669 TOTAL NET ASSETS $ 4,892,352 TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 6,221,200 AND NET ASSETS

Education 75.6%

Other Income 3.0%

Education 47.2%

Development and Fundraising 5.4%

Teacher Candidate 8.9%

Management and General 38.5%

REVENUE, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORT EXPENSES

Contributions and Fundraising 13.5%

Teacher Candidate 7.8%


5465 Pennsylvania AvenueBoulder, Colorado 80303

Phone: 303-499-1999Fax: 303-499-1365

[email protected] friendsschoolboulder.org

facebook.com/friendsschoolbouldertwitter.com/friendsschool

Our Mission Friends’ School is a supportive, dynamic community

committed to educating the whole child — head, hand, and heart —and to training exceptional teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms.

We provide a strong academic foundation while developing creative expression and nurturing a passion for learning.

Our students gain a deep understanding of themselves and are inspired to act with compassion and integrity.

Friends’ School, Inc. is a Colorado non-profit corporation and has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service as an educational, charitable organization.

Our Vision Making the world better by challenging minds,

nurturing spirits and honoring individuality.

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A Mindful Year · 2016. 3. 29. · 20142015 Friends’ School Annual Report to the Community 1 Dear...

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