Dear Families,

We truly enjoyed seeing so many of you last week at the Fall Family Social. It is both gratifying and inspiring to watch our school community come together for special occasions. We hope that you had an enjoyable evening and that you reconnected with old friends and made some new ones!

It is in this same spirit of community and shared commitment to our children that we write to you today. In Education and Peace, Maria Montessori wrote: “An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” Nearly 45 years ago, the founders of our school – Mrs. Elena Heil and Mrs. Olga McAdam – had a vision to bring Montessori education to the children of St. Helena and boldly embraced this enormous undertaking. Their ambitious endeavor formed the foundation of this beautiful school that our children are so fortunate to attend each day.

Now – thanks to the community of generous supporters over these many years – that vision has blossomed into the extraordinary school that we cherish today.  As current parents, we are the grateful beneficiaries of the generosity of those that came before us, and it is our responsibility to sustain and invest in this vibrant institution. Every day, the teachers, staff, and administration of St. Helena Montessori School provide an environment and education that cultivates curiosity, empathy, engagement, and courage – character traits that are needed in this world now perhaps more than ever.

To that end, we hope that our entire parent body will come together and join the hundreds of parents, grandparents, alumni, and community members before us who have answered this call to steward the next generation through participating in this year’s Annual Fund.

We all choose to support organizations that are important to us, and as the season of giving and gratitude approaches, we hope that you will remember to count our beautiful school among your blessings and consider contributing to sustaining its mission and programs. This important work is never done, and we humbly ask for your continued assistance in carrying out the bold and beautiful mission of our school.

For this year, we hope to reach 100% participation from our parents. Some families may consider making a recurring gift at either monthly, quarterly, or annual intervals. Sustaining gifts can be easily set up through the Annual Fund page. They offer our school dependable revenue each month, quarter, or year, and they also allow a family or friend of the school to make a sizable gift in manageable increments over time.

Your generosity creates an environment where all of our children are known and nurtured into becoming their best selves; allows us to open our doors to families who share this commitment to Montessori education, regardless of income; supports the maintenance and operating costs for our stunningly beautiful campus; and provides long-term stability for the beloved faculty and staff who shape our children’s lives. Through our collective contributions, we will support this great undertaking of an “education capable of saving humanity” and prepare all of our children to understand, uplift, and ultimately transform the world that they will inherit.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mrs. Regina Bailey and Mrs. Kim Labry

2025-2026 Annual Fund Chairs