2013-2014 MIR Annual Report

The 

Montessori 

Journey 

Annual Report 

2013-2014 

MIR ANNUAL REPORT 1

The Journey: 

Montessori in Redlands is an environment where 

children begin a life journey of self-realization, love 

of learning, and global responsibility. 

Reflections from the 

Head of school 4 

Living the 

Montessori Journey 5 

Key Metrics 6 

Our Authentic 

Montessori Practice 8 

Statement from the 

Board of Trustees 9 

Preparing the Environment 10 

Our Changing Landscape 

Staff Development 

Serving the Whole Child 13 

Sensorial 

Practical Life 

Language 

Mathematics 

Science 

Cultural Subjects 

Applied and Performing Arts 

Moral and Character Development 

Student Services 

Health and Physical Development 

Building Community 24 

PTM Report 

PTM-Sponsored Community 

Activies 

Parent Education 

Test Results 28 

MIR Summer Program 29 

Childcare 29 

Financial and Giving Report 30 

Overall Financial Results 

Grants 

Annual Fund 

MIR Spring Gala and Auction 

Testimonials 36 


“The teaching/supporting staff is great. 

The philosophy of community building is 

great. The campus is beautiful. My child 

is a happy student!” 

—Comment from 2013-14 Parent Satisfaction Survey 


Reflections from the Head of School 

This Annual Report is a reflection of all the work that goes into one school year. Our students continue to teach and 

amaze the adults around them with all that they are and all that they accomplish. They take quite the journey from late 

August to early June, and behind the scenes, the Board, administration, staff, and parents are there to support them. 

This past year, MIR focused on increasing ways to bring the parents along on their child’s Montessori journey. The school 

accomplished this in several ways: 


• The addition of “Beginnings,” a 2-part program for parents of Toddler and early 

Primary (up to age 4) students that focuses on typical child development and promoting 

independence in the home. 

• Our full day Journey & Discovery experience was moved to a Sunday in February to allow 

for more parents to attend, and we had our largest response to date. 

• A “Life after Montessori” Parent Education Night provided parents with an opportunity 

to meet and ask questions of MIR alumni about their experience with transitioning to a 

new school. 

Parents and Teachers of Montessori 

• PTM began providing childcare for enrolled students during PTM meetings, which 

encouraged more participation from parents. 

• PTM introduced topic discussions at their regular meetings, providing a forum for parents 

to dive deeper into the ins and outs of “why we do things the way we do” at MIR. 

• PTM added more community Skate Nights to encourage both MIR and Grove School 

students to socialize outside of school. 

SchoolCues Communication System 

MIR launched the SchoolCues calendar and event system to improve the communication 

between school and home. SchoolCues also provided online and mobile sign-ups for events, 

special classes, and Parent/Teacher conferences. 

Board of Trustees 

The work of the Board is done largely through committees. Several members of our parent 

community were invited to join and participated on the Long Range Planning, Marketing, 

and Facilities committees. 

Maura Joyce 

Head of School 


LIVING THE 

MONTESSORI JOURNEY 

Living the Montessori Journey is MIR’s strategic 

vision. 

MIR strives to exemplify Dr. Maria Montessori’s holistic vision of education, from birth to adulthood. 

We believe that children possess a natural desire to learn and have the ability to absorb all aspects of their culture and 

civilization without effort or fatigue. 

We also believe that, if given the freedom to explore and make choices, children will be self-motivated to learn. This 

desire to learn through self-discovery will continue through their lifetime. 

Trusting in the child’s abilities to develop to their full potential through activities that support physical, intellectual, 

and emotional growth, the school provides an educational program to support its community of students, families, 

staff, board, and alumni in understanding and respecting the needs of the child. 

Through our core values, the school community, both students and adults, fosters the development of global citizens 

aimed at creating a peaceful world. 

The school provides carefully prepared environments in which the academic, social, and spiritual needs of children 

are fulfilled. Through purposeful activity, students are encouraged to follow their inner rhythms and thus enhance 

their capacity for exploration and learning. With this learning experience, children become individuals who are more 

responsible, caring, and respectful. 

We call our community’s work to achieve this vision “Living the Montessori Journey.” 

The school has three core values through which we Live the Montessori Journey. These values are the Whole Child, 

the Prepared Environment, and the Community. 


KEY METRICS: 

COMMUNITY STATISTICS 

P6 

P7 

Five-Year 

Enrollment Trends 

Years 

2009-10 

41 

102 

Black/African 

Hawaiian/Pacific Isl 

172 

Program Level 

Whole School 

2010-11 

39 

116 

167 

Toddler 

Primary 

Elementary 

Retention Rate 

96% 

2011-12 

2012-13 

40 

42 

134 

143 

161 

165 

Enth 

2013-14 

36 

148 

167 

“It’s a great school and has served 

my child well. Nothing is perfect, 

but MIR comes close.” 

—Comment from 2013-14 Parent Satisfaction 

Survey 

48% 

Student Enrollment 

248 Families Total 

Primary 

42% 

Elementary 

33% 

Families with 

multiple children 

10% 

Toddlers 


Global Reach 

MIR is an international community, 

with families from every continent 

except Antarctica. 

Black/African American 

Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 

1% 

Other 

2% 

4% 8% 15% 

Hispanic Origin (any race) 

Decline to State 

20% Asian 

MIR’s student body is diverse, 

reflecting our international 

community. 

49% White 

Enthnicity 

Enrollment 

milies Total 

Geographic 

Breakdown 

ry 

17 Students come from local cities spanning 

Beaumont to the east; Riverside and Moreno Valley to 

the South; Ontario to the west; and Upland, Rancho 

Cucamonga, San Bernardino, and Highland to the north. 


OUR AUTHENTIC 

MONTESSORI PRACTICE 

Montessori in Redlands provides a Montessori education based on the principles and practices of the Association Montessori Internationale 

(AMI). Classroom teachers hold AMI diplomas and the school meets the standards set by AMI. 

Additionally, MIR is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Currently MIR is in the middle of a 

6-year accreditation cycle and will have a visiting team on campus in February 2015. 


“We have a magnificent board.” 


STATEMENT FROM 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

When my older son (now 26) started in Aedín’s Toddler class, MIR was situated next to the New York Street post office. When he started 

in Primary, MIR had moved to its current location. It has always been the work of the MIR Board of Trustees to make strategic 

decisions to build the school as we now know it. 

Our entire campus serves a much more robust student body than in the 1990s. The Board of Trustees has the responsibility of planning 

to ensure that buildings and playgrounds, parking lots and utilities, and other physical details can serve these students well and 

maintain a Montessori community for years to come. You see evidence of that planning and implementation as you tour the campus 

today. 

Although there are many improvements, detailed in this report, the Board was particularly proud that MIR is converting the north 

campus to solar energy. This will allow us to save money on utility bills and invest more in student education, while also taking an 

action that demonstrates to our children that we care about the environment of their adulthoods. 

Let me share with you an overview of some of the activities carried out by the Board this past year: 

• We supported participation by the Head and Assistant Head of School in international Montessori organizations. Maura Joyce is 

president of the Montessori Administrators Association, and Peter Davidson serves on the AMI board. This increases MIR’s international 

reputation and profile. 

• We made budget decisions based on the recommendations of the Finance Committee that allowed for facilities improvements over 

the year, especially in the summer. 

• Our budget decisions allowed MIR to keep tuition changes to a minimum, especially when compared to other independent schools. 

Members of the MIR Board of Trustees are responsible for the future direction of MIR. We talk about our visions, we share our concerns, 

we serve on MIR committees, we listen and observe, and we work to ensure that MIR will be physically strong and financially 

stable for many years to come. 

Pam Ford 

President, Board of Trustees 

2013-14 Board of Trustees 

Pam Ford, President 

Trevor Norton, Vice President 

Robert Dawes, Treasurer 

Dean Silliman, Secretary 

Lorraine Slattery-Farrell 

Michele Vercoski 

Treva Webster 

Kendall McCarthy 


PREPARING THE 

ENVIRONMENT 

Our Changing Landscape: A Decade of Facilities 

Enhancements, 2004-2014 

The cornerstone of our learning environment is the beautiful campus. Nestled into 11 acres of grapefruit trees, our 

buildings, play areas, natural features, gardens, sports field and courts, and quiet spaces for observation and reflection 

provide the children with a variety of indoor and outdoor experiences. 

2004: The bridge over the 

Morrey Arroyo is installed. 

2008: New skylights are 

installed on the Main Campus. 

2009: Our quiet native plants 

community garden is planted by 

the MIR community on a Parent 

Work Day. 

2007: MIR 

purchases the 

campus. 

2010: 

The new 

running 

track is 

created. 

2005: Calvert Court is built. The new basketball 

and play court is named in memory of facilities manager 

Phil Calvert, who was killed when on his way 

to a rescue as part of the San Gorgonio Search and 

Rescue organization. 


2014: MIR is installing more 

than 2000 sq. ft. of solar panels. 

2013: Classrooms are reconfigured 

to accommodate more 

students, and new kitchen 

spaces are created. 

2012: Students 

of MIR and The 

Grove School come 

together to build the 

labyrinth. 

2014: A “natural playscape” is installed with the 

help of summer school Elementary students. A natural 

playscape is a landscape designed for play that uses natural 

materials like plants, boulders, logs, earth mounds, 

and more to provide a highly creative, interactive play 

experience. 

2014: Exterior improvements 

in progress include expanding 

outdoor classroom spaces. 


“Terrific individuals that work hard to 

make it a great place for everyone to 

feel welcome. Thank you.” 


Staff Development 

Assistants make an important contribution in each classroom. Whereas teachers may benefit from 

offsite workshops and seminars, assistants receive most of their continuing education in-house, 

primarily during in-service days. Often these days begin with an educational and/or inspirational 

experience for the whole staff, teachers and assistants alike. 

In 2013-14, several topics were covered in Assistant Meetings that provided a variety of strategies 

and theory to aid them in their work in the classroom. 

• Assistants learned the benefits of concentrated effort of the children, or what psychologists call “flow.” 

• They revisited Montessori’s writings on the preparation of the teacher where she stressed the 

importance of adult expectations and that we must constantly be looking for the true nature of each 

child to appear. 

• With the help of video, staff watched the extraordinary capabilities of even the youngest children, 

which led to a discussion of ways they could better encourage choice, independence, and responsibility. 

• Teachers presented the progression of Montessori mathematics activities to the assistants, showing 

the work of the children and how it changes with their developmental stages. 


“I have experience with many independent schools 

and you continue to be a leader in that world. Keep 

up the great work. We are very happy we chose to 

send our son here.”—Comment from 2013-14 Parent Satisfaction 

Survey 

SERVING 

THE WHOLE CHILD 

“Before elaborating any system of education, we 

must therefore create a favorable environment 

that will encourage the flowering of a child’s 

natural gifts. All that is needed is to remove the 

obstacles. And this should be the basis of, and 

point of departure for, all future education.” 

—Maria Montessori 


Sensorial 

Sensorial work helps the child refine his or her 

senses to be able to acquire clear, accurate information 

from his environment through observation, 

and to classify that environment. 

“We cannot create observers 

by saying ‘observe,’ but by 

giving them the power and 

the means for this observation 

and these means are procured 

through education of the 

senses.”—Maria Montessori 

Practical Life 

Practical life activities teach children how to take 

care of themselves and their environment (home, 

classroom, community). These activities are vital 

to help them achieve personal independence and a 

sense of responsibility to himself and others. 

“If a child does not set a table 

for a group of people who are 

really going to eat, if he does 

not have real brushes for cleaning, 

and real carpets to sweep 

whenever they are used, if he 

does not himself have to wash 

and dry dishes and glasses, he 

will never attain any real ability.” 



2014 Field Trips 

Field trips provide students with experiences in the world. Trips are appropriate to their age 

level and are related to what they are learning in school. They may be traditional field trips, 

overnight trips, short trips to local places (Elementary “goings out”), or service trips such as 

to local retirement homes to visit with residents. 

Level 

Toddler 

Primary 

Elementary 

Field Trip 

Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch 

San Bernardino County Museum (summer students) 

Aquarium of the Pacific 

Brookside Park (walking trips) 

Bridges Auditorium 

California Theater of the Performing Arts 

Claremont Folk Music Center 

Greenspot Farm 

Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center 

Kidspace Children’s Museum 

Lewis Family Playhouse 

LifeHouse Theater 

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens 

Planes of Fame Air Museum 

Precision Gymnastics 

The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology 

Riley’s Farm 

Sturges Center for the Fine Arts 

Theron’s Frozen Custard (walking trips) 


Braswell’s Chateau Villa 

California Theatre of the Performing Arts 

Claremont Folk Music Center 

Crystal Cove State Park 

George F. Beattie Planetarium 

The Getty Villa 

Heritage Tour of Redlands (4th years) 

La Brea Tar Pits 

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens 

Mission San Juan Capistrano 

Morton Peak 

Riley’s Farm 

Sturges Center for the Fine Arts 

Overnight Trips 

Class camping trips 

Pali Adventure Camp (4th and 5th years) 

Washington, D.C. (6th years) 

“When the child goes out, it 

is the world itself that offers 

itself to him. Let us take the 

child out to show him real 

things instead of making 

objects which represent 

ideas and closing them up in 

cupboards.”—Maria Montessori 


Language 

“Language is the central point 

of difference between the 

human species and all others. 

Language lies at the root of that 

transformation of the environment 

that we call civilization… 

Language is an instrument of 

collective thought…Hence, 

language is truly the expression 

of a kind of super intelligence.” 



Mathematics 

“This system in which a child is constantly moving objects with his hands and actively exercising 

his senses, also takes into account a child’s special aptitude for mathematics. When 

they leave the material, the children very easily reach the point where they wish to write out 

the operation. They thus carry out an abstract mental operation and acquire a kind of natural 

and spontaneous inclination for mental calculations.”—Maria Montessori 


Science 

“What is a scientist?…We give the name 

scientist to the type of man who has felt experiment 

to be a means guiding him to search out 

the deep truth of life, to lift a veil from its fascinating 

secrets, and who, in this pursuit, has felt 

arising within him a love for the mysteries of 

nature, so passionate...”—Maria Montessori 

Cultural Subjects and Humanities 

Students study cultural and physical geography, history, and philosophy. From the earliest ages, they develop a sense of 

historical perspective, an understanding of their place in the world, and gratitude for the accomplishments of those who 

came before. 


P19 

1000 

Family 

35 

members attended the 

HOLIDAY SING, filling most of the 

University of Redlands Memorial Chapel 

Students participated in our fall 

DANCE class, which performed at 

the HOLIDAY SING 

25Students took on-site 

extracurricular PIANO 

and VIOLIN lessons with 

music teacher Yang Chen 

Applied and Performing Arts 

4 

Elementary 

Elementary students performed 

19 in the spring CHOIR 

classes held TALENT SHOWS 

or MUSICALS at Glenn Wallichs Theater, 

University of Redlands 

Students at all levels create and 

perform to express what they 

are learning. Formal art instruction 

is part of each classroom. 

Many classes studied 

a specific artist and recreated 

works in the style of that artist. 

Students displayed their work 

for the Spring Gala, class art 

shows, and at the Montessori 

Gallery at the Spring Carnival. 

Musical Instruction 

Every MIR classroom includes musical instruction such as ear training, music 

theory, rhythm training, instruction on musical notation and note value, the 

rudiments of reading and playing simple tunes, movement and music, music 

history, and more. 

All classes performed in the Holiday Sing and many held in-class musical 

performances. 


Applied and Performing 

Arts Student Gallery 

“We cannot teach a person to be an artist but we 

can help him develop an eye that sees, a hand that 

obeys, and a soul that feels.”—Maria Montessori 

Toucan by Garen Zakarian 

Emily’s class talent show 

Diorama by Colin Garcia 

Cool Cat with Shades by Maddie Tilton 

Margaretann and Kristen’s class 

performs Aladdin 

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo 

by Emmet Asker 


Finger Prints Grow by Maria’s class 

Self Portrait by Miele Ladson 

Fractal Tree by Teesie’s class 

Self Portrait by Aidan Spangrud 

Backstage at Nicole’s musical 

performance, Tweet! 

Zuni Rainbird by Aninditha 

Keshavan and Sanjana Fernando 

Kelly’s Talent Show 

Flowers by Alexandra Burke and 

Ava Mabudian 

Self Portraits by Sara’s class 


“We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, 

but we rather have those because we have 

acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, 

then, is not an act but a habit.”—Aristotle 

Moral and Character Development 

Maria Montessori echoed Aristotle when she said “Character 

formation cannot be taught. It comes from experience and not 

from explanation,” and moral and character development are core 

components of Montessori education. 

There is a strong focus on responsibility to self and others built into 

the classroom environment. At all levels, older students assist and 

mentor younger students, developing empathy, patience, and leadership. 

Primary and Elementary classes participate in formal acts 

of community service both within the school and in Redlands. 

In the self-directed design of Montessori education, and through 

the guidance of teachers, self-discipline is strongly emphasized every 

day, helping students develop the ability to make good choices. 

A student reads to a resident at 

Braswell’s Chateau Villa 

Student Services 

MIR’s Student Services team includes an 

Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, 

Educational Consultant, Resource 

Specialist, and the Head of School. 

Students served: 

37 Toddler/Primary – 58 Elementary 


Health and Physical Development 

Physical Education: MIR welcomed a new P.E. teacher, Katie Prior 

(“Coach Katie”) and continued to offer yoga under the tutelage of certified yoga 

instructor Angela Brenchley. 

Nutrition: All students learn about proper nutrition as well as food preparation in 

the classroom starting from the earliest ages. 

“Watching a child 

makes it obvious that 

the development of his 

mind comes through 

his movements.” 


P23 

Extracurricular Sports 

63 

(22) 

(41) 

Students took SOCCER over 3 

sessions offered by English 

Premier Soccer Camps 

PRIMARY Students 

ELEMENTARY Students 

18 

Our summer P.E. program included 

Outdoor Field Games, Dance, Camping, 

and Circus classes in Elementary 

summer school; swimming and Sportball 

for Primary summer students; 

and Sportball for Toddler summer 

students. 

Elementary students took CRICKET 

over 3 sessions offered by 

English Premier Soccer Camps 


BUILDING 

COMMUNITY 

MIR strives to be a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment that students and families consider to be like a second 

home. This is developed through a shared sense of purpose and the many rituals and activities we participate 

in each year, and through the work of the Parents and Teachers of Montessori (PTM). 

PTM Report 

The Parents and Teachers of Montessori (PTM) strengthen the mission of Montessori in Redlands by helping to 

create a sense of community among administration, parents, and staff. We comprise all parents, many of whom 

volunteer to support individual classes with a number of activities throughout the school year by being a classroom 

representative or volunteering at PTM events. The PTM Executive Committee takes this level of commitment one 

step further by managing the organization through parent-elected officials. 

PTM sponsors several events to bring the MIR community together at all levels. In 2013-14, PTM 

• Provided refreshments for Back to School night 

• Organized Halloween and Spring carnivals 

• Held “Skate Nights” throughout the school year and into the summer to which The Grove School 

community was also invited 

• Sponsored Camp Montessori events 

• Funded the Bluebird Running Club 

PTM also supports the MIR Spring Gala & Auction, as well as supporting staff through various acknowledgements. 

Money for these events was raised through Innisbrook fundraising, ticket sales to Skate Nights and the Spring Carnival, 

food sales at the carnivals, and the collection of Box Tops for Education coupons. 

More importantly, the PTM bridges the gap between the parents of MIR and the MIR Board of Trustees. Issues 

that are important to the long term success of the school are brought to the PTM and discussed during PTM meetings. 

Through lively discussion points, attendees at PTM meetings have the opportunity to ensure that their voices 

are heard. 

The PTM Executive Committee is thankful to the entire school and Board of Trustees for their support, participation, 

and donations throughout the year. It is only through parent involvement that the PTM will thrive and grow 

year upon year, building a stronger community one event at a time. 

Jennifer Burrows 

PTM President 

Parents work in 

small groups to 

identify what they 

want for their 

children from 

their education. 


2013-14 PTM Executive Committee 

Jennifer Burrows, President 

Christie Pleiss, Vice President 

Lisa Oliver, Treasurer 

Jill Scholz, Secretary 

Jean Bonner-Drinkwine, Staff Liaison 

“Love the school and what it offers 

to my children. It’s an extension of 

our family.”—Comment from 2013-14 

Customer satisfaction survey 

Classroom Representatives (“Room Reps”) 

Class 

Aedín 

Christine 

Liana 

Jean and Maryhelen 

Kara and Marie 

Maria 

Nikki 

Sara 

Emily 

Kelly 

Nicole 

Margaretann and Kristen 

Teesie 

Representative(s) 

Molly Leidtke 

Edie Punt 

Margaret Ohayon 

Stefanie Tieman and Yvette Singleton 

Jessica Brockardt and Uma Harano 

Jessica Kytola-Yang and Tara McFann 

Sharon Stewart and Adam DeLeon 

Victoria Hobson 

Melissa Walker 

Allison Pate, Tara McFann, and Rika Minami 

Rika Minami 

Rachel Mickelson 

Vanessa Leslie and Joanne Parkinson 

P25 

PTM Financial Report: 

PTM Dues 

Spring Carnival 

Fundraisers 

Skate Nights 

Halloween Carnival 

Camp MIR–Fall 

Camp MIR–Spring 

Bluebird Shirts 

Revenue 

37% 

15% 

13% 

10% 

8% 

8% 

6% 

3% 

Total Income 

$21,330.52 

Total 

Expenses 

$23,321.38 

Administrative 

.07% 

1.93% 

Other 

Expenditures 

45% 

Community Events 

53% 

Donations to MIR 


PTM-sponsored 

Community Activities 

Camp Montessori 

Twice a year staff, parents, and students camp 

overnight under the trees of the Montessori campus. 

148 students and parents camped in September 

2013. 104 students and parents camped in 

June 2014. 

Halloween Carnival 

Each fall, families gather to enjoy a Halloween 

celebration complete with game booths, fairy 

gardens, haunted mazes, and a costume parade. 

The carnival was sponsored by PTM and entry 

was free. 

Spring Carnival 

The MIR Spring Carnival is held the first Saturday 

in May. In addition to games and rides, this 

year’s Carnival included a book fair hosted by 

local children’s book store Frugal Frigate. It also 

included a Montessori Gallery featuring parent, 

student, and staff art and a Montessori Marketplace 

offering merchandise from local entrepreneurs. 

Admission was $10 per family, which 

covered all activities. 



MIR offered a variety of parent education options in 2013-14: 

Parent Education Nights 

“Love, love all the parent education 

events. Thank you for having 

them.”—Comment from 2013-14 Parent 

Satisfaction Survey 

• “Montessori Outcomes,” about MIR’s stated Student Learner Outcomes 

• “Process vs. Product,” about the process of education vs. the work children produce while learning 

• “Assessment in the Montessori Environment,” about the many assessment tools used in Montessori 

• “Life after Montessori,” where MIR alumni shared how their experience at MIR prepared them for the “real world” 

We also held two Parent Education Nights especially for parents of 1-4 year olds. Called “Beginnings,” these nights focused on 

typical child development and promoting independence in the home. 

New Parent Orientation 

Assistant Head of School Peter Davidson provided new MIR families with information to help make their child’s first experience 

with the school as comfortable and successful as possible. 

Classroom orientations helped parents understand the daily rhythms of the class as well as the rules and policies 

they need to follow to ensure a consistent, joyful experience for their child. 

Orientation to Primary and Elementary Transitions 

Parents whose children were ready to move to the next program level (Toddler to Primary, Primary to Elementary) attended 

orientations to help them understand and support the transition. 

Coffee, Tea, & M.E. 

(Montessori Education) 

Hosted by Assistant Head of School 

Peter Davidson several times throughout 

the year, Coffee, Tea, and M.E. is a 

forum for conversations about Montessori 

theory and practice. 

Journey & Discovery 

Held twice-yearly in conjunction with 

The Grove School, this event gives adults 

a first-hand experience with the Montessori 

curriculum from 18 months to 

18 years. 

Parent/Child Night 

Children took their parents to school at one 

of their favorite activities of the year. Parents 

were guided by their child through classroom 

activities, with teachers on hand to advise the 

children as necessary. 


Testing Results 

MIR administers standardized tests annually to grades 3 through 6 that mimic the experience of the tests administered 

by the state of California to public schools. As the state switches to the Common Core for 2014-15, MIR has begun to 

research alternatives that will give our students a testing experience that will better prepare them for tests they will have in 

the future. 

test scores 

With 84 total test takers in grades 3 through 6 combined, numbers per grade level are statistically insignificant. However, 

MIR teachers look at test results by individual student in each grade to look for curricular areas that need attention and 

places where there is room for improvement. 

Teachers do not “teach” to the test, but include test-taking skills as part of practical life. Overall our students do well, and 

teachers use the test to inform how well the children adapt to the testing process. 

Year 

2014 

Percentage of students, in 

grades 3 through 6 combined, 

who scored at or above 

grade level, based on the top 

3 quintiles of the National 

Percentile Rank. 

An Elementary student 

works on a geometry 

lesson. 

94% 

Social Studies 

93% 

Science 

89% 

Reading 

82% 

Language 

72% 

Mathematics 

MIR ANNUAL REPORT 28 

“I love MIR and feel good about my children 

receiving their education here.”—Comment from 

2013-14 Parent Satisfaction Survey

MIR SUMMER 

PROGRAM 

The MIR summer program offered a variety of academicand 

experience-rich activities for students. Toddler and 

Primary students supplemented their Montessori day with 

summer activities and field trips. Elementary students 

explored new life and academic skills in a fun “summer 

camp” atmosphere. 

2013-2014 

Elementary Summer Classes 

Session 

Classes 

Outdoor Playscapes 

Music Fun 

Recreating Masterpieces 

Woodcarving and Printmaking 

Spanish Arts 

Outdoor Field Games 

Ooey Gooey Science 

Dance 

P29 

Number of Children Served 

The Elementary program is open to the public. Among the 

non-MIR 

Level 

students 

Number 

who attended was a family of siblings 

from China on a summer holiday in the U.S., returning for 

Toddler 13 

a second year to our program. 

Primary 39 

Elementary 72 

CHILDCARE 

Celebrations around the World 

Circus Acrobatics 

Camping Skills and First Aid 

Jr. Chef Cooking Skills 

Quilting and Fabric Number Arts of Children Served 

Exercise and Nutrition 

Simple Machines 

Toddler 

Crafts with Household Items 

Primary 

Elementary 

13 

On-site childcare is convenient for parents and provides consistency in environment for students. MIR also 

offers childcare for select non-school days, including some holidays and Parent/Teacher Conference days. 

Program Level 

39 

Toddler 

Primary 

Elementary 

Number of 

Children Served 

13 

39 

72 

72 


FINANCIAL AND 

GIVING REPORT 

3,919,584.00 Revenue 

3,886,102.00 Expenses 

33,482.00 Net Income 

3,769,102.00 Operating Expenses 

95,000.00 Loans 

- 22,000.00 Capital Improvements 

3,886,102.00 Total Expenses 

GRANTS 

MIR is grateful to The Norman and Joan Kinsey Foundation 

for awarding the school a grant for $15,000. This 

grant funded professional development for MIR’s Student 

Services Team along with the purchase of new adaptive 

technologies to ensure all students flourish and excel to 

their full potential. 


“We love the school. We think it has 

been the best decision and investment 

we have made for our son.” 



Annual Fund Building the Future 

MIR had the good fortune of achieving 100% school-wide participation for the second 

year in a row. Individual donations totaled $45,705. We are deeply grateful for the commitment 

of the MIR community to the current students and future generations. 

Annual Fund Donors 

Patron $2,000-$4,999 

Roberto Argentina and Maura Joyce 

Ismael Chivite and Alejandra Merino 

Deane and Lisa Kensok 

Babak and Leila Khazaeni 

Benefactor $1,000-$1,999 

Jeffrey and Kristen DeVito 

James Hitchcock and Terrance Flynn 

In honor of Donald and Gwenna Hitchcock 

Michael Larrance and Jo Lynn Lambert 

In honor of the dedicated teachers, staff, and volunteers 

Bryan and Shawnda Zook 

Contributor $500-$999 

Ken Alford and Pamela Ford 

Damon and Stephanie Bogan 

Ryan and Angela Brenchley 

In honor of Karina and Hannah Brenchley 

Ellen Camarillo 

In memory of CeCe Svenson 

Mark and Vanessa Causley 

Jack and Hannah Copeland 

Debra C. Meade Family Fund Foundation 

for Roanoke Valley 

Evan and Laura Houck 

Shyam Kishan and Sharmila Roy-Chowdhury 

William and Anna Mansfield 

Kendall and Shelley McCarthy 

In memory of Jordan McCarthy 

Tim Ormsby 

James Stewart and Christina Bennett-Stewart 

In honor of Morgan and James Stewart 

Joel and Holly Stillings 

Berj Zakarian and Nairy Sarkis 

Associate $250-$499 

Anonymous (1) 

Wally and Yuko Barker 

Wesley and Elizabeth Bernardini 

Chad and Jessica Brockardt 

Charlie Cutler 

Ross and Natalia Dunn 

Matias Farre and Jacqueline Gimenez 

Eric and Melissa Hanson 

John and Dinesh Imbriani 

Mohsen Mabudian and Michele Vercoski 

Edward Murphy and Karen Derris 

Sivabalan Muthukrishnan and Sentha Sivabalan 

Trevor Norton and Jennifer Brainerd 

Gregory and Christie Pleiss 

Dean Silliman and Kylene M. Mason Silliman 

Greg and Stefanie Tieman 

Friends $1-$249 

Anonymous (30) 

Feroz Abdul-Kadar and Naila Khan 

Gregory and Susan Abt 

Arun and Misty Agrawal 

Wachira Ampaanpenrot and Chajchawadee 

Luanpijpong 

Ramtin Anousheh and Mozhgan Mousaeian 

Aedín Artigue 

Farbod Asgarzadie and Allie Blackburn 

Oscar Asker and Blue Calderilla 

Jen Avegno 

Nitin Bajaj and Nimisha Lotia 

Carlos Balarezo and Sharon Stewart 

Stefan and Virginia Balbo 

Matthias and Katherine Barden 

Robert and Sophie G. Basseri 

David and Michel Bellefeuille 

John and Sharilyn Berry 

James Blee and Siow Wann Chew 

Stephen and Camilla Bodnar 

In honor of Heather and Brooke Bodnar 

Jean Bonner-Drinkwine 

Leo and Karen Brandon 

David and Sha Brennan 

Chantelle Brown 

Michael Burke and Valerie Seabaugh-Burke 

Michael and Jennifer Burrows 

Molly Butler 

Paula Buyak 

Pablo Cabrera and Susana Crespo 

Mark and Julie Camero 

In honor of Pauline Mackzum 

Maryhelen Campa and Melanie Hanson 

In honor of Kalie Hanson-Campa 

Silvia Casas 

G. Alan Cassidy and C. Andrea Nieto 

Pankaj Chandak and Pragya Jaiswal 

Jacqueline Chandler 

In honor of Trent and Darik Chandler 

Chen-Yu (Rick) Chang and Bich 

Tram-Chang 

Andrew Chen and Yang Steinke-Chen 

Peter and Kim Cherniss 

Mehul Choksey and Mital Shah 

Eddy Chue and Evelyn Choo 

Sheila Church 

Doug and Amber Claflin 

Susan Clark-Johnson 

Sara-Frances Clemens 

In honor of Jackson and Joshua Clemens 

Donte and Dominique Cooper 

Tamara Coyle 

In honor of Madeline Coyle 

Frank Coyle 

Faith Cristall 

Jennifer Cristall 

Steven and Daria Cross 

Matt Crowder and Jennifer Cadkin 

Prakash Darbhamulla and Durga A. Gonella 

Peter Davidson 

Christopher and Alisa Davies 

Robert Dawes 

Nicole Delgado 

Denis and Anne Desmarais 

Jacob and Anuradha Diekmann 

Shad and Leah Dixon 

Peter Dow and Melissa Cardenas-Dow 

Linda Dwight-Buel 

In memory of Lesley Dwight-Cochran 

Thomas Emge and Teesie Szubert-Emge 

Bruce and Gena Engelfried 

English Premier Soccer Camp 

Ryan and Alisa Evans 

Nikki Farooq 

In honor of Uzair and Najia 

Glenn Fearon and Andrea Ray 

Nicole Fedorow 

Bill Feld 


Thomas Ferland and Ann Kasunich 

In honor of Maura Joyce 

Josh and Melissa Fisher 

In honor of Cole and Alanna Fisher 

Emily Fitzgerald 

Rosario and Heather Floridia 

Michael Gaigg and Jessica Bello 

Sara Garcia 

Robert Garrity and Maria Marta Saldanha 

Claudia Gates 

Stephen Gervais and Nancy Inouye 

Baljit and Mina Gill 

Philip and Marina Glukhovsky 

Vivek and Kusum Gupta 

Samir and Samar Hage 

Jean-Claude and Katia Hage 

Kelvin and Eleanor Haire 

James and Uma Harano 

Travis and Lindsey Harp 

Russell Harris and Nataya Korirat 

Margaretann Harrison 

Jeanette Hattan 

Robert Hennings and Charity Plaxton- 

Hennings 

Pamela Henry 

Mark Henry 

Travis and Brandy Henson 

Jimmy and Maria Hernandez 

Eric and Jennifer Hill 

Kara Holzinger 

Michael and Kymberly Howo 

Carol Hudson 

Robin Im and Kimberly Izvernari-Im 

David Jassby and Jennifer Griffin 

Antony Jayaprakash and A. Monica Joseph 

Gaurav and Amishi Jobanputra 

Cameron Johnson and Irene Ciovica 

Anand Kannan and Lavanya Thiyagarajan 

Michael and Victoria Karalun 

Angela Keller 

Venu and Swarnalata Keshavan 

Kyo Sung (Shawn) Kim and Susan Kim 

Frank Kish and Edie Punt 

Maryanne Klenske 

Faith Knox 

Ken and Jennifer Konior 

John Kothapalli and Shara Suhasini 

Douglas Krahn and Flor Urrea-Krahn 

Dmitry Kudinov and Anna Kudinova 

Nitin Kulkarni 

Dheeraj and Nidhi Kumar 

Richard and Sheleste Ladson 

Narayanan Lakshmanan and 

Geetha Sivalingam 

Tyrone and Pamela LaRose 

Paul Larson 

Derek Law and Krista Page 

Belen Ledezma 

Rob and Vanessa Leslie 

In memory of Tony Olea 

Carmen Levesque 

Alissa Levy 

Jeff and Molly Liedtke 

Tobias and Kathleen Liess 

Lacy Loeffler 

Tina Lopez 

George and Michelle Lopez 

Edwin and Julie Lowe 

Hannah Lowry 

Jonas and Penny Lundgren 

Dale and Jamie Macknet 

Armound Mahmoudi and A. Rebeca Montes 

Jesse Male and Meg Hogenson 

Hisham and Pepa Massih 

Dennis and Liana McCall 

In honor of Darion and Daniel McCall 

Jill McDermott 

James and Tara McFann 

Eric McLaughlin and Pauline Reynolds 

Tim and Laurie McNaughton 

Pranav and Komal Mehta 

Felicia Mendoza 

Paul and Rachel Mickelson 

Sonia Middleton 

Marcus Miller and Tamica Washington-Miller 

Steven Miller and Olena Berezhna 

Michael and Rika Minami 

Steven Mohr 

Robert and Olivia Montaghami 

Kim Montague 

Manuel and Dorama Montoya 

Michael and Rocio Moore 

David Mueller 

Azri Mukijan and Aleeza Othman 

A. Jay Munoz and Myrna Young-Munoz 

Rajinder Nagi and Parul Chopra 

Gaurav Narang and Kanika Kumar 

Ravi and Vidhya Narayanan 

Richard Nauman and Raina Martinez 

In memory of Paul Martinez 

Genevieve Nauman 

David and Marie Nelsen 

In memory of Margaret Marchman 

Jill-Lynn Nunemaker 

Bryant Oliphant and Erin Perrone 

Lisa Oliver 

Russell and Brandi Ortega 

Aron Orton and Jeannette Kantzalis 

Chris Ovens and Lori Digulla 

Erin Pagel 

Michael and Katherine Paisner 

Saravana Palaniapillai and Suria Shanmugam 

Brad Palenchar and Loni Kuhn 

Nirav and Ragini Patel 

Jennifer Paugh 

Ash Pengelly and Jody Pighin 

Paul and Terri Petrilli 

Tung and Lori Pham 

Khanh and Coral Pham 

Wesley and Guide Phipatanakul 

Siva and Lalitha Pidaparthi 

Egor Podgornov and Kasia Tuszynska 

Christine Povero 

Sathya Prasad and Nandini Rao 

Katie Prior 

Pierre and Leann Pulido 

Saravanan Rajaram and Uma Saravanan 

Maria Lourdes Ramirez 

In honor of Alvarez Crew 

Katia Ravins 

Michael Reiter and Lisa De Lorme 

Russell and Sandra Rice 

Paul and Rena Rice 

Geoff and Rachel Roche 

Ryan Roten and Emily Robison 

Grant and Annie Rumary 

Jolon and Jessica Sabo 

Aldrin Sangma and Shiva Imani 

Maxim Sattarov and Evgeniya Sattarova 

Southern California Edison 

Milo Scherer 

Eric Schniter and Jessica Hehman-Schniter 

Carolyn Schutten 

Matthew and Jessica Sculuca 

Craig and Sawitree Seal 

Jalpan and Arpi Shah 

Sam and Samantha Siddighi 

Javed and Seema Siddiqi 

Iftikhar Sikder and Nagma Yasmin 

Dave and Gabrielle Singh 

Yusuf and Yvette Singleton 

Roger Smart and Allison Pate 

Jack and Mara Smith 

Dallas and Coby Smith 

Salvador Soriano and Mona Jazayeri 

Damian and Meena Spangrud 

In memory of Pravin Parikh 

Kevin and Jami Spencer 

Christian and Andrea Staack 

Michael and Gabrielle Symmes 

Magdy and Sylvia Tadros 

Geoffrey and Kirsten Tamura 

In memory of Eleanor Palmer 

Thad Tilton and Joanne Parkinson 

Adam and Kristin Tissot 

Soundar Toure and Kalaivani Nellaiappan 

Alex Valenzuela and Maria Serena Villalobos 

Steve and Beata Van Esch 

Carlos Velez and Kyrra Moffatt-Velez 

Noel and Priya Victor 

Brittany Vyhnal 

Troy Walker 

Justin and Tiara Walker 

Treva Webster 

Chad and Keri Werner 

Jeff and Teresa Wickstrom 

Robert and Monique Willis 

Patrick Wing and Gonca Baskici-Wing 

David and Cindy Wong 

Eric and Chari Wroolie 

Steven Wuhs and Kimberley Coles 

Yu Yang and ChunLi Zhu 

John Yang and Jessica Kytola-Yang 

In honor of Penelope and Finn Yang 

Ryan and Ruthie Youngman 

ZhiQian Yu and Li Lin 

Xingdong Zhang and Gang Zhong 

Alexander Zouros and Leigh-Erin Zouros 

“I am so grateful that my child 

can go to this school.”—Comment 

from 2013-14 Parent Satisfaction Survey 


MIR Spring Gala & Auction 

We had a great turnout and an AWESOME night at the 80s-themed MIR 17th Annual Spring Gala & Auction. 

Everyone who attended agreed that this was one of the most fun ever. 

People really got into the 80s spirit, with costumes ranging from Care Bears and Devo, to Marty McFly and Michael 

Jackson, to fabulous “vintage” prom looks. The DJ entertained with 80s tunes and videos, and the dance floor was 

busy until midnight. There was an appearance by 80s SoCal celebrity DJ/VJ Richard Blade, who created a special 

video to introduce the evening’s financial aid “cyberdash.” 

Auctioneer Sam Neely led the live auction, helping MIR raise $31,750 through sales of beautiful items created by 

each class. A new mobile bidding system helped raise silent auction totals to $9,039, $2,000 more than previous 

years. Total proceeds for the evening, including the live auction, silent auction, sponsorships, and donations came to 

$72,837. 

Proceeds were used to bring MIR’s second phase of the “Green School Initiative” to reality, including installing 

solar panels and re-landscaping our campus to be more drought-tolerant and accessible to the children. These 

improvements significantly reduce our energy and water usage to allow us to invest more of our funds directly into 

student education. Proceeds from our financial aid cyberdash were used to provide financial help to current MIR 

families with an immediate need for tuition assistance. 

MIR thanks the Gala committee chairs, Jill McDermott and Lisa Oliver, for their energy, hard work, and creativity 

in organizing this event. Thank you to Green Acres Advertising Design for creating the beautiful artwork, advertising, 

and programs. We also greatly appreciate all of the families, business donors, underwriters, and volunteers who 

generously donated the time, goods, and services that made this an unforgettable evening. 


Gala Committee 

Jill McDermott, Chair 

Lisa Oliver, Administrative Coordinator 

Gala Volunteers 

Victoria Hobson 

Lisa Kensok 

Kathleen Liess 

Shelley McCarthy 

Andrea Ray 

Rena Rice 

Coby Smith 

Gabby Symmes 

Shawnda Zook 

Thank you to our sponsors: 

“Like, Awesome” Sponsors 

Totally Rad Sponsor 

Tubular Sponsors 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

Business Donors and Underwriters 

Adam Hall’s Plant Nursery 

American Girl 


Archangel Printing 

Augie’s Coffee House 

Ayres Hotel Redlands 

Ben D. Bollinger’s Candlelight Pavilion 

Benjarong Thai Cuisine 

Big 5 Sporting Goods 

Blackstone Magik, Gay Blackstone 

Breathe Redlands Yoga Studio 

Briskets 

CalSkate Grand Terrace 

Chez Sabine 

Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert 

CrossFit East Redlands 

Daryl’s Pet Shop 

Deane and Lisa Kensok 

Desert Adventures Eco-Tour & Events 

Disneyland 

Dream Dinners 

Empire Bowl 

Eureka!Burger 

Evans & Co. 

Farm Artisan Foods, Roberto Argentina 

Fiesta Village 

Fitness 19 

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 

Fox Dance Studio 

Frugal Frigate 

Gourmet Pizza Shoppe 

Grochowski Chiropractic 

Grove Certified Farmers Market 

Grove School PTG 

Hangar 24 

In-N-Out Burger 

Inland Empire 66ers Baseball 

Interactive TTC 

International Day Spa 

Intuitive-Attentive Yoga with Angela Brenchley 

Isabella’s Ristorante Italiano 

J.D. Myers 

Jeff and Kris DeVito, JD Logistics Inc. 

Jose’s Mexican Food 

Krikorian Premiere Theatres 

L.A. Zoo 

Lango Redlands 

Lasting Impressions 

Legoland California Resort 

Living Root Cellar 

Loma Linda University Department of 

Plastic Surgery 

Marcelo Romero 

Medieval Times 

Mike’s Fitness Equipment 

Mon Amie Salon 

Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts, Inc. 

Nails by Lisa at Hot Locks Salon 

Nature’s Select Super Premium Pet Products 

Ontario Improv 

Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant 

OutBack Physiotherapy Centre 

Pali Adventures 

Pappy & Harriets 

Party Plus Rentals 

Pro. Massage & Skin Care Therapy by 

Angelina Faith 

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 

Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology 

Redlands 4th of July Committee, Inc. 

Redlands Conservatory of Arts and Sciences 

Redlands Gymnastics Club 

Redlands Paint, Inc. 

Redlands Spine and Sport 

Redlands Symphony 

Richard Nixon Presidential Library 

and Museum 

Ritual Brewing Co. 

San Diego Zoo 

Sanrio, Inc. 

Scandia Ontario 

Seed Kids 

Shop Suey Boutique 

Simpler Life 

Sparrow Studios 

Sportball – Sports Instruction for Kids 

State Street Winery 

Stater Bros. Markets, Redlands 

Stell Coffee & Tea Co. 

Stone Wheel Olive Oil Co. 

Styles by Staci at Hot Locks Salon 

Sweet Memories Candy & Toys 

The Cheesecake Factory, Victoria Gardens 

The Children’s Museum at La Habra 

The Home Depot Redlands, CA #1013 

The Ice House Comedy Nightclub & Restaurant 

The Living Desert 

The World Famous Laugh Factory 

Theatrical Arts International 

Tortuga Salon 

Trader Joe’s 

Traveler Guitar 

Victoria Gardens 

Washington Produce 

Wilson’s Classic Barber Shop 

World Discoveries 

Yang Chen 


“At a time when creativity is being 

driven out of our schools, MIR plays 

an important role in preparing children 

for the future…One of my children 

said that he has millions of questions 

about everything in the world and MIR 

allow[ed] him to answer some of those 

questions, even when they are of interest 

only to him; for example, ‘why do 

mollusks only have one foot?’…I work 

at a university so I spend a lot of time 

thinking about the characteristics that 

employers say they want to see in future 

employees. I am amazed at how thoroughly 

and completely a Montessori 

education addresses these concerns.” 

—Dr. Leela MahavaRau, former President 

of the Board of Trustees and alumni parent 

“At Montessori they teach you how to 

challenge yourself. If I was really strong 

in a subject, the teachers would give me 

more work [in that area]. I would be 

very proud of myself and work harder. 

That’s been something I’ve always kept 

with me and I really love Montessori 

for that…Montessori will always be 

with me.” 

—Jennifer Williams, MIR alumni and current 

student at Vassar College in New York 

“MIR has helped me so much with 

becoming who I am…I love my amazing 

teachers and assistants, as well as 

all of the others who have helped me 

throughout my years here.” 

—Strawberry Wroolie, 2014 MIR Graduate 

TESTIMONIALS 

“When I spent a year on exchange in 

Germany, I really found out how well 

Montessori had prepared me for everything. 

It taught me how to embrace 

new experiences and how to problem 

solve.” 

—Rohan CarterRau, MIR alumni and 

current student at McGill University in 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada 

“The overall educational program itself 

is amazing. The growth we’ve observed 

in our daughter over this past year has 

been incredible and we attribute that 

to the structure of the program, the 

fostering of responsibility and independence 

in the children, and the qualified 

staff/teachers who really seem to care 

about the children and actually enjoy 

their jobs!” 

—Comment from 2013-14 Parent Satisfaction 

Survey 

When Barbara Walters, who interviewed 

Google founders Messrs. Page 

and Brin in 2004, asked if having parents 

who were college professors was a 

major factor behind their success, they 

instead credited their early Montessori 

education. “We both went to Montessori 

school,” Mr. Page said, “and I 

think it was part of that training of not 

following rules and orders, and being 

self-motivated, questioning what’s going 

on in the world, doing things a little 

bit differently.” 

“MIR has taught me how to be 

independent and responsible. It has 

helped me find out what my strengths 

and weaknesses are so that I can work 

on them more and develop a better 

understanding. The staff are awesome 

and nice.” 

—Daniel Larrance, 2014 MIR Graduate

2013-2014 MIR Annual Report

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