ANNUAL 2023-24 REPORT
Message
Board of Governors & Board Committees
M I S S I O N
Montcrest School is a co-educational community, small enough to honour the individual and big enough to provide an exceptional academic experience with balanced opportunities in leadership, the arts and athletics. Our school challenges children to discover and acknowledge their own voices, so they can understand and make meaningful connections with the world.
A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E
C H A I R O F T H E B O A R D
It is my pleasure to present the Montcrest 2023-24 Annual Report on behalf of the Board of Governors.
This has been a year marked by meaningful milestones, collaboration and progress. First and foremost, I want to thank each member of our vibrant Montcrest community—parents, staff, students and volunteers—whose collective dedication continues to make this school the incredible place it is. Montcrest thrives because of the shared commitment and care from all who are part of its journey. Truly, it takes a village to nurture the growth of our students and strengthen the foundation of our school.
During the year, we successfully completed our accreditation process with the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools, culminating in the reaccreditation of Montcrest School for the next five years. Within the CAIS framework, accreditation is a process designed to support continual whole-school improvement. The final Peer Review Report validated our Self Study and articulated both the areas of excellence that exist at Montcrest as well as areas for focus in the future. This reaccreditation reflects the strength of our programs, community and leadership, providing a solid foundation upon which to continue building our future.
As we approach the end of our current strategic plan, I am excited to share that we are well underway in preparing for our next strategic planning cycle. This will be an inclusive process, with significant engagement from the Montcrest community. We are committed to ensuring that the voices of parents, students, faculty and alum are heard as we set the vision and goals for the school’s future.
Personally, this marks my final year as Chair of the Board, and it has been a tremendous honour to serve in this role. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the school’s growth and sustainability. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and support for Sarah Lerchs, who will be stepping into the position of Board Chair. Together with Patti MacDonald, I have every confidence that Sarah will continue to propel Montcrest forward during this exciting time.
In closing, I want to extend my deepest thanks to our dedicated Governors and Committee volunteers, whose efforts have been instrumental in advancing the Board’s priorities throughout the year. We are truly fortunate to have so many parents and community members who generously share their time and talents. Together, we ensure that Montcrest remains a place where every child can thrive, surrounded by a supportive and committed community - the village.
Isabelle Bissonnette Chair, Board of Governors
Board of Governors
2023-24
Isabelle Bissonnette | Chair
Sarah Lerchs | Vice Chair
Ruth Goba
Allison Jelley
Renée Kennedy
Donna Lindell
Warwick Marchant
Barbara McLean
Craig Race
Candra Reynolds
Colette Tom
BoardCommittees
AdvancementCommittee:CandraReynolds(Chair),Natalie Hollinshead,AllisonJelley,DonnaLindell,GretchenDaniels,Patti MacDonald&WaynePommen
Finance&RiskCommittee:ColetteTom(Chair),Christopher Hills,PattiMacDonald,DawnMarshall,GregReynolds&Stephen Shuttleworth
HeadSupport&EvaluationCommittee:IsabelleBissonnette, SarahLerchs&ColetteTom
Nominating&GovernanceCommittee:SarahLerchs(Chair), RuthGoba,ReneeKennedy,PattiMacDonald&BarbaraMcLean
PropertyCommittee:WarwickMarchant(Chair),HeatherGreyWolf,TedGorsline,PattiMacDonald,DawnMarshall,CraigRace &GregReynolds
RiskSubcommittee:IsabelleBissonnette,BethDewitt,Jonathan Moncrieff&ColetteTom
StrategicPlanningCommittee:SarahLerchs(Chair),Isabelle Bissonnette,GeraldineDeFazio,TedGorsline,ChristopherHills, NatalieHollinshead,MiriamJohn,PattiMacDonald&Candra Reynolds
TheMontcrestBoardofGovernorshadthefollowingactiveCommitteesforthe2023-24 schoolyear:
AdvancementCommittee-provideguidanceandoversightinthedevelopmentand implementationoftheMontcrestAdvancementstrategy,insupportoftheMontcrest StrategicPlan.
Finance&RiskCommittee-oversightinseveralvitalareas,includingthelong-range financialplan,annualoperatingandcapitalbudgets,tuition-settingandtheschool’s financialperformance,cashflow,financialreportingandinvestments.
HeadSupport&EvaluationCommittee-supportseffectiveleadershipandperformanceby theHeadofSchoolbyprovidingongoingfeedbackandsupporttotheHead,planningand coordinatingtheannualperformanceevaluationoftheHeadandoverseeingHead succession.
Nominating&GovernanceCommittee-identify,cultivate,recruitandmake recommendationstonominateandsupportnewGovernors,OfficersandnewBoard Committeemembers.Ensuretheschool’sby-laws,policiesandproceduresare comprehensiveandup-to-date.ConducttheHeadofSchoolevaluationandoverseethe HeadofSchoolsuccessionplanordelegatetoasub-committee.
PropertyCommittee-oversightoftheMontcrestbuildingsandgroundsinannual maintenanceandlong-rangeplanning.
RiskSubcommittee-willoverseeandguidetheorganization'soverallriskmanagement efforts,ensuringthatrisksareidentified,assessed,managedandreportedeffectively.
StrategicPlanningCommittee-responsibilitytodevelopastrategicplanfor theSchoolfortheyears2025-2028forapprovalbytheBoard.
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
As we reflect upon the 2023-24 school year, I am filled with gratitude for the collective efforts of our remarkable community. This year, my second as Head of School, has been defined by collaboration, growth and meaningful milestones. It has truly been a testament to the saying, “It Takes a Village.” At Montcrest, this village our parents, students, faculty, staff and volunteers has come together in extraordinary ways to support and nurture the growth of each child.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our incredible faculty and staff, whose dedication to our students is unwavering. Their willingness to listen, partner with parents, and create an environment where every child is known and valued is at the heart of what makes Montcrest special. Equally, I want to acknowledge the tireless work of the Montcrest Parents’ Association (MPA) and the Board of Governors. Their countless volunteer hours, strategic thinking, and deep commitment have strengthened our school’s foundation and long-term sustainability.
This year, one of the most significant accomplishments was Montcrest’s successful reaccreditation through the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). This process, which involved a thorough self-study and peer review, validated the excellence of our programs and community while also identifying opportunities for future growth.
The reaccreditation highlights the strength of our village and ensures that Montcrest remains a place where every child can thrive.
We also began laying the groundwork for our next strategic planning process, a key milestone in preparing for Montcrest’s future. With the support of NoTosh, we are embarking on a highly consultative journey that will engage every member of our village parents, students, faculty and alum. Your voices will shape the vision and goals for the school’s next chapter, and I am excited for the collaborative energy that will carry us forward.
The vibrant spirit of our community has been evident throughout the year, thanks in large part to the leadership of the MPA. Through events like Kite Day, Fall Fair, and the introduction of Family Movie Night, the MPA has brought families together in ways that deepen our connections. These gatherings, both large and small, are what capture the essence of Montcrest’s village. I am grateful to Sara SimonVermot and the MPA for their leadership and dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment for our families.
As we look to the future, I also want to sincerely thank Isabelle Bissonnette, whose tenure as Chair of the Board of Governors concludes this year. Isabelle’s leadership has been vital in guiding Montcrest through the transition in Headship, and her contributions will have a lasting impact on our school. I am confident that under the leadership of incoming Board Chair, Sarah Lerchs, Montcrest will continue to thrive.
In closing, I am proud of all we have accomplished together in 2023-24. This year has shown us the power of community, the importance of collaboration, and the magic that happens when we come together for a common purpose. It takes a village to nurture each child’s unique potential, and I am grateful to be part of a community that embraces this wholeheartedly.
Thank you for your unwavering support, and I look forward to continuing this journey with you in the years to come.
Patti MacDonald Head of School
MONTCREST BY THE NUMBERS
The 2023-24 academic year saw strong enrolment at Montcrest, supported by a sustained focus on financial stability and the generosity of the Montcrest community. These efforts allowed us to plan exciting campus enhancements for the summer of 2024, including significant classroom upgrades in both Livingston and Danson House. We also successfully completed key renovations, such as replacing the Danson House windows and updating the final two washrooms in the building. Our continued investment in learning resources and professional development for faculty and staff reinforces our strategic commitment to fostering personalized learning within an inclusive and dynamic community.
Expenses
Salaries & Benefits - 72.3%
Administrative - 8.5%
Premises - 9.8%
Academic Supplies & Equipment - 3.7%
Amortization - 5.7%
Revenue
Tuition and Special Fees - 91.3%
Donations & Fundraising - 2.8%
Interest - 3%
Other - 2.9%
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE MPA
IthasbeenanhonourtoserveastheChairoftheMontcrestParents'Association(MPA). Reflectingonthe2023-24schoolyear,Iamgratefulforourhighlyengaged,creativeand energeticcommunity.SomanyparentsparticipatedandcontributedtotheMPAthrough volunteerism,donationsandattendingeventsandIamproudofallweachievedtogether.
Throughouttheyear,wecontinuedtostrengthentheconnectionswithinourcommunity withfavouriteeventslikeFallFair,SkateNight,BingoNightandPancakeBreakfast,which weremetwithoverwhelmingenthusiasm.Inthespring,weintroducedFamilyMovieNight, andwecheeredfortheBlueJaysatourSpringSportsEvent.Itwaswonderfultosee familiesenjoyingtimetogetherateachoftheseevents.
Onceagain,ourSpringFlingwasatremendoussuccess,withthiseventraising$38,000for theCommunityGardenProject-anachievementthatspeakstothecommitmentand generosityofourparents,sponsors,facultyandstaff.Thisamountwasinadditionto families’purchasesofpersonalizedleavesandbirdsinsupportoftheCommunityGarden project,whichweresoldattheSpringFling.TheMPAalsocontributed$60,000tothe school’sbursaryfund.
KiteDay,asalways,wasahighlight,wherefamiliesgatheredfor afun-filledafternoonofpicnicking,kiteflying,laughterand communityspirit Finally,wecontinuedthetraditionof bringingicecreamtruckstocampustocelebratetheendofthe schoolyear,afavouriteamongstudents.It’sthesemoments,big andsmall,thattrulycapturetheessenceofwhatmakes Montcrestsospecial.
Iwanttoextendmydeepestthankstoalltheparents, volunteers,andschoolstaffwhocontributedtothesuccessof theseevents.Yourtime,energyanddedicationarewhatmake theMPAthrive,andtogether,wehavecontinuedtofostera nurturing,vibrantenvironmentforourchildren.
Lookingahead,Iamexcitedtoseewhatthefutureholdsforthe MPAandtheMontcrestcommunity Withyourcontinued support,Iknowthatwewillbuildonourachievementsand continuetomakeMontcrestaplacewhereeveryfamilyfeels connectedandvalued.
Sara Simon-Vermot Chair, MPA (Montcrest Parents' Association)
MPA EXECUTIVES, COUNCIL MEMBERS & GRADE PARENTS
MPA Leaders 2023-24
Chair, Sara Simon-Vermot
ViceChairs, Haneen Davies & Allison Jelley
Treasurer, Janet Mirkovich
Secretary, Jenn Pearson
CommunicationsCoordinator, Christine Berg
GraphicDesignCoordinator, Steven Nederveen
PizzaLunchCoordinator, Lauren Mclachlan
TuckCartCoordinators, Erin Shearer & Jessica Shearer
UsedUniformsCoordinators, Allison McColeman & Bonnie Mo
Lost&FoundCoordinator, Connie Wong-Luciw
ParentAmbassadorCoordinator, Christina Tuns
EventChairs:
FallFair, Christina Tuns
SkateNight, Kelly Staples
BingoNight, Michael Kostoff
SpringSportsEvent, Laurie Bourne & Matt Vines
KiteDayParentPicnic, Tracy Chang & Fiona
Haig-Zimmerman
GradeParents2023-24
AnnaBurns-JK
CourtneyRace-SK
ElizabethGjata-Grade1
HaneenDavies-Grade2
TracyChang-Grade3
MonikaMullen-Grade4
StephanieWilliams-Grade5
JenniferAbrams-Grade6
JennPearson-Grade7
DebbieSchatia-Grade8
200+
Parent Volunteers
Community
The Community Garden Campaign was launched during the 2023-2024 school year, and the community is enthusiastic about the programming opportunities it will provide for our students. The first year of this two-year fundraising project has been met with tremendous excitement and support from our community, and we are excited to share updates as we move closer to our goal of $400,000. We want to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has already contributed. Your donations have laid the groundwork for this project, and we invite your continued support as we work towards completing our fundraising goals.
Major Donors
Geordie Dalglish & Swith Bell
Jamie Lint & Michelle Robichaud
Named Gift Opportunities
Donor Recognition Tree
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Inaugural Grandpals Day
We welcomed 200 ‘Grandpals’ on campus who visited our classrooms and specialty spaces.
Grandpals Day was a wonderful event to share Montcrest with the entire community, family and friends, creating new school memories and fostering intergenerational relationships within our community!
AlumEvents
Duetoincreasingdemandforvolunteeropportunitiesandadesiretogivebackto Montcrest,weincreasedtheeventsavailableforAlumtoattendandparticipatein. MontcresthostedarangeofAlumevents,includingthemuch-anticipated Homecoming,KiteDayandtheClassof2023LegacyGiftReunion.Thisyear,we alsowelcomedthereturnofourbelovedFallFair,whichsawmanyAlumin attendance.ThesegatheringsprovideinvaluableopportunitiesforAlumto reconnectwitholdfriends,forgenewrelationshipsandsharetheirinspiring storieswiththeMontcrestcommunity.
AheartfeltthankyoutoalltheAlumwhogenerouslyvolunteeredandcontributed tothesuccessoftheseevents!
MPA Events
The Montcrest Parents’ Association (MPA) successfully organized a wide range of much-loved events throughout the year, including Bingo Night, Movie Night, Family Skate Night, Pancake Breakfast, Montcrest @ Blue Jays and the alwaysanticipated annual Fall Fair. These events brought our community together, creating fun and memorable experiences for everyone involved.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible MPA team and all the parent volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to making each event a success. Your support and enthusiasm truly made a difference!
MONTCREST DONORS 2023-24
1961Circle
The1961CirclehonoursMontcrestSchool’sfoundingyearandrecognizesdonors whohavemadegiftsof$1,961ormoreeachyeartoAnnualGiving.Eachyear Montcrest’s1961Circlemembersareinvitedtoaspecialdonorrecognitionevent tothankthemfortheirleadershipgiving.
Leah and Paul Atkinson Family Foundation
Aaron & Katrina Atkinson
Larry & Sherrill Berg
James Bin & Rosaline Lee
Sarah Lerchs & JD Boyes
Alison and Christopher Burrison
Burke Sraga Family
Burrison Hudani Doris LLP
Butler-Bissonnette Family
Rob & Patrice Carmichael
Josette Lamoureux & Jeff Carr
Geordie Dalglish & Swith Bell
DiMarco Family
David & Liya Dunlap
Colette Tom & Roy Gunawan
Anne & William Hepburn
Chi Hong & Anne Ly
Jelley Family
Kay Family
Renee & Jacob Kennedy
Klein Family
Knodell family
Bruce & Leela Lapointe
Lint / Robichaud Family
Patti MacDonald
Dr. Notisha Massaquoi & Alison Duke
Michael & Lauren McLachlan
Virginia & Peter McLaughlin
Thomas & Janet Mirkovich
Ingrid Morgan & Andrew Moeser
Moncrieff Family
Erin & Derek Pattison
Wayne Pommen & Morgan Barense
Prichard-Wilson Family
Race Family
Sadeh & Ward Family
Simon-Vermot Family
Gary & Donna Slaight
Paul & Gillian Smith
Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd.
Stewart Family
Jay & Linda Swartz
Waters Family
R. Howard Webster Foundation
Anonymous
We thank all community members who have supported Montcrest School over the years, and acknowledge those who have made contributions between July 2023 and June 2024 in this report. Donors who have supported Montcrest School for five or more years are marked with , ten or more years with and twenty or more years with . M M
Parents
Anderson Wheeler Family
Aaron & Katrina Atkinson
Melissa Thomson, Sam & Walker Babe
Tracey Kay
Barbuto Family
Barclay Family
James Bin & Rosaline Lee
Sarah Lerchs & JD Boyes
Bridgman Family
Alex Brose & Carmen Busch
Burke Sraga Family
Butler-Bissonnette Family
Jeff Campbell
Rob & Patrice Carmichael
Josette Lamoureux & Jeff Carr
Suzanne & Ryan Cassidy
Chau Family
Cole Family
da Silva-Thurston family
Geordie Dalglish & Swith Bell
Davies Family
Paul & Melita De Francesca
Paul & Lindsay De Luca
DiMarco Family
David & Liya Dunlap
Folland & Buchanan Families
Gardner Family
Kerry-Ann Grant & Blake Lambert
Kris & Emily Green
Colette Tom & Roy Gunawan
Sarah & Cheryl Hawthorn
Chi Hong & Anne Ly
Jelley Family
Alex Baniczky & Nini Jones
Stacy Koumarelas
Kay Family
Renee & Jacob Kennedy
J Hewitt & R Kennedy
Klein Family
Knodell family
Kostoff Family
Bruce & Leela Lapointe
Lint / Robichaud Family
Warwick & Jessie Marchant
Charlotte & Chris Mason
Dr. Notisha Massaquoi & Alison Duke
Michael & Lauren McLachlan
Thomas & Janet Mirkovich
Ingrid Morgan & Andrew Moeser
Moncrieff Family
Board
Isabelle Bissonnette
Allison Jelley
Renée Kennedy
Sarah Lerchs
Donna Lindell
Warwick Marchant
Barb McLean
Craig Race
Candra Reynolds
Colette Tom
Community Sponsors
Camp Kandalore
Cowley Abbott Fine Art
Craft Public Relations
Jen Laschinger - Bosley Real Estate
Lumea
Spirit of Math Schools Inc.
Friends & Grandpals
Burrison Hudani Doris LLP
Larry & Sherrill Berg
Davies Family
Derek & Adrienne Fisher
JoAnn and Mike Heale
Virginia & Peter McLaughlin
Barb McLean & Mort Mitchnick
Race Family
Gary & Donna Slaight
Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd.
Jan and Rick Sutin
Jay & Linda Swartz
Waters Family
Anonymous M
R. Howard Webster Foundation
Faculty & Staff
Laurie Arseneau
Melody Barclay
Matthew Barry
Mara Berzins
Ajla Bilajbegovic
Yvonne Boyd
Kristie Cairns
Eugene Calvez
Sharon Charbonneau
Marcin Ciesielski
Krista Cobham
Ryan Coutts
Stephanie Curtis
Nicola Daykin
Gerry De Fazio
Michael Dilworth
Darcy Doone
Natalia Franco
Kerry-Ann Grant
Beth Histed
Natalie Hollinshead
Dani Klein
Blair Livingstone
Katie MacDonald
Patti MacDonald
Carol Macfarlane
Martha Mansfield
Dawn Marshall
Shannon McEwen
Lisa McMeans
Andrea Mercer
Allison Morley
Sacha Neesham
Sarah Nelles
Hannah Nitefor
Mufridah Nolan
Carley Page
Jay Prichard
Greg Reynolds
Tricia Smith
Megan Smith
Emma Stewart
Ryan Tam
Sanjevan Vasanthakumar
Jennifer Vincent
Carrie Weston
Maggie Zegas-Tepper
Julia Zhou
