On Board Newsletter, Summer 2021
It is hard to believe the 2020-2021 school year has come to a close. While we started this year not quite sure what to expect, we have certainly ended it with a deep sense of gratitude. Despite the unexpected challenges resulting from the pandemic, our Board of Directors adapted quickly, collaborated creatively, and accomplished so much. Whether it was recreating a time honored event or creating new opportunities to learn a fun skill and connect with others, I am so proud of what we were able to offer and so grateful for the support we received from the community. Please take a moment to learn about these Board Happenings and accomplishments and please save the date for the GCS Community Tour on October 16th!
This summer you can stay connected through the GCS website and all our various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Our GCS online calendar will be updated with important dates as they become available. On behalf or our Board of Directors, thank you for your support and generosity this past year. Have a wonderful summer and hope to see some of you at GCS Camp, in the fall at school, and if you’ve moved on, in the community.
Sincerely,
Cindi Lane-Hand
President, GCS Board of Directors
boardofdirectors@grotoncommunityschool.org
Want to have fun and help GCS grow? Join the Board!
The GCS Board of Directors supports daily school operations and assists the staff in creating a strong community for the entire school. Members play an important role in fundraising efforts and spearheading many fun events. Get an inside glimpse at how it all works, a stronger connection with the staff and teachers, and make some great new friends! Interested? The Board of Directors is always looking for new members to join our team! Feel free to speak with any Board of Directors member, email us or join us at our upcoming meetings in August and/or September.
We have a few positions open–something for everyone! Come learn alongside an experienced member in a co-chair role. Are you creative, enjoy hosting events, and want to support keeping tuition low? Join the fundraising team! Is landscaping your jam? Do you like to coordinate repair projects (you don’t have to do it yourself!) – help out with Buildings and Grounds! Are you a social media master? Spread the word about how awesome GCS is with the PR team!
We have a positive, fun group of parents/guardians happy to jump in and welcome you on Board. Please reach out anytime!
Come see what we’re all about at any of our monthly meetings. All are welcome!
To attend a meeting email Laura Cummings at: boardofdirectors@grotoncommunityschool.org
Buildings and Grounds Update:
The 2020-21 school year meant NEW Building & Grounds!! However, there is still more work to be done. The playground was not part of the Forward Motion Project to expand the school and therefore needed some repair and updates. We are SO thankful for all volunteers who were able to help with our small fall fix-up and TWO Spring Spruce-ups. Children are enjoying our new swing set and we have our balancing logs, back. There are more enhancements to come! During our time at 14 Main St., we discovered children LOVE the ‘whizzy dizzy’ structures! They will be an important addition at 110 Boston Rd. We are also working to rebuild the Memory Garden and reinstall the Peace Pole in a new gathering space.
If you are interested in helping with any task/project or have suggestions, please reach out to buildingandgrounds@grotoncommunityschool.org ANYTIME!
Parent Representative Update
The Board would like to recognize the amazing efforts of the 2020-2021 Room Parents. In a year like no other, our GCS Room Parents stepped up and helped contribute to an amazing and successful school year. We truly appreciate all of their efforts in fundraising, teacher appreciation efforts and general morale during these unusual times. We acknowledge the difficulties of not being able to be together inside our beautiful new building but you all still made this year so special for our community.
We would also like to show our gratitude to our gracious GCS Volunteer Bakers. The contributions they provide always add such a special touch to our various events. We greatly appreciate everyone’s hard work throughout the year!
Questions? Reach out to Beth Christoforo and Christina Sutherland, Parent Representatives at: parentrepresentatives@grotoncommunityschool.org
Fundraising Update – Every Bit Counts!
We are so grateful to all of the GCS families for your willingness to volunteer your time and participate in our fundraisers. They not only help balance our budget and keep our tuition rates affordable, they provide meaningful opportunities to participate in your child’s educational experience. We had a very successful year again this year, raising a $22,947! Thank you for your continued support and generosity!!
Keep GCS in Mind This Summer!
Volunteer on the Community Tour Planning Committee – contact Cindi Lane Hand at hometour@grotoncommunityschool.org to find out how you can help out over the summer! The Community Tour Committee has been hard at work making alternative plans (as we cannot offer our usual Home Tour due to COVID-19 again this year) and we’ll need your help!
Keep scanning those grocery receipts for Box Tops!
When placing an order on Amazon.com, remember to switch to smile.amazon.com select GCS!
A Fond Farewell to Outgoing Board Members
With the close of the school year, we would like to thank the outgoing Board of Directors members for their tremendous service to Groton Community School: Emily Crouse (Buildings and Grounds), Rebecca Freeman (Secretary) and Megan Petka (Fundraising).
2021-2022 Board of Directors
Cindi Lane-Hand, President
Laura Cummings, Vice President
Linda Kosinski, Director
Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director
Terri Martin, Full Day Coordinator and Summer Camp Director
Colleen Neff, Treasurer
Caere Monahan, Secretary
Brie Weider and {open}, Public Relation
Kelly Lopez and {open}, Buildings and Grounds
Kaitlyn Brokaw and {open}, Fundraising
Beth Christoforo and Christina Sutherland, Parent Representatives
{open}, Members-at-Large
Contributors to the 2020-2021 Annual Fund
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generous contributions to this year’s Annual Fund. Your donation makes a difference for every child at GCS. These gifts are spent on the area of greatest need the year the gift is made.
There is still time to donate!
The 2020-2021 Annual Fund runs through Aug. 31.
Board of Trustees
Eric* and Katie Bach
Kathleen and Randall* Barron
John Conner*
Scott and Betsy* Kehoe
Deborah* and Scott MacDonald
Rob* and Laura Moore
David Moulton*
Peter* and Andrea Myette
Steve* and Nancy Webber
Board of Directors
Scott and Kaitlyn* Brokaw
Beth* and John Christoforo
The Crouse Family
Laura Cummings* and Joseph Walch
Becky* and Casey Freeman
Ed Hand and Cindi* Lane-Hand
Kelly Lopez*
Michael and Colleen* Neff
Kyle and Megan* Petka
Michael and Christina* Sutherland
Evan and Brie* Weider
Past Board of Directors
Sarah* and Jim Belcher
Michael and Jennifer* Burke
Matt and Kate* Ferriola
Christopher and Christiane* Gorycki
Debbie and Kevin Kennedy
Krista and Jeff Kubick
Brett Laidlaw and Heather Spinney-Laidlaw*
Cynthia Maxwell*
Agnes McKinney*
Geoff and Stacie* Moeser
Catherine* and Eric Pauly
The Pember Family
Paul and Hannah* Pugh
David & Karen Riggert
Kelly* and David Rowe
Trisha* and Scott Winroth
Current Staff
Steve and Jennie* Fitzkee
Rick and Noreen* Keras
Linda Kosinski*
Heidi May*
Jon and Lorrie* Morgan
Mike and Debbie* Penney
Lisa Stafford*
Bonnie Stanton* and Dave Quintin
Past Staff
Sandy* and Dan Irvin
Greg and Cynthia* Premru
Current Families
Anonymous
Andrew and Emily Davis
The Dragotas Family
Kate and Steve Engstrom
Jarred and Amanda Gagnon
Andrew and Jennifer Halloran
Joshua and Jennifer Pollock
Jim and Liz Welch
The Vella Family
Past Families
Jonathan Blandford and Rosanna Yuen
Anne and Gerry Cahill
Niels and Dorothy Christiansen
Richard Fichera and Julie Rodwin
Lee Muir-Haman and Mark S. Haman
The Hawes Family
Jim and Lori Herberich
Linda Hoffman
Molly and Colin Igoe
Stephen Janes
Joshua and Amy Kritzer
Jon and Julie Kujala
Cliff Maxwell
Lon and Katie Novak
Raj and Priya Palakkal
Ron and Evann Peck
Jessica, Alan, Gabriel & Jacob Quinn-Miller
Raynor-Peters Family
Michael and Martha Resch
Steve & Cindy Rizzo
The Robertson Family
Susan Randazzo and Stewart Schulman
Steven and Jennifer Stone
David and Pamela Stone
Bill and Cheryl Townsend
Alfred and Kristen von Campe
The Yost Family
Alumni
Robert Dermody
John Ellenberger and Patti Thompson
Ryan Kosinski
Joshua Kosinski
Anna MacDonald
Gabriel and Jacob Miller-Quinn
Carlo Perrotti
Grandparents
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cornellier
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Driscoll
Robert and Donna Halloran
Miriam and Stephen Helfgott
Peter and Maura Morrison
John and Janet O’Brien
Mr. Albert Stone
Charles James Vella
Mary B. Wills
Friends of GCS
Bemis Community Investment Fund of the Community Foundation of N. Central Mass.
Dave and Jackie Clericuzio
Art and Mickey DeLucia
Tim and Rowe Luca
Gerard Tarpey and Linda Luca
Matching Gifts
Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation
Johnson Controls
Raytheon Companies
*Indicates past or present service to Groton Community School