Students at Ann Arbor’s Daycroft Montessori School Raise Nearly $2,500 for Hurricane Sandy Relief

Kindness. It’s one of the core values that Daycroft Montessori School (www.daycroft.org) of Ann Arbor seeks to inspire in their students.

The school’s website expresses it in this way: “We are kind to one another and treat others the way we want to be treated. We are compassionate and we respect one another.”

A key statement: “We help those in need.”

Daycroft’s culture of kindness was in clear evidence this past November, when students at the school’s Elementary Campus (K-6) on North Zeeb Road raised nearly $2,500 for New Jersey and New York public schools, as part of Hurricane Sandy relief.

The donations were made through DonorsChoose.org, a site where public school teachers post requests for financial support for important classroom projects. Seeing news reports of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, Daycroft students were especially eager to contribute to elementary classrooms recovering from the effects of that storm.

A charity-minded company, as yet unnamed, has pledged to match some or all of the money raised by Daycroft students in their own donation through DonorsChoose.org.

The Drive to Learn and Thrive

Students in each Daycroft classroom selected their fundraising activity. Pledges to the kindergarteners’ walk-a-thon generated more than half of the total contributions. One of Daycroft’s Grades 1-2 classrooms collected pennies, while the other baked cookies and sold them to parents. The Grades 3-4 classroom held a bake sale for other Daycroft students. And the Grades 5-6 class jumped rope for pledged donations.

The students raised a total of $2,412 for Hurricane Sandy relief-related projects.

The East Coast public school teachers whose projects found support were effusive in their written thanks to the Daycroft students. A few quotes from them:

“My students and I have lost our material possessions, but we have not lost our drive to learn and thrive. Thanks to your donation, we will be able to collaborate and learn together as we survive the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy. Students will be able to share ideas for all to see. The overhead projector and supplies will enable us to do just that. Through your donation, students will share their experiences and grow through the writing process. We thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us during this very difficult time.” (Mrs. Galvin, New York City, Grades 6-8)

“This projector will prove to be an invaluable resource in our temporary classroom. It will allow me to continue to teach in the manner my students are accustomed to, and in a way that will optimize learning for all students in my class. I am so happy to reintroduce a projector into the class, and none of this would have been possible without your extreme generosity. Thank you for helping us make this year a little brighter!” (Ms. Zuluaga, Bergen County, New Jersey, Grades 3-5)

“I can’t fully express my joy, excitement, and thanks for your donation to my project. The tools you have funded will enable students to practice phonics skills that give them the tools to read and write. The children love working in my listening center and playing listening games together. Thank you so much. I can't wait to introduce these tools to the children and get them started!” (Ms. T., Newark NJ, PreK-2)

“I am so touched right now! Thank you so much!” (Mrs. DeMarco, Newark NJ, PreK-2)

About Daycroft Montessori School

Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive education. This helps Daycroft accomplish its mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their potential.

Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County’s leading private schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.

Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS; www.aims-mi.org), the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org), and the North American Montessori Teachers’ Association (NAMTA; www.montessori-namta.org).

More information is at www.daycroft.org.