Many have asked if we have special requests from teachers. The answer is yes!
Requests for materials or program opportunities are included in the Annual Campaign wish list. You may sponsor a request by designating this in your donation to the campaign. Recognition will be given you with a post in the Beat Online and listed on our website.
“Trout in the Classroom” for Middle School $1,500
Raising trout is a hands-on activity that engages students and helps to connect them to real-life water quality, fish and wildlife issues and problems — and inspires them to seek solutions. Watching fish hatch from eggs and develop from fry to fingerlings generates enthusiasm among students and helps them develop caring attitudes about fish species and their habitats. This is the first step in fostering in students a sense of stewardship for the planet.
The Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a science-based program offered to schools throughout New Jersey that teaches children about conservation through a hands-on approach to learning, made possible through a partnership between the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and the conservation group, Trout Unlimited. (Middle School Program) Click here to sponsor this item.
Jr. II End-of-Year Party at Mercer County Park
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to the Byrne family!
Each year, the Junior II program enjoys celebrating the close of the school year with a fun party at Mercer County Park. Held during the last weeks of school, the teachers plan fun outdoor activities (the water balloon race is always a big hit). Its a great day for the children to relax, have fun, and be themselves. Lunch, snacks and a cool dessert are also included. (Junior II Program)
Geography Classroom Globe
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to the Byrne family!
Everybody wants classes to be fun,right? It’s a big world out there, full of places to go and see. Learning rules and memorizing geographic facts can be challenging. An educational globe can help bring it to life for students of all ages. Besides terrestrial globes of the earth, budding explorers and scientists can explore celestial globes that feature a star atlas or our neighboring planets. (Junior II Program)
Computers $25,000
Technology is changing our world and also changing the landscape of learning and teaching. Keeping up with this fast paced area of curriculum is expensive and necessary. Computers at the Junior II level enhance students’ research capabilities; their inquisitiveness and can build their creative writing skills. The Junior II program needs computer updates to allow students appropriate access to essential information along with improved systems and software tools. The teachers integrate technology into the Junior II curriculum just as they integrate books and pencils. (Junior II Program) Click here to sponsor this item.
History Learning Tools $1,000
History Alive! The Ancient World introduces students to the beginnings of the human story. As they explore the great early civilizations of Egypt and the Near East, India, China, Greece, and Rome, students discover the secrets of these ancient cultures that continue to influence the modern world. This subscription creates an interactive learning environment that supports and extends classroom activities. Students access text, rich images, game-like Reading Challenges, and more online. (Middle School Program) Click here to sponsor this item.
Biology Science Enhancements $1,500
Biology, like most sciences, is hands-on. Most of us learn best when we are actively participating in a “topic.” These materials will help students achieve a broad, conceptual understanding of biology as they are introduced to scientific ideologies and concepts that not only shape the biological world, but also shape humans. It stresses the integration of ideas, making connections that form our understanding of the living world. (Middle School Program) Click here to sponsor this item.
Infant Stroller
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to the Song and Chen families!
A morning stroll inside or out is a joyful experience for our infants. After 17 years of constant use the Triple Stroller is showing extreme signs of aging. The new Triple Infant Stroller is much easier to turn and navigate on the school grounds. The three seats that can be arranged in several configurations that allows rest or conversation. Teachers rave about the customizable steering wheel and all-wheel suspension keep the ride comfortable for our babies.
Toddler Outdoor Enhancements
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to the Kulkin and Song families!
The following items would be a welcome addition to the Toddler Outdoor Environment. Imagine growing an outdoor pizza garden! This is a great way to get children outdoors and motivated to plant and eat vegetables. This four-foot “Pizza Garden” is divided into six sections, allowing children to grow different plants in each section. The Pizza Garden allows the children to dig, plant, nurture and harvest a variety of plants. Children can make a delicious pizza to share by growing their own pizza herbs, onions and tomatoes! Our garden may include tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, basil, arugula, and rosemary. In the summer, when our garden is ready, the children will host pizza-baking garden party for their friends. Nurture the budding artist within! This double-sided single art easel provides children with a beautiful outdoor painting space and allows the children to socialize and work with one another while drawing, painting or writing, all in the picturesque grounds of our school. Imagine the toddlers joy to have painting and are as an outside choice in the fall, spring and summer!
Chicken Farm for Princeton Montessori School
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to the Betz, Burton, Mecray, Maschler, Stencel and Tanny families!
We are eager to create a chicken farm (barn, fence, incubator, and supplies) to teach life cycles and inspire students to appreciate, respect, and learn about the amazing life of birds on our planet and at our school. Students of every program will have opportunities to care for the hens, feed them and of course, collect their eggs. They will be amazed to learn that each hen has a unique personality and that they are friendly and curious when treated kindly. What fun it will be to observe bird behavior patterns such as dust bathing and foraging, and their complex social interactions. What better way to share in the cycle of life!
Latin American Cultural Presentation
Wish Fulfilled – Presentation on March 1, 2012
This is an interactive presentation that blends of Spanish culture, dance and language to enhance our Spanish curriculum for Elementary and Middle School students. The presenter tells a Latin American story and then the story comes to life as she dances – incorporating salsa, meringue, cha-cha etc. Students will share in the festive presentation in Spanish. Presentations such as this enhance the weekly experiences shared in the students’ Spanish classes.
Freedom Garden Renewal $2,000
Wish Fulfilled - Thank you!
Students love to care for the outdoor environment in the Freedom Garden. We need replacements of our accessories to make their gardening more rewarding. Teachers request a rain barrel to gather and store a steady supply of free rainwater for the garden. A wheelbarrow to make light work of moving earth and special tools will come in handy. We would like to begin work on repairs and improvements to the wooden beds and sheds when the weather breaks in the Spring.
Maps of the Continents $1800 (May be sponsored in shares of $600)
Wish Fulfilled - Thank you!
Primary program children begin to develop an understanding of their place in the universe. This is why so often Montessori Education is called a “cosmic education. The primary teachers are requesting new and updated maps of the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica and Africa and United States. These maps allow children to easily “absorb” comparison of continents and countries and states. These impressions remain with them forever and make later learning of geographical knowledge and historical information meaningful. The Sponsor’s name will be placed on the material. (Primary Program)
Digital Piano
Wish Fulfilled – Thank You to The Family of Julia Wakin!
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star,” sounds better with the accompaniment from a quality piano. The piano currently used for Violin lessons and Primary music classes is in need of replacement due to malfunctioning keys. This is an investment that will keep on giving for many years to deserving and talented students. The sponsor’s name placed on the piano.
iPad’s Here We Come! $40,000
One share purchased – thank you to the Kuppek Family!
iPads are a powerful, versatile tool that is virtually changing the face of education. With more than 15,000 “educational apps” the Middle School teachers and students will enjoy accessing resources and material for all areas of learning. The iPad offers the teachers diverse methods for delivering instruction and engaging students for learning and assists the students in up-to-date ways of scheduling time, managing their work, presenting, reading and researching. (Middle School) Click here to sponsor this item.
Operetta Sponsorships $11,000 (May be sponsored in shares of $500-3000)
The Annual Junior II Opera is a 25-year tradition. This unique opportunity to sing, perform and dance is learned through a concentrated 2 week immersion which allows the students “live and breathe” all things opera with a culminating performance for family and friends. The Junior I and Third-year Primary students open the evening with song wearing their custom-made t-shirts. Each year new sets, adjustments to the lighting, props, and other technical backstage work is added to the Opera. With sponsorship, your family will be noted as an Opera Sponsor in the program .
Sponsor opportunities: Artistic specialists, $3000;Choreographer, $2000; Costumes and sets, $1,500;T-shirts Junior II, $500;T-shirts Junior I, $500; T-shirts Primary 3rd year, $500; Spotlights and lighting, $1000; and Videographer, $1000. (Primary, Junior I and Junior II) Click here to sponsor this item.
Primary Bead Cabinet and Materials $2,000
Wish Fulfilled - Thank you!
Montessori developed beautiful didactic materials to introduce Mathematical numeration to young children as “materialized abstractions.” The Montessori mathematical materials help children understand each sequential math concept. The Bead Cabinet introduces squaring and cubing in concrete format and reinforces sequential and skip counting. Teachers are requesting a new cabinet with a full set of chains, as this is such a needed and popular piece of work for the older Primary students. Donors names will be placed on the cabinet. (Primary Program)
New Shelving for Primary $4000 Wish Fulfilled - Thank you!
The Primary classroom is filled with beauty and function. Over the years we have been adding these beautiful shelves to each classroom. We have gone from bricks and boards to furnishing the rooms with natural hardwood shelves which are easy to care for and beautiful to display the children’s work. Click here to read more about the important of beauty and function in the Montessori Environment. This gift will last for many years to come. Sponsor name will be applied to the shelf. (Primary Program)
Sponsor a Teacher for Montessori Training $10,000 (May be sponsored in shares of $5000)
Princeton Montessori School prides itself on the quality of its teachers. Our teachers hold an AMS Montessori credential, which includes a Montessori course of study and a year of internship prior to receiving a credential. Time and finances are always the obstacles for our teachers to obtain this credential. Consider sponsoring a dedicated, appreciative, and talented teacher so that she can begin this professional journey! Questions: Call Marsha Stencel. (Princeton Montessori Teachers) Click here to sponsor this item.
Wish fulfilled for one child - In Memory of Betty Hansen. Thank you to Anita May Rosenstein and Pat Hansen.
Wish fulfilled for one child - 2012 Imagine Auction “Good Will” item
SummerQuest $4,000 per child
How fortunate the Princeton Montessori School students are to have summers filled with adventures and opportunities. Unfortunately, some children in our nearby communities, spend long days in front of the television or are unattended playing in a in their neighborhoods during the summer months. Would you or your company consider sponsoring a child to enjoy the joys of the SummerQuest program this summer? This is a win-win situation for the recipient and for the Princeton Montessori School students and teachers. Consider reaching out to give the gift of learning, fun and community to a deserving child. Contact Marsha Stencel for more information. (Benefits children ages three through ten) Click here to sponsor this item.
Give a gift of learning to Professional Development $15,000 (May be sponsored in shares of $1000)
Each year, the professional development opportunities requests from teachers exceed $10,000. Consider making a difference in the life of a teacher. The possibilities are unlimited! Last year teachers were able to attend conferences and workshops in specific fields of interest through gift for learning given to teachers. Questions? Call Marsha Stencel. (Princeton Montessori Teachers) Click here to sponsor this item.
