Greetings from the Woods Academy.

 

We are writing to update you on our progress toward our Upper School Renovation Project and our Ever Forward Capital Campaign. Over the last few months, we have been busy working with our architect, general contractor and officials from Montgomery County so that our project can begin immediately after our last day of school on June 11. We are pleased to announce that we received approval from Montgomery County Department of General Services for our renovation plans this week.

 

We have made considerable progress toward our Ever Forward campaign goal thus far.  At this point, we need your help to make the project a complete success. Our ambitious goal is to pay for renovations without affecting subsequent year’s tuition. In fact, this year’s zero percent increase is a testament to the careful financial planning and fiscal responsibility of our Board of Trustees and Administration.  Now, as we move into the campaign’s second phase entitled FiveOverFive, we respectful ask you to consider pledging your support. You can read more about FiveOverFive below.

 

Over the next few weeks, we will highlight some of the other upcoming changes that will benefit our students in a special Window-on-the-Woods series. Below is a brief explanation of how new lockers will make a difference for your child. Each enhancement will make a significant difference for all of us next year—and each succeeding year. From the movable partitions between classrooms, sinks in the science lab, fiber optic wires throughout the network, faculty professional development and resources for financial aid, your gift will lead to revolutionary changes for our kids.

 

Thank you for your love and support of the Woods Academy.

 

Regards,

Mary and John

 

What is Ever Forward? Ever Forward is a Capital Campaign. Money raised will be used to secure the school’s long-term viability through (1) physical improvement of the school building and (2) by raising endowment that will support financial aid and professional development costs on a permanent basis. The Ever Forward Campaign provides those individuals with a special commitment to the Mission, Values and Identity of the Woods Academy-- the only Catholic, Independent and Co-ed elementary school in the DC region—to contribute to the school’s long-term ability to maintain our high standard of excellence.   The Ever Forward Campaign is different than the Woods Annual Fund drive now known as The Greentree Fund. The Greentree Fund is designed to cover anticipated operational expenses related to the current school year. We rely on the Greentree Fund to close the approximately $1500 gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating each Woods student each year. On the other hand, gifts to the Ever Forward campaign will make a long-lasting impact on this and succeeding generations of Woods students.  Both funds are crucial to the success of the school.

The Five-Over-Five Phase The FiveOverFive phase of the Ever Forward campaign allows all Woods families to help us reach our goal by pledging to give $1,000 each year for the next five years. I encourage you to fill out the pledge form that is attached below. We are not asking for money now, but only a committment to give over time. We accept payments in all forms including gifts of stock or securities. Please contact the Development Office to make arrangements for this type of donation. Now is your chance to do your part to support our renovation and long-range success. Please consider a pledge of FiveOverFive.

Why are new lockers so important? Just ask our students... In the 1920s Virginia Woolf believed that a successful ‘woman must have money and a room of her own.’ In the Woods Upper School, our recipe for success includes a spacious backpack and a double-height locker. Ask our students about their lockers and you’ll hear one consistent message: bigger is better. For years, our sixth and seventh graders have been compressing full-sized ambitions into half-sized lockers. Sadly, all this squeezing can lead to desperate organizational challenges. You can get a pretty good idea who is a candidate to be on the TV show Clean House by looking inside these little steel boxes. New, full-sized lockers are just one of the many enhancements coming this summer with our Upper School renovation. Our new lockers will be eighteen inches deep and twelve inches wide. They will be tall enough to keep everyone’s blue blazers totally wrinkle-free.

/ Campaign Leadership The Ever Forward Campaign Leadership is ready to answer any questions you may have about this critical renovation project and our drive to build endowment for faculty professional development and financial aid. Feel free to contact any member of the Campaign Committee listed below.   Campaign Co-Chairs Peggy & George Sotos and Janet & David Pappert   Honorary Co-Chairs Gerry & Thomas Borger Tonja & David Murray Patricia & George Reese   Internal Leadership Mary Worch, Head John DeMarchi, Associate Head   Campaign Committee Doug Cooper Maureen Dolan Lisa Hotchkiss Martha Humler Bob Smith

Ever Forward Campaign Pledge Form