The first month of school gave us the perfect opportunity to begin our community service projects.  With Hurricanes Harvey and Irma taking their toll in Texas and Florida, the American Montessori Society (AMS) created a “Rebuild Your School” campaign to help Montessori schools in need in the affected areas.  The funds collected in the campaign were matched by AMS and additional funds donated by Nienhuis Montessori (a Montessori materials company). We talked to our children about the hurricanes and how we can help other Montessori schools in need by collecting coins.  This was a wonderful opportunity to spread peace and kindness through the community.  Our children loved bringing in their coins and with the help of some very generous parents our final tally amounted to $600.00.
So, as always, thank you Dublin Montessori families, for opening the piggy banks, the extra change from your cup of coffee and the loose change in your pockets!  You really made a difference!
 
December found us again renewing our promise to St. Stephens Community Center.
The collection of can goods and food products helped supply the needs for the food baskets which are distributed through out the community.  For those family who find themselves with less and less this time of year.  The foyer was overflowing with food donations.  St. Stephens is very grateful to the families of Dublin Montessori for their boundless spirit of giving.
 
Also in December, on a very cold Saturday, Miss Sheidler (our in house marathon runner) registered for the Mt. Carmel Lewis Center four mile run to support One Warm Coat.  Again, it was not only Miss Sheidler who easily crossed the finish line successfully, but all our wonderful families who donated gently used coats, hats, mittens and scarves to this well known organization.  She collected and delivered several large bags of warm, usable, outerwear to be distributed as needed in the community.  Again, thank you!!
 

Welcome to another great school year.  It is our wish each year to introduce the children to the concept of giving to others, especially those going through rough times.  Whether it be through food drives, care packages for sick children or raising money for charities, we love watching the children find the joy one feels when they are being of service to others. With this in mind, our first project of the 2016-2017 school year was a fundraiser for ALS. 
 
This was very near and dear to our hearts as one of our well loved, former teacher’s family member is stricken with this debilitating disease.  The children attended our school as well.  The husband/father was diagnosed with ALS in December 2014 and the family is taking each day at a time.  Their faith is unrelenting and their positive outlook on life is a miracle in itself.  Our children brought in their “spare change” as a donation while Ms. Sheidler dedicated her run in the New York Marathon in honor of this family and the charity.
As usual, our families were very generous in supporting this undertaking and the results were very generous contributions.  It was a win win situation.
 
Christmas brought us around to our usual collection of food for St. Stephens.  This year the request was for donations for the food baskets that St. Stephens prepares for distribution to the community the week of December 19th.  The people at St. Stephens are always so amazed at the quantity of food that comes from Dublin Montessori!  Once again, our families reaching out to others in need.
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April and May 2016
     During the month of April in anticipation of our visit from the Ohio Wildlife Center on May 13th, we collected items for Animal Care Unlimited.  ACU works with The Ohio Wildlife Center to care for and rehabilitate injured and abandoned local wildlife with re-release into the wild as its goal.  Once again, our families contributed so much in answering their "items most needed" wishes.  In case you wish to donate a full list of need items can be found at www.ohiowildlifecenter.org.
     Speaking of donating.....our final community involvement for this school year is the arrival of the American Red Cross Bloodmobile on May 9th.  Last year was our first year to sponsor a blood drive and with great success we experienced; we want to make it an annual event.  So if you are so inclined and a candidate to donate, please sign up ad help us reach our goal of 30 units.  You can schedule an appointment at:
www.redcrossblood.org.  Sponsor code:  DMA.
    

February 2016
     The Valentine month found us connecting with Nationwide Children's Hospital making activity kits for the patients.  Each of our students , all 108, got to place markers, crayons, stickers and activity booklets in a bag destined for a child in the hospital.  Thank you to our families for providing the materials for the activity bags.  You gave from your heart and your thoughtfulness made such a significant difference in the lives of children and families coping with serious health care issues.

January 2016
 
Our December community project has stretched into January.  We have chosen to support the Salvation Army in Worthington who goes out weekly to provide necessities to the homeless.  Our families donated the much need toiletries, warm hats, socks and gloves, also protein and cereal bars.  The children have sorted all the items bagging them and placing them in individual bags for distribution.  The goal was to supply 50 bags for distribution; and we are happy to say that we met and surpassed that goal.  Once again, we thank the generosity of our families…you are the greatest!
 
 
 
December 2015
 
Today was the day that St. Stephens Community Center pulled up in their truck to collect all the    canned goods, food stuff, baby food and formula that was again, so generously donated by our families.  Their Christmas Cares/Unions Share distribution serviced approximately 3500 families December 19-23.  Your donated items go to help making food baskets for those less fortunate in the Columbus area.  We have been partnering with them for over 20 years.  So thank you for improving our world by your kind and giving hearts.   
 

Once again this year we are looking forward to participating in a variety of community service projects.
We are excited to start the new year continuing our relationship with Abbington Assisted Living Community. We will keep you informed of the activities and opportunities in the upcoming months.


October 31, 2015
 
We would love to see the smiles on the children who got to pick out their very own Halloween costume!  Thanks to our generous families who donated over 50 costumes and  accessories.  The children were able to go to the Welcome Warehouse and select from a variety of characters whether it be a dinosaur, princess, pirate, super hero, fire fighter or a police officer!  Halloween is for the children and it is a very sad time if a youngster is not able to dress up and pretend!  Your acts of kindness go a very long way to make a child’s life just a bit happier.  Thank you!

Dublin Montessori Academy has always been involved in community efforts.  We like to have the children participate in projects in which they truly become involved.  Whether it be collecting canned goods for St. Stephens Community House, donating warm winter coats and jackets for distribution or raising funds for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and or the American Heart Association; the children and the families are so very generous with their giving.

This year, the school is getting more involved and stretching "our wings" just a bit.  We have established a relationship with the Assisted Living Community of Abbington located right down the road from our school.

The children have made buckeye necklaces, bracelets and colored pictures to help the residents cheer on the OSU football team.  We had a meet and greet session with the children visiting, sharing their stories and the residents enjoying listening to each and every one.  Other visits and activities are planned throughout the year.

In collaboration with Columbus School for Girls, and once again the generosity of our families; we were able to collect and donate 150 Halloween costumes for the children at the Homeless Families Foundation.

Also, keeping with the tradition, the children will be bringing in their "spare change" to help with our support of the Ride Strong Program to collect money for the Live Strong Program.  This program raises money for people who are in cancer remission and are trying to find their new "normal" in physical fitness.  It gives those recovering from cancer the opportunity, at no expense, to work out with other survivors at the YMCA.  This cause is near and dear to our hearts.

In November, we will once again collect canned food goods for St. Stephens Community House for their Christmas Care Program.

In conclusion to our first year of community conscience and commitment, we made a final trip to Abbington Village with fifteen kindergarteners bearing gifts of hand painted flower pots with potted petunias.  After talking with the residents, hearing their life stories and the children sharing their own stories then sharing a snack together; the children paraded to each room and distributed their flowers.  It was heartwarming for all.  A lesson in how much better it is to give than receive.

Then, our first American Red Cross blood drive was on May 11th.  What a success!  Twenty-two wonderful people donated…helping sixty-six lives.

We plan on keeping our community commitments going forward in future years.  What a rewarding experience for our children, staff and families.

Thank you Lori Carroll!

We feel so fortunate to have such wonderful families who support our adventures.  We look forward to having the opportunity of serving the community and having our children learn that even the smallest act of kindness and giving can make a big, big difference!

Check back again to see more involvement with our community.