ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014

MIDDLEBRIDGE SCHOOLA Place to Belong and Become.

Dear Friends of Middlebridge School,

One of the countless privileges and pleasures of leading a dynamic school in

its early years is that we frequently have the opportunity to report and celebrate

new milestones.

This is one of those moments. In June, we hosted the largest graduating class

in Middlebridge School history. Twenty-one students – 19 undergraduates

and two post-graduate students – proudly walked at the 2014 Commencement

Ceremony, which was well attended by joyful family members and friends. It

was truly a beautiful and meaningful day.

But what makes this historic occasion a significant milestone is this: at our

inception in 2008, our total enrollment was 21 students. We’ve come a long

way in a short period of time.

Enrollment for the 2014-2015 year will grow to 65 students, 10 of whom will

be participating in our newly expanded post-graduate program. This unique

independent living experience is just one element of an exciting program

enrichment plan we will be implementing in the months and years to come.

Demand for a Middlebridge School education has increased every year we’ve

been in existence, and many of you have asked about our hopes and plans for

growth and development of the Middlebridge campus.

As the “start-up” activities and daily demands of our early years have begun to

ease and become more routine, we can now shift our focus to securing the future

of Middlebridge School. We already have one of the most individualized programs

in the country, one that emphasizes students’ strengths and celebrates their

differences. But we can always do more, as parents and as educators, to develop

our students’ passions and talents.

We want to be confident that we are providing the richest and fullest experience

for all students. Which is why we, and the Board of Trustees, have spent much of

the past year developing a Campus Master Plan that clearly emphasizes program

enrichment. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing the details of our

planning with you.

Middlebridge School’s success is due to your consistent generosity and dedica-

tion. We thank you, as always, for all you do, and we look forward to working

with you to create the most comprehensive and compelling experience for all

past, present, and future Middlebridge students and families.

Respectfully,

John J. Kaufman Mark Pelson

Head of School Board Chairman

A MIDDLEBRIDGE WELCOME

SOCCER FIELD FUNDRAISER

MAKING THE DREAM A REALITY

On the eve of our Commencement Ceremony, and on

behalf of the Class of 2014, John issued a challenge to the

entire Middlebridge community: our students needed

a soccer field, and we needed the help of our families to

make the dream a reality.

Every year, our Seniors and Postgraduates vote on a class

gift-a gift that will serve as a lasting legacy for decades of

Middlebridge students to come. This past spring, students

voted to install soccer goals on the athletic field. After the

success of the MBS Owls basketball team, it was important

to all of our students that the inaugural Owls soccer team

would have a place to practice, even if the entire playing

season would be hosted at rival schools.

At the Senior and Postgraduate Luncheon, students and

their parents upped the ante by raising a little over $11,000

to support excavation, releveling and turf for a regulation

soccer field on the grounds of our very own Hazard Castle.

We are so pleased to share that together, as students, parents

and staff, we raised $48,100 to create a soccer field for the

MBS Owls Soccer team. This year, our students will play on

their own field, and will share their community with the

schools that we host at games. Please join us in recognizing

those listed below for their contributions to Alumni Field.

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A MIDDLEBRIDGE TRADITION

Since our first Commencement Ceremony in

2009, one of the traditions that have become an

integral part of our school culture is the awarding

of Hawaiian Graduation Leis. Thanks to one of

our founding families, Ed and Janet Chen, and

their daughter, Tara (Class of ’11), the tradition

adds a splash of color and deeper symbolism to

our graduation.

Leis are traditional Hawaiian flower necklaces

given as a sign of welcoming and to show affec-

tion. Leis traditionally express love, reverence,

respect, congratulations, and welcome. Orchid leis,

like those we award at graduation, are given as a

gesture of gratitude. At Middlebridge, we fondly

present our commencement leis to our students

to recognize their departure, and to thank them

for their time at MBS, and to our staff and board

members to recognize their enduring service to

the mission of the school.

Jay & Susan BurnettHeidi BrueningDavid & Debbie DonovanAdam & Rachel Gutow-EllisPatricia JamesSteven & Maria JamesJohn & Laurie KaufmanDan & Shannon LeventhalMarco Investments (Peter & Susan Scotti)

William & Nancy ReidBruce SaffranJohn TraversDianne TudzinStephen & Stacy TurnerMichael & Holly CliggottAmerico & Judith ColalucaAlice DeighanSam & Heather FolgertAdam & Susan GeigerRaymond & Susan GentileMichael & Laurie Grills

Brian & Tanya Hubert Mack & Margery LindseyDonald & Tamra ParsonsAlison PattonMark & Katherine PelsonDavid & Laura RamsdenEllen RoskinMichael RoskinAndrzej & Isabella RozyckiRoger & Elizabeth SipplMark & Patricia TavillCharles & Michelle WhiteAlbert Jr. & Kathleen Bruce

Bruce & Eva Decker Susan ElliottGordon & Pamela GummeltAlex & Cornelia HodoshDonald & Donna KelleherJoseph & Sheila KuzmicGardner & Julie LeeAbelardo & Angelica Merino-JimenezRalph & Barbara PapittoCharles ShafterDominick & Kristina TorescoKenneth & Debra WeitzmanSean Williams

MIDDLEBRIDGE SCHOOL INCOME

Tuition, fees and other 3,520,339.

Annual Fund 258,701.

Capital Campaign 233,015.

Temporarily Restricted 50,600.

TOTAL 4,062,655.

MIDDLEBRIDGE SCHOOL EXPENSES

Salaries and Taxes 2,033,586.

Program Enhancements 351,912.

Interest and Debt service 313,440.

Benefits 191,966.

Buildings and Grounds 102,554.

Insurance 70,971.

Utilities 97,037.

Office and other 69,411.

TOTAL 3,230,877.

63%

11%

10%

6%

3%

3%

2%

2%87%

6%

6%

1%

Because of the vision and commitment of the board of trustees, and the hard

work of the teachers and staff, Middlebridge School has become one of the most

highly-regarded schools for students with learning differences in the country

in a relatively short period of time.

After spending the first several years concentrating on building the school—

hiring the most capable faculty, investing in adaptive technology, and finding

a physical home—the board is now able to move our attention to leveraging our

success and planning the next phase of Middlebridge’ s development.

As the board looks ahead, we will be focused on securing the future of the school

and dedicated to program enrichment. Just as we see what the potential of each of

our students is, we see what the potential of Middlebridge School is, and we look

forward to investing in the best possible educational experience for our students.

In addition to our outstanding academic program and wonderful school commu-

nity, the board is pleased to report that Middlebridge School enters its seventh

year in a position of strong financial health. The board of trustees, and the finance

committee in particular, has provided thoughtful guidance and prudent fiscal

management that has contributed to the financial stability of Middlebridge.

Middlebridge has achieved success because of the generosity and dedication of

our board members, our families, and our supporters. As we have in the past, we

are confident we will be able to continue to count on our school community to

contribute to the Annual Fund and capital projects in the future.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” —John Dewey

MIDDLEBRIDGE FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

6

$20,000 plus

Tylor & Kimberly Armstrong (Fidelity)Mark & Katherine PelsonAndrew Wallerstein & Mary Sloane

$15,000 plus

Kelly A. SmithTeach A Man To Fish FoundationThe Nulman Foundation

$10,000 plus

Steven & Maria JamesSouthwestern Scrap Materials Co. (Adam & Rachel Gutow-Ellis)Dominick & Kristina Toresco

$5,000 plus

Elizabeth DoerrMichael & Laurie GrillsJacqueline KaufmanAlison PattonBruce Saffran

$2,500 plus

Albert Jr. & Kathleen BruceEdward & Janet ChenMack & Margery Lindsey

The Papitto Foundation (Ralph & Barbara Papitto)Lorraine ParmerPfizer Foundation Matching Gift (Albert & Kathleen Bruce)Sokal Media GroupCharles & Michelle WhiteSean WilliamsAnna Cooke Woodward

$1000 plus

John AmorosaMichael & Lisa CaseyBelton A. & Mary CoppJay & Susan BurnettMichael & Holly CliggottCarmine & Patricia DeMaioTrevor & Leslie EddyFox Rothschild LLPRaymond & Susan GentileAlex & Cornelia HodoshDavid Ives & Pamela BurchDonald & Donna KelleherKozyra & Hartz, LLCJoseph & Sheila KuzmicTerilynn LangsevGardner & Julie LeeWilliam & Nicole LehouritesSteven & Gail LevittRoger Lewis

Amanda MalloryStuart & Sara MeyersThe Mironov GroupMark & Arlene MonteneroThe Murray Family Charitable FoundationPaul & Valerie PresburgerMichael RendineRose T.Y. Chen Charitable TrustAndrzej & Isabella RozyckiSchiller & Pittenger, P.C.Helen C.S. SloaneMark & Patricia TavillJohn & Frances Thorne

Up to $1000

Edward & Lynne AhearnAnna Mary BagleyF. Troy & Gail BarnhartBen Baum ‘14Jamie BruceHeidi BrueningRichard F. CarolanJohn & Barbara ClancyAaron & Gina ColalucaAudrey & Diane ComeauRobert & Patricia ConnerneyJoseph & Ellen Costain

G.G. & Kathleen DavisBruce & Eva DeckerDavid & Deborah DonovanWayne DouglasDrazen Law Group, LLCSteven Dunn & Annmarie BorracciDurkin Cottage RealtySusan ElliottMichael & Annie EllisSam & Heather FolgertAllen Folks & Lorilyn ParmerWilliam & Helena FoulkesGary Frishman & Meredith CurrenRuss GodinMark GoldbergRosaline GranoffBrian & Tanya HubertJake Kaufman & Wendy CiovaccoNeil & Maureen KellyMalcom P. KentRobert KlineSpencer Ives ‘08Anthony & Jeanne KrukowskiJohn & Lisa LaCarteCamilla W. LeeJeffrey & Carol LeventhalRichard & Roanne LichtJohn & Heidi MarottaMark & Sandra McAndrewRichard & Mary McCarthy

Abelardo Merino-Telis & Angelica Jimenez-HernandezPamela MetzgerNorthgate Dental Center (William & Maria Malave)Donald & Tamra ParsonsNancy PricePhilip & Barbara RitchieBarbara PuscasDavid & Laura RamsdenLucy Hodgson RobinsonMichael RoskinJames RothShauna RoweSesler Family FoundationPhyllis SichelRichard F. Smith, Jr.James & Kathleen SoaresRobert StolzmanG. Rebecca TaylerMichael ThompsonVincent TravagliatoEllis L. TudzinStephen & Stacy TurnerRichard VanasseConcetta VolpeKenneth & Debra WeitzmanDiane WhiteheadCharles Yunginger III

ANNUAL FUND 2013-2014

As a nonprofit organization, tuition revenue alone is not sufficient to maintain the programmatic

excellence we all value so highly. Beyond our capital needs, consistent and strong annual giving

provides enrichment to all of our students and helps attract support from philanthropic institutions

and grant giving organizations. Our school’s future success is contingent upon maintaining our

current donor base while also investing in the cultivation of new relationships.

9

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE INCEPTION

Hazard Tower Society ($200K plus)

Elizabeth Doerr

Mark & Katherine Pelson

Andrew Wallerstein & Mary Sloane

Beech Tree Society ($100K plus)

Edward & Janet Chen

David Ives & Pamela Burch

Victor & Barbara Pelson

van Beuren Charitable Trust

Dogwood Society ($50K plus)

Richard & Terry Albright

Champlin Foundation

David & Deborah Donovan

Adam & Susan Geiger

Steven James & Maria Silva

The Rhode Island Foundation,

Anonymous Fund

Roger & Elizabeth Sippl

Mark & Patricia Tavill

Charles & Michelle White

NEED A NAME! ($25K plus)

The Dorr Foundation

Joseph, Terry & Daniella Rothchild

James & Margaret Wade

Trevor & Leslie Eddy

Terrace Club ($10K plus)

Armstrong Family

Cornelia & Alex Hodosh

Joseph & Sheila Kuzmic

Carol Nulman & The Nulman

Foundation

Bruce Saffran

Archway Society ($5K plus)

Peter & Barbara Benedek

Steven & Joan Graff

B. Michael & Cherie James

Ed & Ann Kania

Mack & Margery Lindsey

Anne & Paul Marcus Family

Foundation

The Rhode Island Foundation

Peter & Susan Scotti

$1000 plus

Albert & Kathleen Bruce

Mike & Lisa Casey

Michael & Laurie Grills

Interstate Electronics Company

Patricia James

Sally Kingsbury & David Oppenheimer

Pfizer Foundation (Albert, Jr. &

Kathleen Bruce Matching Gift)

John & Frances Thorne

Up to $1000

Peter Baum & Naomi Arenberg

Jay & Phyllis Buckley

Richard & Elizabeth Carson

Susan & Dan Custer

G.G. & Kathy Davis

Alice Deighan

Pamela & Michael Donnelly

Susan Elliott

Anne & Michael Ellis

Elliott & Nora Fine

Rosaline Granoff

Greg & Debbie Jenkins

Paula Karp

Robert Kline & Joy Foster

Heidi & John Marotta

Pam Ries Metzger

Doyle & Nancy Perry

Betty Perry

Kathy Perry & Diana Phipps

Chris & Mandi Sadler

Josh Sadler

Abby Wolfson

Eleanor & Joe Zuber

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Gina & Aaron Colaluca, Sr.

Wayne Douglas

Rachel & Adam Gutow-Ellis

Imai Keller Moore Architects

Maria & Steven James

Julie & Gardner Lee

Margery & Mack Lindsey

Valerie & Paul Presburger

Patty & Mark Tavill

Textron

Elizabeth & Roger Sippl

Kristina & Dominic Toresco

Amy & John Tyree

The Wheeler School

Michelle & Chad White

Sean Williams

IN-KIND DONATIONS

The following businesses, organizations and families generously donated goods,

services and time to Middlebridge School, which in turn, allowed us to apply

additional funds directly to support the programs and services we provide for the

well-being of those whom we serve in our community.

INTERNSHIP PARTNERS

The following businesses and organizations contributed their time and effort to

create volunteer opportunities for Middlebridge students. These experiences help

our students gain practical knowledge in the workplace, build student confidence

and increase their participation in the community. We are so appreciative of our

fantastic Internship Partners.

A Place To Grow

Advanced Auto Body

Chaplin Welding

Clarks Farm

Courthouse Center for the Arts

Critter Hut

Durkin Realty

East Coast Krav Maga

Growing Children of Rhode Island

Habitat for Humanity

Horse Play Animal Rescue

Jonnycake Center

Joyful Learning

Larham Landscaping

Lovesome Images Photography

Matunuck Oyster Farm

Narragansett Elementary School

Narragansett Bikes

Narragansett Parks and Recreation

Department

South Kingstown Public Library

Pets Gone Natural

Ruff Life Animal Center

Smithbridge Stables

South County Chamber

of Commerce

South Kingstown Animal Rescue

Sweet Cakes Bakery

The Purple Door

The Right Click

The Village Inn

The Welcome House

Tuckertown Fire Department

Union Fire District

URI Costume Design Center

URI Go Rhody Computers

URI Marine Life Science

Research Center

URI Theater Department

URI Women’s Basketball

Wakefield Alternative

Food Cooperative

YMCA

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As we enter the third year in what is now

our home, the historic Hazard Castle, we

recognized that it was time to embrace a

new, and lasting, logo design. We wanted

to choose a logo that would represent

the spirit of our community as well as the

essence of the castle; we wanted a logo

that would be as memorable and

welcoming as our students themselves.

We are so pleased to share our new

logo as part of this year’s Annual Report,

and we hope it will serve as a symbol

of our community for decades to come.

MIDDLEBRIDGE SCHOOL

AN ALUMNUS PERSPECTIVE: SPENCER IVES, CLASS OF ‘10

EXCERPTS FROM SPENCER’S COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

“The world is not like your classes—or mine—it is not a matter of passing or failing,

working towards completion. It is about taking things one day at a time. And you

do not, by any measure, need to have everything figured or planned out.

“To hope, to dream, to imagine, is one thing, one very valuable thing. But life is

vaster than you can possibly imagine. So please, by all means do not crush

yourselves, or the dreams of who you hope to be, by not knowing the route

between Point A and point B.

If there has been one thing that I’ve learned in the recent years of my education,

as well as my personal life, there is so much that can be gained by being open to

new possibilities-new opportunities. It is only when you are not absolutely set

and devoted to one path or idea that you have the freedom to explore what could

end up being the best avenues in life.

The absolute truth of the matter is that the world outside of high school is vast,

and neither you—nor anyone—can tell exactly what you’ll need. But I can tell you,

that in your time here, you have gotten a strong background to help you.

I am not here, in my opinion, to encourage you all to aspire and achieve greatness.

Partly because, in my opinion, you do not need to be told that. Each and every one

of you, I know, is capable of achieving great, great things. You have gained and

rightfully earned the ability to tackle whatever lies ahead of you.

As you celebrate, the only words I have for you are to be open to all the possibilities

you may find, and find what makes you happy.”

The mission of Middlebridge School is to provide

instruction, opportunities, and support for students

with learning differences.

Our community is designed to develop students’

academic abilities, intellectual curiosity, and physical

and social-emotional development.

We strive to create life-long learners with increased

independence and maturity that thrive in the

post-graduate setting of their choice.

Middlebridge School

Staff

Linda AtamianRachel AxelsonJustin BaylesBrianna BienkiewiczDylan BissonnetteJeanne BoldenColin BradyHeidi BrueningSteve CanniciKelley ClancyBrian CreaGeorge CuddyJames DempseyMike DeutschmanKatie FarrishPatti FedericoKatrina FeyerhermAnn FoleyBen FolsomJen FoxElizabeth FurcoloReese HerseyRachael HighamLinda HoganBrent Hopkins

Victoria HopkinsJohn J. KaufmanLaurie KaufmanCarrie KemmettKristen KillileaChris KregerEric LeonardDan LeventhalShannon LeventhalGillian LevyKate LevyCarey McGuireKatie ObryckiNaomi PfohlMarianne RadkeMartha RhodesHarriet RichinsErica SeveyTeylyr TerrioMatt ThadeioKatey TillinghastAndrew VaillantOtto WallersteinRose WhiteMelissa Williams

Middlebridge School

Board of Trustees

Mark PelsonAndrew WallersteinDavid IvesElizabeth DoerrAdam GeigerDavid DonovanSteve JamesAmanda MalloryChad White

ex-officio

John J. Kaufman

333 Ocean Road | Narragansett, Rhode Island | 02882

middlebridgeschool.org

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MIDDLEBRIDGE SCHOOL