Path to reopening
It is with anticipation and excitement that we look to the fall when Berkshire Waldorf School will reopen. It is still unclear at this moment exactly how our school will look due to CDC and State of Massachusetts guidelines, but we will be ready and stronger than ever. However, we can’t do this alone and we will need your help to ensure this is done with grace, financial sustainability and planning.
There are two ways you can participate in a strong opening in the fall:
Please make a gift to support our Resilience Scholarship Fund for the 2020/21 school year. We believe focusing on enrollment and affordability is one of our most important priorities and it is in this spirit that we have created this scholarship fund. Currently 60% of our families need some level of financial aid to continue a Waldorf education (and we anticipate this increasing with COVID related economic impacts). Gifts to this fund will go directly to making financial aid possible for the 2020/21 school year.
Matching Gift Challenge
To make the largest impact on as many families as possible, a member of our community, who wishes to remain anonymous, has set up a matching gift challenge to benefit the scholarship fund that will provide for financial aid. The challenge, $15,000 will be donated if other donors match this gift. So ,in total, the school will receive $30,000. If the Covid-19 disruptions of our schools have demonstrated anything, it has highlighted the enduring educational philosophy of a Waldorf education. Waldorf education is celebrating its 100 year anniversary and BWS will reach its 50 year milestone in 2021. Lynn Arches explains our longevity and future this way:
When Covid-19 forced our school to close in March, the faculty, staff and Board of Trustees were already engaged in sorting out options and plans to keep our students and families engaged for the rest of the school year. On the financial side, we applied for and received a government Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) grant. These funds made it possible to ensure faculty and staff could continue to work and be paid. It also made up in part for the slowing tuition payments in the last quarter of the school year.
Many of you have been strong supporters of our spring gala each year.The cancellation of this very important piece of our fundraising has created shortfalls in how our community supports our annual operating budget which includes tuition assistance. Please consider helping us make up for the loss of our normally strong spring fundraising season. You can make a gift online or send a check to the school-35 West Plain Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230.
If you would like to discuss your participation in the Resilience Scholarship Fund, please contact me directly at ebrozman@Berkshirewaldorfschool.org or on voicemail at 413 528-4015, ext.104.
Thank you for your belief in our school and for your philanthropy.
