Lower School Open House
For Grades K–5
Saturday, December 7
9:30 – 11 a.m.
A fun family scavenger hunt to explore our campus, meet our teachers and learn about our experiential curriculum.
For 100 years, The Foote School has been a place where children begin a lifelong journey of joyous learning and discovery. As we enter Foote's second century, we are grateful for its legacy and are working to secure its future.
While previous campaigns have focused on facilities, The Centennial Campaign is about people: our teachers, students and families. Like all independent schools, Foote faces changing demographics that pose long-term challenges. To ensure a strong future for Foote, we have set a goal of doubling our $9 million endowment to provide immediate funding for key priorities to support and sustain the school in its second century.
Foote has invested substantially in financial aid because we believe a diverse community enriches the experience of all our students and prepares them for the world they will enter.
Approximately 22 percent of families receive some level of need-based financial aid. Last year, Foote awarded $1.9 million in financial aid—a commitment unparalleled among independent primary schools. Still, the number of requests for financial aid—and the dollars requested—are both increasing. A larger endowment will offset tuition increases that put Foote out of reach for some families and help preserve the socioeconomic diversity we value so highly.
Foote’s student body is more diverse than ever, and having teachers who reflect the backgrounds of our children is important. Foote has made gains in this area but not fast enough. As we step up recruitment efforts to identify candidates of color, we must commit immediate resources to this critical goal.
Foote’s long-term strength depends on continued financial stability. To keep enrollment healthy, we must invest in people, programs and facilities. We seek funding to renovate the Grades 1—3 classrooms and to increase endowment in order to maintain our campus infrastructure while reducing dependence on tuition dollars.
The faculty is the heart of the school. Teachers play a critical role not only in classrooms but in shaping Foote’s educational program. Foote now benchmarks faculty salaries with the best K-8 schools in the country. Growing our endowment will ensure that Foote continues to attract and retain the best teachers by providing competitive salaries and benefits as well as ongoing opportunities for professional development.
Unrestricted gifts, often pledged over three to five years, represent the most useful form of support. They allow us to direct funding to our students’ most immediate educational needs. Most often, we use such support toward financial aid, capital projects and professional development for our faculty. If not otherwise restricted, gifts to the Centennial Campaign will support the priorities we have identified.
Nurturing is the first word that comes to mind when we think about Foote. Although our kids have all graduated, we deeply appreciate the nurturing that our whole family received while at the school. We know we benefited from the generosity of prior generations which is why we wanted to do the same for future Foote families.
Kim Bohen and Doug James, past parents
Fourth graders spend weeks sculpting clay candle houses in art class. For a few glorious moments, their creations light up a darkened Sandine Theater as part of a winter-themed celebration.
Richard Bershtein, co-chair
Cindy Leffell, co-chair
George Atwood
Constance Clement '62
Michael Krauss
Carol Maoz
Jody Abzug
Amy Caplan '88
Amy Sudmyer '89
Judy Chevalier
Annie Clark
Jay Cox
Melanie Ginter
Martha Vietor Glass '68
Richard and Jane Levin
Bruce Mandell
Sharon Milikowsky
Libby Peard
Frank Perrine
Dean Takahashi
Jody Abzug
Director of Development and Alumni Programs
Phone: 203-777-3464 x218
Email: jabzug@footeschool.org
For Grades K–5
Saturday, December 7
9:30 – 11 a.m.
A fun family scavenger hunt to explore our campus, meet our teachers and learn about our experiential curriculum.