Lefferts Gardens Montessori COVID Fund
Donation protected
“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.” — Maria Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential
The Need
On March 16th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and following the DOE’s lead, Lefferts Gardens Montessori canceled all classes and began creating a remote learning plan for its 99 students aged 2 to 10. Since then, teachers and administrators have worked tirelessly to create video presentations, multiple virtual circle times each week, and additional resources to support families in the school community. Until recently, the school has been able to avoid layoffs.
That’s now changed. With confirmation that schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year, and many families’ finances adversely affected by this crisis, the school quickly confirmed that they were not going to receive sufficient tuition payments to maintain payroll commitment through June. The school has furloughed teaching and admin staff as of April 16. LGM has applied for a loan under the Payroll Protection Program, and teachers and staff are applying for unemployment benefits. LGM is maintaining everyone’s benefits through at least the end of the school year and has pledged to cover any income loss they suffer when (and if) the school’s application for a loan under the Payroll Protection Program is approved. That said, even with the latest second round of funds authorized by Congress, approval is far from certain -- as is clear from news like this . Despite all the financial uncertainty, the teachers continue to volunteer their time creating lesson plans and activities for students and supporting parents.
The incredible LGM community (scroll down a bit to learn more about what makes LGM so special!) has been clamoring for a way to give back to the teachers and staff. We hope this campaign can serve as a center for that.
Where Will Donations Go?
Through this campaign, we hope to create a fund from which we can provide gifts to LGM teaching, administration, and custodial staff as their needs change in the uncertain months ahead. Gifts will be made in equal amounts to all recipients and we will provide regular updates about those gifts here.
As this is an independent, parent-led effort and not associated with the school or Parent Activity Group, funds will be distributed through one of our personal accounts. All transactions will be documented, and that documentation will be retained and available for review by any donor who requests it.
Please consider giving what you can to these amazing people who have given so much to our families and our children.
In gratitude,
Rhonda Khan, Paul Fess, and Avi Glickstein
LGM Parents
LGM in the Time of COVID-19
Listen to LGM parents talk about the ways teachers and staff have supported their kids and families over the last few weeks (as well as over the years):
And a special message from parent Lilly Stevens:
About Lefferts Gardens Montessori
Lenore Briggs founded Lefferts Gardens Montessori School in 1986 after graduating from New York University with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Montessori Education. Her interest in Montessori education began as a young teacher in Grenada, where she was born. Her vision for LGM was to serve the Prospect Lefferts Gardens Community with a highly qualitative, moderately priced, early childhood Montessori school. The School grew very quickly and word of mouth spread throughout the community and beyond; children attended from as far as Long Island. Lenore received several awards and was recognized on many occasions for her achievement and contribution to the community, including a citation from the Brooklyn Borough President’s office.
Upon her retirement in 2007, her youngest son, Anthony Briggs, who is trained in Montessori Education, took over the school as the Executive Director and continued his mother’s vision. In 2010, he expanded the school from two classrooms to five in two buildings a block apart on Rogers Avenue.
A group of dedicated parents eventually steered the creation of Lefferts Gardens Montessori Elementary - LGME, serving children ages five through ten. It opened in September 2014 in LGM’s second building at 559 Rogers Ave. Today, LGM runs a total of 7 classrooms and remains a family-owned and operated business.
Mrs. Briggs passed away in 2015 shortly after her 87th birthday. In 2017, the stretch of Rutland Road between Rogers and Nostrand Avenue next to the school, was renamed Lenore G. Briggs Way.
The Need
On March 16th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and following the DOE’s lead, Lefferts Gardens Montessori canceled all classes and began creating a remote learning plan for its 99 students aged 2 to 10. Since then, teachers and administrators have worked tirelessly to create video presentations, multiple virtual circle times each week, and additional resources to support families in the school community. Until recently, the school has been able to avoid layoffs.
That’s now changed. With confirmation that schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year, and many families’ finances adversely affected by this crisis, the school quickly confirmed that they were not going to receive sufficient tuition payments to maintain payroll commitment through June. The school has furloughed teaching and admin staff as of April 16. LGM has applied for a loan under the Payroll Protection Program, and teachers and staff are applying for unemployment benefits. LGM is maintaining everyone’s benefits through at least the end of the school year and has pledged to cover any income loss they suffer when (and if) the school’s application for a loan under the Payroll Protection Program is approved. That said, even with the latest second round of funds authorized by Congress, approval is far from certain -- as is clear from news like this . Despite all the financial uncertainty, the teachers continue to volunteer their time creating lesson plans and activities for students and supporting parents.
The incredible LGM community (scroll down a bit to learn more about what makes LGM so special!) has been clamoring for a way to give back to the teachers and staff. We hope this campaign can serve as a center for that.
Where Will Donations Go?
Through this campaign, we hope to create a fund from which we can provide gifts to LGM teaching, administration, and custodial staff as their needs change in the uncertain months ahead. Gifts will be made in equal amounts to all recipients and we will provide regular updates about those gifts here.
As this is an independent, parent-led effort and not associated with the school or Parent Activity Group, funds will be distributed through one of our personal accounts. All transactions will be documented, and that documentation will be retained and available for review by any donor who requests it.
Please consider giving what you can to these amazing people who have given so much to our families and our children.
In gratitude,
Rhonda Khan, Paul Fess, and Avi Glickstein
LGM Parents
LGM in the Time of COVID-19
Listen to LGM parents talk about the ways teachers and staff have supported their kids and families over the last few weeks (as well as over the years):
And a special message from parent Lilly Stevens:
About Lefferts Gardens Montessori
Lenore Briggs founded Lefferts Gardens Montessori School in 1986 after graduating from New York University with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Montessori Education. Her interest in Montessori education began as a young teacher in Grenada, where she was born. Her vision for LGM was to serve the Prospect Lefferts Gardens Community with a highly qualitative, moderately priced, early childhood Montessori school. The School grew very quickly and word of mouth spread throughout the community and beyond; children attended from as far as Long Island. Lenore received several awards and was recognized on many occasions for her achievement and contribution to the community, including a citation from the Brooklyn Borough President’s office.
Upon her retirement in 2007, her youngest son, Anthony Briggs, who is trained in Montessori Education, took over the school as the Executive Director and continued his mother’s vision. In 2010, he expanded the school from two classrooms to five in two buildings a block apart on Rogers Avenue.
A group of dedicated parents eventually steered the creation of Lefferts Gardens Montessori Elementary - LGME, serving children ages five through ten. It opened in September 2014 in LGM’s second building at 559 Rogers Ave. Today, LGM runs a total of 7 classrooms and remains a family-owned and operated business.
Mrs. Briggs passed away in 2015 shortly after her 87th birthday. In 2017, the stretch of Rutland Road between Rogers and Nostrand Avenue next to the school, was renamed Lenore G. Briggs Way.
Co-organizers (3)
Avi Glickstein
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Paul Fess
Beneficiary
Rhonda khan
Co-organizer