Saint Anne's Day School and Enrichment Programs

Dear Day School Family and Friends,

Saint Anne’s Day School and Enrichment Programs continues to be a leader in Reggio-inspired preschool education in Atlanta and across the country. With our deep experience in inquiry- and play-based learning and our application of best practices in early childhood education, the Day School creates joyful, rich cognitive and social learning experiences for the young children we serve. 

Through a vibrant parent association and a culture of collaboration, the school has been on a steady path of growth. In addition to building our community from within, the school has been forging new relationships with schools across the southeast who are exploring aspects of the Approach or are interested in redefining how Reggio practices are implemented in their schools. In all our endeavors, we are strengthened by our history and energized by the prospects of our future. 

As with our past successes, the future we envision will only be possible through the continued support of our community. Friends, alumni, past parents, staff, church members, and our incredible Parent’s Association (POPs) have made our school the magical place we all know and love - and is what will propel us forward. In 2022, generous donations to the Annual Fund and other fundraising initiatives allowed us to invest substantially in our people and programming. 

Together, we:

• Dedicated over $100,000 to enhancing building and grounds security, ensuring our spaces feel warm and inviting to children while providing comfort to parents and staff.  

• Provided more than $40,000 in financial assistance to families demonstrating need so that our school is accessible to young families. 

• Committed $60,000 in improvements to the Outdoor Classroom and playgrounds, including the installation of a new piece of play equipment and updates to the POPs Tree House.

• Hosted guest specialists from as far away as Canada and as close as The Schenck School to support the development of our educators, investing more than $35,000 in the practices, curriculum, and materials that make our learning community both inspiring and impactful.

These are some of the investments that were necessary to keep the school and its programs up-to-date and operating as expected. But they are only the beginning of what will be required to continue creating unique experiences and maintaining the standard of early learning that Saint Anne’s Day School and Enrichment Programs has long been known to provide.    

Our school has a well-known history of service to the community, providing over 57 years of inspiring and innovative preschool education for the children of growing families. That remains unchanged. What we have seen, however, are the changing needs of these families. Business opportunities born out of the pandemic have led to more flexible work situations for parents - and greater expectations of preschools. With people increasingly working remotely and dictating their schedules, parents are looking for more variety in school hours and enrichment built into the day. Understanding those needs, the Day School has expanded its programming, providing the flexibility families require. This includes five-day options for younger children, a diversity of after-school programming, and extended-day options for our beloved summer camp.

To expand our programs further and provide more enrichment opportunities, we must meet the requirements of state licensing. This means updating classrooms that serve our youngest children with special diapering areas and possibly adding a restroom. While these improvements seem minor, they will be costly, and they will have a major impact on our programs and on the families we serve. 

The structural work described above is the most immediate project but not the only. If you are reading this letter, you are already a supporter. Your gifts of time, talent, and treasure over the years have made the Day School a model of early learning. Please join us again this year in our efforts to continually move the school forward. Your contribution is an investment in our future and helps ensure that Saint Anne’s Day School and Enrichment Programs continues to provide young and growing families the preschool community they need and deserve.

Thank you for supporting Saint Anne’s Day School and Enrichment Programs. You can donate to the Annual Fund now and any time by scanning the QR code provided, or you can go to the Day School website at www.saintannesdayschool.com/support-saint-annes. 

Please stay in touch! We invite you to follow us on social media to keep up with the incredible experiences and joy that are part of the Day School every day. You can find us on Instagram @stannesdayschool or Facebook @saintannesdayschool. 

Again, thank you. We appreciate you. Be well and take care.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Mitchell

Director of Saint Anne's Day School and Enrichment Programs