This is one of those rare evenings that captures what makes MRGC so special: families walking the halls, teachers and friends connecting, student artwork on display, and beautiful collaborative classroom pieces available through silent auction.

Come enjoy the art, bid on your favorite classroom pieces, buy raffle tickets for the baskets you have your eyes on, and be part of a night that directly supports the programs, supplies, and experiences our children benefit from every day.

Art. Community. Celebration. Support.

You won’t want to miss it. Join us this Thursday!

🎟️ Raffle Tickets For Each Basket

Each ticket costs $5, and you can purchase as many as you’d like! Enter to win any basket by purchasing tickets in person at Art Fest, or online!

Take A Look At What Has Been Donated:

View Donated Items

Buy online tickets here:

Online Ticket Purchasing

🍕 Food Trucks

This year, 5 food trucks will be joining us! 3 dinner options, and 2 dessert options:

• The Dough Box - made-to-order pizza

• The Munchie Truck - comfort foods and flavors

• Desert Sky on the Fly - creative cuisine

• Kona Ice - shaved ice

• Frios Popsicles - locally made popsicles

Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it here! From sweet treats to savory favorites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Even better—each truck is generously giving back 10–15% of their proceeds to support our school.

Come hungry, bring the whole family, and join us for a lively, feel-good night celebrating our students, our community, and everything that makes it so special!

🎵 Music All Night Long

Art Fest will showcase 2 community favorite bands:

• Dad Band - MRGC dads jamming out!

• Le Chat Lunatique - MRGC’s very own Muni Kulasinghe and Albuquerque staple since 2005, Le Chat Lunatique delivers their signature “filthy, mangy jazz” with infectious energy and genre-bending style!

See you Thursday, 5-7PM!

• BASKET RAFFLE & ART FEST

• Monte’s List

• Floral Road Farm’s Mother’s Day Bouquets

Basket Raffle & Art Fest

📅 THIS Thursday, May 7, 2026!

Join us THIS THURSDAY for Basket Raffle & Art Fest—it’s one of those rare evenings where the entire community comes together to celebrate creativity, connection, and the incredible work of our students! From the collaborative classroom pieces to the energy of seeing families, teachers, and friends all in one place, it’s more than just an event—it’s a reflection of what makes this school so special. Come walk through the displays, bid in the silent auctions, buy raffle tickets for baskets you have your eyes on, and be part of a night that directly supports the programs and experiences our kids benefit from every day. You won’t want to miss it.

🎟️ Raffle Tickets For Each Basket

Each ticket costs $5, and you can purchase as many as you’d like! Enter to win any basket by purchasing tickets in person at Art Fest, or online!

Take A Look At What Has Been Donated:

View Donated Items

Buy online tickets here:

Online Ticket Purchasing

🍕 Food Trucks

This year, 5 food trucks will be joining us! 3 dinner options, and 2 dessert options:

• The Dough Box - made-to-order pizza

• The Munchie Truck - comfort foods and flavors

• Desert Sky on the Fly - creative cuisine

• Kona Ice - shaved ice

• Frios Popsicles - locally made popsicles

Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it here! From sweet treats to savory favorites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Even better—each truck is generously giving back 10–15% of their proceeds to support our school.

Come hungry, bring the whole family, and join us for a lively, feel-good night celebrating our students, our community, and everything that makes it so special!

🎵 Music All Night Long

Art Fest will showcase 2 community favorite bands:

• Dad Band - MRGC dads jamming out!

• Le Chat Lunatique - MRGC’s very own Muni Kulasinghe and Albuquerque staple since 2005, Le Chat Lunatique delivers their signature “filthy, mangy jazz” with infectious energy and genre-bending style!

Monte’s List

Monte’s List is LIVE — and you’re invited to be part of it.

The doors are officially open to Monte’s List (www.MontesList.com), and we’d love for every MRGC business owner to join us. Built by families, for families, this is our community-powered directory—a modern village network designed to help us discover, support, and champion the incredible businesses right here at MRGC.

This is your invitation to get listed, get seen, and grow alongside a network that genuinely wants to support you. When one of us grows, we all grow—and this is how we make that happen together.

Getting started is simple:

1. Visit www.MontesList.com

2. Click “+ Add Your Business” in the top right

3. Create an account or sign in

4. Then click “+ Add Business”

Once your post is approved, your business becomes easily searchable by name, keywords, and category—making it simple for fellow families to find and support you.

Want to go a step further?

You’ll also have the option to participate in sponsorship opportunities or give back to FOMF through a percentage of revenue generated from Monte’s List—completely optional. As a thank you, participating businesses will be featured in newsletters throughout the 2026–2027 school year, reaching a highly engaged community with strong family readership.

We’d love to see you there—join today, get your business listed, and be part of something truly special growing within our community.

Join Monte's List Today

Floral Road Farm

MRGC Family, Tracy Dunham (mother-in-law to Rika Martinez), recently opened Floral Road Farm around the corner and is inviting MRGC families to purchase Floral Road Farm bouquets for Mother’s Day! 15% of proceeds go to MRGC when you use code MRGC at checkout.

Visit Floral Farm Road

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle & Art Fest: May 7, 5:00 - 7:00PM

• Basket Ticket Sales End: May 8, 11:59PM

• Basket Winner Drawings: May 14

• Last Day of School: May 22

• Basket Raffle & Art Fest: don’t miss the most colorful night of the year!

• Monte’s List: join our community directory!

• May Concessions: sign up to donate to our last concessions!

• Annual Fund: make your end-of-year donations to help support 2026/2027!

Basket Raffle & Art Fest

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026 - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

The generosity of our community this year has been nothing short of incredible—and you can see it in every detail! We’ve curated over $17,000 worth of amazing items into this year’s class-themed baskets. You won’t want to miss the chance to experience them in person—come join us and see what everyone’s talking about!

🎟️ Raffle Tickets On Sale Now

Each ticket costs $5, and you can purchase as many as you’d like! Enter to win any basket by purchasing tickets in person at Art Fest, or online!

Take A Look At What Has Been Donated:

View Donated Items

Buy online tickets here:

Online Ticket Purchasing

🎨 Art Fest

Art Fest is a special evening celebrating the creativity and hard work of our MRGC students. Families and friends are encouraged to visit their student’s classroom—and take time to explore all classrooms—to experience the incredible artwork created throughout the second half of the year.

Each class has also collaborated on a unique group piece that will be featured in a silent auction, with bidding closing promptly at 6:45 PM. Don’t miss this inspiring showcase of talent, creativity, and collaboration!

🍕 Food Trucks Galore

This year, 6 food trucks will be joining us! 3 dinner options, and 3 dessert options:

• The Dough Box - made to order pizza

• The Munchie Truck - comfort foods and flavors

• Desert Sky on the Fly - creative cuisine

• Kona Ice - shaved ice

• Frios Popsicles - locally made popsicles

• Wiki-Licious - Hawaiian donuts

Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it here! From sweet treats to savory favorites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Even better—each truck is generously giving back 10–15% of their proceeds to support our school.

Come hungry, bring the whole family, and join us for a lively, feel-good night celebrating our students, our community, and everything that makes it so special!

🎵 Bands To Make You Dance

FOMF is very excited to announce Art Fest will showcase 2 community favorite bands:

• Dad Band - MRGC dads jamming out!

• Le Chat Lunatique - MRGC’s very own Muni Kulasinghe and Albuquerque staple since 2005, Le Chat Lunatique delivers their signature “filthy, mangy jazz” with infectious energy and genre-bending style!

Monte’s List

We’re excited to announce that Monte’s List is now LIVE—and we’re inviting all MRGC business owners to be part of it!

Built by families, for families, Monte’s List (www.MontesList.com) is a grassroots, word-of-mouth powered directory connecting businesses within our Montessori community. Think of it as our modern-day village network—a trusted place to discover, support, and share the incredible work happening right here among us.

Join today, get your business listed, and help us grow something special together. When one of us grows, we all grow.

Joining is easy:

1. Visit www.MonteList.com

2. Click “+ Add Your Business” in the upper right corner

3. Create an account or sign in

4. Then, click “+ Add Business”

Every business will be searchable by keywords, name, and business type.

Optional ways to get even more involved:

Businesses can choose to be contacted about sponsorship opportunities and have the option to give back to FOMF through a percentage of revenue generated from Monte’s List—completely optional. As a thank you, all businesses that opt in to giving back will be featured in our newsletters throughout the 2026/2027 school year, reaching a highly engaged audience with a 70% family readership.

Join today and get your business listed to start benefiting from the power of word-of-mouth marketing! It’s truly a rising tide, all boats kind of community initiative!

Join Monte's List

May Concessions

🍩Friday, May 1

Our last concessions of the school year are just around the corner! As always, concessions are powered entirely by generous family donations, so if you want to sprinkle a little magic into the day, kid-favorites like donuts and chips are always crowd-pleasers. Every treat helps keep the stand happy (and stocked!), and all proceeds flow straight back to MRGC through the foundation.

Sign Up To Donate!

Our final concession pizza is proudly brought to you by Golden Crown Panaderia! Thank you, Golden Crown!

Annual Fund

Dear MRGC Families,

Over the past year, the generosity of our community has made a meaningful and visible impact on our school. Thanks to Annual Fund donations and your continued support, the Friends of the Montessori Foundation contributed over $130,000 to MRGC—funding essential programs and experiences that directly shape our children’s education.

These funds supported Art & Music teacher salaries, updated technology, field trip transportation, Cottonwood Gulch, yearbooks for every student, classroom supplies, and more. These are not extras—they are part of what makes MRGC such a rich, well-rounded Montessori environment.

As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 school year, the need is even greater.

Due to ongoing funding challenges—including significant reductions tied to recent legislative changes and rising operational costs—FOMF will once again be stepping in to cover critical gaps. This includes fully funding the salaries for Art & Music, programs that simply cannot continue without Foundation support. In addition, FOMF will take on an even larger role by helping cover all school supplies, field trip transportation, Cottonwood Gulch, yearbooks for all students, and other essential needs.

The reality is this: these programs and resources now depend on us.

While we have always worked to make fundraising feel community-centered and inclusive, I’m reaching out today with a renewed sense of urgency. Family participation in the Annual Fund is more important than ever.

We continue to suggest a contribution of $500 per student, knowing that this is a meaningful commitment for many families. Please know that every contribution—at any level—truly matters. If you are in a position to give more, your additional support will help ensure we can meet the growing needs of our school.

Donate To Annual Fund

If you prefer to give by check (made out to FOMF) or cash, you may drop it off at the front desk.

We will continue to host the community events we all love, and we hope to see you there. But the Annual Fund remains the single most important way we sustain the programs, teachers, and experiences that define MRGC.

Please consider making your contribution by May 22th so we can plan responsibly for the upcoming school year.

If you have any questions or would like to talk more about how your support makes an impact, I’m always available.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community—and for showing up for our children in such a meaningful way.

With gratitude,
Pillar Patton
FOMF President
MRGCFoundation@gmail.com

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales: Now through May 8

• Staff Appreciation Week: May 4-8

• Art Fest: May 7

• Basket Raffle Drawings: May 14

• Last Day of School: May 22

• Basket Raffle: tickets are on sale!

• Monte’s List: a new way to share your business with the community, coming soon!

• Annual Fund: 13% of families have participated, we need your donations!

• May Concessions: donuts next Friday, please!

• FOMF Executive Assistant: send us your applicants!

Basket Raffle

🎟️ Tickets On Sale Now!

The generosity of our community this year has been incredible—and it shows! We’ve packed over $17,000 worth of amazing items into this year’s class-themed baskets, making them some of the best we’ve ever had.

If you haven’t checked them out yet… you need to.

See Donations

Because here’s the fun part: it only takes ONE ticket to win.
That one ticket could land you an entire basket—every item, all yours—to enjoy with your family (or keep all to yourself… we won’t tell 😉).

Grab your tickets and take your shot—these baskets are too good to miss.

Buy Your Tickets Here

You can buy tickets online or in person the night of Art Fest!

Speaking of Art Fest…

Join us one night only on May 7 from 5–7 PM for an evening filled with creativity, community, and celebration. Enjoy live entertainment from Dad Band and Le Chat Lunatique, browse and bid on the incredible basket raffles and student art, and gather with friends and families for a great meal from our amazing food trucks: The Munchie Truck, Desert Sky on the Fly, Dough Box, Kona Ice, Frios Popsicles, and Wiki-Licious. Even better, each truck is generously donating 10-15% of their proceeds back to the school! Come hungry, bring the whole family, and get ready for a fun, festive night celebrating our students and community!

Monte’s List

⭐ Community Business Directory — Coming Next Week!

Introducing Monte’s List, a community-powered directory built the Montessori way—rooted in connection, trust, and word-of-mouth. Designed for families within the MRGC network, it makes it easy to discover and support local businesses that come recommended by people you already know. Whether you’re searching for a service or adding your own business, Monte’s List creates a simple, meaningful way to keep resources, referrals, and support within the community—helping everyone grow together.

Getting started will be simple:

• Create your Vendor Profile

• Upload your business details

• Choose to get notified about FOMF Sponsorship Opportunities (optional)

• Choose to give back to FOMF through your business (optional)

• Get found by others in the MRGC community looking for a business like yours

Start the 2026–2027 school year featured in Monte’s List—promoted through the newsletter, at school events, and in Friday Folders throughout the year—so your business stays visible, trusted, and supported by the community.

A link to sign up will go out in next week’s newsletter! Stay tuned!

Annual Fund

At Montessori of the Rio Grande Charter School, critical programs, resources, and student experiences are made possible through the support of the Friends of Montessori Foundation. As a nonprofit public charter school, MRGC relies on philanthropic giving to help fund essential elements like art and music, classroom supplies, field trip transportation, teacher support, yearbooks for all, and more—ensuring a rich, well-rounded Montessori experience for every student.

We recognize that every family’s ability to give looks different, but participation in the Annual Fund is an important part of sustaining our school. Every contribution directly supports the students, teachers, and programs that make MRGC such a special place. Your support is a meaningful way to invest in the school’s mission, values, and the day-to-day experiences that shape our children’s education.

Recent changes, including House Bill 63, have reduced funding by over $150,000, and a significant increase in insurance costs has added more than $180,000 in unexpected expenses to MRGC’s budget. This is a total budget change of over $300,000. These combined financial impacts place real pressure on the programs and resources that our students rely on every day.

Gifts to the Friends of Montessori Foundation Annual Fund help bridge this gap—ensuring that MRGC can continue to provide the enriching, supportive environment our children deserve. Your support plays a vital role in sustaining the strength and future of our school community.

Thank you for being part of what makes MRGC so extraordinary.

Donate To Annual Fund

May Concessions

🍩Friday, May 1

Our last concessions of the school year are just around the corner! As always, concessions are powered entirely by generous family donations, so if you want to sprinkle a little magic into the day, kid-favorites like donuts and chips are always crowd-pleasers. Every treat helps keep the stand happy (and stocked!), and all proceeds flow straight back to MRGC through the foundation.

Sign Up To Donate!

Our final concession pizza is proudly brought to you by Golden Crown Panaderia! Thank you, Golden Crown!

FOMF Executive Assistant

The Friends of Montessori Foundation is seeking a reliable, detail-oriented Executive Assistant to support the administrative and financial operations of the Foundation. This role works closely with the Foundation Officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) to ensure smooth operations, accurate financial tracking, and successful execution of events and initiatives.

This is a part-time role (up to 20 hours per month) ideal for someone organized, proactive, and comfortable handling light financial coordination and event support.

Key Responsibilities

Monthly Meeting Support

• Attend monthly FOMF Board meetings

• Prepare and distribute meeting agendas

• Compile and organize monthly financial packets in coordination with the Treasurer

Financial & Administrative Support

• Assist with maintaining accurate financial records and documentation

• Coordinate with Treasurer on monthly financial reporting

• Handle weekly deposits and basic financial tracking

• Maintain organized digital and physical records

Weekly Operations

• Dedicate 1-3 hours every Friday morning to:

  • Process deposits

  • Track incoming funds

  • Coordinate event-related logistics and updates

Event Support

• Coordinate with vendors (venues, catering, materials, etc.) as needed

• Support event logistics before, during, and after events

Vendor & Coordination

• Serve as a point of contact for vendors and service providers

• Coordinate timelines, deliverables, and communication for Foundation needs

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Attention to detail, especially with financial and administrative tasks

• Comfortable working with spreadsheets and basic financial documents

• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)

• Ability to work independently and follow through on tasks

• Prior nonprofit, administrative, or bookkeeping experience preferred (not required)

Requirements

• Must be able to pass an APS background check (cost covered by FOMF)

Compensation & Schedule

• 1099 Contractor

• Up to 20 hours per month

• $20 per hour

• Flexible schedule, with required:

  • Monthly board meeting attendance

  • 1-3 hours every Friday morning (consistent commitment)

  • Event attendance as needed

Ideal Candidate

This role is best suited for someone who:

• Wants a flexible, part-time position

• Enjoys supporting a mission-driven organization

• Can balance light financial coordination with event and admin work

• Is dependable and consistent week-to-week

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8

• May Concessions: May 1

• Staff Appreciation Week: May 4-8

• Art Fest: May 7

• Foundation Meeting: May 12

• Basket Raffle Drawing: May 14

• Last Day of School: May 22

• Art Fest & Basket Raffle: these bands, these food trucks, these baskets, and so much fun!

• Read-A-Thon: last call for time sheets & donations!

• Golf Tournament: calling for committee members!

Art Fest & Basket Raffle

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026 - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Art Fest & Basket Raffle is our second-largest fundraiser of the year, helping to fill critical funding gaps and support our fine arts programs and other resources for the year ahead. We are incredibly grateful to our community for the generosity and enthusiasm that make this event possible!

🎟️ Tickets On Sale Now

Last week, tickets were sent home with each student in their Friday Folder. Each ticket costs $5, and you can purchase as many as you’d like! Enter to win any basket by purchasing tickets in person at Art Fest, or online!

Take A Look At What Has Been Donated:

View Donated Items

Buy online tickets here:

Online Ticket Purchasing

Online ticket sales end at 11:59pm on May 8, 2026. Drawing for each basket winner will take place on May 14, 2026.

🍕 Food Trucks Galore

This year, 6 food trucks will be joining us for Art Fest! 3 dinner options, and 3 dessert options:

• The Dough Box - made to order pizza

• The Munchie Truck - comfort foods and flavors

• Desert Sky on the Fly - creative cuisine

• Kona Ice - shaved ice

• Frios Popsicles - locally made popsicles

• Wiki-Licious - Hawaiian donuts

What ever you may be craving, we’re sure to have it! Each truck is generously donating 10-15% of their proceeds back to the school! Come hungry, bring the whole family, and get ready for a fun, festive night celebrating our students and community!

🎵 Bands To Make You Dance

FOMF is very excited to announce Art Fest will showcase 2 community favorite bands:

• Dad Band - MRGC dads jamming out!

• Le Chat Lunatique - MRGC’s very own Muni Kulasinghe and Albuquerque staple since 2005, Le Chat Lunatique delivers their signature “filthy, mangy jazz” with infectious energy and genre-bending style!

Read-A-Thon

This is a final call for all Read-a-Thon time sheets and donations! We’re still receiving submissions, so the deadline has been extended to this Friday, April 17. This is the absolute last day to turn in your time sheets and ensure your reading hours count toward class prizes—don’t miss out on helping your class win!

Golf Tournament

The Montessori Masters tournament is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, and will be a family scramble, making it a fun and inclusive event for our entire school community.

A Call For Committee Members

We are looking for a committee of golf enthusiasts who are ready to help shape this exciting Fall event. If you’d like to be part of the planning team, please reach out to Troy Rivas to get involved:

Troy Rivas
troy@homeauthority.com

We look forward to sharing more details as the new school year begins, and we’re grateful for your continued support of MRGC!

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8

• Foundation Meeting: April 14

• Staff Appreciation Week: May 4 - 8

• Art Fest: May 7

• Basket Raffle Drawing: May 14

• Read-A-Thon: time to turn in sheets!

• Basket Donations: hard deadline this Friday!

• Concessions: donuts and fizzy drinks, please!

Read-A-Thon: Times Up!

Time to turn in your time sheets for Read-A-Thon! What an incredible month of community donations and happy readers.

If you chose to fundraise electronically, your donations will be collected automatically this week. If you are using the printed time sheet, please be sure to bring it to your class and turn it in to your teacher by this Friday, along with any collected donations.

We appreciate everyone’s participation and look forward to hosting some class parties!

Basket Donations

🧺 Collections: Final Deadline This Friday!
🎟️ Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8
✨ Art Fest: May 7, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Final Donations Due By Friday

There are collection tables and large blue collection bags outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

Tickets Go Home In Friday Folders

In this week’s Friday Folders, please be sure to find your Basket Raffle tickets (5 per student + more available at Art Fest). Purchases can be made online or in person!

Take A Look At What Has Been Donated:

View Donated Items

Buy online tickets here:

Online Ticket Purchasing

Online ticket sales end at 11:59pm on May 8, 2026. Drawing for each basket winner will take place on May 14, 2026.

Concessions: This Friday!

🍩 Friday, April 10th

Our second-to-last concessions of the school year is this Friday! As always, we depend on the generous donations of our community in order for concessions to be fully stocked and ready for excited little hands.

April’s pizza is generously donated by Dion’s Pizza!

Interested in making sure our next concessions is well-stocked? Take a look at what we need next week to ensure every excited hand gets what they want:

Concessions List

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle Sales Begin: April 10

• Concessions: April 10

• Foundation Meeting: April 14

• Staff Appreciation Week: May 4-8

• Art Fest: May 7

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales End: May 8

• Basket Raffle Drawing: May 14

• Basket Donations: deadline extended!

• Read-A-Thon: ends March 31!

• Spring Break Wishes from FOMF

Basket Donations: deadline Now April 10

🧺 Collections: Deadline April 10
🎟️ Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8
✨ Art Fest: May 7, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Deadline to donated items has been extended to April 10!

How To Donate:

There are collection tables and large blue collection bags outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

IMPORTANT: Cash and Gift Card donations must also be cataloged and should be delivered to the front desk.

See Donations - Fill Gaps

How the Basket Raffle Works

Each class is assigned a theme, and families donate items that match it—purchased, handmade, or creatively curated. Once assembled, the baskets will be displayed at Art Fest. Raffle tickets are purchased for individual baskets, and on May 14 the winner of each basket takes home the basket they entered to win.

Read-A-Thon: ends March 31!

The Read-A-Thon wraps up on March 31! Families can still support by sharing their student’s donation URL for quick and easy contributions, or by turning in their time tracking sheet by April 10 to help their class earn a special treat from FOMF.

How To Access Your Student’s Reading Page:

1. Click on this Fundraising Page

2. Select your student’s name

3. Use the “Share” button to distribute to collect donations!

Spring Break Wishes from FOMF

As the days grow longer and the first signs of spring begin to bloom, we’re reminded of how much growth, curiosity, and resilience we see in our students each day at MRGC. Just like the season, our community is full of fresh energy, new ideas, and the promise of what’s still to come.

As you head into Spring Break, we hope your family finds time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the simple joys of the season, whether that’s sunshine-filled afternoons, quiet moments together, or new adventures.

When we return, we look forward to finishing the year strong—rooted in friendship, supported by community, and inspired by the incredible students who continue to blossom before us. The months ahead are filled with opportunities to connect, celebrate, and grow together.

Wishing you a joyful and refreshing Spring Break,

FOMF

Dates To Remember:

• Read-A-Thon: ends March 31

• Spring Break: March 27 - April 6

• Basket Donations: deadline April 10

• Raffle Ticket Sales: begin April 10

• April Concessions: April 10

• April Foundation Meeting: April 14

• Basket Raffle & Art Fest: May 7

• Basket Donations: deadline approaching!

• Spring Campus Clean Up: this Saturday!

• Golf Tournament: update!

Basket Donations for Art Fest

🧺 Collections: March 2 - 20th
🎟️ Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8
✨ Art Fest: May 7, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Art Fest: May 7th!

Join us one night only on May 7 from 5–7 PM for an evening filled with creativity, community, and celebration. Enjoy live entertainment from Dad Band and friends, browse and bid on the incredible basket raffles and student art, and gather with friends and families for a great meal from our amazing food trucks: The Munchie Truck, Desert Sky on the Fly, Dough Box, Kona Ice, Frios Popsicles, and Wiki-Licious. Even better, each truck is generously donating 10-15% of their proceeds back to the school! Come hungry, bring the whole family, and get ready for a fun, festive night celebrating our students and community!

We Need Your Donations

The magic of the Basket Raffle comes from the generosity of our families. Each class basket is created entirely from donated items, and every contribution helps turn a simple theme into something special. When every family participates, the baskets become more exciting and the raffle raises vital funds for our students, teachers, and school programs.

See Current Donations

How the Basket Raffle Works

Each class is assigned a theme, and families donate items that match it—purchased, handmade, or creatively curated. Once assembled, the baskets will be displayed at Art Fest. Raffle tickets are purchased for individual baskets, and on May 14 the winner of each basket takes home the basket they entered to win.

Class Basket Themes:

Ready to donate? Take a look at your class theme:

• Ms. Anna - Camping

• Mr. Ben - Art Adventure

• Mr. Ian - Backyard BBQ

• Ms. Jennifer K - Cooking / Baking

• Ms. Jennifer Z - Kid’s Favorites

• Ms. Lisa - World Explorer/Traveler

• Mr. Moss - Date Night / Self Care

• Ms. Rebecca - Southwest Flare/Local NM

• Ms. Sabrina - Gardening

• Ms. Savannah - STEAM

• Ms. Sharayah - Summer Fun

How To Donate:

There are collection tables and large blue collection bags outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

IMPORTANT: Cash and Gift Card donations must also be cataloged and should be delivered to the front desk.

Spring Campus Clean Up

Saturday, March 21, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

MRGC community, please join Ms. Rebecca and Ms. Sabrina for the Spring Campus Clean Up this Saturday to keep the MRGC campus looking its best!

Bring gloves, shovels, rakes, bins, blowers, push brooms, loppers and pruners, saws (pole or chain or hand), wheelbarrows and any other handy tool you may have.

Children are welcome, but there is no dedicated childcare available.

Snacks and beverages will be provided by FOMF.

Golf Tournament

We’re excited to share that the Friends of Montessori Foundation is planning to make the Montessori Masters Golf Tournament our Flagship Fall Fundraiser for the 2026/2027 school year.

By giving the event more time and attention, we are excited to grow it into a larger community celebration that helps bring us all together at the beginning of year.

The tournament is now scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, and will be a family scramble, making it a fun and inclusive event for our entire school community.

We are looking for a committee of golf enthusiasts who are ready to help shape this exciting event. If you’d like to be part of the planning team, please reach out to Troy Rivas to get involved:

Troy Rivas
troy@homeauthority.com

We look forward to sharing more details as the new school year begins, and we’re grateful for your continued support of MRGC!

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Raffle Collections: deadline approaching!

• Spring Break: March 27 - April 7

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales Begin: April 10

• Concessions: April 10

• FOMF April Meeting: April 14

• Art Fest: May 7

• Basket Raffle - donations needed!

• Read-A-Thon

• Book Fair Success

Basket Raffle - donations needed!

🧺 Collections: March 2 - 20th
🎟️ Ticket Sales: April 10 - May 8

We Need Your Donations

The magic of the Basket Raffle comes from the generosity of our families. Each class basket is built entirely from donated items, and every contribution helps turn a simple theme into a truly special basket. Whether it’s a small item, something handmade, or a larger themed piece, your donation makes a difference. When every family contributes, the baskets become more exciting, the raffle becomes more successful, and together we raise the funds that support our students, our teachers, and our school programs.

How the Basket Raffle Works:

Each class is assigned a basket theme, and families are invited to contribute items that match the theme. These donations—whether purchased, handmade, or creatively curated—are what make each basket special and help bring it to life.

Once assembled, each class basket will be displayed at Art Fest. Raffle tickets are purchased for individual baskets, and when the drawing takes place on May 14, the winner of each basket will take home the basket they entered to win.

Every contribution helps make these baskets extraordinary and plays an important role in the success of this community fundraiser.

Class Basket Themes:

Ready to donate? Take a look at your class theme:

• Ms. Anna - Camping

• Mr. Ben - Art Adventure

• Mr. Ian - Backyard BBQ

• Ms. Jennifer K - Cooking / Baking

• Ms. Jennifer Z - Kid’s Favorites

• Ms. Lisa - World Explorer/Traveler

• Mr. Moss - Date Night / Self Care

• Ms. Rebecca - Southwest Flare/Local NM

• Ms. Sabrina - Gardening

• Ms. Savannah - STEAM

• Ms. Sharayah - Summer Fun

How To Donate:

As of last week, there are collection tables and a large blue collection bags outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

Art Fest: May 7th!

Join us one night only on May 7 from 5–7 PM for an evening filled with creativity, community, and celebration. Enjoy live entertainment from Dad Band and friends, browse and bid on the incredible basket raffles and student art, and gather with friends and families for a great meal from our amazing food trucks: The Munchie Truck, Desert Sky on the Fly, Dough Box, Kona Ice, Frios Popsicles, and Wiki-Licious. Even better, each truck is generously donating 10-15% of their proceeds back to the school! Come hungry, bring the whole family, and get ready for a fun, festive night celebrating our students and community!

Read-A-Thon

Hey readers, where are you?

We’re 10 days into the Read-A-Thon and the pages are turning—but we know there are more readers out there ready to join the fun! A few classes have already jumped into the lead, so now’s the time to catch up, dive into a great book, and help your class climb the leaderboard. Whether it’s a favorite story, a new adventure, or a cozy chapter before bed, every minute spent reading helps expand our imaginations and keeps the Read-A-Thon momentum going. Let’s see those readers in action!

Remember, it’s easy to get started and join the fun! Just click the link below to get started:

Share My Link

How To Access Your Student’s Reading Page:

1. Click on this Fundraising Page

2. Select your student’s name

3. Use the “Share” button to distribute to collect donations!

Donation Types:

• Per Reading Hour - calculate your time to the nearest hour at the end of the month and donate per-hour!

• “Donate Now” flat donation - a one-time donation to support your month of reading!

Questions? Want to “own” your student’s page and personalize it? Email us at mrgcfoundation@gmail.com

Book Fair Success

Big thank you to Book Works for another wonderful Book Fair! Their generous contribution to FOMF raised ≈$1,300 for the school! That’s ≈$300 more than last year!

Please be sure to visit Book Works on Rio Grande, and say hi to Shannon and Aly, for all of your reading adventures!

Dates To Remember:

• Basket Donations: March 2 - 20

• Spring Break: March 27 - April 7

• Basket Raffle Ticket Sales Begin: April 10

• Art Fest: May 7

We warmly invite MRGC families to attend our upcoming March board meeting, where we will review this information, share what FOMF has planned for the remainder of the year, and discuss our goals for supporting the school in the year ahead. Your perspectives and involvement are incredibly valuable to us, and we welcome the opportunity to connect with members of our community.

If you have any questions regarding the information provided, please email us directly at mrgcfoundation@gmail.com.

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is a per-student family contribution that supports the general fund of the Friends of Montessori Foundation. These contributions are unrestricted, allowing the Foundation to allocate resources where they are most needed throughout the year. Annual Fund support plays a critical role in sustaining all MRGC programs, initiatives, and operational needs, ensuring the school has the flexibility to respond to both planned priorities and emerging needs in support of our students and community.

Overview:

Annual Goal: $100,000 (≈$500 per student)
Annual Funds Received: $22,514.34
Participation: 14%

Contribute To Annual Fund

Fundraisers

Fundraisers play a critical role in supporting the Friends of Montessori Foundation by bridging multiple funding gaps—both between MRGC’s total financial needs and Annual Fund contributions, and between the school’s operating needs and state-provided funding. In recent years, changes at the state level have significantly impacted school budgets. Most notably, House Bill 63 resulted in a substantial reduction in state funding to MRGC, creating an immediate need for additional support. As a result, the Foundation assumed responsibility for funding the salaries of the Fine Arts Department to ensure these essential programs could continue without interruption. Fundraising efforts allow FOMF to meet these needs, sustain key programs, and protect the breadth and quality of the MRGC educational experience.

Completed:

Move-A-Thon: $10,899.00
Balloons Aloft: $1,684.50
Evergreens: $5,211.85
4th Annual Gala: $45,344.81
Sept - Feb Concessions: $3,295.92
Newsletter: $756.00
Clothing/Apparel: $3,283.00

Funds Raised: $92,989.42

Current/Upcoming:

Book Fair: $TBD
Read-A-Thon: $TBD
Baskets & Art Fest: $TBD
March, April Concessions: $TBD

In-Kind Donations

Community Member Gift: $2,500

Contributions

Every dollar raised by the Friends of Montessori Foundation is directed toward supporting Montessori of the Rio Grande Charter School. FOMF exists solely to provide financial support to MRGC, and funds collected through Annual Giving, fundraisers, and community contributions are used to sustain school programs, initiatives, staffing, and operational needs not fully covered by state funding. This direct relationship ensures that community support has an immediate and meaningful impact on the students, educators, and programs that make MRGC thrive.

Completed Contributions:

August School Funding: $40,000
January School Funding: $66,000
MRGC Salaries & School Expenses

Earmarked/Upcoming:

30 Laptops: ≈$9,000
Cottonwood Gulch (UL): ≈$6,000
Yearbooks For All: ≈$2,500

Ongoing/Pending:

Staff Appreciation Lunches (full year): ≈$2,500

Total Completed & Anticipated Giving for 2025/2026: $126,000.00

Get Involved, Attend A Meeting

We invite MRGC families to join us at our March board meeting to hear more about what FOMF has planned for the remainder of this school year and the goals we are beginning to set for the 2026–2027 school year. Your ideas, perspectives, and involvement are incredibly important to the work we do, and our meetings are an open space to learn more about how the Foundation supports MRGC and how our community can help shape what comes next. We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to build this work together.

March 10, 2026
5:30-6:30 PM
Montessori of the Rio Grande
Childcare Provided

• Read-A-Thon

• Concessions This Friday!

• March Board Meeting

• Basket Donations

Read-A-Thon

📅 March 1 - 31
📖 Keep track of hours!
⭐ Share your student’s profile for donations!

Get comfy, grab your favorite books, and let your imagination take off — the 2026 Read-A-Thon is here! This beloved MRGC tradition is a joyful way for students and families to celebrate reading while supporting our amazing school community.

From picture books to chapter books, graphic novels to bedtime stories, every page counts. As students read, they’ll log their hours and help raise funds that directly support MRGC programs, classrooms, and experiences that make our school so special.

To add a little extra excitement, classes in each grade level that raise the most funds and the reads the most total hours will win a special treat from FOMF on Friday, April 17 🎉

The Read-A-Thon is more than a fundraiser — it’s a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence, and fall in love with reading all over again. Thank you for cheering on our readers and helping MRGC thrive, one page at a time! 📖✨

How To Access Your Student’s Reading Page:

1. Click on this Fundraising Page

2. Select your student’s name

3. Use the “Share” button to distribute to collect donations!

Donation Types:

• Per Reading Hour - calculate your time to the nearest hour at the end of the month and donate per-hour!

• “Donate Now” flat donation - a one-time donation to support your month of reading!

Fundraising Goals:

Our goal is $50 per student—but it’s simply a guide, not an expectation.
Every family’s situation is different, and any amount of support makes a difference.

Some families reach this goal by spreading it out over the month. Others invite a few friends or family members to chip in to reach the goal. Many do a mix of both.

However you choose to participate—giving, sharing, or cheering on our readers—you’re helping make this Read-A-Thon meaningful for our kids and contributing to raising an impactful amount for the students/MRGC.

Ways to think about $50:

• $50 is less than 1 family meal out!

• Ask 5 people you know for $10 for the ENTIRE month!

• Ask 2 friends for $25

Questions? Want to “own” your student’s page and personalize it? Email us at mrgcfoundation@gmail.com

Concessions This Friday!

🍩 Friday, March 6th

Our last round of concessions was a runaway hit! Donuts and cookies vanished at record speed, and once they’re gone, that’s a wrap. Concessions are powered entirely by generous family donations, so if you ever want to sprinkle a little magic into the day, kid-favorites like donuts and sugar cookies are always crowd-pleasers. Every treat helps keep the stand happy (and stocked!), and all proceeds flow straight back to MRGC through the foundation.

March’s pizza is generously donated by Golden Crown Panaderia.

Interested in making sure our next concessions is well-stocked? Take a look at what we need next week to ensure every excited hand gets what they want:

Donate To Concessions

March Board Meeting

📅 March 10th
🕠 5:30 - 6:30 PM
📍 MRGC
🧒 Childcare provided!

Our meetings are open, welcoming, and designed to give parents and community members a clear picture of how decisions are made—and a chance to be part of the conversation. If you’re curious about the school, interested in what’s happening behind the scenes, or simply want to listen in, you are exactly who we hope to see there.

For those who may be curious about deeper involvement, we’re always happy to talk with parents interested in joining the board. There’s no expectation of major time commitments—what matters most is your voice and perspective.

Childcare will be provided, and meetings run about an hour. Whether you come to listen, ask questions, or help shape what’s ahead, we’d love to see you on March 10!

Basket Donations

🧺 Collections: March 2 - 20th
🎟️ Ticket Sales: April 1 - May 8

Basket Raffle & Art Fest is our second-largest fundraiser of the year, helping to fill critical funding gaps and support our fine arts programs and other resources for the year ahead. We are incredibly grateful to our community for the generosity and enthusiasm that make this event possible!

How the Basket Raffle Works:
Each class is assigned a basket theme, and families are invited to contribute on-theme items to help create an incredible, one-of-a-kind basket. Items can be purchased, donated, handmade, or creatively curated in any way that feels fun and doable for your family. Once complete, raffle tickets will be sold for each basket, giving participants a chance to win the full basket collection. All basket contents will be beautifully displayed at Art Fest, and winners will be drawn on May 14.

Class Basket Themes:

Ready to start thinking about what to donate? Take a look at your class theme:

• Ms. Anna - Camping

• Mr. Ben - Art Adventure

• Mr. Ian - Backyard BBQ

• Ms. Jennifer K - Cooking / Baking

• Ms. Jennifer Z - Kid’s Favorites

• Ms. Lisa - World Explorer/Traveler

• Mr. Moss - Date Night / Self Care

• Ms. Rebecca - Southwest Flare/Local NM

• Ms. Sabrina - Gardening

• Ms. Savannah - STEAM

• Ms. Sharayah - Summer Fun

How To Donate:

As of yesterday morning, there are collection tables and a large blue collection bags outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

Purchasing/Selling Raffle Tickets:

Raffle ticket sales for baskets begin April 10! Anyone and everyone in your community, family, friend group, neighbors, sports clubs, etc. can purchase raffle tickets and do not have to be present to win.

Dates To Remember:

• Read-A-Thon: March 1 - 31

• Concessions: March 6

• Basket Collections: March 2 - 20

• Foundation Meeting: March 10

• Spring Break: March 27 - April 6

• Book Fair & Read-A-Thon: This week!

• Basket Collections: Starts March 2

• Concessions: March 6

• Come To Our Next Meeting

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

📅 Book Fair: February 26 & 27, 2026
📅 Family Preview: February 26, 7:30 - 8:00AM
📖 Read-A-Thon: March 1-30. Find your child’s profile this week!
⭐ Brought to you by Bookworks

Book Fair Family Preview Morning:

Join us on February 26 from 7:30–8:00 AM for a special preview before school begins — families are welcome! Grab a cup of hot chocolate!

Book Fair Schedule:

📖 Read-A-Thon begins March 1!

Next week, MRGC kicks off the 2026 Read-A-Thon — a fun, meaningful way to spark a love of reading while supporting our school community.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
Every student will have their own personalized fundraising webpage, making it easier than ever to share their reading journey with family, friends, neighbors, and extended community.

Find Your Student's Page Here

This Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time-tracking sheets in their Friday Folders. If you’d like to claim/customize/manage your student’s profile, please email us at mrgcfoundation@gmail.com, and we will send you a private access link.

Here’s how to find your child’s profile page:

1. Click on the “Find Your Student’s Page Here” button above or follow this link.

2. From the drop-down menu, select your student’s name. You can search or scroll.

3. Confirm you’re on the correct profile by checking the name listed below the Read-A-Thon headline (example: “Julia Thom, Ms. Lisa”).

4. Click the “Share” button at the top of the page, or copy the webpage URL, to send your student’s fundraising page to anyone who would like to support their reading journey!

We hope to see lots of families participate this year! Any level of fundraising helps, and even small efforts make a BIG impact on our MRGC community. A suggested goal of $50 per student keeps this fun, inclusive, and stress-free for families.

Basket Raffle Collections: Starts March 2!

📅Collections: March 2 - 20

Basket Raffle & Art Fest is our second-largest fundraiser of the year, helping to fill critical funding gaps and support our fine arts programs and other resources for the year ahead. We are incredibly grateful to our community for the generosity and enthusiasm that make this event possible!

How the Basket Raffle Works:
Each class is assigned a basket theme, and families are invited to contribute on-theme items to help create an incredible, one-of-a-kind basket. Items can be purchased, donated, handmade, or creatively curated in any way that feels fun and doable for your family. Once complete, raffle tickets will be sold for each basket, giving participants a chance to win the full basket collection. All basket contents will be beautifully displayed at Art Fest, and winners will be drawn on May 14.

Class Basket Themes:

Ready to start thinking about what to donate? Take a look at your class theme:

• Ms. Anna - Camping

• Mr. Ben - Art Adventure

• Mr. Ian - Backyard BBQ

• Ms. Jennifer K - Cooking / Baking

• Ms. Jennifer Z - Kid’s Favorites

• Ms. Lisa - World Explorer/Traveler

• Mr. Moss - Date Night / Self Care

• Ms. Rebecca - Southwest Flare/Local NM

• Ms. Sabrina - Gardening

• Ms. Savannah - STEAM

• Ms. Sharayah - Summer Fun

How To Donate:

Starting March 2, there will be a collection table and a large blue collection bag outside each classroom. Place each of your donated items inside the bag, or on the table, and complete the donation form to catalog your item by scanning the QR code placed above the bag or by visiting the following link:

Catalog Your Donation

Purchasing/Selling Raffle Tickets:

Raffle ticket sales for baskets begin April 10! Anyone and everyone in your community, family, friend group, neighbors, sports clubs, etc. can purchase raffle tickets and do not have to be present to win.

First Friday Fun Concessions

🍩 Friday, March 6th

Our last concessions were wildly popular… a little too popular. The donuts and cookies disappeared in record time, and once they’re gone, that’s it. Concessions run entirely on generous family donations, so if you ever feel like being part of the magic, kid favorites like donuts and sugar cookies are always a hit. Every treat donated helps keep concessions joyful (and well-stocked!) and all proceeds go straight back to MRGC through the foundation.

March’s pizza is generously donated by Golden Crown Panaderia.

Interested in making sure our next concessions is well-stocked? Take a look at what we need next week to ensure every excited hand gets what they want:

Help Make Concessions A Hit!

Join Us at Our March Board Meeting

🗓️ March 10th, 5:30 - 6:30 at MRGC
✅ Childcare Available
🩵 Please join us!

We’d love to personally invite you to join us for our March board meeting, where the officers of the board will be sharing more about an exciting new chapter for our community.

Our board believes the strongest decisions are made when parents and community members are part of the conversation. Board meetings offer a transparent, welcoming space to learn more about who we are, how decisions are made, and what guides our work.

If you’re curious about the school, passionate about our community, or simply interested in understanding how things work behind the scenes, you are exactly who we hope to see there.

For those interested in deeper involvement, we also welcome parents who may be curious about joining the board. There is no expectation to take on major events or large time commitments. What we value most is your voice, perspective, and participation as part of our shared leadership.

To make attendance easier for families, childcare will be provided at all board meetings. Meetings are approximately one hour, typically held once a month (and sometimes every other month), and are designed to be respectful of everyone’s time.

Whether you come to listen, ask questions, or help shape what’s ahead, we truly hope you’ll join us. We look forward to sharing more and hearing your thoughts in March.

Dates To Remember:

• Montessori Week: February 23 - 27

• Book Fair: February 26 - 27

• Read-A-Thon: March 1 - 31

• Basket Raffle Items Collection Begins: March 2

• Foundation Meeting: March 10

• Basket Raffle Collection Deadline: March 20

• Spring Break: March 27 - April 6

1. You’re Invited: Join Us at Our March Board Meeting

2. Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

3. Baskets & Art Fest

You’re Invited: Join Us at Our March Board Meeting

🗓️ March 10th, 5:30 - 6:30 at MRGC
✅ Childcare Available
🩵 Please join us!

We’d love to personally invite you to attend our upcoming board meeting this March.

Our board deeply values the voices of our school community, and we believe the best decisions are made when parents and community members are part of the conversation. These meetings are an opportunity to hear more about who we are, our mission for the school, and how decisions are made by our voting board members—all in an open, transparent setting.

If you’re curious, passionate about our school, or simply want to better understand how things work, you are already exactly who we hope to see there.

For those interested in deeper involvement, we welcome parents who may want to join the board. There is no expectation that new board members take ownership of major events or large commitments. What we value most is your participation, voice, your perspective, your expertise, and your voting strength as part of our shared leadership.

To make attendance easier for families, childcare will be provided at all board meetings. Each meeting is just one hour a month (sometimes, every other month), designed to be respectful of everyone’s time.

Whether you’re simply listening, asking questions, or considering a future role, we truly hope you’ll join us. Your presence matters, and we would love to see you in March.

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

📅 Book Fair: February 26 & 27, 2026
📅 Book Fair Family Preview: February 26, 7:30 - 8:00AM
📖 Read-A-Thon: March 1-30
⭐ Brought to you by Bookworks

Family Preview Morning:

Join us on February 26 from 7:30–8:00 AM for a special preview before school begins — families are welcome! Grab a cup of hot chocolate!

Pre-paid Gift Cards:

If you would like to purchase a gift card for your student to use at the book fair, instead of sending cash or cards, click here.

• To: your name

• From: your student’s name

• Please indicate that the gift card is intended for the Montessori of the Rio Grande Book Fair in the message of the gift card.

Teacher Wish Lists

Please consider contributing to classroom libraries:

• Ms. Anna - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-anna

• Mr. Ben - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ben

• Mr. Ian - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ian

• Ms. Jennifer K - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-k

• Ms. Jennifer Z - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-z

• Ms. Lisa - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-lisa

• Mr. Moss - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-moss

• Ms. Rebecca - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-rebecca

• Ms. Sabrina - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sabrina

• Ms. Sharayah - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sharayah

And don’t forget…

📖 Read-A-Thon begins March 1!

In less than one month, MRGC kicks off the 2026 Read-A-Thon — a fun, meaningful way to spark a love of reading while supporting our school community.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
Every student will have their own personalized fundraising webpage, making it easier than ever to share their reading journey with family, friends, neighbors, and extended community.

On Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time tracking sheets in Friday Folders, along with a direct QR code link to find your child’s unique Read-A-Thon profile.

On Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time tracking sheets in Friday Folders, along with a direct QR code link to find your child’s unique Read-A-Thon profile.

Throughout March, our Read-A-Thon webpage will showcase:

• 📈 Each student’s individual fundraising progress

• 🏫 Per-classroom reading and fundraising success

It’s a fun way to celebrate effort, cheer each other on, and build excitement across the entire school.

🎉 And there’s a reward waiting!
The classes that raise the most money and read the most will win a special treat from FOMF on Friday, April 17!

Get ready to turn pages into progress!

Basket Raffle & Art Fest

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026 - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

One of our most anticipated events of the year is right around the corner! Basket Raffle & Art Fest is back—and planning is officially kicks off this week!

This beloved, family-favorite event is a joyful way to wrap up the school year, featuring student art displays, exciting raffle baskets, amazing prizes, and plenty of fun for everyone.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR:

• One night only!
• Food trucks on site
• Music throughout the evening (no class performances this year—thanks for understanding, our music teacher is new!)

Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements highlighting our incredible donated prizes and details on when raffle tickets will be available for purchase. You won’t want to miss it!

Class basket themes:

Ready to start thinking about what to donate? Take a look at your class theme:

• Ms. Anna - Camping

• Mr. Ben - Art Adventure

• Mr. Ian - Backyard BBQ

• Ms. Jennifer K - Cooking / Baking

• Ms. Jennifer Z - Kid’s Favorites

• Ms. Lisa - World Explorer/Traveler

• Mr. Moss - Date Night / Self Care

• Ms. Rebecca - Southwest Flare/Local NM

• Ms. Sabrina - Gardening

• Ms. Savannah - STEAM

• Ms. Sharayah - Summer Fun

Basket Raffle & Art Fest is our second-largest fundraiser of the year, helping to fill critical funding gaps and support programs and resources for the year ahead. We are incredibly grateful to our community for the generosity and enthusiasm that make this event possible.

Dates To Remember:

• Montessori Week: February 23 - 27

• Book Fair: February 26 - 27

• Read-A-Thon: March 1 - 31

• Basket Raffle Items Collection Begins: March 2

• Foundation Meeting: March 10

• Basket Raffle Collection Deadline: March 20

• Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

• Basket Raffle & Art Fest

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon: Pre-Orders Close Monday!

📅 February 26 & 27, 2026
📅 Family Preview: February 26, 7:30 - 8:00AM
📖 Read-A-Thon: March 1-30
⭐ Brought to you by Bookworks

Pre-orders:

Now through February 16, you can make sure your child gets the books they’re excited about. Just select “In-Store Pick Up” at checkout. All orders will be delivered to the school and distributed to students during the book fair. Pre-orders close Monday, February 16.

Book Fair Pre-Order

Pre-paid Gift Cards:

If you would like to purchase a gift card for your student to use at the book fair, instead of sending cash or cards, click here.

• To: your name

• From: your student’s name

• Please indicate that the gift card is intended for the Montessori of the Rio Grande Book Fair in the message of the gift card.

Family Preview Morning:

Join us on February 26 from 7:30–8:00 AM for a special preview before school begins — families are welcome! Grab a cup of hot chocolate!

Teacher Wish Lists

Please consider contributing to classroom libraries:

• Ms. Anna - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-anna

• Mr. Ben - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ben

• Mr. Ian - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ian

• Ms. Jennifer K - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-k

• Ms. Jennifer Z - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-z

• Ms. Lisa - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-lisa

• Mr. Moss - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-moss

• Ms. Rebecca - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-rebecca

• Ms. Sabrina - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sabrina

• Ms. Sharayah - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sharayah

And don’t forget…

📖 Read-A-Thon begins March 1!

In less than one month, MRGC kicks off the 2026 Read-A-Thon — a fun, meaningful way to spark a love of reading while supporting our school community.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
Every student will have their own personalized fundraising webpage, making it easier than ever to share their reading journey with family, friends, neighbors, and extended community.

On Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time tracking sheets in Friday Folders, along with a direct QR code link to find your child’s unique Read-A-Thon profile.

On Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time tracking sheets in Friday Folders, along with a direct QR code link to find your child’s unique Read-A-Thon profile.

Throughout March, our Read-A-Thon webpage will showcase:

• 📈 Each student’s individual fundraising progress

• 🏫 Per-classroom reading and fundraising success

It’s a fun way to celebrate effort, cheer each other on, and build excitement across the entire school.

🎉 And there’s a reward waiting!
The classes that raise the most money and read the most will win a special treat from FOMF on Friday, April 17!

Get ready to turn pages into progress!

Basket Raffle & Art Fest

📅 Thursday, May 6, 2026 - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

One of our most anticipated events of the year is right around the corner! Basket Raffle & Art Fest is back—and planning is officially kicks off later this month.

This week, teachers are doing their blind draw to select class themes, and donation collection begins March 2.

This beloved, family-favorite event is a joyful way to wrap up the school year, featuring student art displays, exciting raffle baskets, amazing prizes, and plenty of fun for everyone.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR:

• One night only!
• Food trucks on site
• Music throughout the evening (no live performances this year—thanks for understanding, our music teacher is new!)

Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements highlighting our incredible donated prizes and details on when raffle tickets will be available for purchase. You won’t want to miss it!

Basket Raffle & Art Fest is our second-largest fundraiser of the year, helping to fill critical funding gaps and support programs and resources for the year ahead. We are incredibly grateful to our community for the generosity and enthusiasm that make this event possible.

More to come—we can’t wait to celebrate together!

Dates To Remember:

• President’s Day, No School: February 16

• Montessori Week: February 23 - 27

• Book Fair: February 26 - 27

• Read-A-Thon: March 1 - 31

• Basket Raffle Items Collection Begins: March 2

• Foundation Meeting: March 10

• Basket Raffle Collection Deadline: March 20

In this newsletter:

• Book Fair & Read-A-Thon: Pre-Orders & Important Details

• Concessions: this Friday!

• Gala Success: Expressing Gratitude

• On Your Radar: Basket Raffle Coming Soon

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon: Pre-Orders Open!

📅 February 26 & 27, 2026
📅 Family Preview: February 26, 7:30 - 8:00AM
📖 Read-A-Thon: March 1-30
⭐ Brought to you by Bookworks

Pre-orders:

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 16 — a great way to ensure your child gets the books they love. When checking out, please select "In-Store Pick Up". Orders will be taken to the school and distributed to students at the book fair. Pre-orders close on Monday, February 16th.

Book Fair Pre-Order

Pre-paid Gift Cards:

If you would like to purchase a gift card for your student to use at the book fair, instead of sending cash or cards, click here.

• To: your name

• From: your student’s name

• Please indicate that the gift card is intended for the Montessori of the Rio Grande Book Fair in the message of the gift card.

Family Preview Morning:

Join us on February 26 from 7:30–8:00 AM for a special preview before school begins — families are welcome! Grab a cup of hot chocolate!

Teacher Wish Lists

Please consider contributing to classroom libraries:

• Ms. Anna - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-anna

• Mr. Ben - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ben

• Mr. Ian - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ian

• Ms. Jennifer K - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-k

• Ms. Jennifer Z - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-z

• Ms. Lisa - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-lisa

• Mr. Moss - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-moss

• Ms. Rebecca - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-rebecca

• Ms. Sabrina - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sabrina

• Ms. Sharayah - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sharayah

And don’t forget…

📖 Read-A-Thon begins March 1!

In just one month, our school will kick off the 2026 Read-A-Thon — a fun, meaningful way to spark a love of reading while supporting our school community.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
Every student will have their own personalized fundraising webpage, making it easier than ever to share their reading journey with family, friends, neighbors, and extended community.

On Friday, February 27, students will bring home their reading time tracking sheets in Friday Folders, along with a direct QR code link to find your child’s unique Read-A-Thon profile.

Throughout March, our Read-A-Thon webpage will showcase:

• 📈 Each student’s individual fundraising progress

• 🏫 Per-classroom reading and fundraising success

It’s a fun way to celebrate effort, cheer each other on, and build excitement across the entire school.

🎉 And there’s a reward waiting!
The classes that raise the most money and read the most will win a special treat from FOMF on Friday, April 17!

Get ready to turn pages into progress!

Concessions: this Friday!

Concessions return this Friday, February 6th!

As always, we are asking for your donations to help make concessions a continued hit! This month, Saggios is generously providing pizzas! Thank you Saggios! The support from our community-at-large creates meaningful impact for every event!

See What's Needed

Gala Success

Dear Friends of the Foundation,

On behalf of the Foundation, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make our Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala such an extraordinary evening.

The energy in the room was truly incredible. From the moment guests arrived, there was a sense of connection, celebration, and shared purpose that could be felt throughout the night. It was a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together in support of something meaningful.

The generosity shown by our donors and supporters was nothing short of inspiring. Your kindness and willingness to give so wholeheartedly truly warms our hearts. Because of you, this evening became not only our biggest night of the year, but one that will have a lasting impact on the work we are able to do moving forward. We met our fundraising goal, raising just over $48,000.

Most of all, we are grateful for the remarkable community that surrounds this Foundation — the families, friends, sponsors, volunteers, and guests who showed up with enthusiasm, generosity, and belief in our mission. Your presence and support are what transformed this night into such a meaningful success.

Thank you for believing in our work and in one another. The Dragonfly Gala continues to be a beautiful reflection of the strength, compassion, and spirit of our community — and this year’s celebration will be remembered for a long time to come.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Pilar Patton
President, Friends of the Montessori Foundation

On Your Radar: Basket Raffle Coming Soon

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026
📍 Montessori of the Rio Grande

We’re thrilled to bring back one of our most beloved traditions, FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY — the Basket Raffle & Art Fest! This special event is our largest community night of the year, when friends and families come together on campus for a beautiful evening filled with creativity, connection, and celebration. To help make this end-of-year celebration the best one yet, we’re inviting volunteers to join the planning committee. Click the button below to be part of the action and help bring this unforgettable night to life. Nothing is possible without our amazing volunteers!

Join Our Committee

Dates To Remember:

• Foundation Meeting: February 10. Please join us!

• Presidents Day, No School: February 16

• Montessori Week: February 23 - 27

• Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala

• Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

• Concessions Return February 6th!

• Golf Tournament - Register Your Team

Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala

FOMF is excited to see everyone this Saturday, January 31st, for the 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala! We appreciate our sponsors, in-kind donors, and ticket purchasers! Our biggest night of the year is shaping up to be our best gala yet!

See you there!

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

📅 February 26 & 27, 2026
📍 Mr. Todd’s Classroom

There’s lots happening with the Book Fair — here’s what to know:

Pre-orders:

NOW OPEN — a great way to ensure your child gets the books they love.

Book Fair Pre-Order

Teacher Wish Lists

Please consider contributing to classroom libraries:

• Ms. Anna - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-anna

• Mr. Ben - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ben

• Mr. Ian - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-ian

• Ms. Jennifer K - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-k

• Ms. Jennifer Z - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-jennifer-z

• Ms. Lisa - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-lisa

• Mr. Moss - https://bkwrks.com/list/mr-moss

• Ms. Rebecca - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-rebecca

• Ms. Sabrina - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sabrina

• Ms. Sharayah - https://bkwrks.com/list/ms-sharayah

Family Preview Morning:

Join us on February 26 from 7:30–8:00 AM for a special preview before school begins — families are welcome!

And don’t forget…

📖 Read-A-Thon begins March 1!

More details coming soon — start warming up those reading muscles!

February Concessions!

Friday, February 6, 2026

First Friday Fun returns next week! Please consider donating donuts or baked goods! Walmart carries variety packs of donuts for just $7!

$2 per concession, cash or card

Golf Tournament

📅 Saturday, April 4, 2026
📍 Los Altos Golf Course

Join FOMF for the First Annual Montessori Masters Golf Tournament! A whole-family experience, join the MRGC community for a spring day on the Los Altos course. Team and Sponsor registrations are now open!

Register Your Team

Sponsor A Hole

Dates To Remember:

• Foundation Meeting: February 10

• Presidents’ Day, No School: February 16

• Montessori Week: February 23 - 26

✨The countdown is on.✨

Ticket sales for the 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala close this Friday, January 16th, and we are down to just 20 seats for the most anticipated night of our year!

This year’s Gala is set to be unforgettable. On Saturday, January 31, step into a world of glow and glamour with an evening of elegant dining, flowing drinks, a high-energy live auction, trivia, dancing, and our always-popular photo booth. Think mystery, sparkle, and the kind of night you’ll still be talking about when the school year ends.

If you have been meaning to grab your tickets, this is your last chance! Once these final seats are gone, they are gone. No night-of sales, no entry!

Reserve your seats now:

Get Your Tickets

📅 Saturday, January 31st, 2026 | 6 - 11pm MST
📍Albuquerque Country Club

We cannot wait to celebrate with you and make this year’s Dragonfly Gala our most magical yet!

• Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala

• January Concessions: Skipping

• Come to our January Board Meeting

Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala

📅 Saturday, January 31st, 2026 | 6 - 11pm MST
📍Albuquerque Country Club

It’s almost time! The Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala marks the Friends of Montessori Foundation’s most impactful evening of the year—uniting our community in support of MRGC and helping fund the programs, resources, and experiences that state funding alone cannot provide.

This is your invitation to step into the excitement, experience the magic of the night, and celebrate alongside our community. From incredible auction offerings to unforgettable experiences, there’s no telling what you might take home. Tickets are going fast—join us for a night you won’t want to miss!

Now, through January 12th, tickets are $150! Prices increase to $175 for last-minute purchases with a final deadline of January 16th.

Get your tickets before we’re sold out!

Get Your Tickets Here

January Concessions: Skipping

With our First Friday of the month just 1 day after we get back to school, FOMF has decided to skip this month’s concessions. We will see all of your smiling faces in February— back for donuts, hot chocolate, and more!

January Board Meeting: Join us!

Please join us Tuesday, January 13th, 5:30PM at MRGC for our January Board Meeting. Learn more about Ms. Deborah’s new role, talk to the board about questions, events, or ideas.

Dates To Remember:

• Deadline to purchase Gala Tickets: January 16

• Gala: January 31

• Book Fair: February 26 & 27.

• Book Fair Preorder: Coming Soon!

• Holiday Wishes from FOMF

• Dragonfly Gala: Sneak Peek!

• In Appreciation of Ms. Deborah

Holiday Wishes from FOMF

As 2025 comes to a close and families prepare for a long winter break, the Friends of the Montessori Foundation wants to share our sincerest gratitude for the families who make Montessori of the Rio Grande such a strong and caring community. Your support, generosity, and involvement mean so much to our beloved school.

We wish you a healthy, happy, and restful holiday break— a time to recharge, be together, and enjoy a well-earned pause. May the new year bring fresh energy, good health, and plenty of moments to look forward to.

We’re excited for all that 2026 will bring, including the Dragonfly Gala, Book Fair, Read-A-Thon, Basket Raffle, and Art Fest. These events are highlights of our year, and we can’t wait to gather again in support of our students.

Thank you for being part of this community. We are deeply honored to serve Montessori of the Rio Grande and look forward to another great year together.

Warmly,
Pilar, Toni, Santi, Danielle, Troy, Lisa, Laura, and Eric.
Friends of the Montessori Foundation

Dragonfly Gala: Sneak Peek!

We’re excited to share a little sneak peek of just a few of the Live Auction items coming to this year’s Dragonfly Gala! Thanks to an outpouring of generous donations, we have an incredible array of packages lined up—thoughtfully curated, full of fun, and truly something for everyone.

Santa Fe Experience

Oh, what a package! Winners of the Santa Fe Experience will win a 10-day rental of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, 2 - Santa Fe Ski One Passes for Direct-to-Lift Access, 2-2026 Season Tickets to the Santa Fe Opera, 1-night stay at any Heritage Hotel, and a lovely gift card to Southwest Statements Jewelry to maximize your Santa Fe look. If you’ve never “staycationed” to the nation’s oldest capital, THIS is the experience for you!

New Mexico United - Behind The Shield

Soccer lovers, get your bidding shoes on! New Mexico United, Behind The Shield is a one-of-a-kind experience for the ultimate soccer fan! 4 Tickets, a jersey for each guest, pre-match tour at the lab where you see all the action behind the shield, entrance in to the stadium before gates open (avoid the lines!), exclusive on-field access during warm-ups, player walkouts, and pre-match festivities, access to the United Deck, owner Peter Trevisani’s personal box where you can mingle with celebrities, business leaders, and more! With this package, you will also enjoy 2 round-trip Sandia Tram passes and dinner at Farm & Table.

Exclusive Bottle of 10 Year Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon

One of the most coveted items in our live auction is an exclusive bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon—a true unicorn for collectors and connoisseurs alike. Famously hard to find, Pappy is nearly impossible to purchase at retail, with enthusiasts often joining years-long waitlists, entering lotteries, or traveling across states just for a chance to secure a bottle. This is a rare opportunity to bid on a legend without the hunt and a must-have for anyone who appreciates exceptional bourbon and an even better story. Interested in listening to some fun and interesting lore about Pappy? Take a listen to this podcast.

Have you purchased your tickets to the Dragonfly Gala?

📅 Saturday, January 31st, 2026 | 6 - 11pm MST
📍Albuquerque Country Club

Now’s the time to join in on the fun, experience the magic of the evening, and be part of a celebration that brings our community together in a big way. From incredible auction items to unforgettable moments, you just might go home with something truly special. Don’t miss this night—secure your tickets and join us for an evening to remember.

Get Your Tickets Here!

In Appreciation of Ms. Deborah

Friends of the Montessori Foundation would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Deborah Henwood on her appointment as Executive Director of Montessori of the Rio Grande Charter School.

Deborah’s long-standing leadership, deep commitment to MRGC, and steady guidance have helped shape the strong, caring, and mission-driven community we know today. Her dedication to students, families, and staff has had a lasting impact, and we are grateful for her continued service in this new role.

As MRGC moves forward with shared leadership and thoughtful planning for the future, we are excited to support Deborah and the school community in this next chapter. We look forward to all that lies ahead and the continued growth of Montessori of the Rio Grande!

-FOMF

Dates To Remember:

Winter Break Begins: December 19, No School
Winter Break Ends: January 8, Back To School

• First Friday Concessions - this Friday!

• 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala - January

• Book Fair & Read-A-Thon - February

First Friday Concessions

This Friday, December 5th

Our next First Friday Concessions are happening this week, and we’d love your help making it another great success. Concession donations are what keep this tradition thriving—thank you to everyone who contributes so generously each month.

If you plan to bring an item not listed on the donation list, please reach out to FOMF ahead of time so we can plan accordingly!

This month, Golden Crown Panaderia is generously donating the pizzas! Thank you Golden Crown!

Thank you, families, for your ongoing support, participation, and the community spirit that makes these First Fridays so special!

See What's Needed

4th Annual Fire & Ice Dragonfly Gala

📅 Saturday, January 31st, 2026 | 6 - 11pm MST
📍Albuquerque Country Club

The Fire & Ice 4th Annual Dragonfly Gala is the Friends of Montessori Foundation’s biggest night of the year, our moment to come together, celebrate MRGC, and fund the programs and experiences our kids rely on.

Tickets and Sponsorship opportunities available!

You can also add a $10–$25 teacher sponsorship to your ticket, an easy, meaningful way to honor the educators who make MRGC exceptional.

Want to support in a smaller but mighty way? Please consider donating to our Wine & Spirits Pull. We’re especially in need of spirits like whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, and more. Every bottle helps this favorite fundraiser shine. Click here to donate.

Join us for a night of connection, creativity, and purpose, all in support of our school and the children who grow within it.

See Gala Information

Book Fair & Read-A-Thon

📅 February 26 & 27, March 1-30, 2026

Our annual Book Fair returns February 26–27, bringing two days of reading excitement for students and families. Families will also have the opportunity to purchase books from their teacher’s wish list, helping classrooms grow their libraries with titles they truly need.

Then, from March 1–31, we launch our month-long Read-A-Thon, encouraging students to dive into stories, build reading habits, and celebrate the joy of books.

More details after the New Year!

Dates To Remember:

• Foundation Meeting: December 9

• Winter Break Begins: December 19

• Back To School: January 8