SBMS Riviera-ians!

The Montessori experience has much to do with allurement. SBMS's classrooms' materials are intended to entice the child, to bring forth their interest...to capture their imaginative powers while leading them to discovery. Ocassionally, we're able to turn our attentions to the adult world, for instance, the allurement of the Cote d'Azur's LE TREN BLEU.

The Blue Train. Calais to Monte Carlo. 1929. Passengers stepped off the fery onto a train of only one class--luxury; scheuled to arrive the following morning after the gourmet experience in the dining car, and an evening then spent in your sleeping berth. Yor travel mates? Winston Churchill. Prince Phillip. Charlie Chaplin. Coco Chanel. F.Scott Fitzgerald. The stories were so ribald, so alluring, that Agatha Christie had to write one of her classic mysteries, The Blue Train, in an attempt to capture some of the experience. The stuff is legend; the allurement, perhaps, for all of us to spend an evening on our own luxurious Riviera, aboard our own tren bleu...our own Cote d'Azur!

Thus, our 24th Annual Auction Extravaganza, although dedicated to the allurement and experience for the party animals attending the event is, of course, intended as a true benefit to each child in SBMS's programs. As much as we plan to enjoy ourselves, the Annual Auction Extravaganza will again be a vitally important fundraising event benefiting each and every SBMS student.

The goal for this year's alluring Cote d'Azur is to raise $250,000--Sacrebleu! Not a misprint! Last year's auction raised half that amount, $125,000. Which was double the amount of the auction three years previous. This year's Live Auction, and the 2008-9 SBMS Party Book, coupled with our Annual Raffle Ticket sales, will produce the funds essential for the next schol year. But how much will we limit ourselves to? What can SBMS's community create? There are methods we can all utilize to make the goal of $250,000 not only attainable, but a suggestion of the percentage for future successes. Raffle Ticket sales alone could raise $500,000 in tax-deuctible donations for Santa Barbara's finest school. Why not try?

Reaching our goal will mean as much as $100,000 available for financial assistance to SBMS families--those families already enrolled, and those seeking enrollment at SBMS. The SBMS Scholarship Fund will be able to provide assistance to more families than ever before as we continue our efforts to maintain as continuous and diverse a student community as possible.

Your support and participation in this year's events will take many forms. First, make sure your calendar reserves your place for this memorable evening at the Biltmore, Friday May 9. In donating the cost of the venue, the Biltmore's support of SBMS helps provide this incredible opportunity for us to celebrate the wonder of SBMS. Of course, our other supporters, including Business First National Bank, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, sbParent.com, and The Independent, also contribute to the success of our event, and thus a helping hand in providing the benefits of your child's SBMS experience.

This is our time, our community's opportunity. Remember, of course, this incredibly important event is for your children. Their amazing school. And you.

A votre sante!

Jim Fitzpatrick
Head of School