Families of Magnolia
Annual Report 25-26
Highlighting the programs, projects, and people that helped shape the 2025–2026 school year
💚 Table of Awesome Contents
💚 Table of Awesome Contents
Every button below opens a deeper look into the people, programs, and projects that shaped this year at Magnolia.
💚 Beautification
💚 Beautification
Planter boxes galore — built fresh ones and gave the weathered ones new life
Garden beds revived — common areas and class patios got fresh plants and a serious weed eviction
Classes made their patios their own — each class added personal touches to bring their outdoor space to life
Middle school entrance leveled up — fresh landscaping to welcome students and families, with continued progress on the larger landscaping project
Brand new raised beds at the middle school, ready for future harvests
Native pollinator plantings across both campuses to help our pollinating friends thrive
20+ yards of dirt moved — by hand, by hustle, by the whole MMFA village
A huge thank you to everyone who made it happen:
Kevin Kelly, our unofficial campus carpenter
Kasey Diffie, for so many years of investing and growing our environment the way we support our students too
Claudia Lopez, for helping Magnolia grow stronger through care, consistency, and connection.
Ms. Veronica for her generous fundraising efforts with delicious food and drinks that kept us all going
Zach Herigodt (parent, Palomino Landscape and Ani's Day & Night) for the extra hands from his crew and his consultation on the new middle school garden beds
Luis Leyva and family for their dedicated hard work, multiple soil runs, and sheet metal work on the project
And every family who showed up — your support is what made all of this possible
💚 Monarch Library
💚 Monarch Library
The Monarch Library continues to be one of the most special examples of community-powered support at Magnolia. The library is 100% volunteer-led and 100% donation-supported, made possible through families donating gently used books and funds raised through FOM initiatives that help purchase new high-interest titles, repair beloved books, and keep the collection growing year after year.
Through this effort, Magnolia students have access to beautiful, engaging, and thoughtfully curated books that inspire curiosity and a love of reading. Students in grades 1–7 are able to check out books to take home, while Children’s House students enjoy choosing a special book to keep in their classroom each week.
This year by the numbers:
Weeks of library visits: 27
Classes visiting each week: 20 (PK3–5th Grade)
Total class visits: 540
Estimated volunteer hours during library visits: 405
Total book checkouts: 11,089 (up from 9,049 last year!)
Top library patrons: Finlay Ross (48 checkouts) & Bijou McCullough (46 checkouts)
Books added to the collection: 3,728
Books repaired: 455
Books lost or damaged beyond repair: 106
To find out more and how to volunteer click here!
We want to give a HUGE thank you to Suzie Kabat, Christan Reilly, Jessi Duong, and Kathi Mcadoo for being the leaders on the road to discovery, learning and a love of reading!!
💚 Sponsorships
💚 Sponsorships
This year, FOM proudly launched its official sponsorship program in October, creating a strong foundation for meaningful partnerships with our local business community. We built and published a dedicated sponsorship webpage to share with prospective partners and developed the infrastructure needed to support outreach, track engagement, and manage these relationships with intention. Thanks to this effort, we secured 16 sponsors in our inaugural year, raising approximately $6,600 in monetary contributions and receiving more than $2,000 in in-kind donations—an incredible show of support that helps us continue enriching the Magnolia community.
Beyond the financial support these partnerships provide, the sponsorship program has also become a meaningful way to celebrate and uplift the incredible businesses, organizations, and individuals within the Magnolia community. It gives families an easy way to discover and support community-minded businesses when making everyday decisions, while strengthening the connections between Magnolia and the people who so generously invest back into our school.
It would not have been possible without the guidance and support of Meredith Murray and Daisha Anderson! Thank you so much for everything you have done!
To find out more information on how to sponsor
click here
💚 Merch
💚 Merch
FOM’s spirit wear and uniform merchandise program continues to be a fun and practical way to help students easily follow dress code requirements while also showing off their Magnolia pride. This year, families were excited to see several new items added to the lineup, including stickers, red spirit shirts, brown long-sleeve shirts, and green long-sleeve shirts.
Across three merchandise sales weeks throughout the year, FOM sold approximately $12,000 in merchandise sales that directly support school and community initiatives.
One of the highlights each year continues to be the annual Fall Fest shirt, featuring a student-created design chosen by the school community to be printed on the official event shirt — a tradition that celebrates both school spirit and student creativity.
Thank you to our lead designer, Daisha Anderson, who is already dreaming up more designs. Thanks to, Nalin and Geeta Verma, for your leading a more streamlined logistics and fulfillment process! We’re learning to do it better every year.
💚 Uniform Closet
💚 Uniform Closet
One of the many ways FOM helps support Magnolia families is through our free Uniform Closet, a resource available to students, staff, and families throughout the school year.
This year alone, more than 300 pieces of donated uniform clothing were received and processed, with approximately one-third finding new homes with Magnolia families. This program helps ensure that families have access to needed uniform items while also encouraging sustainability, community support, and care for one another.
Thanks to the incredible leadership of Geeta Lakhiani Verma and Nalin Verma, the Uniform Closet stayed organized, welcoming, and accessible for the community.
** Remember we take gently used uniform clothes and shoes. You can leave these at the front office
💚 Capital Improvements
💚 Capital Improvements
This year, FOM was excited to bring a major capital improvement to campus with the installation of our new playground, lovingly nicknamed “The Caterpillar.” Funded through money raised during the 2024–2025 school year, the playground includes a telescopic swing that allows multiple students to play together and turf covering to support safer play and better water mitigation. The project was completed this year to ensure all safety standards were fully met, and we are thrilled to see students enjoying the space every day.
Thank you SO much, Daisha Anderson for being the playground designer you never knew you were!!
Looking ahead, FOM is excited to continue investing in campus improvements that support student wellness, play, and community connection. Already green lit for next year is a new middle school sport court, planned for completion this summer, which will support outdoor engagement, after-school clubs, and expanded sports opportunities for students. We are also excited to add shade sails over The Caterpillar playground to help students comfortably use the space during hotter times of day while protecting the equipment from the long-term effects of the Texas sun.
💚 Book Fair
💚 Book Fair
The Treasured Tales Book Fair was a magical celebration of reading, imagination, and community! Students filled the space each day with excitement as they explored new stories, shared favorite books with friends, and proudly carried home their latest reads.
Thanks to the incredible support of our families and volunteers, the fair sold more than 1,500 items — including over 900 books — and surpassed last year’s sales by 45%! Families also donated more than 270 books to guide and staff wish lists, directly supporting classrooms and learning spaces across campus.
One of the most meaningful parts of the fair was the Books for All section, which helped ensure every child left with a book in hand — a beautiful reflection of the inclusive and supportive spirit of the Magnolia community.
A huge thank you goes to Suzie Kabat for her creative vision in transforming the fair into a true storybook adventure, along with Alexus Hassell and Jessie Duong for their incredible leadership throughout the event. We’re also so grateful to Rosie Marshall for leading a joyful Literacy Day filled with crafts, costumes, and reading-centered fun for students.
💚 Space Race fun run
💚 Space Race fun run
🚀 A Mission Fueled by Magnolia 🚀
Space Race Fun Run 2026 was truly out of this world! Thanks to the incredible generosity, energy, and enthusiasm of the Magnolia community, this year’s event raised an amazing $45,229 in “rocket fuel” to support FOM programs and campus initiatives. Across the day, 262 student astronauts completed 4,354 laps toward the stars, supported by 61 mission crew volunteers and 953 donations from families and supporters. Congratulations to La Ola for reaching top orbit as this year’s highest fundraising classroom!
More than just a fundraiser, Space Race has become one of Magnolia’s most joyful community traditions — from the excitement of free dress week to the unforgettable event day filled with cheering, running, laughter, and connection. A huge thank you goes to Roxanne, Jessica, and Ryan for serving as the incredibly dedicated and exuberant leads behind this year’s mission. Most of all, thank you to every family, caregiver, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this event such a success. What makes Space Race so meaningful is not just the funds raised, but the way our community comes together to show students the power of teamwork, generosity, and being part of something bigger than themselves.
💚 Grants
💚 Grants
One of the most meaningful ways FOM directly supports classrooms and campus initiatives is through our Teacher & Community Grant Program. For the 2025–2026 school year, FOM dedicated $5,000 toward grants designed to help bring creative ideas, classroom improvements, student support efforts, and community projects to life. Grants are available to teachers, staff, and families and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis from August through April, or until funds are exhausted.
This year, FOM-funded grants supported a wide variety of projects and needs across campus, including:
Field Day materials
Snacks for La Playa students
Picnic tables for La Lluvia and El Rio
Deck tiles and patio refresh for La Palma
Family support food bags
Middle school storage materials
Cultural performance outfits for El Oceano and La Cascada
Class pet supplies
Math conference attendance for two guides
Club scholarships
Supplies for a middle school pet charity project
These grants are a powerful example of how community support can directly enrich student experiences, support staff, and strengthen the day-to-day life of Magnolia classrooms.
💚 Teacher Appreciation
💚 Teacher Appreciation
Luncheon to welcome staff back to campus in July
Monthly snacks lovingly provided by classroom communities
Multiple staff breakfasts for the Ten Days of Merriment in December
Gift card contributions for staff scavenger hunts
Two large potlucks for guides during Teacher Appreciation Week to complement Cooper’s barbecue (a school sponsor!) plus a morning of breakfast tacos
Created the staff gift guide to make appreciation simple
Designed a fun gift for all staff for Teacher Appreciation week
January coffee drops for non-classroom staff who didn’t have a class celebrating them during winter festivities - ensuring ALL staff are seen and appreciated
To join the Staff Appreciation Team, email fom@montessoriforall.org
Thank you to Kathryn North, Joele Tyson, and Kate Batch for coordinating Room Rep communications!! Your leadership has streamlined the process and made it easier for every room rep to exceed in supporting their classroom.
💚 Room Reps
💚 Room Reps
52 parents served as Room Reps this year, serving as liaisons for teacher needs and community building
Shared monthly communications highlighting classroom needs, volunteer opportunities, and school events
Organized monthly teacher snacks, Teacher Appreciation Week gifting, winter parties and gifts, and end of year celebrations.
Children’s House reps are still hard at work planning for our annual Splash Day tradition.
Organized play dates and meetups to invite families to connect with other community members.
Supporting teachers both inside and outside the classroom to help lighten the load and keep the never-ending checklist moving.
If anyone would like to serve as a Room Rep in 2026-2027, please email fom@montessoriforall.org, and our Room Rep leads will get you set up! It’s such a wonderful way to get involved in the school and community!
Thank you to Kathryn North, Joele Tyson, and Kate Batch for coordinating Staff Appreciation this year! We know our teachers felt seen and heard this year because of your work!
💚 Consumables
💚 Consumables
One of the quieter, behind-the-scenes ways FOM supports Magnolia is through the Consumables Closet — a shared resource stocked with everyday classroom and creative supplies that teachers and staff can access throughout the year. From paint, cardstock, glue sticks, and markers to yarn, beads, chalk, pencils, and countless other materials, the closet helps ensure classrooms stay stocked without educators needing to spend their own money or stretch classroom budgets further.
While families may not always see this work directly, the Consumables Closet is an important part of the wraparound support FOM strives to provide for teachers and staff. By keeping commonly needed supplies readily available on campus, we help educators focus more on creating engaging learning experiences and less on worrying about sourcing or funding basic materials for their classrooms.
💚 Camping
💚 Camping
FOM’s Fall and Spring Campouts continue to be some of the most beloved and longest-standing traditions in the Magnolia community. Open to all MMFA families from PK-3 through Middle School, these weekends are filled with connection, adventure, and the kind of memories kids talk about long after the tents come down. In recent years, around 30-40 families have gathered at Lake Somerville in the fall and Buescher State Park in the spring — both offering the perfect setup for kids to safely free roam, explore nature, and spend hours playing together outdoors. The Saturday night potluck is a wonderful way to connect with other families.
And, of course, no campout weekend is complete without the legendary Saturday night fairy rock hunt, where kids armed with flashlights race through camp searching for hidden treasures in the dark. It’s one of those Magnolia experiences that families tend to try once… and then never want to miss again.
Thank you, Joan Freeman, for being a reliable and organized leader and for keeping this wonderful tradition alive!!
💚 STAAR ice cream party
💚 STAAR ice cream party
Each year, FOM helps celebrate the hard work and dedication surrounding STAAR testing with a special ice cream party for students and teachers. Preparing for STAAR is a huge undertaking for our campus community, requiring months of support, planning, encouragement, and hard work from students, guides, and staff alike to help every testing student feel confident and prepared to do their best. It’s a small but meaningful way to recognize the tremendous effort that goes into this season each year.
That hard work continues to show in Magnolia’s incredible academic outcomes. MMFA remains one of the highest-rated schools in the area, earning an impressive accountability score of 88 — a reflection of the dedication, care, and commitment our students, teachers, and staff bring to learning every day.
Thank you, Joan Freeman, you made this year a sweet success! You’re the cherry on top!!
💚 Annual Fund
💚 Annual Fund
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Magnolia community, FOM not only reached but surpassed our 2025–2026 Annual Fund goal of $25,000, raising an incredible total of $25,644. This achievement was made possible by the dedication and support of our families, caregivers, staff, and community members, with every contribution — large or small — helping make a meaningful impact.
Funds raised through the Annual Fund directly support programs, events, classroom grants, campus improvements, family support initiatives, staff appreciation efforts, and so many of the experiences that help make Magnolia such a special place to learn and grow. We are deeply grateful for a community that continues to invest so generously in our students, staff, and school mission.
💚 Spirit Socials
💚 Spirit Socials
Throughout the year, FOM hosted a variety of Spirit Socials that brought families together while supporting local businesses and the work happening across our Magnolia community. From kid-favorite nights at Chuck E. Cheese to dinners and treats at Phil's IceHouse and Amy's Ice Creams, families had plenty of fun ways to support FOM while enjoying time together outside of school. Other Spirit Social partners this year included Nando's PERi-PERi, Ike's Love & Sandwiches, P. Terry's Burger Stand, Honest Mary's, Pins & Wheels at Playland, and Jason's Deli.
These events have become such a meaningful and easy way for families to support FOM while also solving the nightly “What’s for dinner?” question. More than anything, Spirit Socials continue to create opportunities for connection, laughter, and community outside the school day — one meal (or bowling game, or ice cream cone) at a time.
Thanks, Joanna Klose, for helping families make dinner easy and supporting FOM at the same time!!
Interested in getting involved?
Families of Magnolia is all about our community, and it’s run by families just like YOU! We have needs large and small, in-person and remote, synchronous, and asynchronous! Basically, if you’re interested in helping out, there are always lots of options!
Click the buttons below to see learn more, and sign up!