The PA supports community engagement in a wide variety of ways that benefit parents, students and the school, as detailed below. All PA events are open to all Park School families, and many are also open to the greater Park School community and the general public. In addition to these major PA-sponsored events and activities, the Parents’ Association and Grade Representatives may add programming and parent engagement activities throughout the year which will be communicated in the Park Bulletin and through emails from Grade Representatives. 

Below you will find a the PA 2022-2023 calendar and a list of PA-sponsored programs and activities.

Parents’ Association 2022-23 Calendar

SEPTEMBER 7 29 29	New Parent Welcome Breakfast All School Picture Day PA Opening Meeting & Ellen Small Speaker Series (William Stixrud, PhD and Ned Johnson)	8 a.m. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. 7 p.m.
OCTOBER 7 8 11 12 12 13 14 28	PA Parent Coffee for Lower School Saturday in the Park School Picture Day (Rain date; LS only) School Picture Day (Rain date; US only) Ellen Small PA Speaker Series (Traci Baxley, EdD) School Picture Day (Rain date; MS only) PA Parent Coffee for Middle School PA Parent Coffee for Upper School	8:15 a.m. 11 a.m. 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Noon–3:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 8–11:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m.
NOVEMBER TBD 4 9 11 16 18	PA New Parent Coffee PA Parent Coffee for Lower School Ellen Small PA Speaker Series (Ron Lieber) PA Parent Coffee for Middle School School Picture Day (Make-up date) PA Parent Coffee for Upper School	8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 8:15 a.m.
JANUARY 6	PA Drop-in	8:15 a.m.
FEBRUARY 25 25 28	Children’s Concert Family Bingo Ellen Small PA Speaker Series (Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed)	11 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
APRIL 19	Ellen Small PA Speaker Series (Jean Twenge, PhD)	7 p.m.
MAY 12	May Day	11 a.m.
JUNE 2	PA Closing Meeting and Activity	8:15 a.m.

Parents’ Association-Sponsored Events and Activities

EVENT or ACTIVITY	DESCRIPTION
Admission Support	The Parents’ Association has established a library resource center for parents, housed in the Middle and Upper School Library. The collection holds over 300 books that may be checked out for use by all Park parents. Additionally, on the PA web page there is a link for online resources that will be continually expanded and updated.
Athletic Support	Parents join together to support and promote the sports and athletics programs at Park.
Community Service	The PA supports and enhances school efforts related to ongoing, meaningful community service projects.
Diversity	The PA Board encourages, supports, and enhances the school’s initiatives related to matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in partnership with Akira Townes, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Ellen Small Parents’ Association Speaker Series	The PA hosts a series of programs featuring invited guest speakers on topics of parenting, child development, and other topics of interest to parents and caregivers. 2022-2023 Ellen Small Speaker Series
Faculty and Staff Appreciation	The Parents’ Association provides lunch or treats to Park’s faculty and staff on some professional days throughout the year as a thank you.
Fundraising	Amazon Smile, Bingo, School Pictures, Box Tops for Education, Hungry Harvest, and sales of magnets, stickers and other items— the PA sponsors all of these activities, and more, to raise money for Park programs and events, the PA Grant Fund, and other contributions to the school.
Grade Level Gatherings and Social Events	These events play an important role in building a sense of community and educating families. Socials offer new families an opportunity to connect with “veteran” families who can help them with information, advice, and friendship. Veterans enjoy renewing previous acquaintances and making new ones.
Grant Fund	The PA funds some student- and faculty-driven start-up projects and events, as approved by the PA Board, and in conjunction with the needs and priorities of the school. In past years, the fund has supported a hiking club, the robotics team, the Lower School Organic Garden, and the US Civil Rights Trip.
Listserv	Parents can utilize the Park community listserv at http://groups.google.com/group/Parkschool. This is an easy-to-use format that provides a great way for the community to stay in touch.
May Day	The PA assists with the activities included in May Day, a traditional Lower School festival. Highlights include a Maypole dance by graduating fifth graders, songs, family activities, and picnic lunches.
New Parent Breakfast	This is an opportunity for parents new to Park to meet each other, PA representatives, administrators, and staff at a social and informational function at the beginning of the academic year.
New Parent Coffee	Held in November, the new parent coffee is an opportunity to check in with new families on school-year progress, and to answer any questions.
Opening Meeting/Closing Meeting	The first and last formal meetings of the Parents’ Association each year provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to get to know one another and the PA, and all are encouraged to attend. The opening meeting in the fall includes a budget review and special speaker, and in the spring, parents gather for breakfast, vote for the new slate of officers, and participate in a hands-on activity together.
Parent Drop-ins, Coffees, and Engagement Activities	The PA hosts periodic, informal gatherings as a way of building community. These gatherings may be simply for conversation and the exchange of ideas, or may include specific parent-led activities such as hikes, yoga or other classes. These gatherings help parents to get to know one another and the PA and help the PA identify interested volunteers.
Parent Resource Center	The Parents’ Association has established a library resource center for parents, housed in the Middle and Upper School Library. The collection holds over 300 books that may be checked out for use by all Park parents. Additionally, on the PA web page there is a link for online resources that will be continually expanded and updated.
Park Connects	A school-wide program designed to promote the well-being of our students and to help reduce the risk factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviors. In Park Connects’ Parent Networking Groups, trained parent facilitators lead discussion groups once or twice a year at each grade level. Parents are encouraged to share their ideas, experiences, and concerns to promote better understanding and awareness. The parent chairs of Park Connects sit on the PA Board. The Park Connects program also offers parent education workshops throughout the year hosted by the Park Health and Counseling Team.
Resident Scholar	For over 40 years, the Resident Scholar program has brought distinguished scholars and artists to Park so that Upper School students can explore current ideas relating to academic disciplines. Funded in part by a grant from the PA, the program involves a presentation to the Upper School student body followed by a day of in-depth seminars in the scholar’s area of expertise.
School Picture Day	Students’ pictures are taken individually and by class (for Lower Schoolers) in the fall. Picture packages may be selected and purchased by parents.
Saturday in the Park	Park School families and friends are invited to enjoy the school campus and participate in a variety of activities, including canoeing, stream walking, and arts and crafts. Newly enrolled families are especially encouraged to attend, as this is a great opportunity to engage with the community early in the fall.