Blue skies, green grass, a gorgeous evening, and the palpable excitement of a school community back together in person — it was fantastic to see so many families attend Picnic at Park! From my vantage point at the Parents’ Association Volunteer Fair table, I saw again and again the magic of reconnecting with old friends and the pride with which new families were welcomed into our fold.
My goal as a liaison for the Parents’ Association — the PA — at Picnic at Park was to make sure everyone knew about the many and varied opportunities for adults to get involved in the life of the school. Did you know that every parent and guardian automatically becomes a member of the PA when their children enroll at the school, and that they’re welcome to attend any PA Board meeting? Hello, fellow PA members! More importantly, it’s parent participation that fosters the vital home-school connection and drives the extracurricular events that make Park such a vibrant and close knit community.
There are over 20 PA committees that organize and oversee community building, student enrichment and grants, and faculty and staff appreciation activities, and truly, any amount of time volunteered by parents is appreciated. Participating in the PA is an amazing way to meet other parents, learn about Park, and connect directly with the Park community. Check out information on all the PA committees and sign up to get involved!
The PA also started Affinity and Working Groups for parents and guardians last year, providing another opportunity to participate in the Park community. Affinity Groups are designed to bring together folks with shared identities and experiences in a facilitated safe space. Park’s PA Affinity Groups build community and help adults support and advocate for our children as students. Currently, there are ten Affinity and Working Groups — current families can get meeting details on the Affinity Group page on the password-protected Portal.
