Parents’ Association Celebrates a Successful Inaugural Year

The Parents Association (“PA”) works to build community, raise funds, and support the school through events and functions conducted by parent volunteers who serve on the PA council, committees, and as grade level captains with the support of all Bishop Dunne parents. There are no membership fees and there are many ways to participate and get to know your fellow parents better.

Each year, the PA launches summer socials by grade and schedules two major gatherings at the school to communicate upcoming plans for the year. The kickoff meeting for each school year takes place in late August.

This year the PA grossed nearly $100,000 through two major fundraisers. Parents kicked off the school year in collaboration with Development to have a peer-to-peer fundraiser during North Texas Giving Day—an event that began in late August and culminated with a final one-day event on September 22. On that final day, band, drill, and cheer lined up to perform in front of the school as parents dropped off students in the morning. It was an exciting time as donors throughout Texas gave to their favorite charities. A Bishop Dunne priest very generously gave a $20,000 challenge gift to help kick off the PA fundraiser that ultimately grossed about $45,000.

Then, on April 27, the PA dressed in their favorite decade’s athletic wear at Chicken N Pickle, a unique indoor/outdoor complex, to play pickle ball, eat delicious food, and participate in an auction and games to raise money for the school. As a result, the event grossed another $50,000 for the school!

Christine Horstman helped form the PA and was also its first president. As the 2022-2023 school year ended, Christine transitioned from PA president to a Bishop Dunne board member. We are grateful for Christine’s faithful service!

Curtique (CeeCee) Simon is the next president of the PA. She is a two-time Dunne parent with a graduate and a current student. Her oldest son, a member of the first 7-y ear advantage cohort, was Class of 2015 and her youngest son is Class of 2027. She has given her heart to everything she’s been involved with and supports where needed. CeeCee is committed to Dunne and can be found volunteering regularly.

She said, “We are more than grateful for the insight of our first president, Christine Horstman, and Mrs. Marchiony to create an opportunity where parents can come together as one entity to support our school, students, and staff. We thank all our parent volunteers who give of their time, talents, and resources to Bishop Dunne. We invite all supporters of Dunne to join us as we continue to shine our light in this community.”

Our school is only as good as its support system, and it takes parents and volunteers like you to help our school thrive! Please contact PA to learn more about how you can get involved at pac@bdcs.org.