Getting involved in the Parents’ Association The MLC Parents’ Association has had a long history of bringing parents together and fosters cooperation between parents, the College and its community. President of Parents’ Association, Sophie Croft, invites all parents to get involved. How would you sum up the purpose of the Parents’ Association and its place in the College community as a whole? The main aims of the Parents’ Association are to strengthen the MLC community, to provide opportunities for parents and families to meet, connect and engage to support the activities of the College and its students. All parents of MLC students are automatically a member of the Parents’ Association. For new parents, what does the Parents’ Association offer and how can they get involved? For new parents, the PA offers the opportunity to meet and engage socially, either at year level events or whole of school events like the Garden Party. They can also become involved in an area of interest in one of our eleven special interest groups: Friends of Art, Friends of Music, Silver Star Rowing, Kayak Club, Community Care Group, Junior School Parents’ Association, just to name a few! These special interest groups offer an opportunity for parents to support their daughter in an area of interest. Parents can get involved in social and financial activities, and programs that provide and encourage support for the College and its students. For parents who have never been involved in the Parents’ Association, or might not be able to make a big-time commitment, how can they still be part of and support PA activities individually and with their daughter? Your involvement can be a little or a lot. Options range from joining the executive to being a parent rep, attending a meeting, going to a social year level event or College event, or joining one of our Special Interest Groups. There is truly something for everyone!
The Parents’ Association Executive team at the April 2022 Garden Party.
22 The Star Summer/Autumn 2022
The Parents’ Association hosts extremely popular events, including those that involve parents and their daughters. Can you tell us more about these activities and what the future holds? Parent/Daughter events include our annual International Women’s Day breakfast, Community Stars Day, where girls and their parents roll up their sleeves to give back to the community, and the Junior Secondary School Fathers’ Day Breakfast. The last two years has certainly provided its challenges for the Parents’ Association; we have had to evolve and find new ways of doing things and new ways to connect. In the short term, we are planning for the return of many face to face events because human connection is so important, and many of us have missed the opportunity to connect. It was wonderful to finally hold our Garden Party in April, after many thwarted attempts. We welcomed some 250 parents, including families new to the College in 2022, where friendships formed and connections were made. Ultimately, we aspire to get all parents to say “YES!” to just one event or meeting in 2022. The more connections that are made, the more our community flourishes!
Current parents can read the latest news or check upcoming PA events by looking at the Connections parents’ newsletter, published fortnightly, or check the Parents’ Association section of the myMLCfamily.net intranet at www.mymlcfamily.net/parents.
Parents gather for the annual Parents’ Association Garden Party, held in the Principal’s Terrace Garden on 3 April.
