Alumni Parents Staying Connected with OLSH

By Deena Swank ’92

One of the most common words used to describe OLSH is “family” and that experience of family goes beyond the students who study at OLSH. Their parents are welcomed into the OLSH family as well, and presented with a variety of opportunities each year to build meaningful relationships that last far beyond their child’s graduation day. The school has worked hard over the past several years to ensure that current parents feel informed, involved, and invested in the school community, and as a result, many alumni parents expressed a desire to remain connected with their OLSH friends. In the spirit of meeting this wish, alumni parents Rufie Harr and Susan Vallejo recently launched Staying Connected, an affinity group for parents of OLSH alumni.

When Rufie’s daughters enrolled at OLSH, not only were they adapting to a new school, but a new city. She said, “I arrived here from another country not knowing anyone and within four years I looked around at all the students, parents and staff I knew and felt so at home. I wasn’t sure how to stay connected to the school, which had become such a big part of my life, once my children had graduated. There is a reason every school has a ‘homecoming’; it is because our school has become a home community, a part of our life. There is no reason to become disconnected once our children graduate. In fact, whether they have just graduated or whether years have passed, we still have connections.”

Susan reflected this sentiment as well, saying, “Coming from a Catholic elementary school where we had known our children’s classmates and families for a decade or more, the high school experience can leave a parent feeling disconnected,” she said. “OLSH provides a unique opportunity for parental involvement, with the number and varied types of parent programs offered. Beginning with the Welcome Mass and family picnic before the first day of school of freshman year, we felt embraced and welcomed into the OLSH family. Having these opportunities for parental involvement throughout the school year enabled us to feel included and connected to our children’s lives at school. You learn so much through interacting with other parents; sharing experiences and thoughts provides important support while we are helping our children in their transition to a new phase of life.”

The Staying Connected group provides alumni parents with support as they go through yet another transition, sending their children off to college. Susan said, “Involvement in the parent alumni group has offered support in my transition to being an empty nester. Sharing social time with other parents who are experiencing the same transition is comforting and energizing...and it’s fun! There’s no pressure, just attend what works for you.” Rufie added, “Having an alumni parent group has eased me in to my new life.”

Thus far, the group has sponsored several gatherings, including joining with the current parent group’s evening and First Friday socials coordinated by Mary Kim and Laurie Kanoza. “My hope,” said Rufie, “is to find ways to keep parents of alumni involved by reaching out and doing different activities together. There is such joy in seeing one another. We connect as parents through our experiences and we share what is going on with our children. By staying involved, we can make sure the OLSH Legacy continues.”