PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL NEWS
SUMMER 2016
Stuck in the Middle: spring play by Parish Episcopal students explores issues facing middle schoolers. > Story on page 3
Class of 2016 bridges the gap as the first group to explore ParishBridge, a new signature program that prepares seniors for life beyond graduation.
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Read more http://goo.gl/5xsFLL and hear from the Class of 2016 at the ParishBridge Expo https://vimeo.com/168531418. SERVICE
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PARISH PANTHERBEAT
Parish Online
parishepiscopal.org “Going to the Chapel” PARISHarts dance and ParishEXTEND held another successful dance recital featuring dancers of all ages. The opening number was performed by the youngest dancers from the Child Development Center (CDC) who entertained the crowd with their version of “Going to the Chapel.” Watch the bride tackle the groom! https://goo.gl/KLP6vw
Parish Facebook
The Bondy-Lee Award honors parent volunteer service at Parish. Congratulations to this year’s recipient Michele Gough (Mason ‘26 and Sawyer ‘28)! She was joined by previous winners as well as namesake Andrea Lee.
Parish Rover: The journey so far The Parish Rover Team finished its third race at the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. In this video, hear from Parish students and teachers on what this three-year journey has taught them about hardwork and overcoming obstacles. https://vimeo.com/168537540
Parish Vimeo
Parish’s Primer class is ready to grow
https://goo.gl/Ec61jN
Parish’s first Primer class dedicates a tree to @cssentell #parishLSrocks @parishepiscopal https://twitter.com/jm_wilson/status/736221152301842432
@jm_wilson
Facebook Live! for Parish events Facebook Live! allows events to be streamed on our Parish Episcopal School Facebook page. This spring, we were able to stream events such as Arts Night, Baccalaureate, Grandfriends’ Visiting Day, Field Day at Midway and the Last Day of School Countdown at Hillcrest. https://goo.gl/Y8zksP
Parish Facebook Live! Geometry students use their math skills to design the ideal classroom for future classes. http://goo.gl/Yb2q6e
Mock Trial for 8th graders Parish 8th graders traveled to the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas for this year’s Mock Trial unit. Each year, the Constitutional Rights Foundation publishes a new case that calls on students to be either witnesses or lawyers in a hypothetical trial to be contested between their peers.
@RivenJay
https://twitter.com/RivenJay/status/733663792052101121
New Addition:
Get on Board - Dave Monaco announces MAC Groundbreaking As our quest to fulfill our Reimagine School vision continues, it’s exciting to share related news regarding the momentum of expanding our Midway campus. Thanks to our early donors, we have raised $8.6 million to date and the Board of Trustees has approved two important phases of this project: a Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) and a Performance & Community Center (PACC). With this vote of confidence from the Parish community, we are now positioned to move ahead with construction of a new $4.7 million Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC). We invite our community to a groundbreaking celebration on Friday, September 2, 2016, and expect the center to open in time for the 2017-18 school year. As
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we progress through the next phase of the campaign, the MAC will immediately open new possibilities in academic, athletic and arts programming. Building the MAC puts us closer to our vision of more passion-based and cross-discipline learning. The center will provide urgently needed flexibility in scheduling and 20,000+ square feet of space for athletic practices, robotics, band, debate and, on an interim basis, rehearsals and performances for dance and drama. The full realization of this vision will come with the Performance & Community Center (PACC). The Board has approved plans for this $18.2 million center that will be a focal point of Parish community events, expand student exploration of the arts, and enhance opportunities to bring top-tier speakers and events to the School. Thanks to our early believers, we are $3.9 million toward achieving our goal. Contingent on the pace of support from other leadership donors, foundations and, eventually, the full Parish family, we hope to begin construction of this center in 2020. I hope that you will join us on September 2, embrace this vision at a pivotal moment for Parish, and Get on Board alongside our early donors.
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SUMMER 2016 | PAGE 3
Pantherbeat Feature
Parish Middle School students raise awareness of tween problems in original play Let’s be frank: middle school is hard and few grown-ups would want to relive that awkward period. Not only are 5th – 8th graders dealing with changing bodies, harder school schedules and fitting in, they’re also floating between that uncertain territory of being too old for kid stuff and too young for almost everything else. In short, they’re stuck in the middle and that’s a frustrating place to be.
“Middle school students have many social and emotional concerns,” said Elaine Charles, Parish's Lower & Middle School counselor. “The most common issues include academic stress, shifts in friendships and family dynamics, low self-esteem, and feeling excluded or bullied. They also deal with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, thoughts of suicide and social media addiction.”
This past spring, Parish Episcopal students explored these issues in an original play, Stuck in the Middle. The story, written and performed by Parish students, goes beyond the awkward phase of cracking voices, braces and acne; it also delves into serious issues such as bullying, eating disorders, parental pressure, divorce and depression.
Lainey Brown ’20, who played the role of Lindsay, a new student who is bullied by another girl through exclusion and verbal abuse.
The characters in Stuck in the Middle began to take shape in the 2014-15 school year during a class assignment on writing original monologues. Barnett was impressed with the 7th and 8th graders’ work, and asked if they would like to collaborate on a play. Eight students from the class of 2019 and 2020 accepted – Mehak Chhabra, Marley Evans, Meredith Koecher, Karla Mantilla, Taylor Payton, Shannon Simon, Dylan Weinstein, and Rachel Wilson. Set in a modern day middle school, the play challenges the audience to really think about how their words and actions can hurt others.
“I want people to learn that bullying gets you nowhere,” said Brown. “Even though you think you’re saying things as a joke . . . it could deeply affect [someone] more than you could ever understand.”
“People are shocked by what middle school students face every day,” said Jessica Barnett, Middle School Theatre faculty. “These young writers felt empowered to tell the stories people are too afraid to deal with and try to hide.” Besides trying to navigate adolescence, tweens also deal with being overscheduled and overstimulated, and the pressures and pitfalls of social media – problems many of their parents didn’t experience.
“These are real things that are happening; this is relevant and exactly what’s happening in middle school all over the country,” commented
“You never really know until you walk around in someone’s shoes and get their perspective,” said Lauren Chappell ’20. “After this play, I have a new outlook on how to deal with these issues.” Read the full story and hear more from Stuck in the Middle writers and actors http://goo.gl/eYl7ID
Tim Eller:
Parish alumni parent, grandfather named 2016-17 Chairman of the Board of Trustees
“I am humbled and proud to serve Dave Monaco [Allen Meyer Family Head of School], the Board of Trustees, the faculty and staff, and the parents and students of Parish Episcopal School,” noted Tim Eller, Parish’s incoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Eller’s relationship with Parish stretches more than 25 years when his two sons attended Parish Day School (PDS). Since then, the School has become something of a family tradition. In fact, Eller’s granddaughter just wrapped up her PreK year at Parish and had the same teacher as her dad, John. Her little brother is almost old enough to start school at Parish too.
others. Three years ago, Eller was invited to join the Board at Parish and enthusiastically agreed. Eller has watched Parish grow rapidly, but says the growth has not changed the positive, caring and rewarding relationships among the community. “The culture that Gloria Snyder [HOS 1980 – 2009] instilled so well continues today in every respect under the leadership of Monaco.” The strong personal connection to Parish certainly fuels Eller’s desire to help the School, as does his passion for educating and developing young talent. “It is a passion that I fostered and practiced in my corporate business roles with great personal satisfaction and very positive benefits to the company.”
“He may make Karen O’Rear a ’first teacher, three-peat‘ for the Eller clan,” said Eller.
Parish just marked 10 years of graduating seniors; it is a milestone that Eller believes sets the tone for additional growth and opportunities.
Eller and his wife, Kathy, have three “terrific” children and four “wonderful” grandchildren. Originally from Nebraska, he has enjoyed a successful career in real estate and home building. In addition to his strong business background, Eller has used his expertise to help support Habitat for Humanity, Harvard University – as chairman of their Joint Center for Housing Studies – and the UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, among
“[The Board] will also focus on the execution of [the Reimagaine School ] vision for a very flexible and dynamic student educational path, keyed both to the student’s interests and capacity and to a rapidly changing external environment,” commented Eller. “I have no doubt that we will execute that vision and that Parish Episcopal will be viewed as a very special place . . . Externally, that ‘buzz’ is already well underway.”
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Parish Alumni Notes Births
➊ Ashley Barrett Calta PDS ’96 and her husband, George, announce the
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arrival of their daughter, Claudia Elizabeth Calta, on January 18, 2016. Claudia weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. at birth. ➋ Ellie Flory Blasingame ’08 and her husband, Jeff, announce the birth of their son, Jasper, on August 2, 2015. ➌ Linsey Nauslar Evans PDS ‘94 and her husband, Scott, announce the arrival of their daughter, Allie Paige. Born December 2, 2015, Allie was 7lbs. 9oz. and 19 ¾” long. ➍ Michelle Lloyd Morales PDS ’93 and her husband, Carlos, announce the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Joy Morales, on January 29, 2016. She was 7lbs. 4 oz. and measured 19.4” long. She joins her big brother, Sam. ➎ Douglass Reed PDS ’00 and his wife, Whitney, announce the birth of their daughter, Sophia Rae Reed, on February 1, 2016. ➏ Mandy Sigman English ’07 and Paul English ’07 live in Dallas and are the proud parents of Trey! Engagements
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➐ Emily Copeland ’10 and Jonathan “JB” Bryant ’09 are engaged to be
married August 2017 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, where Emily’s dad is the Sr. Pastor. Emily is in her second year of law school and is the editor in chief of the administrative law journal. JB is in his second year of seminary at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology getting his Master of Divinity. ➑ Jesse Hernandez ’07 proposed to Katina Smallwood ’07 at Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas in March 2016. They have plans to marry in April 2018 after Jesse’s medical school career settles down a bit. o Reed Standly ’10 is engaged to Tiffany Neurohr and will marry December 20, 2016. Reed is currently a law student at SMU’s Dedman School of Law. ➓ Lizzie Weeks ‘07 is engaged to Joe Bumpas and will be married October 15, 2016 in Dallas. She currently teaches K – 8th grade art at Christ the King Catholic School. Weddings
•• Abby Winslow Paschal ‘12 and Blake Paschal ‘11 married Saturday,
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June 18, 2016 at Park Cities Baptist Church followed by a reception at Prestonwood Hills Country Club. •• Audrey Taylor Downey ‘09 and Robert Downey married November 14, 2015 at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. They honeymooned at Caneel Bay in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. •• Chelsea Jones Hoelscher ’09 and Dillon Hoelscher ’10 married April 2, 2016 at Mary Immaculate Church in Farmers Branch, Texas. •• Kelly Rathbun Kent ’09 and Gabriel Kent married March 5, 2016 at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. The reception was held at The Room on Main. •• ‘09 group photo from Rathbun/Kent wedding (L-R): Kristen Stevenson, Chelsea Jones Hoelscher, Becca Stockdale Shwarts, Kelly Rathbun Kent, Sabrina Jurlina, Mannie Sheikh, Audrey Taylor Downey, and Katie McBee. •• Lauren Ware Henderson ’07 and Jesse Henderson married October 10, 2015 at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. The reception was at the River Club at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. •• Josh Webber PDS ’97 and Jessica Trapp Webber married October 30, 2015 on the beach in Cabo San Lucas at Fiesta Americana. •• Kassi Vander Heiden Chase ’07 and Matthew Chase ’08 are married and live in Houston. In the fall of 2016, Kassi will teach 8th grade math at Christ the Redeemer Catholic School in Houston. Matt is the director of market research and acquisitions for Asset Plus in Houston. •• Tay King Dolan ’08 and Eddie Dolan married in September 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tay is currently working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York; in 2015 she worked on an ostrich farm in Bulgaria. Alumni Events:
•• Parish Alumni at Deep Ellum Brewery Event
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The Parish Alumni and Parish Fund offices joined for an inaugural Parish Alumni and Parish Fund event at Deep Ellum Brewery on Friday, May 13, 2016. All alumni (Parish Day School graduates to our more recent PES alumni) were invited to this event. That evening we had 100% alumni attendee participation in contributing to the 2015-2016 Parish Fund, the School’s annual fund. Thank you to those alumni that attended this event and supported our School in such a big way! We had a blast and look forward to our next event.
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PARISH PANTHERBEAT
SUMMER 2016 | PAGE 5
Parish Day School:
•• Natalie Samaniego Castillejos PDS ’92 lives in Richardson, Texas with
her husband Sergio and three boys. They stay busy as a family and enjoy traveling. •• Nicki Gilbert PDS ’92 lives in New Orleans, and is the director of entertainment sales with Ace Hotel. She travels all over the world building relationships with band managers, agents, PR reps and talent buyers in an effort to have them stay with Ace hotels when they come to one of its cities. •• Parker Lee PDS ‘96 and his wife Katie Spencer Lee live in Houston. Both are corporate attorneys: Parker is an associate at Andrews Kurth LLP and Katie is in-house counsel at PROS Holdings. Parker and Katie are expecting a baby in September 2016. •• Patty Murphree Lauinger PDS ’97 works for Nerium International as a senior marketing project manager. •• Whitney Keith ’10 and Meredith McLean PDS ’95 work at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Whitney is a nurse in labor and delivery and Meredith is a pediatric nurse practitioner. •• Rebecca Neumann PDS ’91 works for CBS Radio as an attorney in Washington, D.C. She and her husband John live in McLean, Virginia, and they are expecting a baby boy in June 2016.
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CLASS of 2008
•• Krissy Daniel is currently working as a marketing assistant at PrimeLending in Dallas.
CLASS of 2009
•• Alexandra Pappas is currently employed with Project Homecoming Inc.
as a volunteer program manager. In fall 2016, Alex will be attending the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where she’ll pursue her Master of Divinity and a Master of Science in Social Work. •• Sandra Palmer Titsworth currently lives in Dallas and works for San Saba Royalty Company. Sandra just finished her third year coaching the Parish softball team. “I absolutely love coaching at Parish! I never thought I would be back at Parish coaching softball, but I am so happy I was given the opportunity,” shared Titsworth. Class of 2010
•• Whitney Keith ’10 and Meredith McLean PDS ’95 work at Parkland
Hospital in Dallas. Whitney is a nurse in labor and delivery and Meredith is a pediatric nurse practitioner. •• Blaire Butler lives in Dallas and works for Frost Bank as an associate relationship manager. •• Ty McDonnough is an Oregon State graduate with a degree in brewery. He works at Deep Ellum Brewery Company in Dallas. •• Ashley Miars lives in Dallas and is a merchandise coordinator for Neiman Marcus in the buying office. •• Parker Smith works for ARMOR Wealth Management in Dallas as a financial professional. •• Caroline Stockard works for CBRE, an international real estate company in Austin. When she is not working, she is planning her next travel adventure, doing yoga or exploring Austin. She volunteers with the fundraising committee for Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, and she is involved with her company’s community service group, CBRE Cares. •• Lauren Willis graduated from University of Alabama in 2014. She received a degree in marine biology and has been living in Dauphin Island. In June 2016, she started her job in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida working with endangered sea turtles.
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CLASS OF 2012
•• Parker Altuna was accepted into American University’s Master of
Science in Terrorism Studies and Homeland Security program. He will begin graduate school in fall 2016. •• Teal Cooper & Tristan Cooper ’14 are a sister and brother duo that launched VendiBean in February 2016 at BLVD 63, a San Diego state high end apartment complex. Teal graduated from San Diego State University in May 2016. They co-own Vendibean, the first fair trade coffee house in a vending machine. Teal works on creative and sales, and Tristan handles the business side. •• Arden Johnston graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2016, and she is getting married to Jackson Naughton in July 2016 in Dallas. They plan to reside in College Station after graduation. •• Haley Rinker graduated May 14, 2016 from Texas A&M University. She moved to Houston in July to work at Alvarez & Marsal, a consulting firm. •• Fallon Schneider attends Texas Christian University majoring in early childhood education. She joined Stephanie Taylor, a Parish 2nd grade teacher, many Fridays during the 2015 – 2016 school year to observe teaching techniques and to help in the classroom. “The Parish teachers are right on target at what I am learning in my education classes at TCU. They are pretty amazing,” stated Schneider. CLASS of 2013
•• Christina Bowman is a student at Texas Christian University and is
currently in the Neeley Fellows Honor Business Program. She studied abroad for the spring 2016 semester at the Westminster Business School in London. Pictured at Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
CLASS of 2011
CLASS of 2014
•• Cody Miller currently lives in Dallas and is a financial analyst for
•• Tristan Cooper & Teal Cooper ’12 are a brother and sister duo that
FirstSouthwest, a division of HilltopSecurities. In June, he celebrated one year with the firm and is preparing for his final licensing exams. Cody has joined a men’s basketball league at the T. Boone Pickens YMCA downtown, and when the weather is nice, he plays golf with former Parish classmates, Ryan Pearlman and Cole Horowitz. Cody makes sure that he sees his sister, Courtney Miller ‘07, in San Antonio every chance that he can get. •• Taylor Mosley graduated in May 2015 from Vassar College. She majored in international studies and Arabic language and culture. She runs a blogary (blog diary), and is making plans to attend graduate school to get a Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy. She is an active member of AAVC (Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College), and a member of AAAVC (African American Alumnae of Vassar College). •• John Scully graduated May 14, 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M Maritime Academy. He is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard third mate – Unlimited Tonnage. In May 2016, John was on the TS General Rudder for 22 days in Galveston and Corpus Christi. •• Meggan Sher began nursing school in fall 2015 at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.
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launched VendiBean in February 2016 at BLVD 63, a San Diego state high end apartment complex. Tristan is a junior at University of Texas at Austin. They co-own Vendibean, the first fair trade coffee house in a vending machine. Tristan handles the business side, and Teal works on creative and sales. •• Kate Berry attends Oklahoma City University, pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting with a double minor in children’s theater and French. In the spring of 2016 she spent a semester at sea visiting many places including Vietnam, Japan and China. Class of 2015
•• Harrison Baldwin plays baseball for Austin College with a position in the
infield. He is currently majoring in psychology with a minor in exercise and sports science. •• Amanda Dettmer attends University of Texas at Dallas and is a proud member of her sorority, Tri Delta. Amanda is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance and has been admitted to the Davidson Management Honors program for fall 2016. This summer, she is working on getting her Real Estate license.
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PARISH PANTHERBEAT
Alumni profile:
Volunteer Spotlight:
Alayna Boyd ‘10 Alayna graduated in 2014 from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a proud member of Tri Delta. She lives in Orlando and works in marketing and brand management for Darden Restaurants’ Olive Garden brand.
Parish Parent Ambassadors
L-R: Laurel Ash, Greg Porray, Gus Charif, Mona Charif, Carol Carrington, Jody Swartzwelder, Chey Fleming, Dave Monaco
Biggest accomplishment so far?
I recently became the first marketing analyst at Darden Restaurants to win the RSC Star Award, our restaurant support center’s quarterly recognition for above and beyond results. I’m passionate about what I do which helps me go the extra mile, and it felt great to be recognized for doing so!
Biggest lesson learned to date?
Formed in the winter of 2016, the new Parish Parent Ambassador program is led by Parish parents who share the enthusiasm of the School and are dedicated to spreading the Parish mission within and outside our walls.
Would you like to give a shout out to anyone at Parish?
As Dave Monaco highlighted in his December 2015 edition of First Mondays with Monaco: “We want our community to be more purposeful spreading the good news about Parish. As we graduate[d] our 10th class this May, Parish has reached yet another exciting point in our evolution. No longer the unproven ‘new kid on the independent school block,’ our school has gained traction in the education marketplace. The Parish community, thanks to a vibrant student body, talented faculty, invested parent body and dedicated leaders, has built a program and school culture which have generated enthusiasm and garnered attention.”
Do you keep in touch with your Parish community?
The Parish Parent Ambassadors, led by committee chair and parent Chey Fleming, are passionate about their role in the future of the School and the success of every student who walks through its doors.
…not to be afraid to change paths to follow your passions. I liked working with PepsiCo after graduating, but I was stuck in a sales path and really wanted to pursue marketing. I was worried about leaving a solid job . . . but I decided to look anyway. I’m so glad I did; I couldn’t be happier!
You can’t live without…?
Besides my friends and family . . . my Disney annual pass. I’ve had different teachers influence me all the way through Parish and after – Ms. [Shelly] Vorwerk and Dr. [Stuart] Chepey are two of them. Read why http://goo.gl/BpLFhA. For sure! I made life-long friends at Parish. . . . There are times when you get a text from a person you haven’t talked to in months just to see how life’s going. Parish is so special in that way – you deeply care about classmates . . . and truly enjoy hearing from them!
Favorite memory of Parish?
There are so many! Can I say all of senior year? I also loved the middle school trips, especially the 6th grade trip to Boston where we built boats from scratch. I’m pretty sure I still have the trip sweatshirt somewhere…
PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL NEWS
“Because our family has been at Parish for 14 years now, I felt like this was a natural fit for me,” exclaimed Fleming. “I believe in the mission of Parish, and I am passionate about where we are headed and thrilled to have such great teams in place to take on this charge!” The three committees that make up the program are: Internal Marketing (Greg Porray, chair), External Marketing (Mona and Gus Charif, chairs) and Admission Ambassadors (Carol Carrington and Jody Swartzwelder, chairs). See a full list of committee members online at http://goo.gl/nWTqTm.
SUMMER 2016
What’s inside:
Giving Update parishepiscopal.org/give
FEATURE ARTICLE: Parish Middle School students raise awareness of tween problems in original play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Parish Fund ’15-’16 raises approximately $1.4 million in gifts and pledges. Thank you to Becca and Rob Bruant, Parish Fund ’15-’16 chairs, for leading this critical fundraiser. Thank you also to all who have supported and volunteered along the way. Parish continues to reach new heights in fundraising thanks to our outstanding and supportive community. We are pleased to announce our Parish Fund ’16-'17 chairs: Ashley and Kris Glover (Rivers ’23, Autumn ’26 & John Foster ’27)
Parish Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 New Addition: Get on Board - Dave Monaco announces MAC Groundbreaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Tim Eller: Parish alumni parent, grandfather named 2016-17 Chairman of the Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . 3 Parish Alumni Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Alumni Spotlight: Alayna Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Volunteer Spotlight: Parish Parent Ambassadors . . . . 6
Pantherbeat is the magazine of Parish Episcopal School | 4101 Sigma Road | Dallas, Texas 75244 | parishepiscopal.org
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