PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL NEWS
WINTER/SPRING 2016
” R SH K O FO RI GE L O D E PA R A S I LY V E IN AL CO T O LA “T A G
Pantherbeat Feature: The only schoolsponsored community outreach program, formerly known as ParishGives, gets a new name. > Story on page 3
Meet Our Panthers: Hear straight from our students, faculty, staff, parents and volunteers about the great experiences that happen every day at Parish.
Featured Panther: Kevin Rock, MS Science and MS Soccer Coach https://vimeo.com/156024550
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PARISH PANTHERBEAT
Parish Online
parishepiscopal.org Winter Athletic Signing Senior athletes committed to Harvard University, Stevens Institute of Technology and San Diego State University. http://twitter.com/dmonaco/status/694949576504139776
Dave’s Twitter Feed
Hillcrest Fire Global Blast Students from Lower, Middle & Upper School celebrate Legacy and Global Blast.
The supportive relationship with the Church of the Transfiguration and the hard work of our Lower School teachers and staff were on display as students returned to the classroom after January’s fire at Hillcrest. http://goo.gl/ftYTtV
Parish News
http://goo.gl/FnDfsT
Mr. Monaco’s From My Angle Blog: Purposefully Inclusive
From My Angle Blog
Arts Blog: Rosettes’ Winter Show A showcase at the Majestic Theatre in Downtown Dallas, featuring performances from the Rosettes and students in every division.
Building an inclusive community at Parish requires intentionality, fortitude and effort . . . look into the eyes of one of our 5 year old students and consider the world in which they will lead and serve. http://davemonaco.wordpress.com/
Picture Perfect: Black & White Images Parish visual art students selected as finalists for annual juried exhibition for high school photography students. This year’s seven finalists from PARISHarts: Lexie Antolovic ’17, Mei Lynn Colby ’16, Regan Deason ’16, Hannah Dorward ’16, Dani Rosenthal ’16, Raye Savage ’17 and Ryan Sklar ’16. http://goo.gl/2NbNm6
Parish News
http://goo.gl/BGMY4e
Parish Fund Thank you Parish thanks its community for reaching 97% participation for the Parish Fund, with pledges and gift totaling more than $1.4M to date. http://vimeo.com/145654367
Parish Vimeo
New Addition:
ParishKicks by student reporters Christopher Van Buskirk ’17 and Adam Bergman ‘17
ParishKicks, a new program of ParishEXTEND, offers a more structured program to PreK – 12th grade recreational soccer players who wish to thrive and grow in their soccer experience. Created in response to the needs expressed by the parent coaches of independent Parish soccer teams, ParishKicks aims to fill the gap between recreational and competitive club soccer.
“We hope to foster a love of the game and help develop players who are comfortable and confident with their skill on the ball, under pressure,” explained Craig Savage, Parish’s head soccer coach and Upper School science faculty member.
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ParishEXTEND has partnered with the Dallas Kicks Soccer Club and its founder and director, Juan Martinez, to develop the philosophy and curriculum. Although a more formal rollout is planned for next fall, ParishKicks will be offering a camp this summer, June 13-17. Eventual offerings will include coaches and player clinics, coaching services, team support (registrations, uniforms, etc.) and more. Read more about ParishEXTEND and ParishKicks at http://goo.gl/Xw9sJ0.
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WINTER/SPRING 2016 | PAGE 3
Pantherbeat Feature
ParishServes: New Name, Same Goal
Lower and Middle School students jump for heart health.
The Parish community has always been extremely generous when it comes to helping others. Through ParishGives – the only school sponsored community outreach program – our School has donated thousands of dollars and supplies to charities and local schools. Now we’ll continue that giving spirit under the name of ParishServes, which underscores our commitment to the School’s tenets of Wisdom, Honor and Service.
“The name ParishServes better describes our community outreach efforts to the Parish community,” said Vanessa Fuquay, Director of Community Service. “Some parents and even faculty and staff thought ParishGives was tied to our Parish Annual Fund. It was not. “
into instructional resources and curriculum instead of purchasing supplies and materials for our teachers,” said Quinton Courts, Principal of Cigarroa. Through ParishServes, Parish Coffee House, the student open mic night, donated $1,000 to Cigarroa, while Parish Family Performs, our community talent show, gave more than $4,200. “Cigarroa is incredibly important to me because I think a holistic arts education is vital in preparing young minds to make a difference,” said Wallis Dean ’17, student director of Parish Family Performs. “I want each and every student at Cigarroa to have the opportunity to be active in the arts.”
Parish decided to change the name in January and unveiled the new logo in March. Community service has always been an extension of Parish’s Service tenet, so ParishServes will remain a community outreach program. It will allow our students to come together and rally around specific causes external to Parish throughout the year. “Giving back is an important lesson to teach our students, as we’re striving for them to be young people of impact and serve our community in different ways,” noted Fuquay. “I’m always looking to take them outside of our bubble.” The majority of Texas high school students are required to clock community service hours, but Parish takes a unique approach when it comes to outreach programs. Instead of just “checking the box,” our School encourages students to find a project that sparks passion and interest so that they can make a lasting impact. “We push our freshmen and sophomores to explore a lot of different opportunities, so when it’s time for them to create their junior service projects, they can have an idea of what they enjoy doing while serving,” added Fuquay. “Every student has a different ‘service story’ and I love how passionate our students are about how they serve their community or their world.” So far this school year, Parish has participated in many different service events and has partnered with Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa, M.D. Elementary School, a Title One school and our DISD partner school, through the Commit! Partnership in Dallas County. The community outreach program donated much needed school and art supplies, plus holiday gifts to Cigarroa families.
Panther basketball players go pink for cancer awareness.
In the winter, Parish held the Basketball Pink Out games and raised $6,500 for the American Cancer Society. Lower school students and 5th and 6th grade students participated in Jump Rope for Heart, supporting heart health and the American Heart Association. The Hillcrest campus generated over $10,500 and the Midway campus raised over $11,400! Considering the growing needs in North Texas over the past year, students will give to our local community by collecting food for the North Texas Food Bank during trimester three. It will be tied to the last Legacy event of the school year.
Although our School’s outreach program has a new name, the spirit of giving time, effort, donations and support to help others remains solid. All ParishServes initiatives are led by Upper School students with the guidance of a committee of faculty and staff members. “They’ve done a fabulous job organizing efforts and ensuring our events run smoothly,” said Fuquay. “ I’m excited to see what we will do in the coming months and years for our community!”
“Parish’s donations of supplies will absolutely help our campus close the achievement gap because we will be able to funnel more money
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Many thanks and congratulations to DIANA HAMILTON, the chair for the 2016 “TOTALLY PARISH” Gala, and her awesome committee of MANY parent volunteers for a truly rad night! The trippendicular success of the 80s-themed, Parish community event was tubular, dude!
“We built this city, we built this city on rock an’ roll Built this city, we built this city on rock an’ roll” “We Built This City” by Starship
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WINTER/SPRING 2016 | PAGE 5
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
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“Hey, Doc. We better back up. We don’t have enough road to get up to 88.” “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” Back to the Future
Ask Pete Answer provided by Brooke Mayer, ParishEXTEND
How can I make summer fun for my kids?
Summer can be a challenging time for parents. Sure, it may sound dreamy at first with images of kids splashing in the pool, epic water balloon fights and carefully curated Pinterest crafts, but then reality sets in. It gets too hot, the water balloons take forever to tie, you aren’t the crafter Pinterest led you to believe, and school only let out last week! This is why summer camps (cough…PARISH summer camps) are so great. We are experts in summer fun and have the space, the staff, the craft supplies and the cleaning crew to keep your kids (and you!) happy all summer long. With week by week programming, you have the flexibility to create a summer that allows for vacations, overnight camps and visits from grandma. Sounds like an epic summer in the making! With more than 315 summer camps running this summer, there is something for every kid and every schedule. Email us at EXTEND@parishepiscopal.org to see how we can help customize your summer fun!
Have a question for Pete? Email communications@parishepiscopal.org, subject line “Ask Pete,” for a chance to have your question answered here.
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WINTER/SPRING 2016 | PAGE 7
Parish Alumni Notes
2015 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient: David Fisk, PDS ‘92 Each year, one alumnus is chosen to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for the commitment and volunteer support he or she demonstrates for the School and the Alumni Association. While the selection process can be challenging, this year’s recipient – David Fisk – really stood out. “When looking at potential recipients, we consider those who have truly made an impact in our School community,” said Diane Webber, Parish’s Director of Alumni Relations. “From the first time I met David, when I taught him in 1st grade, he has been an honest, hardworking, dedicated member of this community, and those attributes have only become stronger in him as an adult.”
L-R: Dave Monaco (Allen Meyer Family Head of School), David Fisk and Bart Freeman.
• 2002 graduate of University of Texas; member of Delta Tau Delta
“The Alumni Association has benefited greatly from his involvement and devotion,” added Webber.
• 2005 graduate of St. Mary’s School of Law • Published lawyer; currently practicing at Kane, Russell, Coleman and Logan
“Without David’s help, an argument could be made that the Parish Alumni Association may not exist in its current form at all,” said Bart Freeman, PDS ’80 and Alumni Board President 2011 – 2014.
• “Texas Rising Star,” a special recognition given to extraordinary young lawyers
In 2010, Fisk was a part of the original committee that worked to form the first official Alumni Association at Parish. He and his wife, Casey, provided legal expertise throughout the six month process (and 14 sets of revisions) of drafting the bylaws. Fisk continued to serve on the Alumni Association Board for the next four years, working as both Treasurer and Vice President.
• 2015 and 2016 co-chair for the Dallas Bar Association’s Habitat for Humanity committee
New York City Alumni Event
“David is a person of competence, modesty and integrity, and very giving to others,” said Freeman. “He’s well deserving of this award.” As this year’s honoree, Fisk was recognized at Parish’s Founders’ Day Luncheon in November 2015 – with special remarks from Freeman – for his successful career and life, and for his service not only to Parish but to the greater community at large.
Class of 2016, Parish’s 10th graduating class, is coming soon to the Parish Alumni Association.
L-R first row: Wendy Peraza ’10, Tehjal Suri ’11, Lauren Ware Henderson ’07 L-R second row: Janette Artea ’08, Allison Kelsoe ’11, L-R third row: Lana Greene ’08, Camie Robertson ’08, Meredith Carey ’11, Andrew Ronck ’11
Sunday, May 22, 2016 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Meyerson Symphony Center
Mr. Monaco’s Update:
CAMPAIGN CHAIRS
FACULTY & STAFF CHAIR
UPPER SCHOOL CHAIRS
ATHLETICS & PARENT AMBASSADOR REPRESENTATIVES
Rachel & Randy Polka
Get on Board
Lisa & Bill Griffin
Alyson & Grant Jackson
SENIOR CLASS GIFT 2017
Dee Velvin
GRANDPARENT CHAIRS
Ashley Glover
FORMER BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRS
Warren White
Mary Ann & Bob Marshall Crista & Philip de Bruyn PDS ALUMNI CHAIR
Heather Hunt
As you might recall, in January, we announced our capital campaign chairs – Rachel and Randy Polka. While we’ll be sharing more in the 2016 -17 school year, we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the capital campaign steering committee (featured on the right column in blue).
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LOWER SCHOOL CHAIRS
Karen & Allen Bell
We’ve been fortunate to have a handful of generous donors to help us get underway. But, we need our community to keep up the momentum and “get on board!”
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Chey & Rob Fleming
Michele & Andy Gough
Over the next five years our campus will truly transform for our facilities . . . our students . . . our community, giving us limitless possibilities for the future of Parish.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAIRS
Terri & Brad Phillips
As I shared at Gala, we’re keeping our dream alive for our Reimagine School vision. That includes the facilities need for the Community & Performance Center and the Multipurpose Activity Center, both putting us closer to making that dream a reality.
Jay Riven
ARTS REPRESENTATIVES
STRATEGY TEAM MEMBER STRATEGY TEAM MEMBER ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE, CO-CHAIR ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE, CO-CHAIR
Beth Gerwe
If you are interested in providing support for these facilities or would like to learn more please contact Amanda Meter at ameter@parishepiscopal.org or 972.852.8757.
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Alumni Spotlight:
Volunteer Profile:
Diana Hamilton, 9th grade parent
Ryan Ragnell ‘13 Junior at Baylor University; Computer Science major with a minor in Business Administration
Coming off the successful 2016 Parish Gala, (see “Totally Parish” pgs. 4-6), Diana Hamilton should be ready for a break, but she’s not. The Gala Chair and Parish parent is already thinking about how to help celebrate and raise money for our School next year.
What are your plans with your degree?
I plan to work with medical software/ technology; I’d like to have some part in medicine even though I’m no longer pre-med. This summer, L-R: Andrew Boyd ’13, I’m doing an internship as a Ryan Ragnell ’13, Software Research and Design Intern Michael Murph ‘13 at Stryker Communications in Flower Mound. I’ll be working with video routing for endoscopic cameras and other items necessary inside of an operating room.
Biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Plan ahead as much as possible. A little planning can help make your life easier. With a minor, I made it a goal to graduate in four years. When I changed majors, I realized that I needed to make a plan to make sure that I met that goal. . . . It just gives me peace of mind to know ahead of time what I need to do.
You can’t live without your…?
My dog and my computer. I hated living without a dog when I was in a dorm, so it’s nice to have one now in my apartment. My computer, aside from the obvious reasons, just gives me access to so many things . . . allows me to stay connected with my friends as well as provides resources to learn more.
Favorite memory of Parish?
Parish graduation. Standing up there with so many people that I grew up with. . . [who] will continue to be my friends for the rest of my life. [It was] a huge milestone in our lives, celebrating not only our accomplishments at Parish, but all of the possibilities and opportunities ahead of us.
Would you like to give a shout out to anyone at Parish?
Mr. Craig Savage. He was seriously the best advisor. I could talk to him about anything. He really embraced his role and acted as a great mentor to anyone who wanted one. I can still hear and see him telling me to get my act together whenever I was slacking.
It’s a good thing her husband, Steve, and son, Tyler ‘19, understand her desire to volunteer. The annual gala takes countless hours and at least nine months of organizing and planning. It’s a labor of love that gives the entire Parish community a chance to unite, say thank you and raise much needed money for the School. Diana says she was flattered to be asked to chair the 2016 gala because she’s relatively new to Parish. This is only the second year for the Hamilton family to be a part of the community. “I had a lot of years to catch up on,” joked Diana. “But I have met so many amazing people who love this school so much.”
“I was just so excited to have this opportunity to throw myself into the fire and do what I love to do,” stated Diana. “Fundraising is my passion and how I feel like I can give back to the community.” Parish benefits tremendously from Diana’s creativity, dedication and enthusiasm. Her first volunteer role at Parish was with the 8th grade parent and student fellowship team. The experience gave her a chance to jump in and learn more about Parish and her son’s classmates. Diana’s passion for serving has given her a chance to meet parents in all grades and the opportunity to get to know the faculty and staff that spend so much time with her son. Learn more about Diana’s volunteerism at http://goo.gl/lXi4MV.
PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL NEWS
WINTER/SPRING 2016
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Mills Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Behrens
Contributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brooke Mayer Digital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Joyner
Alumni & archives . . . . . . . . . Lauren Ware Henderson
Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wiley Williams Intern reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avery Lackner ‘18
Intern reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Bergman ‘17
Intern reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Van Buskirk ‘17
What’s inside: FEATURE ARTICLE: ParishServes: New Name, Same Goal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Parish Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 New Addition: ParishKicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 “Totally Parish” Gala Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ask Pete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mr. Monaco’s Update: Get on Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Parish Alumni Notes: 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient: David Fisk, PDS ‘92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Alumni Spotlight: Ryan Ragnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Volunteer Spotlight: Diana Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pantherbeat is the magazine of Parish Episcopal School | 4101 Sigma Road | Dallas, Texas 75244 | parishepiscopal.org
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