New Family Brochure 2023-2024

GETTING INVOLVED... PORTLEDGE SCHOOL

thrives because its parent body is dedicated to enriching our children's educational experience and creating a positive school community. There are many ways to get involved in the daily life of our school that will allow you to become more connected to school life. Immersing yourself into the community will give you deeper insight into the lives of your children and will introduce you to fellow parents.

THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Every parent is a member! The Parents Association (PA) plays an integral role at Portledge, facilitating communication between the school and parents, promoting volunteerism, and encouraging parental involvement in the Portledge community.

Join us at each of our Parents Association meetings to hear from speakers about a variety of topics and connect with other parents. Division lead curriculum evenings, Back to School nights, and a parent education series offer important information about your child's education. New parent receptions and Division Head Parent Coffees are held for parents to better understand Portledge's curriculum, philosophy, and major initiatives and offer opportunities to meet other members of the Portledge community.

SPECIAL EVENTS

(VISIT WWW.PORTLEDGE.ORG/CALENDAR FOR EVENTS AND CALENDAR UPDATES)

NEW PARENT COCKTAIL PARTY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 7:00 PM

PARENTS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 8:45 AM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 8:45 AM

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 8:45 AM

HOMECOMING AT FOUNDERS DAY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 12-3 P.M.

CHAMPIONS FOR CHARITY®*

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2

THE PORTLEDGE GALA

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION

FRIDAY, MAY 3

*DATES AND EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

VOLUNTEERING

Serving as a parent volunteer is vital to enriching your child's education. You can serve your school in many ways: chaperoning on field trips, helping with school plays, festivals and other cultural events, working with the Parents Association, and assisting with special events, such as Founders Day and Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day.

Together we can make a difference for the good of our children. Visit www.portledge.org/parents for more information about getting involved.

VOLUNTEERS

THE 2023-2024 PARENTS ASSOCIATION

President

Kim Leonard

Executive Vice President

Tiffany Palagonia

International Liason

Kim Guo

Lower School VP

Angelica Van Pelt '06

VP of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion- Lower School

Vanessa Cruz

Middle School VP

Melissa Reale

VP of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion- Middle School

Vanessa Cruz

Upper School VP

Michele Bahnik Mercier '93

VP of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion- Upper School

Vanessa Cruz

2023-2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Class Parents

Pre - K

Amy Kopke

Kindergarten

Jennifer Fortune

First Grade

Angela Pistilli

Second Grade

Dana Plunkett

Third Grade

Marisa Disimile

Fourth Grade

Emily Wachtel

Christina Potter

Fifth Grade

Jessica Chitty

Maria Gray Cohen

Sixth Grade

Jill Drucker

Dina Argyris

Class Parents

Seventh Grade

Erica Zimmerman

Eighth Grade

Rebecca Goodkin-Carlin

Ninth Grade

Amy Feldstein

Tiffany Terranova

Leslie Palatnik

Tenth Grade

Vera Jain

Christine Pata

Eleventh Grade

Suzanne Levy

Michele Marinak

Twelfth Grade

Marie Bahnik

Lindsey Barnett

Portledge School is governed by its own Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees focuses on three areas critical to the success of Portledge: it selects, evaluates, and supports the Head of School, to whom it delegates authority to manage the school; it develops broad institutional policies that guide the Head in running the school, and it is accountable for the well being of the school.

President

Donald D. Wilson

Vice Presidents

David Schamis

Shawnée Warfield

Treasurer

Joel Friedman

Secretary

Donna Burke

Claude Bahnik '90 Honorary Trustee

Lindsey Barnett

Scott Burman

Peter Guo

Yong Lee

Amy Littman

Teddy Lynn

Dr. Luis Marcos

Dr. Kevin Mercier

Katie Rotolo

Stephen Strauss

Harry Taylor '92

THE PORTLEDGE FUND

We believe that students who can effectively communicate, collaborate, think critically and creatively, and engage with mindfulness and compassion are better prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world. Gifts to The Portledge Fund allow us to continue our mission to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges.

The value of your gift is the value of a Portledge School education, because each contribution to The Portledge Fund is a direct investment in a child’s experience. Your gift supports daily life of the school on every level, from faculty salaries; to classroom materials and technology; to the consistent addition of the resources, programs, and opportunities that enhance each student’s journey. Additionally, The Portledge Fund serves a critical role in supporting the school’s ability to respond to emerging challenges—ensuring consistent opportunities for learning, discovery, and innovation.

WHY DONATE?

WHAT DOES THE PORTLEDGE FUND MAKE POSSIBLE?

Portledge is a community that draws strength from support and inclusion—and The Portledge Fund is no exception. Day after day, we celebrate and support one another through our culture and curriculum. Year after year, we celebrate and support one another through annual giving.

The Portledge Fund anchors the nancial support for the people and programs that will continue to propel us forward. By participating in The Portledge Fund, we join together to invest in every student, every teacher, and every program that contributes to the incredible momentum for our school.

Strong participation in The Portledge Fund represents our community’s collective confidence in the Portledge experience. Your gift plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of our educational program, retaining and procuring talented faculty, attracting exceptional students from diverse backgrounds, and providing critical resources that allow us the exibility to adapt to change.

The value of your generosity today is just the beginning of a Portledge student’s tomorrow.