PARENTS’ CLUB PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE

TAMARA WILLMANN, PRESIDENT, TVS PARENTS’ CLUB

Like all other aspects of TVS, the Parents’ Club is focused on the future. The work of the Parents’ Club Board reflected that focus throughout the second half of the 2022-23 school year with a number of new initiatives and programs.

Striving to give all TVS parents an opportunity to engage in the Parents’ Club, the Board hosted its first evening meeting in January. Head of School Blair Lowry offered remarks on the essential role that the parent / school partnership plays in fostering educational excellence at all grade levels. A small but highly interested group of parents attended the meeting and offered their appreciation to the Parents’ Club for accommodating the schedules of parents and guardians who are not able to attend daytime meetings. The vast majority of the 44-person Parents’ Club Board attended the event and offered first-time attendees information about volunteer opportunities for events taking place through the end of the school year. As an incentive, the Parents’ Club announced that first-time volunteers will be entered in a drawing to win a TVS “swag” basket. The drawing will take place at the end of this school year. For more information or questions about parent volunteer opportunities, contact parentsclub@tvs.org.

For the upcoming school year, a similar “open to all parents” Parents’ Club meeting will take place in the fall (date TBD). In addition to meetings, interested parents can learn more about volunteer opportunities by looking through the Club’s recently published Events Catalog or by visiting the TVS Volunteer website (https:// www.signupgenius.com/org/trinityvalleyschool?#/ ).

Thanks to PC Board member Jennifer Kostohryz for her work on the new catalog and to Sarah Klein and Anjum George for redesigning the volunteer website, making it more user-friendly.

January 2023 also featured a wonderful “two-in-one” program, as the Parents’ Club paired the Middle School Social with the third offering from the Parents Speaker Series. The event included a dinner for Middle School students and their parents / guardians, followed by a square dance for the students while parents were invited to a presentation by author Janell Burley Hoffman. Hoffman shared her insight on the topic, “Social Savvy – Raising Tech Healthy Families Together.” She empowered parents by discussing the foundations on which to base family technology habits, including family values already in place. Her resource guide, sent to Middle School parents in a follow-up email, provided numerous suggestions and links that allowed for further research and information. The parents’ portion of the program also offered attendees an opportunity to “continue the conversation” in a meeting facilitated by Middle School Head Julie Knudsen, Assistant Middle School Head Laura Montgomery, and Director of Technology Eileen Ford. Many thanks to Parents’ Club Board members Anne Wright (Speaker Series chair), Mary Ho, Sal Regan , and Lindsey Karakourtis (Middle School Social chairs) for making the evening possible.

Julie Knudsen, Janell Burley Huffman, and Anne Wright at the Parent Speaker Series

Sal Regan, Lindsey Karakourtis, and Mary Ho at the Middle School Social

In February, the Parents’ Club hosted a fantastic appreciation luncheon for faculty and staff. Coordinated by Board members LaToyer Houston and Mandy Kirwan, the luncheon had a Hawaiian theme, and featured food from Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.

LaToyer Houston and Mandy Kirwin, Appreciation Luncheon co-chairs

Faculty and staff enjoy the Appreciation Luncheon

Faculty and staff enjoy the Appreciation Luncheon

There were many other Parents’ Club highlights from spring 2023:

• The fourth and final installment of the Parent Speaker Series focused on parenting student-athletes. Kristin K. Sheehan, program director of Play Like a Champion, gave a presentation entitled “Parent Like a Champion.”

• TVS was highlighted in a stunning tablescape at the annual Design Inspirations event at Ridglea Country Club. TVS moms Emily Nichols and Brittany Rico were the creative duo whose decorating prowess provided the table’s breathtaking beauty!

Brittany Rico, Emily Nichols, Tamara Willman, Jenny Rosell, Tara Bibb, Julie Knudsen, Lisa Grider, and Ashley Robinson at Design Inspirations

TVS Design Inspirations table

TVS Design Inspirations table

• Another pair of parent volunteers, Shelby Crawford and Ashley Peeders, brought more than 250 TVS parents together for “The Golden Hour,” TVS’ biennial Gallery Night fundraising event. Parents enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while viewing and bidding on an array of visual and decorative art creations from TVS students and professional artists. Proceeds from Gallery Night support the Parents’ Club operating budget for next school year and the Club’s Grants for Greatness program.

Gallery Night co-chairs Ashley Peeders and Shelby Crawford

• Each day of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12) will feature a special thank you to the TVS faculty and staff, all of which is coordinated by the Parents’ Club Board.

• Last but not least, on May 5, Parents’ Club volunteers will team up with Lower School faculty and Trojan team coaches for the annual Field Day. Parent chairs Markus Kypreos and Lauren Cunningham will lead the way!

Clearly, the future looks bright for the TVS Parents’ Club. Special thanks are in order for the 2022-23 Parents’ Club Board for their dedication, leadership, and focus on the future.