The Parents Association

The Parents Association (PA) strives to involve all of our families in nurturing our diverse and welcoming community, supporting excellence in the education of all of our children, and creating a spirit of volunteerism and generosity that contributes to the life and vitality of the Day School. Guided by our Executive Committee, and in partnership with the broader school community, the PA leads community-building and fundraising initiatives. These efforts enable us to support the professional development and recognition of our faculty and staff, to serve as a resource to school families, and to enhance the spirit and character of St. Patrick’s.

Families do not need to “join” the PA, as all St. Patrick’s parents are automatically members. The PA is run by dedicated parent volunteers and directed by the PA Executive Committee, elected by the parent body each year. Executive Committee members work with interested volunteers to plan community-building events and activities for all students and their families. In addition, Room Parents fall under the PA umbrella. Room Parents work closely with classroom teachers to ensure volunteers for field trips, classroom activities, and other class- and grade-wide events. 

The PA sponsors a range of activities and events for parents and families throughout the school year. Each year, the PA makes substantial gifts to the Day School that are not included in the normal budgeting process. The PA is the exclusive funding source for the Faculty & Staff Summer Travel & Study Grant Program. Recent grant recipients have studied ornithology, emerging technologies, Spanish, and social psychology, among other things.

Traditional PA activities include Family Fun Day, Faculty and Staff Appreciation events, the Book Fair, Grandparents & Special Friends Visiting Day, Family Bingo Night, Family Skating Night, and the ongoing Speaker Series. Other PA initiatives include affiliate fundraising programs and Wolfhound logowear. More information can be found on the PA page of the website, www.stpatsdc.org, under “Support.”