Parents Association

The Parents Association (PA) of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School strives to involve all of our families, nurturing our diverse and welcoming community, supporting educational excellence at St. Patrick's, and creating a spirit of volunteerism and generosity. The work of the PA contributes to the life and vitality of the Day School. Guided by an Executive Committee, and in partnership with the broader school community, the PA leads community-building and fundraising initiatives. These efforts enable the PA 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.

Who We Are

PA Leadership, 2021-2022

President: Kit Ballenger

Recording Secretary: Katharine Reishman

Treasurer: Stephanie Goldfine

Vice President for Communications: Denise Prince

Vice President for Equity: Imani Edwards

Vice President for Faculty & Staff Recognition: Diana Allen

Vice President for Fundraising: Jessica Taylor White

Vice President-at-Large: Claire Farver

Vice President for PA Sales: Johanna Howe

ice President for Partnerships: Whitney Rosenthal

Vice President for Room Parents: LaMeka Short

Vice President for Service and Sustainability: Laura Schifter

Vice President for Volunteers: Tashia Senn-Jones

Development Office Liaison: Chris Bolger

What We Do

Families do not need to “join” the Parents Association (PA), as all St. Patrick’s parents are automatically members. Run by volunteers and directed by the PA Executive Committee, the PA sponsors a range of activities and events for parents and families throughout the year to build community and raise funds. The PA also manages the Room Parent and Wolfhound Grade Representative programs. Room Parents serve as the primary link between the parents of any given class and the teacher, while Wolfhound Grade Reps focus on welcoming new families and building community within the grade.

The PA keeps a full calendar of activities, with volunteer opportunities and events that include:

Family Fun Day
Book Fair
Grandparents and Special Friends Visiting Day
Family Bingo Night/Skating Night

Gifts & Grants

Each year, the PA raises funds for gifts to the school and for the faculty and staff grants. Recent grant recipients have studied ornithology, children’s yoga, Afro-Caribbean drumming, and 3D printing.

There are two grant programs available for faculty and staff: The Faculty and Staff Summer Travel and Study Grant Program and the Educational Innovation Grant—a joint grant between the Parents Association and the Day School.

The goal of the Faculty and Staff Summer Travel and Study Grant Program is to give individuals the chance to pursue vocational or academic study and/or travel experiences that will enhance their practice, the academic lives of St. Patrick’s students, and the Day School community at large.

The goal of the Educational Innovation Grant Program is to encourage individuals to undertake program design work that is innovative and interdisciplinary in nature and will make a significant contribution to the current and future Day School program.

Grants

2019 Grants to the Day School:

Sam Mason traveled to Peru to learn about their sustainability practices and diverse wildlife.

2018 Grants to the Day School:

Bridget Mack traveled to Iceland to enrich her knowledge of genetic research.

Anne Tyler prepared an oral history of the Haiti Partnership Program between St. Patrick's and our partner school St. Etienne in Haiti.

2017 Grants to the Day School:

Kankunda Klingenberg traveled to England to study Anglican cathedrals and visit the Stained Glass museum.

Danielle Wade took Mandarin lessons at the International School of Languages in Bethesda, MD.

The Reverend Amy Yount ‘77 took a Spanish immersion course at Dartmouth College.

2016 Grants to the Day School:

Science teacher Will Cook and Art teacher Elizabeth Markowitz enhanced the Grades 5 and 6 Tinker Station.

The Educational Innovation Grant went to the Design-Thinking Initiative from four faculty members: Davina Chu (Grade 4), Ashley Doriss (Kindergarten), Mary Beth James (Lower School Learning Specialist), and Elizabeth Markowitz (Art). This grant provided the opportunity to attend a design-thinking workshop at the Nueva School in the San Francisco Bay Area. Teacher will increase their depth of understanding of the design-thinking process and to support colleagues in developing engaging, project-based programs that build design-thinking expertise.

2015 Grants to the Day School:

In 2014-15, the award went to the Sustainable City Project from five faculty and staff members: Jonathan Fichter (Academic Technology Coordinator), Tom Vorenberg (Grade 7 Humanities), ReAnna Laney (Head Librarian), and Maegan Rose (Librarian) and Michelle Basile (Science). This grant provided training for a blended-learning course that explores the question: What could a city of the future look like? The grant supported an interdisciplinary program for middle school students that integrates environmental science, history, art, and culture.

Dr. Beth Cole, Grade 6 Math teacher, attended additional training to continue to develop the STEM curriculum in Grade 6 course in SketchUp provided Dr. Cole with additional proficiency in 3D printing that she will use to help her students in their design work.

Lauren Marshall, Kindergarten teacher, obtained a 20-hour Children's Yoga Certification to enhance her personal practice of yoga and to bring the peace of yoga to her students in a more meaningful way.

Anne Tyler, Grades 7 and 8 Music teacher, traveled to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin to study world music drumming with West African and Caribbean drumming master teachers. The drumming course deeply enhanced Mrs. Tyler's world music curriculum.

Gifts

2021 Gift to the Day School:

Gazebo on the Lower School Playground

2020 Gift to the Day School:

Donation in support of the construction of the Garden & Outdoor Learning Space

2019 Gifts to the Day School:

Books for the new MacArthur Campus Library
Inter-campus bike supplies
Hydroponics indoor garden for the MacArthur Campus
Laser cutter for the Whitehaven Campus Design Lab
Funds for a Primary School Playground sound garden

2018 Gifts to the Day School:

Books for the new MacArthur Campus Library
Spanish language books for both the Whitehaven Campus and the MacArthur Campus
Cataloging and inventory system for the costume room
Two 3D printers for the Whitehaven Campus Science Lab
Growing lights and a grow cart for the Whitehaven Campus Science Lab
Magnet Wall for the Nursery School Activity Room

2017 Gifts to the Day School:

Water cooler & slip covers for the Wolfhounds’ Den
Handbells for the new Middle School
Sacred space tools for the new MacArthur Campus
AV processor and installation for the Gym and Performing Arts Center;
Paper cutter
Permanent outdoor sign holder
Portable basketball hoop for the new MacArthur Campus
Rigamajig
Ellison Press Die Cut Letters and Numbers
Blinds for the Gym (in honor of Marcy Ference)
LED Light Panels
Playground rubber pavers

2016 Gifts to the Day School:

Logowear for the maintenance staff
Laptop Bar for the Library
Plastic/acrylic displays and slatwalls for the Library
Bulletin boards for the Lower School Common Room
Document cameras for the Kindergarten program
A magnetic wall in the Grade 6 math classroom
New camcorder and tripod for MacArthur Campus

2015 Gifts to the Day School:

• Grade 4 Resource Room
• Flipform risers for the Music Department
• Ramps and tiers from KODO for the Nursery School
• Acoustic shields and headphones for the Spanish classes
• Earmarked money for the Playground Initiative
• Upper School Tinker Space, where students can individually and collectively answer different design challenges

Fundraising Opportunities

Earn money for our school while you’re shopping!

Our committed parent body has always been an integral part of making St. Patrick's such an extraordinary school for our children. We thank you for your support. Please use our links when shopping for labels, custom children’s artwork books, and clothing.

If you have any questions, please contact Lucia Cassidy, Parents Association Vice President for Fundraising.

Poppy Flowers: The Parents Association is excited to announce our new partnership with Poppy, a locally-owned and female-founded floral business that works with eco-friendly farmers in Ecuador. You can order vibrant bouquets or even set up a recurring subscription! Click here to order using the affiliate link!
Holiday Greenery Order Form

By-Laws and Minutes

Chris Bolger

Director of Alumni & Parent Programs

Welcome back from the Parents Association!

On behalf of the Parents Association Executive Committee, welcome to the 2021-2022 school year. It was a delight to welcome students for an in-person return this fall. I look forward to connecting with those of you new to our community and reconnecting with others after time spent apart. On-campus opportunities for parents continue to look different as this year gets underway, and we remain grateful for the ways in which members of the vibrant St. Patrick's community contribute your time and energy to ensure the success of our school events. Keeping our mission of Welcoming Families and Building Community central in our thoughts, the Parents Association looks forward to greeting you in person soon and to collaborating with you throughout the school year. If at any time you have questions about the PA and our activities at St. Patrick's, please reach out to me. In the meantime, again, welcome back, and go Wolfhounds!

Kit Ballenger
Parents Association President

2022-2023 PA Executive Committee

Denise Prince
President

Blair Staunton
VP for Communications

Laura Schifter
VP for Service and Sustainability

Betsy Fenzel
VP for Equity

Diana Allen
VP for Faculty & Staff Recognition

Maria Lissette Romero
VP for Fundraising

Heather Ricks
VP for Partnerships

Claire Farver
Vice President-at-Large

Johanna Howe
VP for Parent Association Sales

Julia Ghafouri
VP for Room Parents

Paula Hopkins
VP for Volunteers

Jessica Taylor White
Recording Secretary

Margaret Pearson
Treasurer

Chris Bolger
Development Office Liaison

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