Parents Association
All CSS parents are invited to join monthly Parents Association meetings and events.
All CSS parents are invited to join monthly Parents Association meetings and events.
The purpose of the Parents Association is to promote a spirit of community through relationship-building events and activities, to provide opportunities for parents and families to gather and volunteer, and to hold fundraisers wherein proceeds benefit the students of The Colorado Springs School. The Parents Association functions as an auxiliary organization of the CSS Board of Trustees, reporting to the Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications, and working closely with the Director of Development & Alumni Relations and Director of Admissions & Financial Aid. As an auxiliary organization, the Parents Association exists at the discretion of the CSS Board of Trustees.
2022-2023 Executive Representatives
Lynn Shepherd P’26, P’30, P’33, President
Natellie Ryan P’31, P’33, P’35, Vice President
Abby Ortega P’23, P’30, Treasurer
Holly Hannum P'29, P’32, Secretary
2022-2023 Representatives
Wendy Woodbury P’31
Michelle Gates P’30, P’33
Jessica Hayes P’24, P’27
Sarah Bartz P’29, P’31
Jennifer Bakker P’28
Parents Association Committees
Committee Name | Committee Member(s) |
---|---|
Summer Movie Night
|
Natellie Ryan P’31, P’33, P’35
|
Ice Cream Social
|
Abby Ortega P’23, P’30
|
Welcome Coffee (August)
|
Glenda Southard P’16, P’22
|
Views & Vibes (August)
|
Marga Wastalu-Edwards P'26, P'23
|
Carnival (September)
|
Karri Kaleshefski P’31 & Wendy Woodbury P’31
|
Parent Mixers (September-October)
|
TBD
|
Faculty/Staff Appreciation (October & February)
|
TBD
|
Fun Run (November)
|
Lynn Shepherd P’26, P’30, P’33
|
Garage Sale (May 2022)
|
Michelle Gates P’30, P’33
|
Community Outreach Team
|
Wendy Woodbury P’31
|
Elections & Volunteer Coordinator
|
TBD
|
Event Support: Public Relations
|
TBD
|
An evening on the quad with food trucks, lawn games, and an outdoor movie.
An annual CSS tradition, families, students and teachers enjoy connecting over a tasty frozen treat.
Parents are encouraged to drop in for a cup of joe and delectable breakfast items as students head to class.
This not-to-be-missed community event involves dozens of parent and faculty volunteers who set up, tear down and run booths, supervise older students running booths, work as token-counters, distribute prizes, cook, bake and serve food, and more. Carnival provides an opportunity for the entire CSS community to enjoy a fun afternoon while socializing and raising money for their respective classes. The CSS Parents Association underwrites the cost of the Carnival and all funds raised by class booths are given to each School division to be spent on classroom or other needs, including parties with music and Walkabout (Middle School), Winter Carnival, Prom, Upper School clubs, and more.
One of the School’s most important “friend-raising” venues – formerly known as potluck dinners – Parent Mixers give Children's School, Middle School and Upper School parents the opportunity to meet, welcome, and/or reconnect with parents of the other children in their child’s class. Parent volunteers host a mixer (e.g. dinner, brunch, dessert bar, etc.) in their home for parents in the class. Each gathering usually lasts around two hours. The Parents Association Board will provide guidance and help with date selection, class lists and invitation preparation. The meal can be formal, casual, structured or not. Some hosts select a theme in which everyone brings a related dish. Other hosts have a heavy appetizer or dessert evening with everyone bringing their favorite meals. Sometimes two or more families work together to plan and host the Mixer. There have even been hosts who have provided the entire meal. Regardless of the menu or location (in prior years, one group went bowling), the purpose is to provide a venue for parents to meet and get to know one another. If connecting with other parents in your child’s class is important to you, please consider hosting a Mixer.
The committee plans and hosts appreciation luncheons for faculty and staff members during fall and spring parent/teacher conferences. Volunteers set up, decorate, serve beverages, bus tables and clean up. Homemade desserts provided by volunteers are a main highlight of both luncheons. If baking is your thing, you know of a great bakery, or you can create a beautiful fruit tray, check out this committee!
Don’t be left out! Show your school spirit and order your child(ren), and everyone in your family, this year’s Fun Run t-shirt. Volunteers on this committee help to arrange a student t-shirt design contest, order and distribute tees, seek advertising and sponsorships, obtain prizes, register runners, set the race course and cheer on participants during the race.
This year, the CSS Parents Association is teaming up with local distributor Mountain Freshies, Inc., to bring organic, Colorado-raised turkeys straight to you. The greatest part: proceeds from this Turkey Sale will benefit programs and offerings at The Colorado Springs School.
The Parents Association hosts a spring community garage sale in the Field House. CSS families donate items such as clothing, home goods, dishes, furniture, sporting equipment and outdoor gear. These items are then sorted, displayed by the Parents Association and sold during a massive garage sale.
*This event is typically held every other year to encourage quality and sellable items.
When families experience a challenging time, The Parents Association reaches out to lend a helping hand.
Recruited talents and energetic parents and grandparents share their gifts with the School community via meaningful volunteer experiences.
Work with the Offices of Marketing & Communications to execute the details of Parents Association events or initiatives.
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