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Dear Parents,
The final events sponsored by the Parents’ Association
of 2002-2003 are drawing near. On Tuesday, April 22, at 7
p.m. we invite those Class I parents who are able, to meet
with members of the administration for dinner and talk about
the Class I prom. Please check the web site for details about
this meeting. Noted author and historian, David McCullough
will speak on Thursday, April 24 at 8 p.m. to students, parents
and alumni in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center. Your will
receive your invitation in the mail. May 1 will be our last
business meeting, at 7 p.m. in Straus. We encourage all committee
chairs and class representatives to attend and we welcome
all parents.
| Wednesday night,
May 14, the Lower School Parent Association will welcome
Dan Kindlon as a guest speaker at the final meeting of
the year in Straus Library. Mr. Kindlon, a psychology
professor at Harvard University, is the author of Too
Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in
an Indulgent Age and co-author of Raising Cain.
Mr. Kindlon will speak at 7 p.m. Parents of all Milton
Academy students are welcome to attend. |
During the winter months, the executive board
of the Parents’ Association planned sessions for next
year and also sponsored thought-provoking and enjoyable gatherings.
In January, Susan Gershenfeld, Class V parent, successfully
chaired the Summer Opportunities Fair. In February, Dr. Catherine
Steiner-Adair, Class II parent, gave a sensitive and informative
talk to parents about eating disorders. The Milton Mix-up,
co-chaired by parents Laura Jeppeson, Class IV and Alina Luccio
Class I, was a great success involving approximately two-hundred
fifty parents over Class II parents’ weekend. A talk
by Dr. Ned Hallowell that also occurred during that weekend
was suggested and expedited by Class II parent, Bella English.
Victoria Croll and her committee did a stellar job organizing
and implementing the faculty and staff appreciation event
on Valentine’s Day, a long-standing tradition and one
of our favorites. Diane-Pierce Williams, Class III parent,
helped make Culturefest as successful as it was, on the Saturday
before spring break. The quiet dedication, creativity and
enterprise given by Parent Association officers and committee
members deserves our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
In this last letter of the year we would like to review our
efforts in view of our goals for 2002-03. We accomplished
our primary goal, to enhance the sense of community at Milton
Academy, in several ways. More boarding parents participated
on the executive board and brought their insights and perspectives.
This pattern will grow, and as a result, concerns of boarding
families will be in our focus even more over time. Improved
communication also enhances community. This year the Parents’
Association set up a voice mailbox and an email address at
School. Corresponding Secretary, Leslie Will, worked with
the communications office to include parent voices in Centre
Connection. Leslie invited Peter Heitman, Class II parent,
to help establish an internet domain name for the Parents’
Association and set up email address lists for parents, which
has fostered communication especially between among members
of the various committees, saving hours of time that would
have been spent on telephoning. Ultimately, Milton set up
a parent domain so that the Association can, in the future,
email parents using the School’s up-to-date data base.
We also thank to Lesly Freed, liaison between the Parents’
Association and the administration who helped as an intermediary
and cheered us onward.
The year has progressed quickly and smoothly with only a couple
of minor glitches. We have met many talented, intelligent
and dedicated people, parents and staff, during our two years
on the executive board. This organization is as strong as
parent involvement, so get in touch and let us know how you
will participate. Particular needs at this time are co-chairs
for the Diversity Committee and chair for next year’s
Summer Opportunities Fair. Whatever you do, you will grow
in more ways than you can imagine.
Sincerely,
Gail von Metzsch and Pamela Thorpe, co-presidents
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