Parents’ Association
Every parent of a Milton Academy Upper School (Classes I–IV) student is a member of the Upper School Parents’ Association (USPA), so if you are a parent, this is your page!
At Milton, the Parents’ Association welcomes new parents, offers opportunities for parents to come together, sponsors an array of student events, and supports the efforts of faculty, staff and administration to make Milton a positive learning environment for our children.
All meetings are open, and they are generally held by Zoom once or twice a month at 7 p.m. EST. Check the calendar below for dates. Each features a member of the faculty, staff or administration, speaking and taking questions on their role at Milton.
Our governing body—the Executive Committee—is comprised of parents, and all USPA events are planned and run by still more parents, volunteering their time. We cordially invite you to become involved, whether you live nearby or on another continent. Find out more, below, and contact us to volunteer!
Parents' Association Meetings Calendar
USPA Meetings 2022–2023
The Upper School Parents’ Association invite parents to join the following Zoom events during the 2022–2023 academic year:
Tuesday, September 13, 2022, from 7–8 p.m.
Introducing Monica Palmer
Zoom Speakers: Head of School Todd Bland, Upper School Principal Dr. Monica Benton Palmer.
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 27, 2022, from 7–8 p.m.
Start of the Year Panel
Zoom Speakers: Academic Dean Heather Sugrue and Dean of Students José Ruiz, Dean of Faculty Marvin Gutierrez, Director of Residential Life Anika Walker-Johnson
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, from 7–8 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Family Weekend October 21 from 5–9 p.m.
Class Socials – Class I, II, III & IV
Hosted by class representatives
Tuesday, November 8, 2022. from 7–8 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 29, 2022, from 7–8 p.m.
Deans Panel
Zoom Speakers: Academic Dean Heather Sugrue and Dean of Students José Ruiz, Dean of Faculty Marvin Gutierrez, Director of Residential Life Anika Walker-Johns
Tuesday, December 6. 2022,, from 7–8 p.m.
Health Panel
Zoom Speakers: Director of Counseling Lisa Morin, Director of Nursing Peg Reardon, R.N
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 7–8 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 7–8 p.m.
Leadership Panel 2023
Zoom Speakers: Head of School Todd Bland, Upper School Principal Dr. Monica Benton Palmer.
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 24, 2023, from 7–8 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
Tuesday, February 7, 2023, from 7–8 p.m.
Parent Programming – Alleviating Anxiety
Zoom Speakers: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner, Director of Counseling Lisa Morin
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, from 7–8 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 7–8 p.m.
Introducing the new Head of School – Alixe Callen
Zoom Speakers: Current Head of School Todd Bland, Upper School Principal Dr. Monica Benton Palmer, New Head of School, Alixe Callen
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 20. 2023 from 10–2 p.m.
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event at Straus
Breakfast, BBQ Lunch, Raffle
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 7–8:30 p.m.
College Counseling Update
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 16, from 7–8:30 p.m.
College Counseling Updates
Zoom Speaker: Dean of College Counseling Rod Skinner
USPA Board Meeting 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, June 2, 2023 from 2-5 p.m.
Spring Fling
Saturday, June 3 from 6 -8 p.m.
Class I Parents Cocktail Reception (after Prom Departure)
Details of Board Positions and Their Associated Volunteer Committees
Executive Committee
President
- Develop meeting agenda, invite speakers, and chair monthly USPA meetings
- Work with staff liaison to coordinate parent/student events throughout the year
- Act as the USPA’s liaison with the Head of School and Upper School Principal
- Work with VP to recruit next year’s Board members
- Work with committee chairs and class reps to plan events throughout the year
Vice President
- Two-year commitment (one year as VP, second year as President)
- Attend monthly USPA meetings
- Act as the USPA’s co-liaison with the school
- Work with the President to recruit next year’s Board members
Treasurer
- Two-year commitment
- Attend monthly USPA meetings
- Work with President to develop an annual operating budget
- Manage USPA account and coordinate payment of invoices
- Report finances to USPA officers
- Liaison with the Business Office
Secretary
- Attend monthly meetings of the USPA
- Update the Milton USPA Website
- Write and update Centre Connection Parents Newsletter five times per year
- Record and distribute meeting minutes
- Minutes are an important channel for the school administration, along with the PA, to disseminate information to the Milton parent community
- Key initiatives and strategies of the school administration are discussed, as well as details and specific deadlines and requirements for upcoming events on campus
Committee Chairs
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon Chair
- Plan annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon, which includes:
- Recruit parents to work on the Faculty & Staff Appreciation Committee
- Solicit donations of food and funds from parents, via SignUp Genius
- Assist committee members in recruiting volunteers, via SignUp Genius, to work the day of the event
- Note: Appreciation event is in mid-February; work begins in October, but is concentrated in January and February
- Complete Event Report
Student Activities Coordinator
- Head the Student Activities Committee
- Attend monthly USPA meetings either in person or by conference call
- Coordinate Donut Days, Exam Treats, and Barn Babies
- Complete Event Report
Spring Fling Chair
- Plan annual Spring Fling for the student body, which includes:
- Book food vendors
- Plan activities and games
- Recruit volunteers to work the day of the event
- Complete Event Report
Class Representatives – (one boarding and one day for each class)
- Write a welcome letter to parents, to be sent out by school
- Attend monthly USPA meetings either in person or by conference call
- USPA liaison with parents for all USPA events
- Host the annual class dinner over parents’ weekend
- Organize and host a class social in the spring
- Complete Event Report for each event
New Parent Welcoming Committee
- Gather names of new families looking for host families
- Gather names of host families looking to host new families
- Match new families to host families
Liaisons
Communications Liaison
- Attend monthly USPA meetings either in person or by conference call
- Coordinate with President to disseminate accurate, timely information on activities and events pertinent to parents
- Update USPA Social Media Sites – FaceBook and Instagram
- Write and update Centre Connection information five times per year
PIN Reps
- Attend monthly USPA meetings and report on last PIN meeting
- Attend six PIN meetings and lectures to take notes for above reporting
- Encourage awareness of and use of the PIN web page
- Coordinate with Milton’s Director of Community Service to take advantage of available grants and service awards
2022–2023 Parents’ Association
Forms: Click here to download the Event Reimbursement form. Click here to fill out the USPA Event Description form.
Executive Committee:
Teena Kamal, President
Diana Rodriguez, Vice President
Rui Zhang, Treasurer
David Goldstone, Secretary
Parents’ Association Committees:
These volunteer committees have intermittent responsibilities supporting specific PA activities.
- Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon Chair: Sarnia Dupie
- Food Chair: Barbara Landolfi and Elizabeth Moulds
- Décor Chair: Mary Witkowski
- Gift Chair: Shameila Sabio
- Raffle Chair: Katie Solter and Lauretta Lewis-Medley
- Student Activities Chair: Vera Rubeiz
- Oluwatoyin Adewumi
- Gilda Smart
- Camie Chan
- Spring Fling Chair: Vera Rubiez
- Caroline Bell Ritchie
Class Representatives:
Class I: Anita Mraz (day), Sonal Shah (day), and Sheen Zhou (boarding)
Class II: Raynya Simmons (day), Tiffany Yu (day), Juliet Park (boarding), and Darlene Cadet (boarding)
Class III: David Goldstone (day), Katherine Connolly (boarding), Casey Bonilla (boarding) and Lihong Su (boarding)
Class IV: Shikha Malhotra (day), Michael Munsey (day), Leonora Zilkha Williamson (boarding), and Sara Badushov (boarding)
Communications / Social Media Liaisons:
FaceBook and Instagram – Erica Nash
FaceBook and Instagram – Tony Li
Content curation – Libby Albright
The parents’ newsletter, Centre Connection, is published five times each year to help inform parents about what’s happening on campus.
New Parent Welcoming Committee:
Shameila Sabio
Wei Fu
PIN Representatives:
Heather Smith
The Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN) is a volunteer-run, parent organization that brings representatives from 68 New England schools together for the exchange of information on non-academic issues of mutual concern and interest. Two divisions ensure age appropriate topics: Lower School and Upper School. Each division holds six meetings throughout the year, with a guest speaker or head of school presenting on salient topics.
PIN Web page: Log in to your myMilton account to find the information you will need to access the PIN Web page. Each year, member schools can apply for grants or awards to recognize community service that their students have performed. Along with PIN history and mission information, parents can access past lectures, school survey results by topic, and minutes from past meetings on the secure school section of the PIN webpage. Please explore this webpage and its wealth of information on subjects such as managing stress, gap year, bullying, teaching leadership, sports health, managing the college process, and much more.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer to drive for the community engagement program. Throughout the year, the community engagement program needs driving help to get student volunteers to their service sites. If you have time during the school day, after school, or on a Saturday to drive students to and/or from their destinations, contact Andrea Geyling.
