Parents’ Association Meetings
The Parents’ Association holds meetings on the first Monday of each month throughout the school year. Meetings, held in the CSG Conference Room and beginning at 7 p.m., are open to all parents, and include a presentation by a member of the faculty or administration, as well as a discussion of Parents’ Association business.
At our January meeting, we spoke with and got to know the chair of Milton’s performing arts department, Peter Parisi. Peter’s presentation provided insight into the course offerings and extracurricular opportunities in performing arts. In addition, Peter discussed the increase in interdisciplinary programming, particularly with the English and history departments. We encourage you to review the minutes of the January meeting if you would like additional information.
Our February meeting featuring Director of Student Activities Kelly Reiser was cancelled due to snow.
Contact the Parents’ Association at miltonparentsassociation_us@milton.edu for more information about our meetings or programs.
Baby Animals Make a Return Visit!
For the last few years, Barn Babies has been an exam “hit” for students, so we brought them back again this year. Drawing on the growing body of research that shows spending time with animals and pets are a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, the Parents’ Association happily hosts a mini-petting zoo in the lobby of the Pritzker Science Center during exam week. Each year, over 250 students (and faculty!) enjoy holding and playing with the animals, including kittens, puppies, bunnies, chickens, and even a goat who walks on a leash! Thank you to Linnea Engstrom who worked with Parent Student Activities liaisons Bridgette Minicus and Eileen Hogan, to bring this favorite stress-buster to campus.
Our hard-working students also appreciated a table full of sweet treats provided by the Parents’ Association during exam week and for Valentine’s Day.
Class II Dinner and College Presentation
In January, the college counseling office held its traditional Class II College Weekend—a two-day program for juniors and their families to gain an understanding of the college admission and application process. The college counseling office notes that there is a delicate balance between getting the Class II families started on their college process and distracting students from their end-of-semester coursework and final exam preparation. The balance was well-struck, and parents and students alike found the “official start” to their college search process fun, exciting, and demystifying.
The weekend began on Friday night with the Class II Parent Dinner. The guest speaker, James Miller, dean of admission at Brown University, was informative and entertaining, and his recent bout through the admission process with his own daughter resonated with the audience. The dinner was well-attended and provided an opportunity for parents to connect and learn about the upcoming college process. Special thanks to Class II Representatives Bea Sanders and Lisa O’Connor for chairing this event.
Saturday was full of information, beginning in the ACC with a presentation by Grace Cheng, director of admission at Wellesley College. Ms. Cheng described the college landscape and gave pointers about how best to conduct a fully informed and personally meaningful college search. Next, families split into two groups—with one group going to King Theatre and the other to Wigg Hall. They heard, in turn, from Rod Skinner, Milton’s director of college counseling, who set out the nuts and bolts of the process ahead, and from a panel of Class I students—most of whom were still in the midst of their own college process—who shared their personal experiences. Rod’s presentation was calming and clarifying, and the student panel gave everyone a glimpse of the process through the students’ eyes. Their honest and uninhibited thoughts, anecdotes and observations about the process, along with their lessons, successes and disappointments, help to focus and stimulate the newly-initiated. In all, the weekend was a great way to start the college process with the key stakeholders all hearing the same information at the same time.
Senior Showcase
The Senior Showcase and raffle will be held on Saturday, February 27. Proceeds from the raffle will help defray the cost of the senior prom. If you haven’t yet purchased raffle tickets, click here. Thank you to Class I reps, Jane Fitzpatrick and Liesl Gilman, for all their hard work on this event, and to the many parents who generously donated items for the raffle.
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
On Wednesday, February 10, the Parents’ Association hosted our favorite event of the year—Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day! A wonderful opportunity for parents to thank those who help and encourage our children every day, the event was a great success. This year’s luau theme brought a bit of warmth just when we needed it! The refreshing tropical fruit salads and the delicious variety of quiche began the day. For lunch, delicious adobo chicken, Hawaiian rice, and pineapple skewers were punctuated by the mouthwatering coconut macaroons, chocolate cookies and carrot-pineapple cake. In short, every aspect of the day was perfect.
Many thanks to Lisa Grace who worked countless hours and whose attention to every detail ensured that the day was enjoyed by all. Special thanks to Maria Murphy and Bridgette Minicus who masterminded the amazing menu; Amy O’Connor who coordinated the beverages; Ann Jenness for transforming Straus into an exotic valley complete with palm trees and a waterfall; Jean Piazza and Eileen Hogan who organized the entire raffle process and procured an amazing list of raffle items. What a SUPER job! Finally, the Faculty and Staff Appreciation event could not be a success without the scores of Upper School parents whose generosity of time, skill, monies and raffle items demonstrate, each year, the sincere appreciation we all have for those who care for our children.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, March 2: An evening of conversation and insight into our Upper School with Todd Bland, David Ball and Indu Singh, 7 p.m., Straus Library. Kindly let us know if you’ll be attending at miltonparentsassociation_us@milton.edu.
Monday, March 7: Parents’ Association Meeting, 7 p.m., CSG Conference Room. Rod Skinner, director of college counseling, will be the featured speaker.
Monday, April 4: Parents’ Association Meeting, 7 p.m., CSG Conference Room. Lamar Reddicks, athletic director, will be the featured speaker.
Wednesday, April 6: Donut Day for Students. Student Center lobby at recess.
Monday, April 11: Parent Coffee in Straus right after drop-off. No agenda. Just join us…meet friends new and old.
Monday, May 2: Parents’ Association Meeting, 7 p.m., CSG Conference Room. Heather Flewelling, director of multiculturalism and community development, will be the featured speaker.
Saturday, May 14: Class II Boat Dance for students
A favorite event, the boat dance departs from the Boston docks and provides a lovely evening on the water with delicious food planned and donated by the Parents’ Association. Contact Class II parent representatives Bea Sanders and Lisa O’Connor if you are interested in volunteering to send food treats or to help with set up for this wonderful tradition.
Thursday, May 19: Donut Day for Students. Student Center lobby at recess.
Friday, May 27: Milton-Nobles Day
Saturday, June 4: Class I Parent Reception / Senior Prom
A Class I Parent Reception will take place at 7 p.m., in Wigglesworth Hall. Class I parents can enjoy one another’s company after sending students off on trolleys to their Senior Prom at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. Parents will first have an opportunity to see (and photograph) the students adorned for prom night and then relax with fellow parents at a dinner sponsored by the Parents’ Association. Class I reps, Jane Fitzpatrick and Liesl Gilman, are working hard to make sure that this evening is a wonderful, memorable event.
Monday, June 6: Parents’ Association Meeting, 7 p.m., CSG Conference Room. Rod Skinner, director of college counseling, will be the featured speaker.
Tuesday, June 7: Classes end for Class I
Wednesday, June 8: Classes end for Classes II-IV
Friday, June 10: Graduation at 10 a.m. on the Quad