What a lovely fall it has been! The campus is decorated in vibrant reds, yellows and oranges, and our children are firmly ensconced in their classes and activities. The new Parents’ Association season of activities is well underway; we hope that this year will continue to bring us many opportunities to work together.
Parents’ Weekend
Parents’ Weekend officially begins tomorrow and we look forward to seeing everyone on campus. The weekend’s activities include the following:
- On Friday, parents shadow their children through a day of classes. Teachers and advisors have also made slots available throughout the day for parent meetings. This is a great opportunity to follow up on your child’s fall comments. Following lunch in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center and an afternoon of classes, join Head of School Todd Bland, at 3 p.m., for remarks about the School. This session will be held in Wigg Hall. Winding down the afternoon, the Parents’ Association invites you to an informal wine and hors d’oeuvres reception in the Robert Saltonstall Gymnasium between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Remember that this reception is for parents only.
- On Saturday, time is again available to meet with your child’s teachers and advisor. Several class-specific presentations are also scheduled, as are informal meetings about exchange programs, School Year Abroad, the community service spring break trip to Belize, and the Host Family Program.
- On both Friday and Saturday afternoons, come cheer on our Mustangs at some of the many athletic events both on and off campus. Check the website calendar for game times and locations. On Saturday, the Parents’ Association will provide beverages and cookies at the athletic fields. We hope you will stop by!
Class Dinners hosted by the Parents’ Association
- Class IV Parent Dinner is on Thursday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the Robert Saltonstall Gymnasium. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, and a short performance by Octet. Upper School Principal David Ball will introduce Director of College Counseling Rod Skinner and the Class IV Deans, Michael Lou and Katie Collins. If you have a student in Class IV and have not received an invitation, contact Nina Panarese.
- Class III Parent Dinner will also be on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. in the Caroline Saltonstall Gymnasium. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, and a short performance by 3FU. Indu Chugani Singh, dean of teaching and learning, will be the guest speaker. If you have a student in Class III and have not received an invitation, contact Lisa O’Connor or Wendy Hill at Class3MiltonEvents@gmail.com
- Save the dates:
- Class II Parent Dinner will be Friday, January 9, at the start of College Weekend.
- Class I Parent Reception will take place on Saturday, May 30.
Get involved!
Whether you are able to help once a week or once in a while, there are many opportunities to be involved in the Parents’ Association and with the School:
- Parents’ Association Meetings – Our monthly Parents’ Association meetings provide an opportunity to hear from the School’s faculty and administration about topics of interest, as well as from Parents’ Association leadership about upcoming activities. Meetings, open to all Upper School parents, are held on the first Monday of each month in the CSG Conference Room. Our next meeting is Monday, November 3, at 7 p.m. Lisa Morin, director of counseling, will be the featured speaker. You can join us either in person or remotely. Details for calling into the meeting are sent in reminder emails leading up to each meeting.
- Parents’ Association Events – The many Parents’ Association events throughout the year are a wonderful opportunity to get involved and meet fellow Milton Academy parents. Download the calendar of Parents’ Association activities from our webpage, and contact us if you would like to get involved.
- Volunteer in the Library – The Milton Academy libraries are recruiting volunteers to help maintain the collections and to do conservation work for School archives. Volunteers work under the direction of McKey Berkman, former Milton parent and professional bookbinder. Sessions are Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Cox Library. Depending on interest and availability of participants, other times may be arranged. No previous experience is necessary. For more information contact Diane Pierce-Williams at 617-898-2491.
Swap-It welcomes your donations and invites you to shop!
Swap-It is the largest indoor yard sale and donation event in the Boston area. Hosted by the K–8 Parents’ Association, Swap-Its goals are two-fold. First, the sale provides needed goods to Boston area non-profit partners who distribute them to their clients. Second, proceeds from Swap-It support the School and the activities of the K–8 Parents’ Association including teacher appreciation events.
Donation days for Swap-It are over Upper School Parents’ Weekend, so please consider donating your gently used clothing, sporting goods, books and household items. Donations will be accepted at the back of the Athletic and Convocation Center (by the ice rink) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (October 17, 18 and 19). Upper School students and their families are invited to shop on October 22. For more information about Swap-It, click here.
Fall Re-Cap
During fall orientation, the Parents’ Association held a New Parent Welcoming Reception. USPA President Lisa Bell and Vice President Ann Marie Oliver welcomed the group and offered their goals for the year. Thank you to the New Parent Welcoming Committee and a cadre of volunteers who served as resources to the newest members of our parent community and to the many new families who made the hot walk to the ACC to join us!
The students always welcome treat days! Thank you to Eileen Hogan and Bridgette Minicus for coordinating a team of volunteers to offer over 80 dozen donuts and 10 dozen apples and clementines to the students during recess. The next refreshment day is November 12.
Looking for a printed copy of the Milton Academy directory?
This weekend, as you are making your way around campus, stop by the new Milton Academy bookstore. In addition to selling books, Milton gear and supplies, the bookstore has a stock of copies of the directory for $15. The directory is also available online for free in parent and student myMilton accounts.
Finally, we thank you for supporting the Parents’ Association through your dues and your attendance at our events. Please contact us with any questions, or to get involved. Visit the Parents’ Association page on the School’s Web site for a calendar of events and for contact information.
We look forward to seeing you,
Lisa Bell
USPA President
lisapbell@comcast.net
Ann Marie Oliver
USPA Vice President
annmarieoliver3@hotmail.com
