Alumni Parents Staying Connected with OLSH
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By Deena Swank ’92
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Sharing social time with other parents who are
ne of the most common words used to describe OLSH is “family” and that experience of family goes beyond the students who study at OLSH. Their parents are welcomed into the OLSH family as well, and presented with a variety of opportunities each year to build meaningful relationships that last far beyond their child’s graduation day. The school has worked hard over the past several years to ensure that current parents feel informed, involved, and invested in the school community, and as a result, many alumni parents expressed a desire to remain connected with their OLSH friends. In the spirit of meeting this wish, alumni parents Rufie Harr and Susan Vallejo recently launched Staying Connected, an affinity group for parents of OLSH alumni.
my children had graduated. There is a reason ever y experiencing the same transition is comforting and school has a ‘homecoming’; energizing...and it’s fun! it is because our school has -Susan Vallejo become a home community, a part of our life. There is no reason to become disconnected once our The Staying Connected group provides children graduate. In fact, whether they alumni parents with support as they have just graduated or whether years go through yet another transition, have passed, we still have connections.” sending their children off to college. Susan said, “Involvement in the parent Susan ref lected this sentiment as alumni group has offered support well, saying, “Coming from a Catholic in my transition to being an empty elementary school where we had known nester. Sharing social time with other our children’s classmates and families parents who are experiencing the for a decade or more, the high school same transition is comforting and experience can leave a parent feeling energizing...and it’s fun! There’s no disconnected,” she said. “OLSH provides pressure, just attend what works for a unique opportunity for parental you.” Rufie added, “Having an alumni involvement, with the number and parent group has eased me in to my new varied types of parent programs offered. life.” Beginning with the There is such joy in seeing one another. Welcome Mass and family Thus far, the group has sponsored We connect as parents through our experiences and picnic before the first day several gatherings, including joining o f s c h o o l o f f re s h m a n with the current parent group’s evening we share what is going on with our children. year, we felt em braced and First Friday socials coordinated -Rufie Harr and welcomed into the by Mary Kim and Laurie Kanoza. “My OLSH family. Having these hope,” said Rufie, “is to find ways to keep When Rufie’s daughters enrolled at opportunities for parental involvement parents of alumni involved by reaching OLSH, not only were they adapting to a throughout the school year enabled out and doing different activities new school, but a new city. She said, “I us to feel included and connected to together. There is such joy in seeing one arrived here from another country not our children’s lives at school. You learn another. We connect as parents through knowing anyone and within four years so much through interacting with our experiences and we share what is I looked around at all the students, other parents; sharing experiences and going on with our children. By staying parents and staff I knew and felt so thoughts provides important support involved, we can make sure the OLSH at home. I wasn’t sure how to stay while we are helping our children in Legacy continues.” connected to the school, which had their transition to a new phase of life.” become such a big part of my life, once
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