5 minute read
Parents’ Association
2020–2021 PA Executive Council
Liz Keogh, President Gwen Golden, President-Elect Carina Calia, Treasurer Beth Gosk, Secretary Ashley Williams, VP, Communications Michelle Saldivar, VP, Community,
Diversity & Inclusion Jen Kline, VP, Community Service Sonia O’Connor, VP, Volunteers
PA Committees & Events
• Admission Ambassadors • Annual Fund Ambassadors • Annual Meeting & Dinner • Auction • Campus Beautification • Class Representative Program • Community Service • Cougar Run • Faculty & Staff Appreciation • Festival of Books • Frogtown Fair • Greenery • Host Family Program • Kyle A. Markes Day of Service • Logo — NCCS Spirit Wear • Nominating & Appointments • Mothers at Work • PA Coffees • PA Volunteer Fair • Parent Gatherings • Parent Talks • PJs & Pizza • Upper School Dinners
The Parents’ Association had a busy fall despite the nontraditional school year.
We found creative ways to build connections and show our gratitude to our wonderful faculty and staff, in addition to raising funds to directly benefit the school and participating in community service projects. We feel fortunate to have such a warm, engaged and generous parent community at NCCS!
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Holiday Cheer
In addition to providing lovely centerpieces and holiday cheer, the PA’s annual greenery sale raises valued funds for the school’s tuition assistance program.
1. Greenery Chair Becky Palmer and
Vice Chair Deborah Majmudar prepared holiday greenery for pickup. 2. PA volunteers prepare greenery for delivery to NCCS families.
PA Brings the Spirit
The Logo team hosted outdoor tent sales, providing a safe, socially distanced way for families to shop for NCCS spirit wear.
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School Community Gathers Virtually for Annual 5K Race
Nearly 300 members of the school community participated in the annual Cougar Run 5K race, held virtually, Sept. 27 and 28. The friend-raising event involved students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents.
Individual participants logged their mileage along with photos and video clips on a Cougar Run Padlet shared amongst the school community. This was also the place for non-runners to offer encouragement, support and congratulations.
“There was no shortage of Cougar pride as families ran, hiked, biked and swam the annual 5K,” said Maija Judelson who co-chaired the event with Barbara Moody.
Prizes were awarded in multiple categories including most school spirit and best pet participation.
1. Congratulations to Oliver Johnson who ran the 5K in under 20 minutes, a personal record! 2. The Greig family 3. Dylan and Andrew Judelson completed their run in the mountains. 4. Aubry, Aidan and Amelia Grant 5. Rosie, Grade 5 Teacher Andrew, Arden and Cassie Bevan logged their Cougar Run mileage during a family hike. 6. The McCormick and Mannix families joined forces, biking and running. 7. The Moody family 8. The NCCS Cougar
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Festival of Books and PJs & Pizza
Festival of Books Co-Chairs Shannon Kieske and Kari Davis organized an exciting and interactive weeklong celebration of literacy. Reimagined to be held virtually, it still included many of the traditional events that unite the school community. It also included book talks in which Head of School Aaron Cooper discussed Range by David Epstein, and guest author Abdi Nor Iftin discussed his book, Call Me American. Parent Volunteer Devon Suozzi chaired PJs & Pizza, which brought over 130 NCCS and Horizons students together for a fun-filled evening that included bingo and mystery readers.
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1. Festival of Books Co-Chairs Shannon Kieske and
Kari Davis distributed books purchased through the school fundraiser. 2. Grade 1 Teacher Melissa Gomes read aloud
The Paper Bag Princess. 3. Chair of PJs & Pizza Devon and Christopher Suozzi 4. Grade 4 Teacher John Hastings emceed lively games of bingo.
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We Appreciate Our Faculty & Staff!
The Faculty and Staff appreciation team, led by Parent Volunteers Liz Arredondo and Lisa Pannone, came up with creative, new ways for students and parents to show their gratitude for faculty and staff. Artwork and personal notes accompanied pies and goodie bags filled with cookies and NCCS-branded masks. (A sampling of the student drawings and notes of gratitude shown here.)
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A Commitment to Service
The NCCS community participated in several fun and meaningful community service projects last fall both on and off campus, including a food drive at Person-to-Person and a campus beautification project to plant bulbs around the new Athletics & Wellness Center. Special thanks to Community Service Co-Chairs Sam Gault and Mindy Stewart as well as PA Executive Committee Liaison Jen Kline.
1. Upper School students Grady O’Connor, Will
McKeown, Consuelo Bowman, William Kieske and Harry Jellinek organized cereal. 2. Community Service Co-Chair Mindy Stewart and Liaison Jen Kline provided helping hands at the Person-to-Person Food Drive. 3. Middle School students Wiley O’Connor,
Claire McCormick, Ceci Calia and Max Calia sorted food donations. 4. Philip and Juan-Carlos Bowman 5. Matthew DiBiasio digging holes. 6. Parent Volunteer Tori Vartanian and Stella
Vartanian planting bulbs.
1. PA Volunteers Gwen Golden, Beth Gosk, Liz Arredondo,
Liz Keogh and Lisa Pannone attached students’ artwork and notes of appreciation to pies prior to their delivery. 2. Campus Maintenance Assistant Carlos Mendoza and
Advancement Support Manager Renee Bornstein (not pictured) were valued members of the pie distribution effort. 3. Head of School Aaron Cooper on what has been lovingly become known as “Pie Day.” 6
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