SEP TEMBER 2013
The Park Parent in this issue: GETTING STARTED // 2
Building on Park’s Position of Strength B Y MICHAEL ROBINSON, Head of School
T
ALERTS // 3 PARK21 IN ACTION // 4 NEW FACES // 5 P.A. CORNER // 9 FOOD SERVICE // 10
his summer has been a remarkable introduction to The
Park School. The bulk of that introduction has been meeting individually with dozens
Having worked remotely for many months with the Search Committee, my relationship with the School was, in many respects, theoretical and abstract. With these meetings well underway, my relationship is now grounded in personal encounters with the magnificent women and men who work with your children every day. (I will have met each of my colleagues by this fall.)
of faculty and staff members, beginning with four one-toone meetings my first day!
This transition from the abstract to the actual has reinforced what attracted me to this position in the first place. As the continued on page 8
Celebrating a Park School Milestone:
Our 125th Anniversary! B Y EMILIE KENDALL & DARSH A K S A N G H AV I , 125th Committee Co-Chairs
T
he year was 1888. The world’s first dry cell battery had just been invented, and the first radio waves were being sent and received in Europe. The stories of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes
were all the rage in England. Here, President Grover Cleveland would
soon have history’s only White House wedding. Civil rights for all Americans were still a long way from reality. The industrial revolution was in vo l u m e 46 number 1 A PUB LICATION OF THE PARK SC HOOL PARE NTS ’ ASSOC IATION
full swing. In Brookline, Massachusetts, Miss Caroline Augusta Pierce opened the doors continued on page 8
GETTING STARTED
Welcoming Michael Robinson and His Family B Y K ATIE McWEENY, President, Parents’ Association, A N D V I N C E N T C H I A N G , Board of Trustees
W
hile Michael Robinson’s first official day as our
12th head of school officially began on July 1st, he and his family had been preparing for some time. Back in May, Michael spent two days at Park, meeting with members of the administrative team, faculty, and Board of Trustees. However, with such a large community, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Michael and the Transition Team planned many ways for him to get to know the whole community.
MOVING TO 133 GODDARD AVENUE The Robinson family moved from the Chicago area to Boston at the end of June. Frances, Michael’s wife, is also an educator and left her job as an early childhood teacher to make this move. They temporarily settled into an apartment near Fenway while the final painting and repairs were completed at their 133 Goddard Avenue home. They had the chance to get to know their new town as a family and to be close to Michael’s favorite baseball team, the Red Sox. In mid-July, Michael, Frances, and their three daughters moved into the former home of Kim and Nancy Faulkner. The Robinson’s two eldest daughters return to college this fall, while their youngest daughter starts school as a freshman at Dana Hall. Though it is new to the Park community to have its Head of School and family live on campus, the Robinsons did so in Michael’s previous leadership positions. Michael and Frances are acquainted with this integrated lifestyle and appreciate the benefits of proximity to the school. One thing is for sure, the commute is envious! GETTING TO KNOW THE FACULTY AND STAFF One of Michael’s top priorities is developing relationships with his faculty, staff, and administrators. Starting in the summer and running through the fall, he has scheduled one-to-one meetings with each of the 160 employees at Park. In addition, he participated in an intensive two-day retreat with the administrative team in July. KEEPING PARK RUNNING SMOOTHLY Another top priority for Michael is to make sure the day-to-day running of the school continues without a hiccup. With so many talented Park employees managing this prior to his arrival, he has a chance to learn the operations of the school while things continue to run smoothly. Michael has led three independent schools prior to coming to Park and is incredibly skilled in running large schools with lots of moving parts. FOCUSING ON SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT Next on the list for immediate attention is secondary school placement. Because this process begins in the fall, Michael will partner
The Park Parent // PAGE 2
with Upper Division Head Alice Lucey, the Secondary School Placement Counselors, and the Upper Division faculty to get to know the eighth and ninth grade students and their families. Michael will also focus his attention on those secondary schools in which Park students are interested. He will tour the schools and meet with the secondary school leaders to begin to develop his own relationships with these important partners.
GETTING TO KNOW THE PARK COMMUNITY If you had a chance to see Michael in the hallways during one of his visits last year, you likely sensed his warmth and genuine interest in the people of Park. Beginning in September when the doors officially open, Michael will get to know Park’s 560 students. He will greet children in the morning, visit classrooms, attend Morning Meetings, and even teach some classes. The 700 parents of Park will also have ample opportunities to meet Michael. In the fall, there will be a “Meet Michael Robinson” Parents’ Association meeting. He will attend all Back-to-School evenings. And on January 16th, parents, faculty, and alumni will be invited to an evening in the West Gym to welcome Michael as Park’s 12th Head of School and to celebrate Park’s 125th anniversary. Our curious and engaged parent community will undoubtedly wish for more opportunities to spend time getting to know Michael. We will have many opportunities as the year progresses as he engages with the mission-critical priorities of running the school and getting to know employees and students. This is just the beginning of Michael’s first year as Park’s Head of School. It is going to be an exciting process for all of us. Michael Robinson is our new leader, but he and his family are also new to the city and the community. Welcome Michael, Frances, Emily, Grace, and Hannah. And, welcome also to their two very friendly dogs, Maggie and Bear. We all look forward to getting to know you.
ALERTS
Park School Broadcast Communications B Y T OM SMIT H, Technology Specialist
T
he Park School has several ways
to contact groups of parents and faculty—via email, phone, and text messaging. We use the contact information you provided with your enrollment forms to send messages that range from the routine (e.g., weekly Friday Notes) to the less common (e.g., announcing snow days or last minute changes to a bus route). Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year we are switching from AlertNow, the system we have used for the last several years, to Blackboard Connect. Before school starts in the fall, you will receive an introductory email that describes Blackboard Connect.
For those of you who have provided us with your cell phone numbers, we will also use Blackboard Connect to broadcast infrequent, time-sensitive text messages.
By law, we are required to offer you the choice of opting out of text messaging. When you receive the introductory text message, we strongly encourage you to not opt out since we will likely use text messaging for the most time critical of broadcasts, like a bus breakdown or important emergency information. We take your electronic privacy seriously, and work to provide a reasonable balance between keeping you informed and being an annoyance. Thank you for trusting us with your contact information which allows us to communicate effectively.
2012-13 ANNUAL FUND RESULTS Thank you and congratulations! Dear Parents: Once again, thank you for your on-going support and generosity. Because of you, we are pleased to report that over 94% of parents participated in The Park School’s 2012–13 Annual Fund, raising $2.012 million. All the things we love about Park – its diversity, exceptional faculty, and academic excellence – are made possible through the operating budget, 10% of which is covered by the Annual Fund. Congratulations on this success and your collective commitment and dedication to the School.
94% Also, your support of Jerry Katz Park21 Fund was phenomenal! As part of the larger Park21 plan, this endowed fund recognizes Jerry’s passion for looking beyond the School’s walls to uncover great educational practices and ideas and bring them back to Park. The Park School community contributed $529,091 toward this exciting initiative, creating yet another lasting legacy for Jerry. THANK YOU!
SEPTEMBER 2013 // PAGE 3
PARK21 IN ACTION
Grade-Level Assistants Coming to Grades I-V B Y K ATE OLMSTED, Trustee, AND DARSHAK SANG H AV I , Park Parent Editorial Board
W
hen educators talk about teachers were excited about additional innovation, they often point to opportunities such as increased faculty new technologies in the classcoaching, learning new classroom teaching room, such as electronic whiteboards, use of methods (“best practices”), and participating online resources, and access to tablet-based in other initiatives. computing like iPads. While these all have “The biggest obstacle,” said Jerry, “was a role at Park, innovation also involves new time.” ways of maximizing teacher effectiveness Since no innovation could allow Lower that lean less on Silicon Valley and more on and Middle Division teachers to work more a basic resource: time. than 60 to 80 hours per week, the challenge In surveying Park teachers about the was to offload some of their administrative Park21 initiative to modernize and propel duties so they could focus more on classthe school into the new century, a commitroom-related work. Jerry and the committee tee of teachers and former head of school, looked at models in other schools to find Jerry Katz, learned that most faculty spent out how they were giving teachers some 60 to 80 hours per week on educationrelief with non-instructional time. That’s related work, which included 40 hours how the plan for new grade-level assistants in direct time with students, and the rest for Grades I to V was born. (often on evenings and weekends) on planJerry explained that Park teachers felt ning, grading, and creating materials. strongly that they didn’t want to give up all The surveys also revealed another key of their non-instructional time. For example, finding—unlike their counterparts in the homeroom teachers valued observing and upper division who assume roles as advisors interacting less formally with their students and coaches that focus on direct student at recess and lunch. They also didn’t need a interaction, lower and middle division full-time second adult in each class. Teachteachers were spending quite a bit of time ers concluded, however, that some duty-free on administrative duties: covering lunch and recess/lunch blocks once per week would recess duty, managing carpool, transferring give teachers more time to focus on instrucstudents to physical education and other tional tasks. locations, photocopying, and scheduling Funds from Park21 will be used to conferences. address this need. Beginning with the 2013Despite these many commitments, 2014 school year, Grades I through V each will have an assistant to share across the four classrooms in each grade level. The primary role of the assistants is to relieve
The Park Parent // PAGE 4
teachers of some non-instructional duties every day. The assistants will be: Grade I: Cathy Boskey Grade II: Jessica Waters Grade III: Paul Newmark Grade IV: Amy Saltonstall ‘87 Grade V: Carlos Morales (see next page for short biographies)
Each grade will determine its own schedule to utilize the new assistants. One benefit of this arrangement is that each assistant will know all the children in an entire grade. Amy Saltonstall ’87, who will join Grade IV, says, “Having been a homeroom teacher for many years myself, I know the value an assistant can bring to the classroom, and I am excited to use my experience to help this group of talented teachers.” Cathy Boskey, now in her 13th year at the school, points to the program’s flexibility to meet students’ needs. She looks forward to “being in on the ground floor of the program and growing and changing with the new position.” The teaching assistants are not meant to be substitute teachers, although they might teach in a classroom while the lead teacher participates in trainings. Assistants will also be eligible for trainings through Park’s professional development program. The program will no doubt evolve and adapt to best allow classroom teachers to focus more time and energy on direct instruction and collaboration with each other. With the addition of grade level assistants, Park21 continues the school’s investment in assuring that the faculty are energized and supported so that they can be the best teachers they can be.
NEW FACES
New Faculty & Staff for 2013-14 B Y K AT E La PINE, Director of Communications
NEW GRADE LEVEL ASSISTANTS Cathy Boskey (Grade I Assistant)
Amy Saltonstall ’87
Cathy Boskey is a familiar face at Park
(Grade IV Assistant)
having clocked 23 years as the parent
Amy, an experienced educator who
of alumni: Peter ’05, Molly ’02, and
taught 7th and 8th grade English at
Noah ’10. She has also served as the
Southfield School from 1998-2004, is
School’s permanent substitute from
looking forward to this new position
2000-2008 and as a Kindergarten
funded by Park21. After staying home
Assistant in Dita Henderson’s and
with her children while they were
Leah Walters’s classes from 2008 until
younger, Amy (BA Williams College;
2013. When not at Park, Cathy, who
MEd Boston College Lynch School
has a BA from Goucher College and an MEd from University of
of Education) will be on a similar schedule with her daughters
Virginia, serves as the clerk of Greater Boston PFLAG and is on
Molly Isaac (Grade III) and Georgia Isaac (Grade I).
the Board of Overseers at Beacon Academy. Carlos Morales (Grade V Assistant)
Jessica Waters (Grade II Assistant)
Brookline residents might be surprised
After completing her teacher-training program this spring
to see their newly-elected Town Clerk
at Buckingham Browne & Nichols,
serving as the Grade V Assistant, but
Jessica (BA Bates College; MEd Lesley
Carlos Morales likes to keep busy!
University), was asked to join Park as a
The Boston native earned a double
Grade II Assistant. Jessica is no stranger
BA at UMass Dartmouth in Writing,
to Park, having played soccer, hockey,
Communications
as
and lacrosse for the Pike School in
well as Literature and Criticism. He
and
Rhetoric,
Andover, a long-time Park opponent.
has six years of experience working
She will be a great asset to the Grade
with elementary students, most recently at the Driscoll School
II teachers this year.
Extended Day Program, where he was a colleague of Gio BradleyCampbell, who now works at Park’s After-School Program. NEW FACES IN OTHER POSITIONS Paul Newmark (Grade III Assistant) Paul (BA Boston College) became a
Elisa Brown
fixture on the Park campus in 2001,
(Physical Education Teacher)
his first year as a camp counselor for
While Steve Savage is on sabbatical
Summer at Park. Since then, he has led
this year, Park welcomes Elisa Brown
hundreds of summer adventures as
to the PE Department. In addition to
the program director for Day Trippers.
teaching PE classes, Elisa (BS William
Since 2010, he has been at Park year-
Patterson University) will serve as
round—first as an intern and then as
a Grade VI advisor and will coach
the Pre-K Associate with Betsy Platt
basketball and lacrosse. She’s sure to
and in the After-School Program in the afternoons. This year, he
bring energy and excitement to all
moves up to Grade III, where he will complement the Grade III
her classes and teams!
team and serve as the new leader of the Chess Club this winter.
no picture available
continued on next page
SEPTEMBER 2013 // PAGE 5
New Faculty & Staff for 2013-14, continued Jessica Conaway
English as a Second Language. Most recently, Carly taught first
(Associate Director of Development)
graders at the Columbus School in Medellín, Colombia, and is
A
excited to work with Grade II here at Park.
true
Jessica
development Conaway
(BS
professional, Binghamton
University; MS University of Michigan)
Steven Goldman (Middle Division Math Coordinator)
is excited to join Park’s six-person
Steven Goldman, an experienced math
team where she will be leading Park’s
teacher, researcher, writer, and faculty
$1.9 million annual fund and Park21’s
coach, is also the father of Lev (Grade
fundraising
coming
VI) and Theo (Grade IV). With a BA in
efforts.
Before
to Park, Jessica served as executive
Classics and Religion from Haverford
director of the Brookline High School 21st Century Fund, where
College and an MA in Educational
she single-handedly ran the annual fund, major gifts operation,
Administration
and annual gala. Previously, Jessica worked in development at
University’s Teachers College, he has
from
Columbia
both regional and national non-profits including A Better City,
taught Latin and math and was the
the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, and Greenpeace USA. She was
director of the Steppingstone Academy.
also recently elected to the Women in Development of Greater
He also received an MFA in Writing from Emerson College
Boston Board of Directors, the leading professional association
and is the author of two books. In his new position funded by
for development.
Park21, Steven will draw on love of math education to work with students and teachers in Grades III-V. He will also co-direct the
India Davis ’03 (Kindergarten Assistant and After-School
Middle Division Math Club with Katrina Mills.
Program Instructor) Jeannie Hahn (Grade I Teacher)
After graduating from Hofstra University in 2010 with a BA in English Literature
Beloved teacher Jeannie Hahn (BS
and a minor in Studio Art, India Davis
Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
spent a year working on a sustainable
MEd
organic homestead on the Big Island
Education) is thrilled to return to Boston
Harvard
Graduate
School
of
of Hawai’i. She spent the 2011-12
and Park following two years in New
year at Park as an intern in the Lower
York City at Brooklyn Friends School.
Division, where she cemented her love
Jeannie has been working her way up
of teaching. This year, she will reunite
through the grades at Park: she began
with her former Kindergarten teacher, Raine Miller, in the same
as a Pre-K associate in 2006, then spent
classroom they shared more than 20 years ago!
three years as a Kindergarten teacher, and now returns to Grade I for the 2013-14 year.
Carly Ellis (Grade II Teacher) Carly
Ellis’s
warm,
nurturing,
and
supportive style has bolstered her varied teaching
The Park Parent // PAGE 6
experience
with
Merrill Hawkins ’96 (English/Social Studies Teacher) A Park School “lifer” who attended
children
Park from Pre-K through Grade IX,
across the globe. Carly (BA Washington
Merrill Hawkins is thrilled to return to
College; MEd Lesley University), taught
her alma mater’s fourth floor to teach
Kindergarten at the American School
Grade VI English and Social Studies.
in Warsaw, Poland and the Winthrop
Merrill, who has a BA from Colby
School in Hamilton, Mass. In addition
College and an MEd from the Boston
to traditional classrooms, Carly has also
College Lynch School of Education, will
taught American Sign Language and
also serve as an advisor to Grade VI.
Taylor Horan (Math Teacher)
literacy, Mindy (BA Brown University; MLS The Catholic University
Taylor Horan graduated from Colby
of America) is sure to bring great energy and skill to her work
College with a BA in Psychology and a
with Park students of all ages.
minor in Education, and she continues to follow her lifelong interest in teaching.
Peter Steinmetz (Development Assistant)
Following a fantastic internship in the
Peter Steinmetz graduated from the
Upper Division Math Department this
University of Richmond in 2010 with
past year, Taylor was invited to stay on
a BS in Business Administration and a
as a full-time math teacher for 2013-14.
minor in Spanish. He spent one year as
She will also serve as a Grade VII advisor.
an Americorp mentor and tutor in New
Students and faculty alike will find Taylor very approachable and
Orleans and most recently worked
her love for middle school math infectious.
as the Program Associate at Beacon Academy. While at Beacon, Peter met
Rena LaRusso ’04 (Director of Alumni Relations)
many wonderful Park people who were
Rena LaRusso another Park School “lifer,” won the John Spicer
also Beacon advocates including Sally
Award at her own graduation in 2004.
Baker (Assistant Head of School 1976-2004) and Dean Conway
Rena studied English and film at
(Head of the Upper School 1983-1988). Because he believes
Guilford College in Greensboro, North
deeply in Park’s mission to create an inclusive environment that
Carolina. After graduating in 2011, she
balances hard work while also nurturing a true love of learning,
moved back to Boston and worked as
he is thrilled to be joining the Development Team, and also looks
a recruiter at The Bulfinch Group, a
forward to coaching soccer, basketball, and lacrosse.
wealth management firm in Needham. Rena is thrilled to return to the Park
Sara Tollerud (Manager of Development Services)
community (and join her mother,
Sara Tollerud (BA Boston College) comes
Director of Admissions, Merle Jacobs)
to Park from the development office at
as the Director of Alumni Relations.
Massachusetts General Hospital, where
Marn Lau (Grade IV Teacher)
officer, managing reporting and working
Marn Lau makes deep connections with
with donors. Prior to MGH, she was at the
children, whether as a science specialist
National Academies in Washington, D.C.
for four years she was a planned giving
or as a classroom teacher, saying,
Now a part of the Park’s Development
“ultimately, my classroom focuses on
team, she will be the chief data cruncher
the
students.”
Hailing
from
New
and report runner for the office.
York City, this impressive early-career teacher taught Grades II-VI at Trevor
Jean Wilmerding (Grade III Teacher)
Day School in New York, where she
With
received an MS from Hunter College at
experience
the City University of New York. Marn is delighted to join the
independent schools in New York City
Park community and return to the Boston area, where she spent
and Boston, and teaching Grade III
her undergraduate years at Boston University.
during Jen Riley’s medical leave last
over
17 in
years
of
Grades
I
teaching –
IV
at
year, Jean Wilmerding knows and Mindy Lawrence (Librarian)
loves third graders at The Park School!
As our head librarian, Dorothea Black,
Jean (AB Kenyon College; MA Teachers
spends the 2013-14 school year on
College, Columbia University) has also
sabbatical
leave,
Mindy
Lawrence
will fill in for Dorothea’s library
worked at Park as a substitute teacher, an Admission Associate, and an Assistant Coach for Girls’ Varsity
classes and assist Christian Porter, the
Soccer. She is also a current Park parent of children Lucy in Grade
acting department head. With her
V and Jack in Grade VII.
experience and knowledge of digital
SEPTEMBER 2013 // PAGE 7
Park Celebrates 125 Years, continued from page 1 to a new school in one half of a double house at Walnut Street, what would soon be named The Park School, after its well-loved principal, Julia Park. In 1971, the school would move to its current home, a 26-acre campus across from Larz Anderson Park, which increased in size by eight acres in 2012. This year, our community will commemorate all that’s happened since that time, and our remarkable 125-year history. We invite you to reflect on the incredible history and successes of our special community during a year-long anniversary celebration. Throughout the school year, Park will be exploring our past, present, and future through a variety of events, large and small. Several volunteer parents, teachers, and administrators have already been hard at work helping plan a year-long birthday party for the entire community. Best of all, everyone’s invited! There will be surprises such as a special dessert at lunch on Caroline Augusta Pierce’s birthday. And you may spot a student wearing a limited edition 125th Anniversary Park School t-shirt! Park School traditions, like Yule Festival and Springfest will have references to our storied past. Throughout the year, at various Park School activities, like Morning Meetings, students and faculty will bring the history and tradition of The Park School alive. In January, there will be a gala celebration to commemorate the 125th Anniversary, which will also formally welcome our new Head of School, Michael Robinson. This should be a memorable evening that will combine Park School’s ethos of simplicity and sincerity with a celebratory twist. There will also be a school-wide picnic in the fall, and each grade will have an in-class event or project related to the history and anniversary of the school. With so many events and acknowledgments to come, there will be opportunities for our entire community to get involved and participate in this remarkable milestone. Stay tuned to hear more about the plans. We look forward to celebrating together!
The Park Parent // PAGE 8
Michael Robinson, continued from page 1 Search Committee accurately stated, serving as Park’s Head of School “provides a unique opportunity to lead a talented faculty eager to embrace the challenges of teaching in a rapidly changing world.” I agree with the Committee’s further statement that in its 125th year, Park is an “enviable position of strength.” Meeting with members of the Park community has impressed upon me Park’s steadfast commitment to diversity and respect for every student, teacher, and parent. In addition to meeting with faculty and staff members, I have been focusing on learning about Park’s historical commitment to diversity and inclusion. I have pursued this in three ways: 1) attending a week-long seminar for independent school teachers and administrators on diversity and inclusion leadership; 2) leading the faculty and staff in a summer reading of Claude Steele’s Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do; and 3) making the topic a part of my one-to-one conversations with faculty and staff. With these efforts, I seek to grow in my own knowledge and leadership skills, lead the faculty and staff in expanding our collective abilities, and become well informed about Park’s history with diversity and inclusion and where we are on the journey. I believe that the real curriculum of a school is played out in the details. From the content taught in a class to the way time is organized in a student’s schedule, everything a school community does communicates which things we value most. Park is absolutely clear in its commitment to diversity and inclusion, appreciating similar and different perspectives, recognizing the interdependence of all people, and fostering a community experience characterized by respecting the dignity of every individual. While I believe that I bring the values and heart to sustain and deepen Park’s already strong work in this area, I also believe that I can learn and grow in through my leadership at Park. I look forward to contributing my experience and leadership skills to the process and helping to cultivate our community’s capacity for honest, open conversation. A dynamic, steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion is inextricably linked to academic excellence and preparing students not just for high school, but for life. Appreciating diversity is, for me, a core value and will be a core leadership focus. The opportunity to lead Park is exciting, rich, and varied. Part of the attraction for me is the mix of children from ages 4 – 15 and a dynamic, talented, and innovative group of faculty and staff, but it’s more than that. There’s something special about the Park community, and I am delighted to be here, giving myself fully to the opportunity to have fun with faculty and staff members, students, and families as we build on Park’s “position of strength.” I have a quote by my desk that says, “a man who works with his hands is a laborer, a man who works with his hands and head is a craftsman, but a man who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist.” Like no other school I’ve been involved with, I believe that I have the opportunity to grow as an artist in school leadership here at Park. I am honored and humbled by the challenge of building upon Jerry Katz’s tremendous tenure. I look forward to getting to know each child and family, because it will be through hard work, dedication, and the relationships I form with every member of the Park community that I can help us honor the values, mission, and history of this great school.
P.A. CORNER
Past, Present, and Future: We Are Park B Y K AT IE McWEENY, President, Parents' Association
T
his is another exciting year for Park. We welcome our
new Head of School, Michael Robinson, for his first year as our new leader and celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary. This mix of old and new is how Park works—respecting our history while thoughtfully leading into the future. Our children are expected each year to start fresh with new teachers, new friends, and new academic and social challenges. Yet, they are building on a foundation of their own hard work and an army of supporters—parents, teachers, friends, classmates, grandparents, and coaches, to name a few. As parents, we also do this each year. We meet our children’s new teachers, juggle new schedules, manage new expectations, and find new ways to get involved. By being a part of the Park community, we, like our children, are challenged each year to evolve, contribute and embrace new ideas and people while bringing our history with us. For many of us, it is a big reason we are here—to be part of this incredible community and to learn from each other. The Park community is a microcosm of intelligent, thoughtful, brave, committed people. We do not all have the same jobs or fam-
ilies or lifestyles, but we gather each year under the same roof with a common goal—a desire to give our children the best education in an environment that respects and appreciates each member of the community. By educating our children at Park we are acknowledging a commitment to the mission that transcends its 125 years. Yet, each new year has to live up to that mission. It takes so many thoughtful, forward-thinking choices to keep blazing this trail of being an educational leader and an engaged, thriving community. It takes vision and hard work by academicians, administrators, board members, and parents. It requires the community to help, question, imagine, and believe. We are all part of making Park what it is each year. More than where our children go to school, Park is where our children grow up and where we face the fun and challenges of parenting together. Our lives become intertwined in so many ways over these years. We are on a journey to educate and raise our children together. It is a time to enjoy, celebrating the good times and helping each other through the tough times. I feel fortunate to be sharing these years with this community. This is my seventh year as a member of the Park community. Some parents are in their 15th year. Some alumni are in their 70th year. There are faculty members in their 40th year. And, for some it is their first year. We warmly welcome Michael, the Robinson family, and all the first year families. New or old, we are the Park community today. We create the school’s history each year. Let’s celebrate where we’ve been and where we are going. Together, we are Park in its 125th year.
new and returning parents are invited to
“A Second Cup of Coffee” Volunteer Fair Friday, October 4 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. in the dining room
an informal gathering to learn more about the Parents’ Association
ANNUAL CHOP-A-THON Thursday, October 24 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Please join the P.A. Community Service Committee to chop, peel, and weigh vegetables for guests at the Pine Street Inn. The Chop-a-thon yields over 100 pounds of vegetables that are frozen and used for many months in stews and soups. All ages of children are welcome and can participate. It is a great way to meet new families and make new friends.
SEPTEMBER 2013 // PAGE 9
FOOD SERVICE
What’s for Lunch? B Y C AROL BATCHELDER, Park Parent Editorial Board
F
ood and kids. Kids and food. Ask most parents about the
subject and you’re sure to get some interesting feedback, ideas, anecdotes and maybe even a much-needed new dinner recipe. Whether you live to eat or eat to live, it’s clear that our generation of parents is extremely involved with what our children eat. How many times have you uttered the words “eat your rainbow,” “just try one bite” or some version thereof? I know it makes me feel better when my kids have eaten a nutritious, complete meal that they enjoyed. Focus on food seems to be everywhere we look. Organic is the new little black dress, “farm to table” a trend among restaurants, and farmers’ markets a popular family activity. In this context, thinking about our children’s food is natural. You are after all, what you eat, so why not try to give our kids the best we can? We spend the first six years of our children’s lives monitoring what they eat at close range: providing well-rounded meals and colorful plates of food, planning creative picnics, asking babysitters exactly what our kids ate while we were gone. It’s one thing to do it at home, but then you have to begin the task of packing school lunches for Nursery School and Kindergarten. I’ve never met a parent who enjoys this chore. I, for one, pack lunch the night before to ease the burden ever so slightly. My kids don’t know a freshly made sandwich.
The Park Parent // PAGE 10
Then, before you know it, first grade comes along, and we never have to pack another lunch again! Once the sheer thrill and relief of it wears off, we realize that we no longer control what our kids are eating for lunch. Yikes! So what are our kids eating for lunch? Who is preparing their meals? What is Park’s mission and strategy when it comes to school lunches? And how do our kids feel about the food they eat? Enter Sean Callahan, Food Service Manager, who heads up Park’s food service along with his team of seven. Sean has been at Park for over 28 years, and his ongoing mission is to make sure our kids have healthy, nutritious, and appealing lunch options, a variety of choices, and new things to try. Basically, he wants to serve healthy lunches that kids will actually eat, which is no easy task when you’re feeding 500+ kids daily. Throw in a nut-free environment, vegetarian and gluten-free options, other allergies such as dairy, and you have a tremendous challenge—one that Sean meets and, I would say, exceeds every day. Sean relies on cookbooks, regular discussions with students, weekly meetings with Kimberly Boyd, Assistant Head of School for Finance & Operations, and his relationship with Brock, Park’s food service management company. Sean’s most important asset may be his calm demeanor and open mind. He truly cares about
what our kids put in their bodies and is always open to feedback and new ideas. He also has a great facility in which to work. The kitchen doubled in size seven years ago, allowing Sean and his team to expand their offerings. There are now two full salad bars, a deli counter, and a steam table five days a week, allowing for a variety of hot meals. There is even a relationship between Park’s Food Service and Allandale Farm to utilize the farm’s harvest. So why, then, when you ask Park students about lunch, do they roll their eyes and make faces? I wanted to find out firsthand, so I visited the dining room a few times during lunch. Our kids and Park’s faculty are so lucky! The choices and array of offerings were quite amazing. Kids were eating. The atmosphere was jovial. Did they know I was coming to spy? I myself feasted on the salad bar (comparable to Whole Foods offering for $8.99/lb) with a choice of lettuces, freshly chopped vegetables, tuna and egg salad, hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, chick peas, olives, several dressings, plus a whole lot more. The sandwich bar was chock full of turkey, cheese, roast beef, salami, ham, condiments and bread
choices. The hot lunch this particular day was a new offering of chicken piccata perfectly cooked with sides of potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms. Asparagus and Minestrone soups were also available (one way Sean sneaks in vegetables) as well as yogurts and a choice of orange juice, and a variety of milk (2%, fat free, chocolate, and Lactaid). I began by dining with the Lower Division kids who eat from 11:30 a.m.12 p.m. In general, they’re positive about Park’s lunches. While they seem to eat a great amount of yogurt, there was also a smattering of other food on their plates. And, despite the rumors about racing to finish lunch because recess awaited, it seemed to me that these kids had plenty of time to eat. Then enter the older kids. Upper Division students eat from 12-12:30 p.m. I saw everything from white bread and oyster crackers on some plates to an apple on others. Most plates lacked color but I did see one full-blown, bountiful salad. When asked about the food, the general response from this older group was the lunches at Park were “alright,” “pretty good,” “not bad,” and “OK” which coming from pre-teens/ young teenagers translates pretty close to greatness, doesn’t it? The conclusion? It’s an age-old rite of passage to complain about school lunches. We did it, and now it’s our kids’ turn. When pressed to give suggestions for how the food could be improved, none of the students could provide one tangible answer. Overall, when asked directly, kids and faculty were positive about Park’s meals. The reason Park students may express discontent with the food service is, I believe, because our children don’t know enough about the choices before them, have difficulty navigating the dining room, and develop habits that are hard to change. There will always be room for improvement and there will always be complaints but let’s remember that this is a school cafeteria that must work within
a budget, satisfy certain guidelines, and attempt to accommodate a myriad of tastes, preferences, and standards. There is a tremendous amount of work, thought, and effort behind each meal served at Park. Don’t settle for knowing that your child had an entire meal of oyster crackers. Dig deeper to understand what is really taking place between the Park Dining Room and your child. Review the weekly options posted on the Park website with your kids and discuss all of the choices. Ask your children pointed questions about where things are in the lunchroom to get a sense of whether they know the lay of the land. Have a standard back-up plan such as turkey from the sandwich bar for the day when there are no apparent appealing offerings. We all know that there are many complex thoughts going through kids’ minds about food, friends, and social pressures, but it just might be the next cool thing to acknowledge how good the food at Park actually is. And, if someone isn’t happy or satisfied or has a new idea, Sean and his team are very open to suggestions!
SEPTEMBER 2013 // PAGE 11
UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE August 29
Thursday
Editor: TC HALDI
New students visit school (K–VIII)
September 2 Monday
Labor Day – NO SCHOOL
September 3 Tuesday
Opening day of school (All students in K–IX; half Pre-K) After-School Program and VI-IX fall sports/drama begin
September 4 Wednesday All students in K-IX; half Pre-K September 5
Thursday
Rosh Hashanah – NO SCHOOL
September 6 Friday
All students in Pre-K–IX (Pre-K/K noon dismissal)
September 10 Tuesday
125th Anniversary Party & Panoramic Photo Corporation Annual Meeting (5 p.m.)
September 17 Tuesday
VIII, IX Parents’ Night (7 p.m.)
September 19 Thursday
VI, VII Parents’ Night (7 p.m.)
III-V Parents’ Night (7 p.m.)
October 1
Pre-K–II Parents’ Night (7 p.m.)
Tuesday
Editorial Board Chair: STANLEY SHAW
Director of Communcations: KATE LaPINE Editorial Board: LAURA BARKAN, CAROL BATCHELDER, LAURA CARROLL, CHRIS HARTMANN, PAULA IVEY HENRY, TODD IDSON, SARAH KEATING, ANNE HARVEY KILBURN, KATE OLMSTED, PADMAJA RAMAN, DOROTHY RICHARDSON, DARSHAK SANGHAVI, JOHN STRAND President, Parents’ Association: KATIE McWEENY
September 20 Friday Student Picture Day 125th Anniversary Family Picnic (4:30 p.m.) September 26 Thursday
The Park Parent
Parents’ Association Communications Network: EMILIE KENDALL ALISON HONG (photographer)
October 14 Monday Columbus Day – NO SCHOOL
Chair, Board of Trustees: SUZIE TAPSON
October 22 Tuesday No School Pre-K–V (parent conferences)* Regular schedule VI-IX
Head of School: MICHAEL ROBINSON
*Pre-K–V PARENT CONFERENCES – Please note that there will be no school for students in Grades PreK–V on Tuesday 10/22/2013 and on Tuesday 3/4/2014 to enable faculty to hold parent conferences throughout each of these days. With your cooperation, this will greatly reduce the loss of focus on regular instruction that has traditionally been associated with extended fall and spring conference periods. ASP will be open on each of these days from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for students regularly enrolled in ASP on Tuesdays throughout the school year. Students in Grades VI-IX will have full days of school on both October 22 and March 4.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a story idea or issue you’d like to see covered or thoughts about something you’ve read, please let us know.
TheParkParent@parkschool.org
Read The Park Parent online at www.parkschool.org The Park School 171 Goddard Avenue Brookline, MA 02445 617-277-2456 SEPTEMBER 2013
The Park Parent