2016 AGM Report

St. Andrew’s College Parents Guild Annual General Meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2016 10:15 am St. Andrew’s College, Memorial Chapel

St. Andrew’s College Parents Guild Executive Committee 2015-2016 President

Lenore Collis

Vice-President

Bianca Harris

Recording Secretary

Catherine Stringer

Treasurer

Sarah Smith

Gala Chair

Pam Merkel

Gala Vice-Chair

Marnie Sigmar

Homecoming Chair

Sue Carter

Homecoming Vice-Chair

Nadine Melemis Walters

Interguild & Community Outreach Chair

Sharon Ashton

Alternate Revenue Chair

Liz Tsvetanov

Alternate Revenue Vice-Chair

Joanna Chan

Social and Welcome Chair

Julie Karabin

Social and Welcome Vice-Chair

Martine Kolm

Family Mentor Chair

Judy Davies

Family Mentor Vice-Chair

Karen Leung

Volunteer Chair

Lisa Muenzenberger

Volunteer Vice-Chair

Michele Crowder

Residential Life Chair

Katie Henderson

Communications Chair

Elena Dimitriev

Past President

Angela Wood-Macgregor

Honorary President

Michele Fischer Invited Guests

Honorary Member

Karan McHenry

Parent Relations & Event Coordinator

Sharen Turner

The Guild Prayer God of one, God of all, from you come all grace and guidance.

Bless St. Andrew’s College.

We pray for the young.

Bless them that the promise which we see in their lives now may be realized in the future.

We pray for those who teach and guide the young.

Bless them so they may be strengthened in patience, wisdom and grace.

We pray for the Guild.

Bless each one of us with strength of purpose and inspiration to carry on our work.

Through your Holy Name we pray.

Amen

Mission Statement of Parents Guild of St. Andrew’s College The Parents Guild of St. Andrew’s College is constituted for the enhancement of student life in all its diversity, to foster Andrean community spirit, and to provide scholarship and bursary assistance to the current students of SAC.

AGENDA Parents Guild Annual General Meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Memorial Chapel 10:15 am

Call to Order/Welcome

Lenore Collis, President

Approval of June 3, 2015 AGM Minutes President’s Report

Lenore Collis, President

Recognition of retiring Executive Members

Lenore Collis, President Bianca Harris, Vice-President

Treasurer’s Report

Sarah Smith

Presentation of funds being distributed Headmaster’s remarks

Kevin McHenry, Headmaster

Motions for approval: Amend the Parent Guild Constitution and By-laws; section 6.3 as follows: Delete – Winter Activity Chair Delete – Winter Activity Vice-Chair Insert – Member at Large (2 positions) That the slate of Executive Members for the SAC Parents Guild 2016-2017 be adopted.

Introduction of the 2016-2017 Executive

Bianca Harris, Incoming President

Adjournment of Annual General Meeting

Light refreshments will be available in the Towers Library following the AGM

President’s Report 2015-2016 Since its inception in 1934, the Parents Guild of St. Andrew’s College has steadfastly followed its mandate to enhance student life in all its diversity, foster Andrean community spirit, and provide bursary assistance to current students of SAC. For 82 years, the Parents Guild Executive (PGE) has been representing St. Andrew’s College. For the past year, I have had the privilege of serving as the Parents Guild President. The dedication and commitment of the PGE members has been an experience I will cherish forever.

St. Andrew’s College has had such a positive impact on my son’s life, as well as our entire family. My husband, Danny, and I have made lifelong friends at St. Andrew’s College. While the School has state-of-the-art facilities, it is the students, faculty, staff, and parents who give SAC its heart and soul. We are so grateful for the experience and the traditions that have been instilled in our lives.

I was also asked to be part of the strategic planning process for St. Andrew’s this year. It was an honour to be a member of this group and see firsthand the passion and enthusiasm parents, Old Boys, Board members, faculty, and staff have for the School.

This Annual Report provides summaries of each of the portfolios chaired by individual members of the PGE. It is with pleasure that I highlight some of these special moments and offer my sincere thanks for making my tenure as President such a wonderful experience.

Planning for the September New Family Orientation Days begins in March, bringing all the Family Mentors together for a briefing and breakfast. Judy Davies has welcomed so many enthusiastic and dedicated family mentors to this program. Her professionalism and kindness is reflective of this program. Judy and Karen Leung, Family Mentor Vice-Chair, have proven to be wonderful matchmakers for new families and mentors.

The month of September at SAC is busy and full of excitement. Plans were well underway for the return of current students, Old Boys, parents, and faculty at Homecoming as Sue Carter and Nadine Melemis Walters began work months in advance. Bouncy castles, vendors, face painters, signs, tents, baked goods, an Instagram photo booth, and décor are just a few of the components that give this much-anticipated day the fun and flavour Homecoming deserves.

Even though Sue had a sprained ankle, she was a trouper and true leader who made Homecoming a success!

Thank you, Sue, for also coordinating and beautifully displaying the hundreds of treats for Valentine’s Day – it is so rewarding to see the smiles and excitement from the boys, parents, faculty, and staff.

St. Andrew’s has a very strong base of parent volunteers. The Parents Guild Executive is proud of the growing list of over 200 active volunteers. Lisa Muenzenberger has efficiently and expertly reached out to many parents, offering a welcoming invitation to help with the slate of activities the PGE offers. Michele Crowder assisted Lisa to ensure sufficient volunteers attended all events and helped to coordinate the volunteer boys for the Gala, which went flawlessly!

Our Alternate Revenue Team of Liz Tsvetanov and Joanna Chan worked throughout the summer months preparing for the SAC Rack Sale in September. SAC Rack provides extra uniform pieces for boys who outgrow or misplace items. The inventory consists of donated, gently-used First Dress uniform pieces. Liz and Joanna transformed a storage room into an impressive store for the sale. For the Christmas fundraiser, Liz and Joanna decided to sell Waterford decanters etched with the SAC crest – which sold out! These decanters proved to be wildly popular and profitable for the PGE.

The PGE plans events that allow parents to socialize, meet with old friends, and make new ones. Advancement’s Sharen Turner, with the help of parents Julie Karabin and Martine Kolm organized two Parent Coffee Hours, one in Towers Library and the other in the Yuill Andrean Room in the La Brier Family Arena. Each Coffee Hour hosted guest speakers and gave parents the opportunity to visit and ask questions. Both Coffee Hours were well-attended and successful events.

February’s parent social ‘Beer & Cheer Pub Night’ was a fun-filled event! The Staunton Gallery was transformed into a pub with the help of Old Flame Brewing Company, Mill Street Brewery and Brickworks Ciderhouse. Delicious pub fare and great service was provided by our SAC Food & Beverage team. A candy bar delighted guests along with great music and a special guest DJ! Next week, our grade 8 and grade 12 graduates will receive gifts from the Parents Guild, and I’d like to thank Julie and Martine for coordinating the purchase of these gifts, planning a wrapping session, and decorating the banquet rooms.

Each month, Katie Henderson, Residential Life Chair, visits Macdonald House armed with the most beautiful custom cakes, donuts, gluten-free treats, and multiple tubs of ice cream to help celebrate the boys’ birthdays. A few of us had the pleasure of participating in the Formal Room Inspections and choosing a winning room. Katie coordinated Halloween festivities with the boys including taking them out trick or treating!

The St. Andrew’s College Boarding House Concierge program was created this year to support boarders who may request unique items, sports equipment, or seasonal clothing that would best be taken care of with the assistance of a parent volunteer. Katie has put an enormous amount of effort and passion into this program, and by the smiles on the boys’ faces, all is going well in Residential Life!

Every April, the most anticipated event of the year for the Parents Guild is the Red & White Gala. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Gala Chair Pam Merkel, and Vice-Chair Marnie Sigmar for creating the amazing “SAC Rewind Gala.” The record-breaking profits are a testament to all their hard work. Gala guests were treated to an evening of great food, impressive auction items, games, and beautiful Rewind décor. Pam’s strong leadership and dedication was evident throughout the year and led us to not only a successful fundraiser, but also a “friendraiser.” The Red & White Gala is our major fundraiser and the proceeds from this year’s event will support the Not An Ordinary Place Campaign; the Parents Guild Endowment Fund, which will support deserving boys with bursaries; and the 142nd Highland Cadet Corps in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Pipes & Drums for new uniforms and equipment. Congratulations, Pam and Marnie.

There have been many special moments celebrated throughout the year by the Parents Guild, staff, faculty, and other Andreans. There are times when the Parents Guild extends its sympathy for those suffering a loss or celebrating an occasion. Elena Dimitriev efficiently sent cards and flowers within minutes of a request; she managed the communications portfolio expertly, ensuring the thoughts and good wishes of the Parents Guild were extended.

Thank you Sarah Smith, our PG Treasurer, for your expertise and ensuring our books were accurate, our bills paid, and our activities stayed on budget. Sarah has dedicated her financial expertise to manage the PGE accounts and make solid recommendations on our behalf.

Interguild is an organization that brings together representatives of Parent Associations from other Independent Schools in Ontario who are members of the Conference of Independent Schools. This year, Sharon Ashton served as the SAC representative. Sharon enthusiastically and proudly represented St. Andrew’s at Interguild events and kept us informed of the many independent school activities.

Recording Secretary Catherine Stringer’s attention to detail at each meeting is to be applauded. Thank you, Catherine, for your accurate recording of our meeting minutes and ensuring our rooms were booked.

Sincere thanks to Michele Fischer, Honorary President, for her support this past year. Although her son Riley ’15 has graduated, Michele has continued to support the Parents Guild: Michele, your input is always valued.

Karan McHenry, the Parents Guild Honorary Member and current Andrean parent of William ’18 and Caden ’21, is thanked for her thoughtful input, humour, and encouragement towards Parents Guild activities.

Angela Wood-Macgregor, Past President, thank you for your passion and dedication to SAC and the Parents Guild. We truly appreciate your support in leading us through a successful nomination process and staying on an additional year. I look forward to working with you again: thank you, Angela, for all your support and friendship.

Pam, Sue, Liz, and Michele retire from the Parents Guild Executive this year. Each one of these volunteers has positively enriched the Parents Guild with their enthusiasm, ideas, and skills. It has been a pleasure working with all of you. As Lifetime Andrean members, we look forward to seeing you for years to come at the many SAC events.

The Parents Guild Executive meetings are held monthly and organize numerous events. These events would not be possible without the support of the faculty and administration, Food Services, Maintenance, Reception, and the Leadership team.

The Advancement team and the Parents Guild Executive work together closely throughout the year, and the open-door policy and welcoming atmosphere demonstrate the wonderful relationship we share. As Parent Liaison and Events Coordinator, Sharen steadfastly has her pulse on the PGE calendar, SAC policies, and traditions. Thank you, Sharen, for the commitment and grace you have continued to share with the PGE. Finally, Bianca Harris, Vice-President and incoming President: thank you so much for your support this year. Our first partnership began when I was Gala Chair, and our partnership quickly grew into friendship. Your support and dedication has once again been solid throughout this year. It has been a pleasure working with you, and I am confident the Parents Guild will flourish in the most positive and exciting manner under your leadership.

As I mentioned at the start, the mandate of the Parents Guild is to enhance student life and foster Andrean community spirit. That spirit translates into confidence that continues to build each year. Watching our boys and their friends and peers become thoughtful, polite, intelligent, and humble Andreans has been an amazing journey.

I’ve had an incredible year as President of the Parents Guild Executive and I am honoured to have had this experience and be a part of an incredible legacy.

Respectfully submitted, Lenore Collis SAC Parents Guild President, 2015-2016

Treasurer’s Report The 2015/2016 St. Andrew’s College Parents Guild has had another successful year, allowing us to continue our support of the St. Andrew’s College community. The Parents Guild Executive has ensured that we followed our mandate, as stated in our constitution, as is required for a notfor-profit organization.

The Parents Guild generated a total of $306,923 in income for the 2015/2016 school year. This impressive total was achieved through the hard work and dedication of a large group of parent volunteers and staff. This total can be broken down as follows: •

•

The Parents Guild’s main fundraiser, the Red & White ‘Rewind’ Gala, was a tremendous success, raising approximately $272,792 through ticket sales, proceeds of the live and silent auctions, and generous donations from our sponsors.

In addition to the Gala, the Parents Guild raised an additional $34,131 through Parents Guild Membership Fees, Social Events, Homecoming, and our SAC Rack and seasonal Decanter Sales.

The Parents Guild’s expenditures for 2015/2016 were approximately $130,731. Expenses were well managed over the year, with all activities coming in either on or below budget. The expenses are broken down as follows: •

•

The Red and White Gala, being our largest annual fundraiser, naturally had the largest associated expense. This year’s Gala expenses were approximately $108,729.

In addition to the Red and White Gala, other expenses were approximately $22,002; comprised of costs associated with our SAC Rack, Decanter Sales, Homecoming, Social Events, Grade 12 and 8 Graduation gifts and décor, and various communication and general expenses.

This successful year has allowed the Parents Guild Executive to confirm our distributions for the 2015/2016 year as follows: •

• •

•

The Parents Guild continued to honour its pledge to donate $400,000 over five years to the School in support of the Capital Projects Campaign. For the 2015/2016 year, the Parents Guild is pleased to pledge $100,000.

In addition, $80,000 is allocated to the St. Andrew’s College Endowment Fund, supporting deserving day and boarding students.

A further $10,000 is granted to the #142 Highland Cadet Corps as they celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Pipes & Drums, in support of new uniforms and equipment.

And finally, $1,746 was donated to the Outreach Campaign in the Fall of 2015, which represents proceeds from the Homecoming Bake Sale.

In closing, it has been a privilege to be the Parents Guild Treasurer for 2015/2016. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the St. Andrew’s College community.

Respectfully submitted, Sarah Smith Parents Guild Treasurer

St. Andrew's College Parent's Guild Statement of Income and Expense and Fund Distribution as at May 30, 2016 2016 INCOME Red & White Gala 231,512 Gala Sponsorship 41,280 Guild Membership Fees 13,925 Alternate Revenue 13,286 Homecoming 3,945 Social Events 2,975

2015 200,331 60,700 14,050 12,961 2,318 -

$306,923 $290,360 EXPENSES Red & White Gala Homecoming Alternate Revenue Graduation Gifts Graduation Dinner DĂŠcor Volunteer Appreciation Prize Day - PG Poetry Award Interguild Membership Communications PG Social Events Office Supplies Miscellaneous

108,729 3,766 6,535 3,666 1,800 3,363 225 250 388 1,764 240 5

121,759 3,543 8,252 4,085 1,600 4,029 225 100 659 (813) 512

$130,731 $145,312 Net Income Before Distributions

$176,192 $145,048

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS Outreach Donation from Homecoming Scholarship Donation Capital Projects Campaign Endowment Fund Other

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR 1

Balance in bank account sufficient to absorb deficit and retain appropriate available funds

$1,746 $818 - $34,000 $100,000 $105,000 $80,000 $10,000 $191,746 $139,818 ($15,554) 1

$5,230

Alternate Review Report The focus of the Alternate Revenue position is to raise additional revenue to support Parents Guild activities and programs, which help to enhance student life at SAC. The responsibilities of this position include SAC Rack, the annual Holiday Sale, and in some years, a fundraising capacity at Homecoming.

The year started off in early June when SAC Rack collection bins were placed in Staunton Gallery to collect dress pants, 1st ties, and blazers for donation. Items were then laundered or dry-cleaned and mended by the Sewing Centre staff. In the summer, the SAC Rack room, located in the basement of Macdonald House beside the Sewing Centre, was cleaned and reorganized in preparation for the upcoming sale.

The SAC Rack Sale was held in early September for three days: one day prior to school opening and the two New Family Orientation Days. All our efforts, combined with notices placed in the School’s weekly newsletter, A Look Ahead, seem to have paid off, as we once again had a very successful sale. After dry-cleaning and sewing room expenses of $499.83, total profit was $3,872.17.

For the Parents Guild Christmas fundraiser, a Waterford decanter etched with the SAC crest was sold. Posters and order forms were displayed in the SAC Reception area and information and order forms were also available in A Look Ahead. The decanters sold out, selling 115 decanters yielding $2,878.95 net profit.

In closing, we would like to thank Sharen Turner, Parent Liaison & Event Coordinator; Parents Guild President, Lenore Collis; Parents Guild Vice-President, Bianca Harris; and Sewing Centre Head, Antonietta Calvano, as well as the many Alternate Revenue volunteers. Without their efforts, these events would not have been as successful.

Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Tsvetanov Alternate Revenue Chair Joanna Chan Alternate Revenue Vice-Chair

Communications Report The Communications Chair is responsible for correspondence and specific communications to the Andrean community on behalf of the Parents Guild. In conjunction with the President and Vice-President, and Guild Executives, the Communications Chair support communication and develops public relations material.

Throughout the 2015-2016 year, a number of communications were sent on behalf of the Parents Guild. As is always the case, the year held a variety of events; both happy and sad.

Parents Guild is always happy to acknowledge the birth of the children and grandchildren in the Andrean community.

As a Parents Guild, we understand the importance of warm wishes or words of sympathy sent to families facing illness or the loss of a loved one. An event recognized for the first time this year was the Reshetnikov family (Nikita ’17 and Victor ’15) receiving Canadian Citizenship. It marked a different but very important milestone.

On behalf of the Parents Guild, cards and flowers were sent to a number of parents and staff.

Specifically, 21 life events were recognized. A total of $507.18 was spent on communications, well within the $750 budget allocated.

Respectfully submitted, Elena Dimitriev Communications Chair

Family Mentor Program Report 2016 The SAC Family Mentor program has been an integral part of the Parents Guild for the past 11 years. Working in conjunction with the School’s Admission and Advancement Offices, the purpose of this program is to connect new SAC parents with current parent volunteers. These volunteers, also known as family mentors, offer a warm welcome to new families in order to help smooth their transition into the Andrean Community. The family mentor helps new families navigate through the information provided by the School.

Family Mentor Volunteer Workshop On Thursday, March 3, a Family Mentor Volunteer Workshop was held in the Archives Room at SAC, hosted by Karen Leung, Vice-Chair, Family Mentor program. The volunteers were recruited via email, word of mouth, and “A Look Ahead.” To be consistent with the previous year, there was a prerequisite whereby volunteers needed to have one full year as a parent at St. Andrew’s in order to be a family mentor. There are 31 volunteers.

The role of family mentor was described to the volunteers as they filled out profile sheets and signed confidentiality agreements. Breakfast was served, introductions were made, and each volunteer was provided with an information package.

The Admission Office, Advancement & Alumni Relations, and the Campus Shop were in attendance.

New Family Lists The Admission Office provided the Family Mentor Chair and Vice-Chair with the first list of families on Monday, April 18, 2016. There were 122 families on the first list. We assigned a family mentor to each new family. The new families were emailed a welcome letter and invitation to the Family Mentor & New Parent Breakfast, which took place Tuesday May 31, 2016 in Cole Hall.

The welcome letter/invitation sent to all new families was edited and approved by the School.

The family mentors were given a “sample” email, detailing what they were to say in their initial email to their new families.

We are currently waiting on additional names of new families.

New Parent Breakfast The New Parent Breakfast was held Tuesday, May 31, 2016 in the Cole Dining Hall. This was the seventh breakfast held for our new families hosted by the Parents Guild Executive. Family mentors met and greeted their assigned new families and answered their questions. The Headmaster, Admission Office, Campus Shop, Health Centre, Advancement & Alumni Relations, and representatives from Residential Life were all invited. This is always a great opportunity for new families to speak to faculty, staff, and parents about the upcoming school year.

New Family Orientation Day New Family Orientation Days are scheduled for Tues., September 6, and Wed., September 7, 2016. Following the lead of the Admission team, our family mentor volunteers will be available to greet, meet, and answer questions for the families arriving with their son(s) on the orientation days.

Karen Leung was this year’s Vice-Chair. It was truly a pleasure working with Karen. Sharen Turner, Parent Liaison & Event Coordinator, is a wealth of knowledge and always available to

support and assist—a huge thank-you to her. Admission’s Natascia Stewart and Wendy Coates are total pros, and I appreciate their support.

We have a great group of parent volunteers and this valuable program would not happen without them!

I am grateful for the support and friendship of the whole SAC Parents Guild. Thank you!

Respectfully submitted, Judy Davies Family Mentor Chair Karen Leung Family Mentor Vice-Chair

Gala Report On April 16, 2016, one of the most incredible committee of gala volunteers transformed the Bellvue Manor Grand Ballroom into an upscale nightclub for the 44th Annual Red & White “Rewind” Gala.

Guests were greeted with a “Tequila Sunrise” signature cocktail, had their photos taken on a dance floor backdrop complete with disco ball, bought raffle tickets for a chance to win a week in Jamaica, as well as raffle tickets for the one-of-a-kind gold and diamond necklace. The Jamaica trip was generously donated by the Carter family. The necklace was donated by our generous “Bangles, Baubles, and Beads” sponsor VandenBosche Custom Jewellers.

The many student volunteers were chaperoned by Kyle Fraser-Shoemaker, who did an outstanding job, as did the boys. The Jazz Band performed and sounded better than ever, and the Pipes & Drums wowed the crowd with their fantastic performance.

Bellvue provided an incredible meal, as well as wonderful hors d’oeuvres, both hot and cold, and a variety of late-night food stations were popular with gala guests.

The Live Auction was beyond exciting and our auctioneer Rob Crowder was amazing. Rob suggested having an assistant to read the auction descriptions, which George Tsvetanov did to perfection.

MC & Company performed in their disco costumes and added an extra vocalist to make the disco music sound spectacular. The crowd could not get enough of their outstanding performance.

As an added bonus, guests were given glow necklaces and bracelets and props were added to the photo booth, eventually making their way on to the dance floor. The guests seemed to really enjoy these added touches.

We were fortunate to receive incredible support from the community in the form of sponsorship and auction donations. Electronic bidding devices were used for the fourth consecutive year, which once again proved to be a successful and invaluable tool.

The gala is so successful because of the dedication of our outstanding volunteer community and the unwavering support of SAC staff and faculty. We are indebted to the many sponsors and donors and are incredibly proud to announce that together we have raised over $160,000 to support the School in the form of bursaries and SAC’s capital campaign.

It was an honour and a privilege to chair the Rewind Gala. I was very fortunate to have Marnie Sigmar at my side as Gala Vice-Chair.

Please circle April 8, 2017 for the 45th Annual Red & White Gala.

Respectfully submitted, Pam Merkel Gala Chair

Marnie Sigmar Gala Vice-Chair

Homecoming 2015 Report This year’s Homecoming was held the first weekend in October, and it felt every bit a fall weekend where the weather was concerned. It was a cool and windy day, but as in past Homecomings the weather did not dampen the spirits of the large crowd that turned out to cheer on our sports teams, play games, make crafts, shop, and buy yummy treats at the Bake Sale tent.

The Décor Committee did a wonderful job of decorating the campus with colourful mums, corn stalks, hay, and gourds. The campus was abuzz with soccer games on the lower fields, volleyball in both the Yuill and Bedard gyms and, of course, football on the Yuill Turf Field.

Varsity Soccer, Volleyball, and Football teams played host to St. Michael’s College and spectators enjoyed some very exciting games. Our thanks to Dave Stewart and George Tsvetanov for announcing the lineups for our varsity teams.

Many enjoyed the wonderful and diverse selection of products at our 20-vendor booths set up in Staunton Gallery. The Quad was filled with games, music, crafts, face painting, and an ice cream truck. New this year was the Boot Camp inflatable, which proved to be popular with kids of many ages. We would like to thank Jacquie Lazar for her help with the sound system and music for the day. Also new this year was the Instagram sign set up for photo ops, where many had fun taking pictures throughout the day. Thank you to our Games and Craft Chairs for their energy and creativity to ensure an entertaining day for our youngest Andreans.

Our Bake Sale was a great success again this year. It takes many, many volunteers to bake, wrap, price, set up, and sell the wonderful and delicious Homecoming treats. Our heartfelt thanks to our Bake Sale Committee and all their volunteers.

Homecoming cannot happen without the help of countless volunteers, students, staff, and faculty and it is truly a team effort – so thank you to all. Backing me and always there to help where help was needed was my Vice-Chair, Nadine Melemis. I cannot thank her enough for her support; she made my job a lot easier.

My responsibilities also included the Valentine’s Day Treats. The students, faculty, and staff were treated to a wonderful selection of Valentine desserts in Cole Hall during their lunch. Once again, my thanks to all the parent volunteers who baked, wrapped, and helped to set up the spectacular assortment of treats. The boys always enjoy this special event.

It was a pleasure and privilege to fill the role of Homecoming Chair this past year. I have enjoyed my time on the Parents Guild and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such a wonderful and dedicated group of parents and friends.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Carter Homecoming Chair

Nadine Melemis Homecoming Vice-Chair

Interguild Report The Interguild is a parent association network for independent schools in Ontario. The Interguild is an organization that brings together representatives of guild/parent associations of independent schools in Ontario, all of which are members of the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS). Workshops and information events are planned for all schools to participate in and learn from one another.

We started the year in October at Branksome Hall for the Presidents Breakfast. All parent association presidents and Interguild representatives from 45 schools in Southwestern Ontario were present and treated to breakfast. We also had an information session on the Interguild and a tour of the school.

In November, the Interguild held a Suppliers Day at Crescent School. Suppliers Day is mainly geared toward Campus Shops. It was attended by Joanne Stock, SAC’s Campus Shop Manager.

In January, a breakfast session was held at Havergal College in Toronto. The topic discussed was New Opportunities for Guild Involvement; and in February, St Michael’s College School hosted a carousel-style workshop on New and Innovative Fundraising Ideas for your School.

Throughout the year, there were various invitational speaker events open to parents from all CIS schools.

Lenore Collis, Bianca Harris, and I attended the AGM in May held at Ridley College in St. Catharines. The guest speaker was Leslie Strong, author of The You Factor: A Handbook for Powerful Living.

It was extremely rewarding working with Melissa Tackaberry and the Holiday Heroes program.

Toys, clothes, gift cards, and daily essentials were donated by the boys, their parents, faculty, and staff for families throughout York Region in association with the York Region Children’s Aid Society. The PGE sponsored one large family this year. The generosity of all members was overwhelming.

My experience as Interguild Representative for St. Andrew’s College has been a great one. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many people from other schools and look forward to my new position next year.

Respectfully submitted, Sharon Ashton Interguild Representative

Residential Life Report The outstanding Residential Life program is one of the many things that make the St. Andrew’s College Boarding experience both fun and unique. Each month, the boys celebrating birthdays have an opportunity to be recognized and share in a celebration with their Andrean family and brothers.

In September, we hosted the first monthly ‘Birthday Bash’ to include a SAC-themed cake and ice cream. Members of the Parents Guild Executive (PGE) were invited to participate in Formal Room Inspection, making for some tough decisions on the winners with the cleanest rooms. The prize for the best rooms was pizza. The evening ended with a fun Big Brother/Little Brother competition. It was an exciting evening and a privilege to be included.

In October, the boys were busy celebrating Halloween with a door-decorating competition as part of Formal Inspection. A Haunted Mac House cake and ice cream was a fun way to celebrate the birthdays. On Halloween night, the boys headed out for some trick-or-treating with parent volunteers to enjoy the wet and spooky night. The boys especially enjoyed all the candy and the great decorations in the neighborhood behind the School.

In December, the Annual Macdonald House Holiday Banquet was held for boarders and their families. The boys worked hard to have fun games for everyone to participate in and great prizes to hand out. There was also a Big Brother/Little Brother Gingerbread competition attended by Santa, who gave out many prizes and wished our December boys a happy birthday. The night was complete after watching a funny video that the House Captains put on to show what life is like in Mac House. Everyone enjoyed the musical and talent performances.

The slideshow was a great display of many photos showing the fun the boys had in the first term.

In January, we launched a new initiative: the St. Andrew’s College Boarding House Concierge Program. After several months working on appropriate policy, safety, and insurance requirements, we launched the program with the PGE. This program supports boarders who may request unique items, sports equipment, or seasonal clothing that would best be taken care of with the support of a parent volunteer. Currently, we have two volunteers within the program.

This program will be part of the Residential Life role going forward.

In January, February, March, and April, we continued to celebrate birthdays and tried a few new things including SAC-themed cupcakes, gourmet donuts, and ice cream bars. The donuts were a huge success and a favourite with all the boys.

The final event was held in May with a year-end awards barbeque and evening of celebration.

The boys especially loved the piñata, along with donuts and ice cream for our birthday boys.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as Residential Life Chair. I would like to thank David Galajda, Director of Residential Life, the Parents Guild, and most of all, the amazing boys of Macdonald House. Your energy and enthusiasm is incredible. I feel lucky to have been able to enjoy so many memorable events in Mac House this year. Thanks for all the fun!

Respectfully submitted, Katie Henderson Residential Life Chair

Social & Welcome Report Another year has flown by, one that confirms Andrean community spirit is alive and well among the parents of St. Andrew’s College. Our events have been successful and well attended. Social & Welcome works closely with the Advancement team and, in particular, Sharen Turner, Parent Liaison & Event Coordinator, to plan and organize parent functions.

We hosted two Parent Coffee Hours in the fall, with record attendance at the first one held in Towers Library! It was wonderful to see so many new parents. Headmaster Kevin McHenry and Executive Director of Advancement, Scott Hayter, provided a warm welcome to all. Our guest speakers were Marg Kirkby, Director of Health Services, and Courtenay Shrimpton, Assistant Headmaster, Upper School and Director of Strategic Development. It was a very informative morning. Courtenay spoke about the new blog and encouraged parents to actively participate and invited them to provide feedback. It was a great opportunity for parents to connect with each other and learn.

On November 30, we held our Parent Coffee Hour in the Yuill Andrean Room at the La Brier Family Arena. Special guests included Greg Reid, Assistant Headmaster Student Life & Operations, and Head Prefect James Michaelis and several other Prefects, who presented “Boy Power and Leadership at SAC.” This was a fantastic presentation about the many leadership councils and opportunities available to the boys in the Upper School. It was wonderful to have the boys sharing their leadership experiences with the parents.

Many thanks to Grace Wyvill, Nancy McMurray, and their hardworking team from Food Services for providing refreshments for these events.

Our annual Parents Guild Executive Christmas Party was held December 2 at Beacon Hall with 39 guests in attendance. We were very appreciative of the wonderful attention to detail and delicious menu provided by Amir, Food and Beverage Manager, and Chef Jeremy. The club was decorated for the holidays and our much-anticipated gift exchange provided many laughs and great entertainment. It is definitely a highlight every year!

We wanted to do something different this year for our Parent Social and decided on a “Beer & Cheer Pub Night in the Gallery,” which was held on February 19. The decor looked great and we enjoyed the wonderful beer and cider tastings provided by Old Flame Brewing Co., Brickworks Cider, and Mill Street Brewery. Special thanks go to Mark and Blake, who served us in style with their lumberjack shirts and trademark beards while providing us with great insights into the art of micro brewing craft beer. The accompanying food for the evening was absolutely outstanding! Grace, Nancy, and Chef Davide provided pub fare that was tasty and filling and all our guests raved about the flavours! The candy bar designed by Vice-Chair Martine Kolm topped off the night.

Thanks as well to Jacquie Lazar, Theatre Coordinator and Technical Director, for the music, which created a nice vibe for the evening. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention our DJ, George Tsvetanov, who got the disco tunes playing and made a fun event even better with a dance train making its way around the room. A great time was had by all and we received quite a few requests to do this every Friday night!

Our finale for the year will be the Grade 8 and Grade 12 Graduation Dinners. We are preparing for these important occasions in collaboration with Sharen Turner and will be wrapping the grad gifts, selecting the menu for the grade 12 dinner at Hazelton Manor, and coordinating the flower arrangements and decor.

It has been a pleasure to chair Social & Welcome again this year, and I have been fortunate to have Martine Kolm as an amazing vice-chair. Working closely with Sharen Turner and our Guild President, Lenore Collis, has been a very positive experience.

Thanks for the memories 2015-2016, and we are looking forward to being social again next year!

Respectfully submitted, Julie Karabin Social & Welcome Chair Martine Kolm Social & Welcome Vice-Chair

Volunteer Report The 2015-2016 school year commenced with New Family Orientation Days (NFOD) in early September. New grades 9-11 students were welcomed on the first day of NFOD, while new grades 5-8 students on day two. It was wonderful to have construction complete with space now available for students to gather all together in Ketchum Auditorium/Wirth Theatre. There were many enthusiastic young men with happy, smiling faces, all excited to be at St. Andrew’s College to begin a new school year.

Many volunteers assisted over the two-day orientation program. Volunteering parents were extremely helpful to the new families, providing direction and information to help ease them into the Andrean community. The energy and support was truly overwhelming – and greatly appreciated.

Volunteer forms for parents were available at New Family Orientation Days, on the School website, at Parent Coffee Hours, and other events throughout the year. We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers interested in assisting with the many events held throughout the school year.

Events • Homecoming: This is one of the largest family events on campus. Many volunteers baked, canned, helped with crafts, games, and cheered for our teams. The weather was less than perfect: a little rain toward the end of the day; however, spirits remained festive. There were several new logistics changes, helping to make the day spirit-filled. This first all-school event of the year is always a great way for new parents to become involved.

• Waterford Etched Wine Decanter sales: New this year, and very popular, Waterford wine decanters etched with the St. Andrew’s crest were sold during the Christmas season.

• Open Houses: Four times this year a team of two volunteers, a day parent and a boarding parent, shared their knowledge and experiences with visiting boys and their families.

• MacPherson Hockey Tournament: Volunteers were on hand at information tables at all arenas. This tournament is a favorite for the entire Andrean community.

• Red & White Gala: Volunteers worked energetically throughout the year making the SAC Red & White “Rewind” Gala the grooviest event of the year. This year was truly a very special night out.

• Family Mentors: Family mentor volunteers helped new families feel at home in the St. Andrew’s community. This year, we were pleased to have many new and returning mentor volunteers along with their hospitality and language capabilities to help new families by answering questions and being available with ready information.

• Macdonald House – Middle School Residence: Volunteers helped to create a family environment by celebrating birthdays and special holidays throughout the school year. The theme cakes were spectacular and provided a special treat for the boys.

• Special Events – General Help: Aside from all the events throughout the year, we had many volunteers assisting Alternate Revenue with SAC Rack, the Middle School Spookfest decorating, the Holiday Heroes program, etc.

• Baking: The scrumptious and delightful treats baked by volunteers for different events throughout the year were much appreciated by all. The Homecoming baked goods and home-canned treasures as well as the Valentine’s Day treats are prepared by the talented bakers of St. Andrew’s College.

Numerous volunteers assist with the active school and Parents Guild event schedule. They demonstrate and foster the strong family community at St. Andrew’s College. SAC volunteers are a special group of dedicated people who donate their time and creativity throughout the year, always with smiles and enthusiastic energy. These tireless volunteers are true ‘saints’ at

St. Andrew’s College. We graciously thank them for their generosity and support of St. Andrew’s College. Thank you!

Respectfully submitted, Lisa Muenzenberger Volunteer Chair Michele Crowder Volunteer Vice-Chair

St. Andrew’s College Parents Guild Executive Committee 2016-2017 President

Bianca Harris

Vice-President

Lenore Collis

Recording Secretary

Deanna Todd

Treasurer

Sarah Smith

Gala Chair

Marnie Sigmar

Gala Vice-Chair

Martine Kolm

Homecoming Chair

Katie Henderson

Homecoming Vice-Chair

Belinda Long

Interguild & Community Outreach Chair

Judy Davies

Alternate Revenue Chair

Joanna Chan

Alternate Revenue Vice-Chair

Cailey Stollery

Social and Welcome Chair

Julie Karabin

Social and Welcome Vice-Chair

Andra Nirenberski

Family Mentor Chair

Karen Leung

Family Mentor Vice-Chair

Sheri Deo

Volunteer Chair

Catherine Stringer

Volunteer Vice-Chair

Bola Ogunremi

Residential Life Chair

Michele Crowder

Communications Chair

Elena Dimitriev

Member at Large

Sharon Ashton

Member at Large

Christine Fullerton

Past President

Angela Wood-Macgregor Invited Guests

Honorary Member

Karan McHenry

Parent Relations & Event Coordinator

Sharen Turner