VO LU M E X X I I , N U M B E R 11 | M AY 22, 2017 A monthly publication of The Post Oak School E N D - O F -Y E A R S PE C I A L I S S U E
The Post Oak Class of 2017
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THE POST
2016–2017 Post Oak Board of Trustees
Outgoing POPA Chairs, Alison Wong and Stacey Martin
Thank you! Our heartfelt thanks to out-going Post Oak Parent Association Chairs, Stacey Martin and Alison Wong, for two years of excellent service and parent representation during a time of transition and growth at The Post Oak School! Heaps of additional gratitude to all of our Room Parents, Annual Fund Class Captains, Event Chairs, Gala Committee Members, Dads’ Club Chairs and all parents who lent a hand throughout the year by chaperoning field trips, cooking lunches, gardening, running errands, and all of the many other tasks that parents do for the Post Oak community.
Rakesh Agrawal Sebha Ali Brett Busby Melissa Coleman, chair Blair Garrou Vean Gregg Gregory Han Maura Joyce, president Bert Mellinger Katie Orr Jaana Porra Manuel Sánchez, chair-elect Rochelle Tafolla Marc Walsh Alison Wong Alan Ying Jennifer Zumbado
Trustees Emeriti Frank Apollo Adam Forman Melanie Gray Bob Harvey Lloyd Kirchner Pat Mitchell
On the Cover The class of 2017.
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M AY 2017
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Welcome to...
Our New POPA Chairs and Event Chairs!
Nicole Pedersen and Jennifer Chavis, POPA Chairs 2017–2019
Emily Browning and Carlin Putman, POPA Dinner Chairs
Teresa Lin and Rhian McKinney, Book Fair Chairs
Laura DeVera and Jessica Matos, Field Day Chairs
We are delighted to present our incoming 2017-2019 Parent Association Co-Chairs: Jennifer Chavis and Nicole Pedersen! Jennifer’s family has been at Post Oak since 2007. Her son, Brayden, is part of Post Oak’s Senior Class of 2017 and heading to Rice University next year. Her youngest son, Jackson, will be in Middle School next year. Jennifer served as Gala co-chair for this year’s record breaking event. She has also served as POPA Dinner co-chair and room parent. She is a tireless, vibrant, and enthusiastic Post Oak volunteer! Nicole’s family entered Post Oak in 2014. Nicole has served as Family Fun Day co-chair, as a committee member for this
year’s Gala, and as part of the parent committee for ISAS Accreditation. Additionally, she has been a room parent and annual fund class captain. Nicole is always present-at parent ed events, classroom events, all-school events. She is an active and engaged participant in the life of the school. Her oldest daughter, Isa, will be a sixth grader in Mr. Pinto’s class, and her younger daughter, Amelie, will be in Debbie Nickerson’s class next year. In addition to our new POPA chairs, parent volunteers have been selected to chair our all-school events. Please see the photos above, and if you see any of these parents on campus, please take a moment to thank them for taking on these leadership volunteer roles at Post Oak!
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High School Commencement 2017 The Post Oak Community is invited to attend Friday, May 26 at Hamman Hall, Rice University, 5:30 p.m.
Hamman Hall is building 31 off of entrance 21. Drivers can pull up and drop off and then park in lot NA during the day or North Lot after 4 p.m. Please note, all parking on Rice’s campus is for a fee— there is no free parking.
CHEROKEE
21
20
RICE BLVD NA
RICE UNIVERSITY
ASHBY
KENT
Parking at Rice University for Graduation
HAZARD
Congratulations to our Class of 2017!
NORTH LOT N
(VISITOR PARKING NIGHTS & WEEKENDS)
31 HAMMAN HALL
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2017 Gala and Annual Fund Dollars at Work by Christina Kopanidis-Cantu, Development Director
school this year. Take a look at some of what’s new at Post Oak:
Have you walked into the Bissonnet gym lately? Maybe you noticed how beautifully and brightly lit it is. If you contributed to this year’s Post Oak Fund, you made that happen-upgraded lighting fixtures throughout the gym (that don’t take 20 minutes to warm up!).
• • • •
Under the incredible leadership of Post Oak Fund Chairs, Lisa Heyden and Steven Douglas, a total of $337,000 was raised by 98% of our parent community, 100% of trustees, and 100% of employees. That is 12% over our financial goal! Thanks to all of our class captains who worked hard to get the word out about the importance of the Post Oak Fund, and special thanks to each of you who contributed! And what about that Great Gatsby Gala?! Co-Chairs Jennifer Chavis and Stelli Parsapour set the stage for Post Oak parents to make it a record-breaking year raising over $630,000! Your generous contributions to both the Biennial Gala and this year’s Annual Fund have accomplished so many things for your
The purchase of the new 71 seat passenger bus, Installation of two new rooftop HVAC units , An increase in Financial Aid of 11% to over $1.3 million, Replacement of our Bissonnet roof—a $250,000 critical project planned for this summer, • The continued 5% transfer of yearly fundraising to the endowment, • Unexpected replacement of an irrepairable $11,000 water heater in YCC, • A new water filtration system for all Primary and YCC classrooms and common areas, • Increased professional development for teacher training, • New fencing around the playground garden, • Installation of raised garden beds for Elementary classes, summer 2017, • Purchase of wood-working tools for Middle School. And more. I offer gratitude and deep appreciation for your generosity and nod of support for the work that happens each day at Post Oak.
2017 Classroom parent participation in the the Post Oak Fund
GENTLE R EMINDER Post Oak Annual Fund pledges are due May 31. Please show your support of The Post Oak School by making your Annual Fund contribution today online, via credit card, securities, or check. Thank you!
TRUSTEES
EMPLOYEES
12TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
10TH GRADE
9TH GRADE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
TOWNSEND
TAJ MAHMOOD
SOOD
PINTO, M
PINTO, E
PARRAGUIRRE
OLITZKI
NICKERSON
MISTRETTA
KLUK
KIMBALL
HANSEN
GUERRERO
DICKSON
BROOKS
BLESSMAN
100% 100% 94% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 88% 85% 88% 100% 100%
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THE POST
SCENES
from The Post Oak School
1. A young student patiently waits for a butterfly release during YCC recess. 1
2. Upper Elementary students perform songs with a beat for their parents and families.
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3. High School students honor moms with a special Mother’s Day breakfast. 4. Independent work makes for a productive day in Primary. 5. A Gala Auction outing results in a big fish for two Post Oak brothers! 6. (see insert) 7-8. Lower Elementary students explore the world during international celebrations. 3
4
5
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In May, Mrs. Pinto’s Upper El class hosted their annual Spanish Market Community Service Event with proceeds benefiting The Texas Children’s Hospital. Based on the street markets in Mexico and other South American cities, the students worked extremely hard preparing food booths, flower stalls, and trinket shops for this grand event. It is a practical lesson in speaking Spanish and learning how a market place works. This year, the enthusiastic group raised $2,844 and presented a check to Mr. Frank Stowell III of TCH!
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Congratulations to the Student Yearbook Committee and advisor Monica Lundeen for this year’s beautiful book! Thank you for your hard work throughout this year to capture the life at school and our Post Oak family. Books will be distributed on Wednesday, May 24.
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D ATE UPD
N OT I C E B OA R D
Visit our website for the handy onepage Calendar Quickview.
2017–2018
Important Dates Aug. 14
Faculty/staff return
Aug. 22
Elementary, Middle, & High School students return
Aug. 28–Sept. 1 First week for all YCC, PRI students Sept. 4
Labor Day— school closed
Oct. 9
Columbus Day—employee retreat/in-service— school closed
Nov. 22–24 Thanksgiving Break— school closed Dec. 21
Post Oak parents, Carlie and Richard Yoo, have started a GoFundMe page to support our friend and colleague, Coach Mark Tucker, as he continues his battle with cancer.
Early dismissal
Dec. 22–Jan. 5 Winter Break— school closed Jan. 8
Teacher in-service— school closed
Jan. 15
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—school closed
Feb. 19
Presidents’ Day— school closed
March 12–16 Spring Break—only students with expandedyear contracts attend March 30 Good Friday— school closed April 20
Teacher in-service— school closed
May 25
Last day of school/ early dismissal HS Commencement
LOST & FOUND The lost and found is overflowing at the Bissonnet Campus. Stop by the Common Room next time you’re here to check the chest for your child’s lost treasures. Items not claimed by the end of the school year will be donated.
Have a great summer! Look for the summer issue of The Post in July!
A BOU T T H E POST The Post appears every first Monday of the month during the regular school year. You can receive a printed copy from your oldest child, or a PDF version online. Submit letters, articles, or photos in electronic form to Communications Coordinator Elaine Schweizer (elaineschweizer@postoakschool.org) by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday one week prior to publication. Please direct all requests for permission to reprint articles to the communications coordinator. The Post Oak School was founded in 1963 and accredited by both the International Baccalaureate® Programme (IBO) and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Bissonnet Campus: 4600 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401 ■ Tel.: 713-661-6688 ■ Fax: 713-661-4959 Museum District Campus: 1010 Autrey St., Houston, TX 77006 ■ Tel.: 832-538-1988 ■ Fax: 832-538-1926 www.postoakschool.org | facebook.com/thepostoakschool