A Letter from the
Past President
Dear Woodward Parents,
The 2010-2011 Parent Community year has concluded, and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what our community has accomplished through dedicated volunteer efforts of the Woodward parent community.
During the 2009 - 2010 school year, Dr. Stuart Gulley convened Blue Ribbon Task Forces to take a look at several aspects of the Woodward community. In response to suggestions outlined in the Task Force findings, the Parents Club elected to look at a possible name change in order to better communicate the over arching purpose of the Parents Club: to build and promote community. Given wholehearted support from the Academy’s Administration, and with much brainstorming and tremendous dedication to the task at hand, the Parents Club opted to change its name from Parents Club to Parent Community. With this decision in hand, the Parent Community began a well organized campaign to communicate the name change and more importantly to solidify its community oriented paradigm. Additionally, the Parent Community developed a logo to depict its mission.
-
The Parent Community logo will serve as a consistent reminder of what its purpose is as it will accompany all Parent Community communications.
The Parent Community took several concrete steps toward enhancing our community. Each school division added events to bring parents as well as students together to further enrich our sense of community. The academy wide parent social event “Mardi Gras at Woodward” was well attended by Woodward Parents many of whom donned Mardi Gras masks, pins and hats. The Mentor Program designed to ensure all new students feel welcome added several social gathering in each school division so that new parents and students could get to know established Woodward families. The Parent Program committee made concerted effort to provide a variety of speakers addressing a wide range of parenting interests and challenges. The Parent Community Consignment Shop and Concession Stand both had banner years. The revenue generated helped the Parent Community donate $50,000 as a lead gift in support of the Academy’s plan for the new Humanities building on the Upper School campus.
People often thank us for our year of service, but it is we who are truly thankful for the opportunity to serve such a vibrant community and to work with countless volunteers who are dedicated, creative, diligent, enthusiastic, and above all fun to be around. We look forward to the energetic leadership of Suzy Ellis, Parent Community President for the 2011-2012 school year as she continues the journey that has no conclusion, the journey toward community.
Best,
Haynes and John Dooley
2010-2011 Presidents