ParenTs Association
2022-2023
What's Happening AT FENN?
* More details in Friday Fenn! Note: PA Events appear in bold. |
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List of 2022-2023 Grade Parents
About Us -- Mission and Leadership
Mission: The Fenn Parents Association serves as a primary link between Fenn families and the school. Our goal is to foster an inclusive, close-knit Fenn community with opportunities for parents and students to get to know each other better, have fun, and to build lasting friendships. The PA arranges social functions and educational programs for Fenn families, conducts fundraising activities to benefit the school, and assists with general school activities. Every parent is a member of the Fenn PA and we welcome your involvement in whatever way fits into your schedule.
Leadership:
President
Liz Nadzo
Vice President
Parent Programs & Events
Lauren Manthripragada
Vice President
Student & School Life
Babbie Mulvany
Vice President
Student & School Life, Elect
Erica Silverman
Treasurer
Tanya Oblak
Secretary
Jennie Garofalo
Volunteer Coordinator
Caroline Myler
Getting Involved -- PA Events and Committees
EVENTS AND COMMITTEES
The various Parents Association Committees assist with school activities and coordinate social functions, educational programs, and fundraising activities. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Caroline Myler to find how you can get involved today!
Annual Fund Committee – Advisor: Jessica Adani
The Annual Fund is Fenn's largest yearly fundraising effort and it supports the programs and people that make Fenn such an exceptional place. Serve as a representative for the 42 Days for Fenn by contacting fellow parents and asking them to join you in supporting Fenn's Annual Fund. Participate in two November phonathons and one December phonathon or make calls from home or the office. Plan on approximately three to six hours, with an emphasis placed on the late fall.
Assembly Program – Chair: Cate Waldeck; Faculty Advisors: Nat Carr, Kate Wade, Dave Irwin
The Assembly Program selects enriching entertainment for Fenn’s assembly program for the boys. Join a group of Fenn parents who network with other schools to attend assembly performances and preview weekday showcases organized by The Young Audiences of MA Association, West Suburban Creative Arts Council, and other sources. This committee is a great opportunity to meet other parents, learn about other schools, and add some culture to your week.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison: Addie Wyman Battalen; Faculty Advisors Simone Hutchings, Liz Wei
Help connect and organize Fenn parent volunteers with the faculty and student diversity teams, and support Fenn's mission of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
Drama Volunteers – Chair: Derek Moitoso; Faculty Advisor: Amy Menkin
Drama Volunteers work with Fenn’s Drama teacher to support theatrical productions throughout the school year. Help by working on the organization of props and costumes, assistance with costume fittings, and the coordination of cast parties.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Committee – Chairs: Ashley Kilmartin, Lacey Verhage
The Parents Association acknowledges its appreciation for Fenn faculty and staff by organizing several special events each year. Help by donating food, decorating, setting up, or cleaning up.
Fall/Spring Sports Tailgate – Chairs: Brittanie Beeson, Abby Larson
The Tailgate Committee plans tailgates in the fall and spring when all interscholastic teams play at home. Help by donating refreshments, setting up, serving, or cleaning up.
Fenn Logowear – Chairs: Ashley Kilmartin, Babbie Mulvany
The Fenn PA offers logo wear clothing and accessories three times a year. Volunteers are needed to help with managing inventory and selling logo wear at the following sales: Welcome Back to School Sale, Homecoming Sale, and Holiday Sale.
Graphics/Print Coordinator – Chair: Vanessa Ahlgren
The Outdoor Notice Board Group prepares announcements of upcoming events that are then placed on the notice board on the Entry Drive.
iLab Volunteers – Faculty Advisor: Nathan Kraai
iLab volunteers work to support before-school activities in the iLab throughout the year. Help by assisting boys with scratch coding, use of 3D printers, and general makerspace projects.
Library Volunteers– Chair: Elaine Yang; Faculty Advisor: Siobhan Smith
The Library Volunteers assist Library Director, Siobhan Smith and Library Teacher, Jill MacKinnon, in the library by preparing new books for shelving, covering or repairing books, making displays, shelving books, or helping with special projects.
My Big Brother’s Store – Chair: Esther Yoon
The store provides Fenn students with gently-used, dress-code appropriate clothing. Help by sorting through donations, cleaning and ironing clothes, organizing the store, soliciting donations, and encouraging shopping.
Parents Association Closet Organizer – Chair: Esther Yoon
We have a small room in the Alumni and Development Office loaded with items we use for all PA events and activities. Help with keeping it sorted and organized.
Parent Connections – Chair: Jennifer Smith
Parent Connections aims to bring Fenn parents together in new ways through a variety of small events and programs. The goal is to have fun, share experiences, and strengthen the parent community. There are many incredible parents at Fenn – let’s find some time to spend together.
Parents Independent Network (PIN) – Chairs: Mara Kunst, Adrienne Principe, Raquelle Webster
Parent representatives from Fenn attend monthly meetings with parents from other independent schools to share ideas and information.
School Photos – Chairs: Isabelle Rosso, Joanna Turner
School Picture Volunteers assist photographers and organize students as they are photographed.
Service Learning – Chairs: Ethan Kiczek, Michelle Oldershaw; Faculty Advisors: Emalee Fay, Rob Morrison
Service Learning volunteers work with the Service Learning Liaison to support Fenn Service Learning Faculty Advisors with Tuesday afternoon "day of service" activities and event logistics.
Spring Social – Chairs: Nia Jephson, Elizabeth Leonard
We hope to be able to host an enjoyable social event for all current Fenn parents, faculty, and staff. Volunteers are needed to help with planning, set-up, and clean-up.
Sports Sale – Chairs: Alissa Kugler, Jennifer Todd
This public sale of new and gently used sporting equipment and accessories is a major fundraiser and community event for Fenn. Help with advertising, promoting the event, picking up, sorting, and pricing donations, or help with sales on the day of the event.
The Fenn Book Sale – Chairs: Shannon Mokoro, Anne Slugg
The Fenn Book Sale is held at the Concord Bookshop, located at 65 Main Street in Concord. A portion of the day’s sales at the bookshop goes to Fenn. Help with publicity or staffing the information table at the bookshop for a 1-2 hour shift on the day of the event.
Student Activity Fee
Dear Fenn Parents,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year at Fenn. The Fenn Parents Association (PA) offers many wonderful community building events and activities for both the students and the parents at Fenn. Our goal is to foster an inclusive, close-knit Fenn community with opportunities for parents and students to get to know each other better, to have fun, and to build lasting friendships.
In a typical year, student activities organized by the PA include:
- 4th Grade: Blue & Gold Dinner for each student and guest, Winter Outing, End of Year Party
- 5th Grade: Winter Outing, End of Year Party
- 6th Grade: Blue & Gold Dinner for each student and guest, Winter Outing, End of Year Party
- 7th Grade: Winter Outing, End of Year Party
- 8th Grade: Gold & Blue Dinner for each student and guest, End of Year Party
- 9th Grade: Class Outing, End of Year Party
The PA requests that the fees required to cover these events be paid up front at the beginning of the year, and parents may do so via the link below. Fenn families who receive financial aid will receive a separate letter regarding the PA Student Activity Fee from Tory Hayes, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, and may contact him with any questions.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or to get involved. Thank you for your support; we look forward to helping make this a great year for our Fenn students and their families.
Sincerely,
Tanya Oblak, PA Treasurer and Liz Nadzo, PA President
PA Meetings and Archived Recordings
We invite all parents to attend the monthly Parents Association Meetings and look forward to offering programming that will strengthen our school community by giving parents and guardians the opportunity to connect with our knowledgeable Fenn faculty and staff, to hear from professionals within our broader community, and to interact with fellow parents in meaningful ways.
Meetings will be recorded and can be viewed in our video archive at any time. Some topics may be subject to privacy considerations and will not be recorded.
Access recorded PA meetings here
SEPTEMBER PA mEETING - fri., SEPT 23 @ 8:30 AM
Join us along with Head of School, Derek Boonisar, on Friday, September 23rd at 8:30am in the Hammett Ory Library, for our first Parents Association meeting of the year. Mr. Boonisar will welcome parents and address questions at this annual "Ask the Head" event. Stay tuned for an opportunity to submit questions in advance of the meeting. Save the date and join us for coffee, conversation, and Q&A.
OCTOBER PA MEETING - TBA
NOVEMBER PA MEETING - TBA
DECEMBER PA MEETING - Tues., dec 6 @ 8:30 am
Join us on Tuesday, December 6th at 8:30am for our December Parents Association Gathering featuring our Holiday Logowear Sale! Come mix and mingle and enjoy some light refreshments and warm beverages while getting a jump on some holiday shopping. We will offer many of the classic goodies (hoodies, joggers, winter hats) and will debut some awesome new items and stocking stuffers just in time for the holidays! We hope you can join us!
JANUARY PA MEETING - THURS., jan 19 @ 8:30 am
Join us along with Fenn Athletic Director and Advisor, Bob "Star" Starensier, on Thursday, January 19th at 8:30am in the Hammett Ory Library, for our January PA Meeting. Star will deliver some words of wisdom after four decades of working with Fenn boys. Save the date and join us for coffee, conversation, and Q&A.
FEBRUARY PA MEETING - THURS., feb 9 @ 7:00 pm
7:00 p.m. in the Hammett Ory Library. The Fenn Parents Association invites you to save the date for an evening talk, Boys and Friendship: A Guide for Parents, presented by Rachel Kramer, PhD, former Fenn parent, Trustee and local clinical psychologist, and Geoffrey Cohane, PhD, Fenn's own consulting clinical psychologist. A reception with light refreshments will be held at 7:00 p.m., with the speaking portion following at 7:30 p.m.
March PA MEETING - TBA
APRIL PA - wed., april 5 @ 8:30 am
8:30am in the Hammett Ory Library. Please join us for coffee at 8:30am, followed by an 8:45am workshop with Glen Hall from Prevention Solutions, highlighting current facts and trends related to drug and alcohol use and effective ways to communicate with children about these substances and the smart choices they can be equipped to make related to them. This meeting will not be recorded, so it's not to be missed! Stay tuned for additional information about Prevention Solutions' visit to Fenn, including how to submit questions in advance. They are certainly welcome and encouraged!
MAY PA MEETING - TBA