Dear Crossroads Parents,

 

This letter is to welcome you all to the Crossroads Parent Association, and — especially for those of you who are new to the school — offer a few words of introduction about who we are and what we do. And when I say we, I mean all of us — every parent of a current student is a member. We pay dues to the PA through a small part of our tuition.

 

The Parent Association is a loose, informal, energetic organization that serves two main functions: to help enhance the quality of the student experience at Crossroads, and to help foster a sense of community among the school’s staff, students, and families. All of our work relies on the energy and involvement of many, many parents. Most importantly, we volunteer our time: by hosting and welcoming new members into the Crossroads family; by organizing school-wide picnics and dances and special student events; by helping out in the classroom; by chaperoning. There is no better way to get involved with the school and engaged in your daughter or son’s schooling, no better way to get to know faculty and other parents (and parent concerns) in our small community.

 

As part of our mission, we also look for creative and useful ways to help raise money for special school purchases. We coordinate the school’s lunch programs (along with pizza, bagels, sandwiches, Boloco Wraps for Middle School students). We hold a small number of sales throughout the year, including lightly used dress-code appropriate collared shirts, a wreath and garland sale in the fall, and plant sales in the spring. 

 

We are well aware of the financial commitment all of us are making to the school, and we’ve tried to design fund-raisers that don’t simply ask for money, but which offer real value. The money we raise makes a real difference: in the past year alone, it paid for the fantastic new natural playground between Klee and Bancroft. Also we funded the artist-in-residence program; purchased books to enhance the Latin curriculum; funded a literary journal produced by students; purchased overhead projectors for a couple of classrooms and many other projects.

 

Kevin and I have been Crossroads parents since Gabrielle began kindergarten five years ago, with our son Liam having joined in kindergarten three years ago.   I spent the first four years as a Crossroads parent volunteering in a number of capacities – in the classroom, the library, cutting pizza, going on field trips; as well helping out in various other fundraisers and activities. And I learned something important: you don’t have to be a veteran parent to help out, and you don’t have to give a lot of money to have a big impact on this school we’ve come to love.

 

Consider this an open invitation to get involved; I have attached a list of our current volunteer needs. If you have any ideas or energy or spare time, feel free to contact me any time throughout the year. I’ll look forward to working together.

 

Warmly, and on behalf of the Parent Association,

Gretchen Curtis, chair

603-353-9076