50 | Summer 2017 PA THE THE YEAR WE IMAGINED… Together One of the many reasons I love GDS is the community of people who come together with the goal to develop the intellectual, ethical, and interpersonal foundations students need to become constructive contributors to the world. I am fascinated by the ideas, dreams, and challenges we all share, and believe we are stronger when we connect with one another. The impact of the Parents’ Association is broad and noteworthy, a fact illuminated by each event. I am grateful for your involvement in our school this year. KARA PENFIELD 2016-17 Parents’ Association President We changed our community together during Bengal Paws for Service. On November 12, 16 non-profit organizations in the Triad benefitted from the generous and heart-felt donation of time, creativity, strength, and leadership by the GDS Community. Thank you to the amazing team of chairs for this event: Crissy Anderson, Ann McCallum-Boles, and Sara Stroud. We wrapped things up together with the Innisbrook Fundraiser. Beautifully wrapped packages and warm chocolate chip cookies often fill the pages of storybooks and, thanks to Innisbrook chairs Bessie Epes and Craig McIntosh ’98, our own world. Add to these delights the $5,387 raised to support the various efforts of the PA and you can begin to appreciate the scope of the Innisbrook Fundraiser. We cared for one another together through PA Cares. In our toughest times, it is comforting to be reminded that we are not alone. Whether the situation calls for a note of concern, meals to nourish our weakened souls, or flowers to brighten a cloudy moment, the PA Cares Committee is there with timely and authentic reminders that we are part of a community. Thank you, Allison Lineweaver Bell ’92 (Lower School), Liza Lee (Middle School), and Jenny Sar (Upper School)! We partnered with the division directors on Advisory Committees together. Connection between parents and the divisions occurs in various and important ways. One way is through involvement on the division-level Advisory Committees. This year Heather Wilson (Lower School), Nyla Kahn (Middle School), and Sandra Schulte (Upper School) chaired these committees. Thank you to the chairs and committee members for your involvement. We enjoyed time together at the all Parents’ Social. What a lovely evening we spent in the Middle School Courtyard, hosted by the PA Hospitality Committee & GDS Office of Advancement. It provided a break from our busy lives to see old friends and make new ones. We played together at the Fall Festival. If you were able to pause on Friday, October 14, you might have noticed that time stood still for a few short hours at GDS. Whether they were going down the inflatable slide, picking for a prize, or painting a pumpkin, the field behind the lower school was overflowing with the happy sounds of children and parents playing together. Thank you to the magnificent chairs of this event, Melissa Feinstein, Sarah Solomon, & Isabelle Kramme! We improved our school facilities together through the Allocations Fund. There is substantial research to support the positive impact that a beautiful school environment has on a child’s ability to learn. Our children are fortunate to spend their days on our stunning campus and the PA is fortunate to support the enhancement of our facilities and grounds. This year we have allocated $32,111.67 toward: a new climbing wall in the Lower School mini-gym, 3 additional video cameras placed throughout campus, a portion of the Andreve Teaching Garden (located behind the Middle School), and new landscaping in front of the Kindergarten entrance of the Lower School. Additionally, we will carry $22,500 over to the 2017-18 school year.