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Parents

family engagement

When your child becomes a student at º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, you too join a diverse, engaged, and vibrant community! As a parent or guardian, you automatically become part of the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents organization. We encourage family participation, facilitate communication between families and the school, and organize activities that enrich the quality of student life and the greater º£½ÇÊÓÆµ community. The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents organization comprises 11 committees and a parents’ council. Read on and learn more about how you can get involved.

Parent and Guardian Events

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ and º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents organize a variety of events for the parent/guardian community throughout the year. Whether you reside locally or across the globe, there are many opportunities to gather with fellow parents and guardians, participate in programs in support of the student experience, and hear from school leadership throughout the year.

Recent Events

  • New-Parent/Guardian Onboarding Calls
  • State of the School Address from the Head of School
  • º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE (º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Residential Enrichment) Program Dinner
  • Back-to-School Event Series (featuring faculty and students)
  • º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents Council Meetings
  • Family Weekend
  • Parent/Guardian Socials
  • Faculty/staff Appreciation Luncheons
  • Exam Treats Program
  • International Potluck Dinner
  • º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents Coffee & Conversation Series
  • Volunteer Appreciation reception
  • º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents Health & Wellness Series

Family Weekend

Typically held over two days in October, Family Weekend is a time for our families to come to campus and learn what life is like at the school. Most notably, parents/guardians are able to attend classes with their children and meet with their children’s advisors. Family Weekend also presents an opportunity to meet other families, hear from senior administrators, and see athletics and the arts in action. The weekend programming typically begins Friday morning and ends Saturday afternoon.

Parent and Guardian Resources

There are a number of ways that º£½ÇÊÓÆµ keeps its parent/guardian community informed. Current parents/guardians may find much of what they need under the Family Portal section of our website. Additionally, we send out a weekly newsletter with announcements, important dates, event reminders, photos, student and alum stories, and more.

Read more about college counseling at º£½ÇÊÓÆµ or review the current year’s academic calendar below.

Volunteer

Explore the opportunities to volunteer with º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents. Every year over 200 parents volunteer, whether they live near or far. Volunteering is a great way to meet fellow families, get to know the school, and help º£½ÇÊÓÆµ. To learn more about getting involved or to have questions answered, please contact:

Meredith Walsh
Associate Director of Engagement and Parent Programs
meredith_walsh@concordacademy.org
(978) 402-2569

Hilary Rouse
Director of Constituent Engagement and Leadership Giving
hilary_rouse@concordacademy.org
(978) 402-2217

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

*Indicates opportunities for boarding parents

Admissions Tour Guides lead campus tours for parents of prospective students during their admissions visits. From September through January, parent volunteers tour weekly, or substitute as needed. Being an Admissions Tour Guide is a great way to learn more about the school and share your family’s º£½ÇÊÓÆµ story. In addition, there are opportunities to participate in virtual admissions panels, greet visitors at open houses and revisit days, and make phone calls to newly admitted families. This volunteer opportunity is open to all current parents and parents of º£½ÇÊÓÆµ graduates. Volunteers attend a training session in early September.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-chairs:
Rebecca Comjean P’25
’29 (Caroline, Leah)
Dan Stillwell P’28 (Ben)

Staff Liaisons
Melody Rosas-Granda, associate director of admissions; coordinator of multicultural outreach, (978) 402-2250
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement and parent programs, (978) 402-2569

The Parent Annual Fund committee is a group of volunteers of 9th-, 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade parents whose primary responsibility is to solicit their peers in support of º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s Annual Fund. Co-chairs and committee members will help inspire fellow families to make gifts—at all levels—to the Annual Fund, a fund critical to º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s mission and financial health. Encouraging families to support the Annual Fund in their first year at º£½ÇÊÓÆµ will help strengthen the Annual Giving program while allowing families to be part of this important communal philanthropic effort. The financial goal for the 2025–26 Parent Annual Fund program is $1 million from as many families as possible. All members of the committee are responsible for contributing to the Annual Fund and soliciting others in support of the program. In addition to the co-chairs, we depend on a committee of parent volunteers from all four classes. The success of this fundraising program, at every level, depends on peer-to-peer outreach.

Responsibilities
Committee members will serve as advocates for º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s Parent Annual Fund and reach out to five to seven º£½ÇÊÓÆµ families, asking them to support the program. Members can inspire others to support º£½ÇÊÓÆµ by sharing their motivation for supporting the school. A manageable time commitment, the responsibilities of committee members consist of attending the launch of the program/training session in October and conducting outreach for the program throughout the year.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-chairs:
Mark Krum P’26
(Lexie)
Edwin Choy P’27 (Christopher)

Staff Liaisons
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement and parent programs, (978) 402-2569
Hilary Rouse, director of constituent engagement and leadership giving, (978) 402-2217

Performing Arts parent volunteers support º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s performing arts programs. Volunteers provide food and treats and help with reception setup and cleanup at music, dance, and theatrical performances throughout the year. Volunteers may also organize lunches for the cast and crew of the two (fall and winter) mainstage productions and snacks during the tech week leading up to each performance. Please let us know if you are interested in helping. Volunteer sign-ups will be posted throughout the year.

*Boarding families can support these events by contributing food and beverages. To participate, please contact the co-chairs.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-chairs:
Jen Lee P’26 ’27
(Averie, Noelle)
TBD

Staff Liaison
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement and parent programs, (978) 402-2569

Athletics parent volunteers (team parents) help º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s Athletics Department communicate information to parents and provide ways for parents of team members to connect and support athletes and the athletics program.

The goals of the program are:

  • To support individual athletic teams
  • To help parents and the community connect through º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s athletics programs

Each athletic season, one or two parent volunteers per team communicate with the team’s coaches to hear about their needs and how they like to communicate with their teams. Each team and coach is different; some teams may appreciate snacks and others will organize a team meal. Team parents communicate with parents about the team’s schedule and significant games (e.g., Chandler Bowl), and remind senior parents about each team’s senior ceremony. Please let us know if you are interested.

*Boarding families can support these events as team parents or by contributing snacks and beverages. To participate, please contact the co-chairs.

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-chairs
Marc Gottesman P’27 ‘29 (Oliver, Penny)
Rebecca Tarantino P’26 (Alex)

Staff Liaisons
Sue Johnson P’20, director of athletics, (978) 402-2338
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement & parent programs, (978) 402-2569

The º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE (º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Residential Enrichment) program matches boarding students, if they desire, with a local family for the academic year. º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families provide an important connection to the local community for boarding students and offer a slice of family life to those who may be far from home. º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families support students with gestures big and small—for example, providing occasional notes or treats, taking them out for ice cream or pizza, inviting them to their home for dinner, or taking them to a movie. º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families make a yearlong commitment to the program, with the hope of monthly student contact. The program is flexible based on the student’s needs and desires and what the º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE family can provide. As local families and students build their relationship, families are welcome to invite students for a weekend away, with advance notice provided to house faculty.

Timeline

  • August: º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families will be matched with boarding students and will receive information about their º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE student and the student’s family after the start of school.
  • September: º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families will attend a dinner at º£½ÇÊÓÆµ to share a meal with their º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE students and reunite with returning boarding students. New º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families will also attend an orientation following the dinner.
  • October: If your º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE student’s family is unable to attend Family Weekend, it is great to attend a few classes with your student at this time.
  • During the year: The º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE program organizes three or four on-campus events as opportunities for quick touchpoints between º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families and º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE students.
  • Exam Times, December and May: You may want to make a phone call or send a care package to your º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE student.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-Chairs:
Ha Richmond P’26
(Tal)
Maeve McWhinney P’27 ’29 (Maelle, Hazel)

Staff Liaisons
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement and parent programs, (978) 402-2569
Grant Hightower P’26, assistant head for student life, (978) 402-2296

The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Gear pop-up store provides º£½ÇÊÓÆµ-branded clothing and gear at a variety of school events throughout the school year. Parent volunteers assist with inventory and help sell gear on four or five dates during the year. Volunteers are not expected to come to all events. Let us know if you are interested in helping and the chair will reach out to you before sales.

Key Contact
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Chair:
Anne-Flore Marmot
P’27 ’28 (Paul, Rose)

Staff Liaison
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement & parent programs, (978) 402-2569

Parent volunteers surprise students with small bags of treats before December and May assessments. Parent volunteers provide the sweets and spend a morning before exams stuffing bags. This is a quick and fun way to support students and meet other parents.
*Boarding families can support these events by contributing candy or healthy snacks, through either Amazon or a similar website. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact the co-chairs.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-chairs:
Wendy Newman P’25 ’27
(Lucy, Oliver)

Staff Liaison
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement & parent programs, (978) 402-2569

Parent volunteers provide food, decorations, and small gifts for faculty and staff luncheons in the fall and spring. Volunteers help with setup and cleanup, as well. Please indicate your interest in helping with these special events. Parent co-chairs will reach out to you as they begin planning.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parents Co-chairs:
Cindy Greene P’28
(Ames)
Ruth Kanfer P’28 (Max)

Staff Liaison
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement & parent programs, (978) 402-2569

Each February, º£½ÇÊÓÆµ families host a potluck dinner for the student community. Parents provide a wide variety of international dishes and family favorites (both homemade and from local restaurants) to º£½ÇÊÓÆµ students. Students have the opportunity to try food from other countries and enjoy the cooking they miss from home. This is a wonderful opportunity for º£½ÇÊÓÆµRE families to connect with their matched boarding students. Please let us know if you are interested in helping with this event. Co-chairs will reach out to you as they begin planning.

*Boarding families can support these events by contributing food and beverages. Organizers will order from local shops and restaurants. To participate, or if you have any questions, please contact the parent co-chairs listed below.

Key Contacts
º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Parent Co-Chairs:
Cindy Wang P’25 ‘27
(Abbie, Emilia)
Natasha Thamburaj P‘27 (Ronan)

Staff Liaison
Meredith Walsh, associate director of engagement & parent programs, (978) 402-2569

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