A Big Thank You to our Parents Association on a Successful Year

May 22nd , 2008

The Portledge Parents Association started off the year with a fantastic Founders Day Celebration and thanks to Carol Hegarty and Dana Pagliara, chairs of the event, the standard for the year was set very high. Supporting them was the winning team of Founders Day Committee chairs including, Betsy Gahagan, Suzsanna Goodwin, Pat Lenti, Addie Mulry, Bharathi Nelanuthala, Jamie Pardo, and Marla Wolfson. We had beautiful weather, a memorable ceremony honoring those who have served Portledge for 25 years or more, and plenty of smiling faces. The day culminated with the alumni defeating the faculty in soccer.

Next up was Champions for Charity and what better way to launch this event then to have our Upper School Chorus perform at Tiffany & Co. Renee Ferrante, led Portledge as chair of this event that raised more than $11,000 for the Portledge School Financial Aid Fund.

New to the Parents Association was a committee led by Dr. Amorita Snow called the Parent Program Committee. Dr. Snow brought us two valuable programs, Parent Program on Nutrition and Parenting in the Internet Age.

The Inter School Exchange Committee, chaired by Randi Garibaldi, coordinated many exciting events with the neighboring independent schools, such as dances and chess matches that extended our sense of community.

Beth Tynes, Parent to Parent chair organized a "buddy system" for veteran parents to reach out to all of our new families at Portledge.

Still fresh in everyone's mind (a sure sign of a great success!) is the 35th Annual Auction Gala, a fun night of dancing, bidding and dining, 20's style. Auction chairs Kristin Bianco and Marianna Kirkian and their Committee chairs Michelle Dorsey, Ellen Hobbs, Therese Joslin, Carolyn Mott. Samara Meshel, Dana Pagliara, Marla Wolfson and Melissa Worth did an outstanding job, and the auction raised more than $340,000 is support of the operating budget!

Next up, Deborah Byrnes, Faculty & Staff Appreciation chair, is organizing a lunch to thank the faculty and staff for everything they do for the students of Portledge.

Throughout the year there are also many volunteers who were working almost daily to help support the school, including Varsha Chinchwadkar, Parent Fund chair, who has brought the parent participation to above 65% in the Annual Fund this year which is well on the way to raising more than $350,000 to support the operating budget. Our Class VPs, Augusta Donohue, Marianna Kirkian, Ellen Hobbs, Samara Meshel, Mimma Ruiz, Linda Miyagi, and Alyse Ticker, and their class parents deserve a standing ovation for all they do every day to connect the parent and school community.

Betty Ann Roel merits a heartfelt thanks for her five years of service as the PA President, for her support, organization, and dedication as she passes the torch to Dana Pagliara. Betty Ann will continue to serve the school as a member of the Board of Trustees.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the opening PA Meeting on September 8th at 7:00 pm in Bahnik Hall.

Kind regards,

Turk Lewis '87
Director of Advancement

Tara Askeland
Parent Liaison