We look forward to welcoming everyone at the first CA Parents meeting of the year on September 26, 2017. It will be held from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center (P.A.C.). Program details and more information will be sent separately in the coming weeks.

The Parent Tour Guide orientation meeting will take place in the Ransome Room of the Math and Arts Center (MAC) on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at  8:30 a.m. Come learn and share the CA story with prospective parents! The Admissions Office is looking for Parent Tour Guide volunteers for the upcoming school year.Tours are one hour in length, and guides can arrange to tour on either a weekly or biweekly rotation at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., or 1:15  p.m. (Tue. 9:00 a.m. only). If you are interested, feel free to contact Liz Vernaglia P’18 (liz_vernaglia@yahoo.com) P’18 or Shari Marquis P’18 and P’21 (jsemarquis@gmail.com). If you have any conflict with the orientation date, including Rosh Hashanah preparations, Liz and Shari are happy provide information and additional/alternate training.

Welcome to the fall sports season! We look forward to seeing you on the fields supporting the CA athletes! The Athletics Department is looking for parent volunteers (two per team) for each in-season squad. The team parent volunteers primarily will assist in communicating upcoming team events and organizing parent assistance for the pre game family barbecue at the Chandler Bowl at Pingree on October 21. Parents are welcome to provide a healthy post game snack for games but we plan to focus our volunteer efforts and energy on the Chandler Bowl event. If you are interested in being a team parent volunteer, please reach out to athletic liaisons Cheryl Gall (cherylwgall@gmail.com) or Kristen Kina (kristenkina@yahoo.com).

Each year CA Parents hosts a dinner for CA families, faculty, and staff on the Friday evening of Family Weekend. Volunteers are needed during the first week of October to help organize decorations and on Thursday, October 12, 12:00-3:00 p.m., to set up tables and decorate the gym.  We would also appreciate help on the day of the event to help make final preparations in the early afternoon. Volunteers may stop by for an hour or stay the entire time. This is a great way to support the school community and to meet other parents. To get more information or sign up, please contact Lori Hick (lorihick@gmail.com), Kim Tesson (ktesson22@hotmail.com), or Amy Sagalyn, CA’s Parent Engagement Officer (amy_sagalyn@concordacademy.org).

Please come join the first meeting of this year’s CA parents’ book group as we discuss A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012-a-gentleman-in-moscow). Parents of current and former CA students are most welcome, whether you have had a chance to read the book or not. We will gather on Monday, October 9, at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Room (classroom 340) for potluck appetizers and to discuss the book and our plans for the year. Please come try it out! Questions? Please contact Judy Osher at ja.os@verizon.net or Frank Craig at fpcraig404@gmail.com.

Do you have an extra bedroom? Do you want to meet and support other CA parents and alumnae/i? Join the CA Parents Bed & Breakfast Homestay Network! The network matches visiting current families and alumnae/i with CA family hosts in the Concord and greater Boston area. Simple hospitality — a place to sleep and a shared bathroom — is all that is needed. You can sign up to be a Bed & Breakfast Homestay Network host by using this online form, or please contact Lisa Gainsboro (lpg887@aol.com) P’20, the volunteer coordinator.  Thank you!

The Parents’ Independent School Network, Inc. (PIN) is a volunteer organization comprised of parent representatives from the New England area independent schools. The primary goals of PIN are to:

• Improve the quality of non-academic life at member schools through the exchange of information among parent representatives
• Actively encourage representatives to work closely with their schools’ parent organizations

PIN holds general meetings throughout the year with a speaker, panel discussion, presentation or group discussion about a topic of interest. All parents in the CA community are welcome! The first meeting of the year, a college panel, will take place on Tuesday, October 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Beaver Country Day School. To see the full calendar for the upcoming year, please see the enclosed article.

Bonnie Bertolaet (<a href=”mailto:bbertolaet@gmail.com”>bbertolaet@gmail.com</a>) and Cheryl Gall (<a href=”mailto:cheryl_gall@aya.yale.edu”>cheryl_gall@aya.yale.edu</a>) are CA’s representatives to PIN. Please let them know if you have any questions!

Whether you live nearby or far there are meaningful ways you can be involved and strengthen Concord Academy’s mission. There are large and small volunteer opportunities to work in groups or alone, at CA or at home, including leading admission tours, contributing food for performing arts receptions, and making phone calls for the Annual Fund. Follow this link to learn more about ways to get involved, with opportunities for parents of boarding students highlighted. We hope you will join us!

Concord Academy welcomed several accomplished new faculty and staff members to campus for the 2017–18 school year. We invite you to learn more about them and their backgrounds.

We are delighted to welcome back a familiar face to CA this fall. Jenny Chandler, who previously served as Concord Academy’s dean of faculty, has returned to CA in a new role, centennial campaign officer. In her new role, Jenny will focus on capturing, developing, and articulating the strategic vision for the school’s fundraising goals. From building relationships with CA graduates, parents, trustees, and friends through wide-ranging initiatives, to supporting colleagues in delivering on CA@100 goals, Jenny will play a vital role in helping the Office of Advancement and Engagement achieve its near-term and long-range engagement and fundraising goals. In addition to making new connections, Jenny looks forward to reconnecting with colleagues, CA families, and students. She is delighted to continue her association with CA and to share the CA story more broadly.