Parents

The Blake School Parent Association

All-School Committees

Mailing Committee

This committee is responsible for handling all the bulk mailings done by the Parent Association. This includes the Volunteer Forms, (mailed once in early summer), the Blake Handbook (mailed midsummer), the Blake Directory (mailed early fall), the Parent News (mailed once a month from August to May), and other occasional mailings that come up during the year. For each mailing, volunteers are called (5-14 volunteers) to help with the processing of each mailing.

Blake Classic Committee

The Blake Classic is a fundraising and social event for the Blake community featuring dinner, entertainment and live and silent auctions. This event is organized jointly by the Parent Association and the Advancement Office. All proceeds benefit the school.

Booster Club

The Booster Club is an organization of parent volunteers whose purpose is to support The Blake School in all extracurricular Committees, through moral, physical and financial support. All parents are members and are invited to attend the monthly meetings. Its objectives are to help develop pride in the school through athletics and other competitive events (e.g. debate, Quiz Bowl, etc.), to provide a format for the coordination of support for all-school events, to coordinate Committees that will provide funds to allow perpetuation of the Blake Bear Booster; and, through commitment to the above, increase attendance, and alumni, parent and student participation in all events.

Diversity Committee

The Parent Diversity Committee works in conjunction with the school's Diversity Coordinator to implement the school's Diversity Plan approved by the Trustees in 1994 The committee strives to foster an environment that respects all people and is one in which all Blake community members feel safe. It sponsors innovative programming such as Celebration of Community to ensure that students, parents and faculty members continually appreciate and support the diverse cultures and ideas represented at Blake. With liaisons representing all three campuses, the committee strives to be a positive force in the Blake community through substantive programming and support for the organizations that value and foster the inherent pluralism of our community.

Graduation Coordinator

The Graduation Coordinator acts to coordinate the efforts of the parent volunteers at each campus in organizing the decorations intended to enhance the closing ceremonies and receptions at each of the three levels. He/she is responsible for fielding questions and coordinating ideas from the closing chairs. A cohesive plan is then translated into action for Lower, Middle and Upper school closing ceremonies and receptions.

Hospitality Committee

The Hospitality Committee assists The Blake School in welcoming new families, providing social opportunities for all Blake parents and promoting a welcoming environment. Each campus has a liaison to this all-school committee and every grade has a hospitality grade representative.

International Student Committee

The International Student Committee supports the visiting international students at Blake by helping to arrange the host families with whom they stay. It also provides or helps to coordinate several social events for the international students, including a get-together for students, host families, and 'aunt and uncle' families at the beginning of the school year and a winter holiday party. In addition, the committee arranges for the international students to visit the Middle and Lower School campuses to meet the younger students at Blake and share information about their own countries. During the second semester, the committee helps to select the students who will come to Blake in the following year and begins the work of setting up host families for them.

Parent News Committee

The Parent News is published eight times a year, September through May, for all Blake parents. It contains school news, accolades, and a monthly calendar of events. It is published in partnership between the Parent Association and the School.

Upper School Committees

Grade Representatives

Each grade in the Upper School is represented in the Upper School Parent Association by a parent volunteer appointed by the Upper School Parent Association School Committee Chair. The four Grade Representatives serve as liaisons between the grade levels, the administration, the faculty and volunteers throughout the school year. They attend the Upper School Parent Association monthly meetings to report on grade level Committees. They plan a grade-level party, and the Tenth Grade Representatives plan the 12th grade graduation reception which follows the graduation ceremony in June. The Eleventh Grade Representatives serve as advisors on the Junior Class Prom Committee.

Homeroom Parents

For each Upper School homeroom, a parent volunteer acts as a liaison between the homeroom advisor and the parents. The homeroom parent may be called on to make phone calls to families in the event that there is a need to contact all parents of Upper School students.

Faculty Appreciation

This committee's mission is to show the parents' appreciation for the faculty. It organizes treats for the faculty in the faculty lounge and organizes and oversees the volunteer set-up for an end-of-the-year faculty appreciation event.

Graduation Party

This committee, consisting of six to eight parents of seniors, is responsible for planning and executing the Senior Graduation Party in June following Graduation.

Magazine Drive

The Magazine Drive is currently the Upper School fundraiser, the proceeds of which go toward projects that will enhance life in the Upper School. These are generally projects which are not included in the operating budget of the school. The Magazine Drive takes place in September and relies on parent involvement, as opposed to student involvement.

Photojourlist

Using video and photography, the photojournalist records parental involvement in campus events and Committees.

Middle School Committees

Grade Representatives

Each grade in the Middle School is represented in the Middle School Parent Association by a parent volunteer appointed by the Middle School Parent Association School Committee Chair. The three Grade Representatives serve as liaisons between the administration, the faculty and volunteers throughout the school year. They attend the Middle School Parent Association monthly meetings and report on grade level Committees. They also serve as the Room Parent communications link and oversee the homeroom parties and Committees.

Room Parents

For each Middle School homeroom, a parent volunteer assists the homeroom teachers by making phone calls to parents with information on school or parent events, helping to organize special events and acting as a liaison between the homeroom teacher and other parents.

Eighth Grade Closing

The Eighth Grade Closing is a program attended by students, their families, and faculty on the last day of school to honor eighth grade students, and to celebrate the completion of their Middle School years. A chair and committee members assist the school with the planning of the reception following the ceremony and also arrange for floral displays. This committee also helps with the gift that the class gives to the school and arranges for a class photo if necessary.

Eighth Grade Closing Party

This party, traditionally held off-site, is sponsored by the Parent Association for the eighth grade students following the Eighth Grade Closing Program. A chair and committee members plan the party for all grade 8 students. The committee is responsible for finding a suitable location, planning entertainment and food and designing and mailing invitations according to a predetermined budget.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation

This committee is designed to show the parents' appreciation for the faculty and all they do for our children. It organizes treats for the faculty, such as food in the faculty lounge, birthday cards, and an end-of-the-year breakfast.

Magazine Drive

This fundraiser, whose proceeds are used to support supplemental programs and projects in the Middle School, takes place in the fall and consists of students selling magazine subscriptions and renewals. Students and faculty participate in selecting the projects to be funded prior to the fundraiser. A chair and committee members gather volunteers, establish an event schedule and coordinate the event with the school administration. This committee's Committees continue from August through November. The Finance Chair on this committee organizes volunteers who tally the orders and makes deposits in addition to maintaining accurate records. The time commitment for this position is concentrated in 2-3 weeks.

Sixth Grade Dance Lessons

Dance lessons are offered as an optional activity to sixth grade students during the fall semester. An outside instructor teaches classic and contemporary dance steps to the students. There is a minimal charge. A chair is responsible for organizing the series of dance classes, including hiring the instructor, arranging chaperones and providing refreshments.

Social Events

The Parent Association sponsors several social Committees for Middle School students. These include Middle School dances and separate Committees for each grade level during the year. There is a minimal charge for the dances which covers the cost of the DJ and the refreshments. Each grade level has a Social Events chair(s) who plans grade level parties and works together with the chair(s) from the other grade levels to plan the four dances.

Ski Day

Annually in February the Parent Association sponsors an optional day of downhill skiing at a local ski area for all interested Middle School students. There is a charge for this activity to cover lift tickets and transportation. The chair of this event is responsible for securing a ski location, arranging the publicity, transportation and chaperones.

Community Service Liason

In this position a volunteer acts as a liaison between the All-School Community Service committee and the Middle School. There are also two Community Service representatives per grade level who attend the monthly Middle School Parent Association meetings to report on the Community Service Committees. The liaison works with the Community Service representatives from each grade level and the Middle School faculty to coordinate student participation in and transportation to citywide community service projects.

Lower School, Blake Campus Committees

After-School Enrichment

The Parent Association offers enrichment Committees to Lower School students after school. Examples of classes offered in the past are French, Spanish, pottery, dance, chess, and Science Museum classes. Costs are paid by parents who enroll their children; however, scholarships are available. In addition, two or three Lower School parties (e.g. pumpkin decorating, skating, games) are sponsored each year to provide social and play time for students.

Art Adventure

This program, initiated by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, is designed to bring art appreciation into schools. Trained parent volunteers meet regularly with Lower School art classes to discuss reproductions of art displayed at the Institute. The program culminates with a tour of the Art Institute to view the originals of the art the students have studied.

Bingo Night

Bingo Night is a social event organized by a committee of the Parent Association for grade 3-5 students and the special guest each student may invite.

Bookfair

Each campus of the Lower School organizes a Bookfair, usually in the fall of the year, where new and used books are sold to the Blake community. It is a social event whose purpose is to raise awareness of and interest in reading and to raise funds for the Lower School Parent Association. The funds are generally used to purchase a gift for each Lower School campus.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation

The Faculty Appreciation Committee was created to show the parents' appreciation for the faculty and all they do for our children. It organizes treats for the faculty, such as food in the faculty lounge, birthday cards, and an end-of-the-year luncheon.

Fifth Grade Closing Party

The fifth grade party, traditionally held off-site, is sponsored by the Parent Association for the fifth grade students following the Fifth Grade Closing Program. A chair and committee members plan the party for all grade 5 students. The committee is responsible for finding a suitable location, planning entertainment and food and chaperones.

Ice Skating Party

The Parent Association sponsors a winter celebration in the ice arena for Lower School students and a guest. This event is specific to the Blake campus of Lower School.

Junior Great Books

Junior Great Books is a national reading enrichment and small group discussion program offered to students in grades 2-5 during recess once a week for six to eight weeks. The grade level discussion groups are facilitated by trained parent volunteers.

Media Center Volunteers

Lower School parent volunteers assist in maintaining the Media Center's appearance, helping check books in and out, putting books back on the shelves and doing inventory at the end of the school year.

Pancake Breakfast

Parent volunteers organize this social event for Kindergarten, first and second grade students held before school one morning each year. Each student may invite one special guest.

Pumpkin Party

Lower School students are invited to spend an afternoon in late October decorating pumpkins at this Parent Association sponsored social event.

Room Representatives

Room representatives serve as liaisons between classroom teachers and parents. They coordinate volunteers for the classroom and field trips, and report on class Committees at the monthly Parent Association meetings.

Lower School, Highcroft Campus Committees

After School Enrichment

Art Adventure

Bingo Night

Bingo Night is a social event organized by a committee of the Parent Association for grade 3-5 students and the special guest each student may invite.

Book Fair

Faculty and Staff Appreciation

Fifth Grade Closing Party

Junior Great Books

Mayfest

Mayfest is a gathering of students and parents to celebrate spring by cleaning and refreshing the grounds of the Highcroft campus. A time to plant and maintain flowers, shrubs and trees. This event is specific to the Highcroft Campus of the Lower School.

Media Center Volunteers

Pancake Breakfast

Parent volunteers organize this social event for Kindergarten, first and second grade students held before school one morning each year. Each student may invite one special guest.

Pumpkin Party

Lower School students are invited to spend an afternoon in late October decorating pumpkins at this Parent Association sponsored social event.

Room Representatives

Winter Festival

The Parent Association sponsors a celebration of winter for Lower School students and a guest, featuring ice skating, snow painting and hot cocoa. This event is specific to the Highcroft campus of the Lower School.