The beginning of the school year is a busy time for students and parents alike. I want to thank the following parents for their participation on our Parent Work Day: Ashley Bell, Jamie Baize-Smith and Josh Smith, Russell Hill, Carroll Stone, Maggie Thacker, Keith and Franzi Rokoske, Alexis and Kerry Sharp, Deborah Sorin, Sheryl Blackwell, Cherry Chevy, Sarah and Jonathan Hodges, Sabrina Schneider, Jennifer and Cameron Dye, Greg Taylor, Rachel Caspar, Kirsten Vollmer and David Idzi, Tim Deck, Dennis Middleton, Missy and Craig Makanui, Kelly Taylor, Jenny Madriaga, Ann and Bill Pettibone, Katherine Henderson, Rachel Royce, Tina Bryant-Allen, and Beth Reeves. We spread mulch, cleaned classrooms and lockers, assembled decodables and shelves, replaced light bulbs and ceiling tiles, painted, stained picnic tables, fixed chairs, laminated, and much more. Thanks to your hard work, TDS looked its best last Thursday.

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Back-to-School Picnic last week. Thanks to the TDS Parents’ Association for hosting the event, Bobbi Stubbs for organizing, and Al Myers for providing the BBQ. For those who savored Al’s work for the first time, I’m sure it was quite an introduction to TDS.

Next on the horizon for parents is Back-to-School Night, perhaps the most important ‘early-in-the-season’ event. I hope to see Lower School parents next Wednesday (9/3) and Middle School parents next Thursday (9/4) evening. Both programs begin promptly at 6:00 PM in the gym. The evenings should conclude by 8:00 PM. You will have the opportunity to meet your children’s teachers and learn all about what lies ahead this year.

You will also have the chance to volunteer for many signature TDS events, most of which are sponsored by the Parents’ Association. Please read carefully the list below, consult your calendars, and come prepared to sign your name. We could not offer such a rich, extensive program without parent support; thanks in advance for your participation.

  • Talent Show – Friday, October 3rd, 1:00 to 3:00 PM (Kelley Keats, Chair) – Come lend a hand with set-up and then grab a front row seat as students of all ages show off their abilities.
  • Twister Trot – Saturday, October 18th, 8:00 AM; (Carrie Norry, Chair) – Don’t feel like running or walking? We need MANY volunteers on the 5K course and lots of help with registration.
  • Fall Carnival – Friday, October 31st, 1:00 to 3:00 PM (Trudy Smith, Chair) – If you can paint faces, hand out sno cones, or manage the lollipop tree, we need you.
  • School Pictures – October 21st, November 3rd, November 21st (Jamie Baize-Smith, Chair) – We need just a few parents to organize students, collect forms, and encourage smiles as we take these photos.
  • Book Fair – November 24th to December 5th (Sabrina Schneider, Chair) – Get a jump start on your holiday shopping while taking a turn behind the cash register. LOTS of volunteers needed.
  • Grandparents Day – Wednesday, November 25th in the morning – Join your own parents at TDS for the morning, helping to ensure that grandparents find their way around. Then, grab a good seat for the Lower School performance.
  • Auction – February 21st, 6:00 PM (Kelley Keats and Deborah Sorin, Co-Chairs) – Plenty of help needed with acquisitions, organization, and set-up for this major fundraiser.
  • International Night – Thursday, March 12th (Parent Chair needed) – Help plan an evening that celebrates TDS family histories and cultures around the world.
  • Field Day – Thursday, June 4th (Philip Hansell, Chair) – Come lend a hand while watching your children compete for the purple or gold team.

None of these dates works for you? Then please consider offering your talents to support one or more of these ongoing initiatives:

  • Teacher Appreciation – Monthly (Kimberly Bowers, Chair) – Help coordinate and organize monthly treats for our beloved faculty.
  • Arts Guild (Parent Chair needed) – Come help Ms. Lucas and Ms. Hughes frame and hang works of art around the school. Assist with the Art Fair on April 29th.
  • Library (Ann Pettibone, Chair) – Spend an hour re-shelving books. You might even get to read to a group of Kindergarteners.
  • Effortless Fundraising / Dine-outs (Deborah Sorin and Hudson Fuller, Co-Chairs) – Did you know that you could earn money for TDS by collecting box tops, shopping at Target or on Amazon. Also, please mark your calendars for our first dine-out of the year: Tuesday, September 30th at Smashburger.

Volunteering at TDS is a fantastic way to support our community, meet other parents and teachers, and best of all, see our kids in action. See you on campus!