Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1531851
events to community-building initiatives, the PA fosters an inclusive environment where everyone's unique contributions help enrich the school. Picture the United Nations, but with more creativity and fun! "You will have some stay-at-home parents, but you will have lots of working parents. So you will have marketing executives, finance executives and lawyers, and all of us come together to put on a community-building event, which is pretty incredible," says Adele. Even in the face of adversity, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the ingenuity of our parent volunteers is evident. For instance, rather than succumbing to the challenges, they adapted and transformed the Marché d'hiver into a successful online experience. INSPIRING INVOLVEMENT Recognizing the invaluable benefits that come with the job are the parent volunteers who apply for dedicated roles. Rosa Maria shares, "It's a good opportunity to get to know your kids, be involved in what they do at school and have a say." This front-row seat to witnessing their child's growth and development is what motivates many to volunteer. At the Senior School, rather than organizing events for the students, the PA supports student-led clubs and large events like the annual Fashion and Dance Shows. "It's wild and fun to watch them take that on. We get to go into the Senior School and see them be advocates and community builders and engaged in their community," says Adele. CULTIVATING BONDS For many parent volunteers, a by-product of being part of the PA is the intangible bonds forged through their participation. "Being involved has given me true friendships that I'll take with me even after my children graduate from TFS," says the PA's former West Campus Branch Coordinator, Kristen Bechara, who joined the school shortly after moving to Canada from the United States. Welcomed by the open arms of parent volunteers and seeing the direct impact they had on the students, it was only a matter of time before she signed up. "We are each other's family," Kristen adds. Through countless hours of planning, organizing and rallying support, these remarkable individuals have not only left a mark on the school, but have also transformed their own lives. "It's a lifelong journey," says Rosa Maria. "The kids I met serving pizza in JK are now the kids coming to my house and graduating with my kids," she reflects. As TFS continues to thrive and evolve, the legacy of its parent volunteers will undoubtedly live on as a driving force for growth, because they are more than just volunteers; they are the heart and soul of the school, the glue that binds the community together, reminding us all of the extraordinary difference a person can make when united with others through passion and purpose. 1994 – TFS welcomes its first Kermesse, hosted and organized by the PA "e kids I met serving pizza in JK are now the kids coming to my house and graduating with my kids." Kristen Bechara Former West Campus Branch Coordinator, TFS Parents' Association 29 TFS