TFS - Canada's International School

A ssisting on field trips. Organizing the Kermesse fun fair. Encouraging kids to eat some veggies with their pizza lunch. Inviting fellow parents to a meet-and-greet. Volunteers for the Parents' Association infuse every branch with their commitment to family and school. :LWKDPRWWRRI´EHQHÀWLQJ our children and strengthening our community," TFS' Parents' Association takes its commitment seriously. Whether it's being one of the school's most generous donors, working with the school to devise wonderfully welcoming events, or helping keep the lines of communication open from student to teacher to home, our PA is an incredible community-builder, all in the name of the school's students. For Ted Endean '88, community is GHÀQHGLQDYHU\SHUVRQDOZD\7KLV dad of two at the West Campus says that community means "meeting new people, making real links with them, broadening your perspective, and sharing opinions and information." 7HGÀUVWGLSSHGKLVIRRWLQWRWKH world of volunteering at TFS at a Kermesse event, and his involvement now includes being on the West Campus PA executive. One of his goals is to encourage parents, especially dads, to get involved. :LWKRXWYROXQWHHUVPDQ\ÀHOGWULSV simply couldn't happen, and the feeling of experiencing something new, through the eyes of one's own child and his or her peers, is a reward in itself. Cathy Piedra-McKenzie, the PA's President, has been volunteering with the PA for eight years now. An entrepreneur and mom of both a Junior and Senior School student, Cathy says she just "jumped right in," because she was eager to meet new family friends, help in the classroom, and understand the school better. What keeps her motivated? "I'm seeing the difference! In terms of community, I think we should all contribute, and this is my way to do that. If everyone could just give that one hour, so many great things can continue to happen." She is constantly encouraged by the teams she works with, she says, "and it all comes back to just rolling up my sleeves and helping to set the stage for what the PA does, now and in the future." Before she had kids, Lisa Puccetti, who has children at both the Junior and Senior Schools, never thought VKHZRXOGÀQGDUHDOVHQVHRI community outside the family unit. Now, after serving on the committee for the inaugural Marché d'hiver, /LVDVD\VWKDWZKLOHIDPLO\LVWKHÀUVW community bond, she now knows it is not the only one. When she started to work with the PA, she realized WKDW´\RXÀQGWKLVJURXSZKHUH\RX share a sense of support, a group of people who have a common goal and shared interests." She started small, by volunteering in her child's class, but TFS has opened up the door to so many new friendships and experiences that she is inspired to do more. "I respect how the members of the PA conduct themselves, what they do, and I want to be part of that." The home-school connection is especially important to Honey Hejmadi. Her son, now in Grade 7, has seen her volunteer since he started at the West Campus, most regularly as the pizza lunch coordinator. Honey enjoys the time commitment, logistical organization and emotional satisfaction of contributing in this way. "The school has given my son such a strong platform in his journey," she says, "I want to teach him the value of sharing and giving back by actually demonstrating it to him." It obviously has worked – the pizza lunch is the PA's highest fundraiser at the branch, and Honey is proud that the funds GLUHFWO\EHQHÀWWKHFDPSXV´,WEULQJV me tremendous joy in my heart, and it's really empowered me and given me a natural sense of accomplishment." Ultimately, it's the partnership between parents, students and the school that helps keep TFS vibrant. Michael Burke, Deputy Head of Citizenship and Community Engagement, couldn't agree more. "A successful relationship goes far beyond the classroom," he says. "Without our parent volunteers, the school simply would not have the fulsome sense of community that we enjoy here, and continue to promote." COMMUNITY – PARENTS' ASSOCIATION Your Parents' Association Helping to build community at TFS Parents enjoying the West Campus barbecue Two of the wonderful Marché d'hiver organizers Selling sweet treats at Kermesse 32 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2018

• Cover