Torch - Spring/Summer 2019

HCPA

The Havergal College Parent Association Throughout the Years By Andrew McKay

T oday, we know the Havergal College Parent Association (HCPA) as the group that warmly welcomes and encourages all parents to become involved in our dynamic and engaging community. Now well-recognized in the community for leading the way in creating a vibrant culture for our families, the HCPA has only existed in its present form since the 1980s. The HCPA was created out of a more pressing, common societal need from parents to be more involved in their children’s school life. Up until the 1950s, parents of Havergal students were less involved and did not have the relationship with the school that parents have today. Parents were pleased when Havergal staff initiated the first move toward greater communication between the school and parents in 1953 by introducing Parents’ Night, an event that became an instant success as an innovative way to entice parents into becoming involved in the education of their daughters. It was an evening when classrooms were left open to display students’ artwork and guest speakers discussed the range of careers that were accessible for women. In 1954, two iterations of Parents’ Nights were held, one each for the Middle and Upper Schools. The need for a Parents’ Night at the Junior School did not exist at the time, as there had traditionally been more interactions between the school and parents in the lower grades. Nonetheless, the advantage of hosting a Parents’ Night was recognized, and by 1959, the Junior School instituted its first parent evening event, under the leadership of Head of Junior School Mary Haslam. The 1970s marked the beginning of a dramatic societal and cultural shift in parenting views and roles. Parents began to more actively seek involvement in their children’s education. By this time, Parents’ Night at Havergal had become increasingly popular and included more detailed tours of the school, as well as book and bake sales and cocktail receptions. This greater interest in school life led to the development of the Havergal College Forum, a meeting for parents in which a panel would answer questions and engage in directed discussions. The first forum was held in February 1972, with 550 people crowding into what is now the Brenda Robson Hall and asking questions on every aspect of their daughter’s education. In 1980, parents created the Havergal Community Committee (HCC) to replace the the Havergal College Forum. The HCC continued the Forum’s work with an innovative, ongoing format, reinforcing parental involvement and strengthening relations between the school and parents. The HCC took responsibility for a used-book sale, the

The HCPA Executive Council for 2018–19.

Grade 13 Mother Daughter Luncheon, the Father Daughter Dance, the appointment of grade representatives to the HCC and bazaar workshops. Parent volunteers worked alongside the Advancement & Community Affairs Office and the Old Girls Association. In 2014, the HCC changed its name to the Havergal College Parent Association (HCPA) for greater transparency of the segment of the community they serve. Since then, they have more than doubled in size, growing to 43 members. The HCPA’s mission is to maximize parent engagement, foster community spirit and support the school’s mission and strategic direction through social and fundraising initiatives, including the vital Limitless Campaign . Tony diCosmo, Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations, has seen first-hand the impact the group has had on the community. “The HCPA has done a remarkable job in evolving with society’s parenting trends by providing outlets and support systems to our parents,” he says. The HCPA today hosts and supports many community-building events and fundraisers throughout the year, including Celebration Saturday, various parent socials, the Father Daughter Dance, the HCPA Parent Luncheon, our Faculty & Staff Appreciation Event, the Junior School Father Daughter A Maze-ing Race and mother- daughter breakfasts. Members of the HCPA also act as liaisons with the school’s administration and parents. It is their goal to ensure that parents are informed and that the dialogue around key school activities and priorities continues. Any parent who wishes to become more involved in the HCPA can connect to the group via email at hcpa.committee@gmail.com .

TABLE OF CONTENTS | SPRING/SUMMER 2019 • TORCH 39