Parent Association Activities
The PA Executive Committee plans and coordinates activities, events and committees that offer parents many different opportunities to get more involved in the school community, and connect with other parents. Every parent in the BC parent community is part of the Parent Association, and whether you have a little time to give or a lot, there is a PA volunteer opportunity for you. Listed below is just a sample of the activities the PA Executive Committee sponsors on behalf of the parent community. If you are interested in a volunteer opportunity, please email your division VP.
CLASS-SPECIFIC PARTICIPATION
Class/Grade Representatives
Class Representatives (lower school) and Grade Representatives (middle and upper schools) are a great entry point into being more involved in the BC community. Class Reps organize activities for their child’s respective classroom or grade, share any updates from the Parent Association Executive Committee via email, attend Divisional PA Meetings and provide summaries, and help recruit parent volunteers for PA special events.
PA COMMITTEES
Green Committee
The Green Committee’s goal is to raise environmental awareness at Berkeley Carroll and help organize or participate in at least one annual Green event. In the past, the committee has sponsored the purchase of recyclable dishes for lower school snacks and parties, and has organized activities to celebrate Earth Day.
Side by Side: Berkeley Carroll Families at Work in the Community
Throughout the school year, Side by Side engages with families with a shared interest in effecting positive change. Community service activities are hands-on and designed to encourage youth volunteerism. Past civic engagement events have included serving meals at soup kitchens, organizing drives for local charities, and participating in park clean-ups.
Mosaic
Mosaic is Berkeley Carroll's PA committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, our mission is to build empathy and humility by investigating and valuing our differences. Mosaic gatherings range from discussions about books, to sessions with guest speakers, talks with faculty, administrators, and alumni, to service based learning activities.
Mosaic's primary ways of BC community engagement are through Affinity Groups, a Book Club and the annual Unity Fest celebration.
Mosaic’s Affinity Groups stand as a haven for BC parent community members to gather, offer support, share, learn and grow through their collective experiences. These spaces help to ensure all members of our community are seen and valued.
Our current affinity groups include: Parents and Guardians of Children of Color, Parents and Guardians of Children with Learning Differences, SPECTRUM, which is open to anyone interested in LGBTQ+ priorities, Black Dads, and the Asian American Pacific Islander Parent Group.
Book Club: Throughout the year, the book club reads a selection of diverse books, and gathers to discuss how the books impact us and make us consider the world.
Unity Fest: We culminate our year with a meaningful celebration. Born of a commUNITY FESTival, Unity Fest sees the entire Berkeley Carroll community come together to celebrate its growth and recognize the diversity within our own community.
PA SPONSORED EVENTS AND FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION
Halloween Party
The Annual Halloween Party is a school favorite! The PA along with Parent Volunteers transform the Upper School Gym and Atrium into a fun event for all ages. The event includes a haunted house, craft tables, and entertainment, just to name a few.
Grade Level Parent Nights
The Parent Association hosts Parent Nights every year. The events provide parents with the opportunity to meet other families in their child’s grade. Events are held at different times of the year at venues in Brooklyn, and are always well attended.
Family Skate Night at the Lakeside Rink in Prospect Park
Berkeley Carroll students and parents take over the Lakeside Rink in Prospect Park for a night of ice-skating and hot cocoa.
Faculty Appreciation Luncheons
The Parent Association arranges Faculty Appreciation Lunches at the end of the school year. The luncheons are held on behalf of the BC parent community to thank the faculty and staff for their hard work throughout the year.
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Gifts
The Parent Association presents the BC faculty and staff with tokens of appreciation every year. The gesture is on behalf of the BC parent community, and expresses thanks and gratitude for their support in making BC a wonderful place for students to learn and grow..