Parent Involvement

Programs for Parents

In an effort to promote both partnership and mutual understanding, the School annually plans a series of events specifically designed for parents of students at all grade levels. The School’s parent organizations—the Upper School’s Menlo School Association (MSA) and the Middle School Menlo School Association (MS-MSA) —sponsor monthly meetings that center on a specific educational topic, typically presented by an expert in that field. Some School-sponsored events are aimed at specific grade levels, others have something of interest to all parents, ranging from informational evenings, guest speakers and panel discussions, to breakfasts and lunches with the Head of School and the Middle School Director. Ninth Grade parents participate in a three-part educational series designed to help them understand the Menlo community and engage in dialogue with fellow parents surrounding issues ranging from academic expectations to the challenges of teenage socialization. There are also a series of informal grade-level coffees that help families get to know each other and the School.

Parents for Safe Teens

This committee defines its mission as helping parents help themselves in supporting, nurturing and guiding their students safely through the teen years. In an ongoing partnership with Menlo, Parents for Safe Teens helps develop appropriate policies and activities that further this goal. Meetings for the 2006-2007 school year will focus primarily, though not exclusively, on the Every 15 Minutes Program, which culminates in a two-day program designed to challenge students to think about drinking, personal safety and the responsibility of making mature decisions when human lives are involved. CLICK HERE for more information.

Advocacy Parent Liaisons (US)

The primary role of these volunteers is to support the advocacy faculty member in whatever way they request in the planning and implementing of the advocacy community service project. In addition, the liaison will serve as the communication link between the advocacy and the parents. They will be sure that parents know well in advance of the community service project, what, when, where and any special requirements associated with the project. The liaisons will also look for opportunities to enable the other parents to feel welcomed into the Menlo community. CLICK HERE for more information.

Contact Jesse Thomas for information about your grade level Advocacy Parent Liaisons.