Our Community

The Phillips Brooks School Association

For more than two decades The Phillips Brooks School Parent Association (PBSA) has been an integral part of The Phillips Brooks School. We began as a small group of dedicated volunteers and gradually expanded to our current role as an umbrella organization for scores of volunteers.

As outlined in our mission statement below, the PBSA works not only with, but also on behalf of all parents in an effort to build and support the PBS Community. Through the 13 committees that make up the Parent Association, we provide many varied opportunities to become involved in the School. A listing of these committees, as well as a short description and committee chair contact information, is provided by clicking on the Parent Association Committees link on this page.

Mission Statement

The purpose of PBSA is, in accordance with the core values and mission of PBS, to foster a sense of community, to inform parents and members of the community of PBSA activities, and provide support for the PBS faculty and administrative staff. In addition, PBSA may raise funds to support community building events and school programs.

Membership

All parents and guardians of current PBS students shall be PBSA members. There shall be no dues for membership. PBSA meetings shall be open to the entire PBS community. The meetings shall be held approximately once a month during the school year with the exception of the month of December.

Meetings

PBSA meetings are generally held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am in the MPR. The minutes from the meetings will be posted online and can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate date below.

The 2010-2011 PBSA Meeting Schedule:

  • September 15, 2010
  • November 10, 2010 - Time changed to 7 pm
  • January 12, 2011
  • February 9, 2011
  • April 13, 2011

Parent Association Committees

Parent Association Executive Committee

Co-Presidents: Nathalie de Saint Andrieu & Anne Wong
VP Community Building: Whitney Weisel
Treasurer: Stephanie Day
Secretary: Allison Aldrich

Programs & Events

Emergency Preparedness

PBSA provides support to the PBS Facilities Manager who is in charge of implementing the school's emergency preparedness policies.

Fundraising

PBSA sponsors an annual fundraising event. It is a fun adult evening held in the spring and is intended to foster community spirit as well as raise funds for the school.

Library

PBSA manages the Birthday Book Program for the library. Each month cards are sent to students who have a birthday that month. Children are invited to visit the library to select a book to donate to the library in honor of their birthday. PBSA also helps organize parent volunteers to help in the library.

Lunch Program

The lunch program is run by PBSA for students from K to 5th grade. Parent volunteers serve lunch every day from September to June.

Music

PBSA helps organize chorus events on campus, chorus field trips and chorus uniforms.

New Families

To welcome new families, PBSA helps recruit and match current families to new incoming families. In addition, PBSA plans a new family picnic in the spring and plans new family coffees in the fall and winter.

Parent Education and Common Ground

PBSA sponsors various educational opportunities for the parents with the goal of integrating learning, communication, and team building among parents, faculty and administration. Activities may include, but are not limited to, speaker presentations, workshops and book groups.

PBSA supplies two liaisons to Common Ground. Common Ground is a coalition of Bay Area schools created to enhance parent education through speakers. Speaker dates are posted at the beginning of each school year.

Room Parents

PBSA supports the classroom through Room Parents who help build a welcoming and inclusive class community and support the needs of the teachers by helping with things like field trip chaperones and drivers, planning classroom parties and special events, executing classroom projects, and helping prepare classroom material.

Teacher Appreciation

As a way to recognize and say thank you to the teachers and administrators, PBSA hosts monthly luncheons in the Teachers' Lounge. In addition, PBSA gives the teachers and administrators birthday and half birthday gifts throughout the year.

Uniforms

PBSA helps to manage the uniform policy and communications, the design and ordering of the annual school t-shirt, the lost and found, and the ordering and distribution of miscellaneous logo items.

Back to School Night

PBSA supplies dinner to parents at Back to School Night.

Bingo

PBSA plans a Bingo event in the winter. The event is fun for the students and fosters community and school spirit.

Book Fair

PBSA plans and organizes two book fairs on campus each year. The book fairs run for two or three days and give families an opportunity to purchase books and raise money for the school.

Coffee Cart

Several times a year, PBSA will provide a coffee cart service for the parents to foster a sense of community over a cup of brew. This is a casual event for parents to catch up with friends, old and new, and share community news.

ELC Ice Cream Social

PBSA hosts an ice cream social in the fall of each year for ELC families. The event welcomes new families and builds community.

Fall Family Carnival

PBSA hosts a carnival every fall to welcome families back and to kickoff the new school year.

Spring Luncheon

The Spring Luncheon is hosted by PBSA. It is a special event to say thank you to the many parent volunteers who have helped during the school year. All parents are welcome.

Volunteer Fair

At the beginning of the school year, PBSA plans a volunteer fair. It is an opportunity for parents to talk to new PBSA chairs about their plans for the year and the need for volunteers.