Party for PBS

Party for PBS is a series of community-driven events designed to bring together the Phillips Brooks School family. PBS parents and guardians host parties for children, families, or adults. Some parties are organized by grade, others by specific subsets of grades, and some are even open to the whole PBS community!

Party hosts (and co-hosts) cover the party costs and can also receive a tax deduction by submitting the costs as an in-kind donation. PBS adults (parents, guardians, alums, etc.) buy tickets to attend, either for themselves or for their children.

100% of proceeds from ticket sales support our Financial Aid program.

The events span the entire school year and highlight the diverse interests of our community. From cozy movie nights to backyard gatherings and exclusive wine tastings, there’s something for everyone. We strive to offer a mix of child- and family-friendly parties as well as adult gatherings, hosted by parents and guardians, with events for various grade levels throughout the year. While all are welcome to join, certain parties may have limited capacity due to the venue.

Historically, official Back to School and End of Year parties have been part of Party for PBS. These special events for students are now hosted by the school with support from the PBSA to ensure equity and inclusion, allowing every student to participate at no cost.

If you need any assistance with hosting or attending a party, reach out to Amanda Tachis.

Party Links

view/purchase available
child parties view/purchase available
ADULT parties

Party for PBS FAQs

How do I throw a party?

Get a few co-hosts together. Discuss budget and expectations with co-hosts regarding division of labor, costs, location, date, size, etc.
Come up with an idea. Some ideas might include:

Child Party Ideas

Picnic in the Park
Movie Theater Party
Tea Party
Arts and Crafts Party

Adult Party Ideas

Game Night
Wine Tasting
Poker Party
Exercise Event

Reach out to Amanda Tachis expressing your interest in hosting a party. Dates are first come, first serve and taken into consideration with the all-school calendar.
The Party for PBS Co-chairs will follow up to collect the details.
Once confirmed, the party will become available on the Party for PBS webpage.

Safety of Students

In consideration of student safety, certain types of parties are restricted. The following party types may not be hosted through Party for PBS:

Pool Parties: No pool parties at private residences, even with the attendance of a lifeguard. Pool parties are limited to professionally staffed pools only such as community pools or private clubs.
Overnight Parties: No overnight camping parties at private residences or public facilities such as campgrounds.

How do I price my party?

Hosts volunteer to underwrite the party’s cost so that 100% of the ticket proceeds support financial aid at PBS. We recognize that some types of parties can require more financial input than others, and we encourage you to consider the costs when you decide to host and also to consider group-hosting opportunities.

In general, please consider the size of your party and its accessibility to our community. It is up to you (and your co-hosts) whether you would like to have the ticket price of your event be below, at, or above the per-person cost of running the event; however, most hosts choose a price that is higher than the cost of the part to ensure the goal of raising financial aid funds.

Throwing a Party on Campus

There are many benefits to hosting a party on campus! It is easy to accommodate a large number of students and can be an economical choice. However, please note that the playground is a public space during nonschool hours.

Things to keep in mind:

Due to use permit restrictions, we are unable to reserve space during nonschool hours such as after-school hours or on weekends.
Space will be used on a first-come, first-served basis, similar as if you were hosting a party at a public park or other venue.
We are only able to provide outdoor spaces, even in the case of rain.
Be respectful of the school grounds. Staff will not be able to provide equipment for parties, such as tables, linens, extension cords, etc.
There is no alcohol allowed on campus.
There is to be no use of any electrical or gas utilities on campus.
Bouncy houses or other party equipment that needs to be run through PBS utilities are not allowed.
The playground is a public space on weekends, we cannot close it for private parties.
All outside vendors need to be approved by the Advancement team and require a certificate of insurance.

Tax Benefits

For party hosts: Hosting a party provides direct support to PBS and allows 100% of the proceeds from tickets purchased to be directed toward financial aid. After your event, the Advancement Office will ask each host to report the amount of the in-kind support they provided. A few things to note about in-kind gifts:

Unlike direct cash or property donations, PBS is not permitted to certify the “fair market value” (FMV) of an in-kind donation.
Instead, we will provide a gift letter acknowledging the donation and noting the FMV that the donor has calculated.
You do not need to provide receipts to PBS to demonstrate the FMV of your in-kind donation; however, you will want to retain those records for yourself, your accountant, or your tax professional.
You should consult a tax professional if you are uncertain how to determine the FMV of your in-kind donation.

Please submit your request for an in-kind donation to Amanda Tachis.

For party guests: Purchasing a ticket to a Party for PBS event does not qualify as a tax-deductible donation because the purchaser receives a benefit in exchange – admission to the party. PBS does not generate tax receipts for Party for PBS ticket purchases.

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students smiling in clasroom while listening to teacher