The Power of Our Preschool Parents’ Associations
Rickey Rogers, a dad who volunteered for the first time at the Marcus Avenue Scholastic Book Fair, decided to join the Parents’ Association (PA). Thinking back to how involved his own mom was when he was in school, Rickey knew he was following in her footsteps—and helping build something special for the next generation.
“It’s definitely something you should look into,” Rickey said of joining the PA. “It’ a great way to give back and the more parents are involved, the more we can get done.”
Rickey learned about the Marcus Avenue PA during the school’s welcome orientation and received more details through Class Dojo, the online platform connecting parents and teachers. Rickey added that he and his wife gravitated toward Marcus Avenue after seeing how the staff interacted with each other and the children, and that it felt like “home.”
“Everyone here really cares about each and every kid, and everybody here has the same goal: helping kids grow and learn every single day,” Rickey said. Both Marcus Avenue and Barbara C. Wilson (BCW) Preschools have the benefit of strong PAs. The PAs create engaging events for the students and staff, create bonds with other parents, and offer opportunities to take an active role in their child’s education.
Over at BCW, the Parents Association hosted a Touch-a-Truck event, a sensory-friendly Fall Festival, a movie theater experience, and a meet-and-greet with a police dog on Valentine’s Day, among many other events and activities.
Part of what makes the PA so successful is its members’ ability to draw on their talents, skills, and community connections to plan events and activities. For example, the Touch-a-Truck event brought firetrucks, police cars, and even a boat to the BCW parking lot because of members with connections to the first responder community.
Bringing your unique experiences and interests to the Parents’ Association is what makes each year special and full of new possibilities. Interested in joining the Parents’ Association for BCW or Marcus Avenue? Contact the Barbara C. Wilson Preschool Parent’s Association at bcwschoolpa@gmail.com or Marcus Avenue Preschool Psychologist and Parents’ Association Liaison Margarite Tagliaferro at mtagliaferro@brookvillecenter.org.