Giving 
Volunteer Corner
Connection is the Reward
By Mark Ellingson
Ellen Wild and Bob Chen work full-time and have two elementary age daughters. Their youngest, Marissa, is a first year in Nancy’s class and Megan is a third year in Becca's class. Time is not readily available to volunteer but Ellen and Bob learned early in their four years at Arbor that volunteering is an enriching role for parents. They noted that Arbor is a small community and cannot be sustained by the teachers alone.
Inspiration to help in their daughters' classes came from observing the leadership other families took to volunteer their time and how it strengthened their children's education. For Ellen, volunteering started when she was asked to join the Communications Committee. Her involvement on the Communications Committee exposed her to other parents, how the school worked and its goals. Currently, Ellen is a PIC in Becca's class.
The reward of volunteering is a connection to the school, its children, and parents. This reward fosters the desire to volunteer. For parents who wish to start volunteering, Bob and Ellen suggest starting in class and be realistic about your availability. Helping on Grandparents Day or sitting on the Board are both great gestures you can make to build the Arbor community. Let your teachers know or contact Martha Addison to express a desire to volunteer. You can volunteer at the classroom or community level and are guaranteed to find a volunteering niche that suits who you and your family are.
Mark Ellingson is a software engineer with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. His daughter, Emily is in the LaVista 2 primary class and his son Aaron is in Nancy’s lower elementary class.
The Mallett Family
Errika and Keith Mallett have two children at Arbor. Jaylen is a first year elementary student in Becca's class. Jordan is a primary student in Deedee's class.
Errika served as a PIC for two years in Deedee’s class participating in several class projects such as the Class Auction project, Grandparent’s Day and providing assistance when asked and/or needed. As her volunteerism evolved outside the classroom, she volunteered with Art Day, the Book Fair, the World Fair, the 40th Anniversary Planning Committee and supporting the Information Sessions for parents considering Arbor during the Admissions process. Given her interest in continuing to raise funds to meet the varying needs that exist within our Arbor Community, Errika currently serves as a Fundraising Co-Chair as well as the Auction Committee Co-Chair. And this year she was asked to serve on Arbor’s Board of Trustees.
But this is a family affair. Keith has provided support with Auction projects, currently serves on the Auction Committee and recently spoke to interested parents at an Information Session to share his Arbor and previous Montessori experience. This year, both Keith and Errika provided a Black History presentation for Deedee’s class. And in 2008, Arbor parent Sonya Brown and Errika created a Black History Presentation for Deedee’s class.
Earlier this year when Tai Yi Su, (then Diversity Committee Chair), considered a school-wide Black History presentation, Errika recommended presenting the surviving Tuskegee Airmen that live in the Atlanta area. She believes that this event was a wonderful example of the Arbor Administration’s openness and the Arbor Community’s willingness to support a variety of events. It also demonstrated that there are no limits to how and where you can volunteer your time.
Errika says that ideally your family is committed to Arbor for twelve years. So pace yourself but don’t be bashful about jumping in. Errika recommends letting your passions and interests drive where to focus your efforts. If there is something in the bulletin that speaks to you, contact the school to find out more and feel free to get involved.
Be the change you want to see in the world
By Stephanie McCaa
Karen Horace sums up her motivation for volunteering in one word: cake. “Martha asked me if I’d help with the shopping spree program and of course I agreed because there was cake involved!” she shares with a laugh. For all her joking around, Karen has been a big contributor to Arbor’s volunteer efforts ever since her oldest, Alyssa (now a 3rd year in Emilie’s class), started in primary.
Her contributions have been at the classroom level with box top coordination to hands-on involvement with the auction projects for Alyssa and Amelie (a 4th year primary student in Marian’s class). In addition, she has been very committed to the macro-level ofcontribution at the school as well. She was a co-chair of the Emory Task Force; a member of the Diversity Committee; a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and a representative at recruiting fairs.
This range of activities has really enhanced her experience as an Arbor parent. “I love working at the recruiting fairs. I believe that well-trained, well-informed parents can be the school’s greatest ambassadors! Personally, everything I know about Montessori I learned at Dee-Dee’s knee.” She smiles, “You learn so much at the recruiting fair just by hearing Dee-Dee answer questions of prospective parents. You get to see the disparate perspectives people have about Montessori. One person will say it’s too rigid, another will say it’s too unstructured. It’s great to see a light bulb go off in a prospective parent’s head and you know they are thinking ‘this would be great for my child!’”
Participation in the World’s Fair has been another one of Karen’s favorites. “It’s one of the few school-wide events where both kids and parents can be together just for fun. And, again, there’s cake involved!” She served as the on-site coordinator for the World’s Fair. This is a great opportunity for someone who cannot commit time over the entire school year because this is “a lot of work but just for a short period of time.”
Being on the Board provides her a different type of experience at Arbor: “it provides me insight into the inner workings of the school. That is very valuable.” She knows her kids appreciate her involvement because “they are very understanding when I am gone at night for a Board meeting.”
If you’re looking for the right fit for your talents, then pick up the phone and call Martha. “You would be surprised that what you think is an ordinary talent is, to her, a special skill. The school always needs more hands at work.”
“Communities don’t just happen. They exist because of the efforts that their members put into them. In other words, you reap what you sow.” Karen continues, “In fact, when I think of volunteering at Arbor I’m always drawn to Mahatma Gandhi’s quotation ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’” Volunteering is an opportunity for change. “If you have something to complain about, then volunteer and work to change it! If you don’t then you really have no cause for complaint.” Arbor is a wonderful environment for parents because they are given the opportunity to have a true impact on how they want their children’s’ school to become.
Volunteering: a Personal Responsibility
By Stephanie McCaa
Even though her son, John Henry (Class of 2004), graduated almost five years ago, Mary Hinkel is still one of Arbor’s biggest supporters. She attributes his academic and social success at Paideia and Harvard University to the Montessori program. “The educational philosophy of Arbor helped him to understand and explore his interests and fostered his love of learning.”
Although she’s removed from the school’s day-to-day activities, Mary still finds ways to give back to the school that gave her family so much. A regular contributor to the Founders Fund, she also is an
ambassador” who speaks to prospective parents about the school’s expectations of volunteering and financial contributions. Mary laughs, “Martha Addison will say that I was one of the first persons to bring up the word ‘money’ at Arbor, so this role is perfect for me.” She continues, “No one’s ever said we need money, but we do! Teachers can’t do it all and tuition can’t pay for it all.”
When John Henry was a student, Mary found ways to contribute to the school that matched her natural abilities. A self-confessed “non-crafty” person, she used her organizational skills to manage activities such as coordinating the Scholastic books sales and classroom dessert parties. As a former school librarian, her skills were invaluable in organizing and classifying the Lower Elementary Library.
Mary served on Arbor’s Board and was a member of the fund-raising committee as well. However, she is most proud of her work on the endowment fund (the Founders Fund). It was established on the occasion of Arabelle Luckhardt’s retirement. Arabelle was one of the original founders, a peer of Betty Litsey, and a terrific primary teacher. She explains, “I know current parents have to concentrate on the here and now needs and on operating expenses. But, we can all contribute to the Founders Fund with the long-term goal that the interest from this fund will create the money necessary for staff development and continued education, sponsorship of new teachers for Montessori training, and support of community education programs.
Her volunteering advice for parents is to start small. “The worst thing you can do is come in with a huge project and lose steam. That will just make you feel guilty!” There are a variety of opportunities in the Arbor community so just find your niche. She also encourages parents to spend time in the classroom. “Talk to your teacher. Sometimes teachers hesitate to ask for help and parents hesitate to ask how they can help. In the beginning, open up this dialogue and you’ll build a strong foundation for this three-year relationship.”
She felt a real personal responsibility to volunteer. “When your child enters Arbor, you have an informal contract with the school and your child to participate in the school community.”
Finally, Mary says, “Remember to have fun.” Her favorite experience was working on a quilting auction project with the kids in the classroom. “It was such a humbling experience,” she laughs. “I couldn’t thread the needle or knot my stitches. I was SO bad. The kids were so much better than I was…they were teaching me and they were terrific!”
Involvement equals Success
By Stephanie McCaa
After 10 years as Arbor parents, there isn’t much that Kay and John Entrekin haven’t done in the volunteering arena. As the parents of Savannah, a Middle School student, and Rebecca, a student in Betty’s class, the Entrekins have been involved in all stages of a Montessori education. As Kay puts it: “My involvement has ranged over the years somewhere from a little to a ton!”
“It’s interesting to see how our volunteering has evolved over the years,” says Kay. “Take the auction project, for example. When the kids are young, particularly in the primary years, there is so much you can help with in the classroom. In Middle School however, they are practically making the auction project on their own. John and I have moved from hands-on classroom volunteering to a more behind-the-scenes type of contribution.” Now their auction activities include set-up and minor help with the online auction as well as annual bidding on the class projects produced by Savannah’s and Rebecca’s classrooms.
One of Kay’s favorite roles at the school was as a PIC (Parent Involvement Coordinator). “I was a PIC for several years and was really sad when I handed the responsibilities over to other parents. But then I realized that everyone needs the opportunity to be that deeply involved in the classroom. It was their turn.” She believes that the more you involve yourself with the school, the better for all parties. “Study after study of all schools – from private to public – proves that the more the parents are involved, the better the school operates and the more successful the children.”
It strikes even closer to home for Kay as the founder of the program “Puberty Rocks” at DeKalb Medical Center. This program is designed for preteen and teen girls and discusses the changes of puberty and sexuality. “National teen research states that parents have the greatest impact on teen sexual activity and pregnancy. The more time you spend getting to know your child’s friends and their parents, the more you will be able to guide your child with good decision making.” She continues, “We have also established some great and hopefully lifelong friendships with other families at Arbor through volunteering.”
John made his impact on the school through his involvement in the creation of the Arbor strategic plan and yearly helps with the roll call for the Annual Fund. The strategic plan was a huge project and very time-consuming but John really embraced it. Finding something that matches your natural talents is a must. “Although we both practice medicine now, we have undergraduate degrees in engineering from Georgia Tech (go Yellow Jackets). I think this technical background is why John enjoyed the strategic planning.” She laughs, “In fact that’s the great thing about having all different types of people at Arbor. My advice to parents looking to make a volunteer contribution is: if you feel like you are different from everyone else, that’s fantastic! You’ll be able to have an impact that no one else will be able to match!”
How do your children react to your involvement? We all know that the younger children love to see their parents at the school but how about when they get older? Kay responds with a smile, “Just the other day Rebecca asked me if I would judge at the debate this weekend…she still likes for me to be around.”
Photo left: Kay, John, Savannah and Rebecca Entrekin
Flexibility and Creativity make volunteering a perfect fit for the Garcia Family
By Stephanie McCaa
“We try to focus on everything as a family,” explains Meera Garcia when talking about how she and her husband, both physicians, balance demanding careers with involvement in their daughters’ school. Violet, a third-year in Cindy’s class, and Chloe, a first year in Emilie’s class, are very aware of how their parents contribute to Arbor.
Even though they did not attend Montessori schools themselves, Meera and Paul have always known that their children would benefit from a Montessori education. “Even before we had children, Paul and I noticed that some of the most creative and intellectual adults we knew were products of a Montessori education.” She continues, “So, after interviewing other daycares, we saw how Montessori stood out.” They were sold on the philosophy, and Violet became a Montessori baby at age five weeks.
It is this passion for their children’s education that drives their flexibility and creativity in determining how and when they can volunteer. “Because of our work schedules, we don’t get to be on campus as much as other parents do. But we want to let our children know that we care about their school and want it to succeed just as much as the other parents the girls might see day-to-day in the classroom.”
One of the ways they contribute as a family is to purchase books at the book fair for the classroom. The girls bring the books in to the school with the understanding of how much their parents care about their daily school experience. Also, because of their cultural backgrounds, the family contributes Indian and Cuban foods for International Day.
They were also involved in the Arbor Governance Task Force working on the strategic plan. “This was so exciting,” says Meera, “because we got to meet other parents and focus on the future of the school.”
Working on the Auction lets them concentrate on the present-day aspects of Arbor such as scholarships and teacher education. She laughs, “because of our lifestyle, we eat out a lot. That helped the school because I secured ads and gift certificates from the local businesses that know us!” Her girls got to see her in action soliciting those businesses, making it a family experience.
Meera’s advice for other parents looking to get involved is to remember that being visible and on-campus isn’t the only way to have an impact. “I always thought that parents who were at the school all the time were the best volunteers. Then, one day, Martha Addison thanked me for my work on the auction. I realized that whatever you can contribute matters, and you just have to do what works for your family.”
Meera, an Ob/Gyn and pelvic surgeon, is also going to have some children shadow her in her office. “They are doing research on childbirth so I’m going to be able to let them talk to a pregnant patient. In this way I’m able to share my expertise and let the girls bring something back into the classroom from this experience.”
Although the girls love to see her at school, Meera makes sure that they are aware of the family’s behind-the scenes contributions to Arbor. “Now that they are older, they can see the importance of what Paul and I do to contribute.”
Photo right: Violet, Paul, Meera and Chloe Garcia (Paul is holding Yuri and Meera is holding Bianca)
Taking the Plunge!
By Stephanie McCaa
If you’ve ever been to Running Club, then you know Paul Foster. He’s the guy entertaining the kids with his juggling. Just look around the school at all the posters about the Arbor Cookbook and you’ll recognize Julie Gazmararian’s hand behind that project. These parents of two boys – Alex is a sixth year in Kate’s class and Isaac is a second year in Cindy’s class – have been connected to practically every element of Arbor.
“When you enroll your three-year-old at Arbor you are making a huge commitment of 12 years…from primary through middle school. That is a huge chunk of time for you and your kids,” explains Julie. “One of the things that drew us to Arbor is that it’s more than a school…it’s a community. And volunteering is the best way to be an integral part of this community.” Julie said that many of her friends who have children enrolled at other private and public schools complain that their schools don’t have the same philosophy about parent involvement. “This education one of the most important things you can do for your children…we treasure the ways we can be part of it.”
Having been through the primary cycle, Julie suggests getting really involved in that classroom. “At that age, your child can’t (or won’t) communicate as well to you what his or her day is like. Being in the classroom gives you the chance to really see how Montessori works.” Julie served as a primary PIC and has been the PIC Coordinator for Lower Elementary. “It’s so exciting to see the kids in action. “ She laughs, “Plus, when your kids are young they still love to see you around the school!” She continues, “When your children are older, that’s a great time to get more involved in school-wide or administrative functions.” That’s why you see her as the LE representative on the Arbor Community Council and helping with Auction logistics. These school-wide roles “really open up your interaction with the staff which is a wonderful experience.”
“I love to cook and bake,” Julie says with a smile, “That’s why I’m heading up the cookbook committee.” She tells new parents “Just take the plunge! You’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it can be. And, it’s so great to know the other parents and other kids.” For Paul, outside of Running Club, he is the go-to-guy for carpentry work, another passion of his. Volunteering is easy when you can mesh the things that give you joy with the school community. “Our kids take it for granted that we will be part of the school activities.” She relates a funny incident with one of her boys. “One night Isaac didn’t want me to go out for another meeting. When I told him it was at Arbor, he said ‘oh, then that’s ok.’”
Photo left: Isaac, Alex, Paul Foster and Julie Gazmararian
Bringing Montessori to life through volunteering
By Stephanie McCaa
Denise Bomberger is starting her seventh year as an Arbor parent but how she contributes as a volunteer is anything but routine. Starting last year, Denise expanded her career at the Carter Center which meant adapting her Arbor volunteer role as well. She had been the floral arranger at the Carter Center for eight years which gave her free time during the school day to help out. B after adding the job of an assistant in the Cent volunteer office to her floral duties, she had to focus on after-school opportunities. Of course, her current work in the volunteer office and her previous career with the volunteer office at the Ronald McDonald House make her uniquely qualified to find the right fit for her new schedule.
“In primary I was able to be a PIC and a Lead PIC in my daughters’ classes (Ali is a third year in Emilie’s class and Jessie is a first year in Becca’s),” Denise explains, “But now I focus on giving in other ways.”
Because of her job in the Center’s volunteer office, Denise was able to give a student behindthe- scenes access to some paintings displayed in the non-profit buildings of The Carter Center. “He was working on a project on Andy Warhol and was excited to be able to see the real thing.” She’s also been able to tour students around the Center in the afternoons. “One great element of volunteering is being able to expose the kids to the incredible variety of talents and interests that the parent community has,” she explains. “We can give them a window on the endless number of things they can do with their own lives.”
But her flower-arranging talents have really allowed Denise to focus on how she can contribute to Arbor. She has translated this unique ability into helping with flowers and decorations at the auction; arranging the flowers for the AMI conference; working with students on Mother’s Day projects and Art Days; making presentations to the classrooms; as well as participating in gardening days at the school. “This is my great love and I’m so happy to be able to share this passion with the students and with my own children,” she adds, smiling. “It’s so rewarding to watch the students create something with their own hands and see their sense of accomplishment.”
Her husband Ron Bouterse, who works for JP Morgan, has found ways to make his limited free time work for Arbor’s volunteer efforts as well. He has served on various committees, including Building & Grounds and a Strategic Planning Committee.
Being involved has really enhanced my experience at Arbor in so many ways.” She continues, “Some of my best friends are other Arbor parents I’ve met working on the class auction project or yearbook.” She also offers great advice for new parents or transfers: “It really helped our family make the transition from the Emory campus by being so involved. I knew who to go to with questions and didn’t feel so lost in a new environment.”
What she learned from her transition to “full” part-time employment is that every year is different. “I can’t do everything I did before but I can contribute in different ways. The reality is that you always feel that there is more that you could be doing.” For new parents she suggests: “Start little and work your way to bigger things.” Sometimes you might just fall into your perfect opportunity. “The way I started doing flowers at the auction was because someone had to bow out at the last moment and I was attending auction committee meetings!”
Her girls love having her at school and it gives her a great view “into how the classroom works, how Montessori comes alive…those are great gifts.”
Photo right: Denise Bomberger, Ali, Jessie and Ron Bouterse
Follow Your Passion for a Great Family-School Experience
By Stephanie McCaa
Although both their boys are in Lower Elementary (Harris is a 3rd year in Becca’s class and Ellis is a 1st year in Emilie’s class), there is no area of the school to which Wynne and Matt Callaway have not contributed.
Picture Day, substitute teaching, Grandparents Day, gardening, Art Day, Annual Fund classroom representative and the Strategic Plan Finance Committee are just a few of the activities that Wynne has been involved in as an Arbor parent. But, as she says, “At a small school, volunteers are the key to its viability.”
Matt has been involved with gardening, chaperoning and driving, but coaching Middle School Girls’ Basketball for three years has definitely been one of the highpoints of his volunteer experience: “At first I had a little trepidation because I’d always coached younger kids and boys only, but the time spent with these girls has been amazing.” He adds, “I am able to see how they learn and accept challenges differently from boys.”
“Most people volunteer only in the grade levels where they have children, but my experience in substitute teaching in the Middle School has given me a unique perspective.” She continues, “Middle School seems too far away when you’re in Primary or Elementary, but in Middle School you get to see the end product…the culmination of all those years of Montessori education. It has helped me to appreciate Elementary because I see the results in Middle School kids.”
Matt echoes those sentiments when talking about chaperoning the Middle School trip to Costa Rica, “When I first heard about the Middle School trip, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like taking them to a foreign country…but they were fantastic. They could function on their own, think on their own and work together to make their trip a success. Again, I saw the Montessori method at work firsthand.”
What advice do they have to parents looking to volunteer? One way is to follow your passion. Athletics are very important to the whole Callaway family so basketball was a great match. “The boys and I attended almost every game while Matt coached,” Wynne adds, “That made for a great family-school experience.”
Another piece of advice is “Just do it! Don’t be afraid that you’re not an expert at something.” Wynne tells of her work at Art Day, “I’d never thought I’d be qualified to help because I’m not artistic at all but they were short-handed.” She laughs, “I could do it! I had a ball!” You can also start slowly by just being there. Attending the coffees, the parent evenings, and the Board meetings puts you in touch with other parents and the rhythm of the school.
Being involved at both the classroom and whole school level is important too. They both love getting to know the kids and teachers at the micro level. Grandparents Day is a personal favorite of Wynne’s. However, being involved in strategic planning really struck a chord with both of them because there was no such opportunity at the boys’ previous school. “The parents have buy-in as to what the school will be like in 10 years…in fact, Arbor administration wouldn’t think of NOT asking the parents. That’s an incredibly refreshing environment.”
Do their boys like to see them at school? “It would be strange for them to not see us…we have always been involved ever since primary.” Wynne continues, “Your family has a huge investment in the school. It’s a big part of your life. We believe the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”
Photo right: Harris, Matthew, Wynne and Matt Callaway
Passionate about Montessori
By Stephanie McCaa
For Anne Sorenson, Montessori is more than just a philosophy; it’s a huge part of her life. With two children at Arbor (Kennet is a 4th year in Kate’s class; Kallan is a 1st year in Cindy’s class), Anne also works as director of admissions at Decatur Montessori. “When my kids were in primary at Decatur Montessori, they thought I was a rock star because I actually worked there! I think they are waiting for me to start working at Arbor!” However, with Anne’s level of participation in and outside of the classroom at Arbor, her children have plenty of chances to be with her at school.
In fact, one of Anne’s favorite volunteer experiences has been in the classroom with her kids serving as a PIC for the last two years. “I love getting to know the parents and kids in my children’s class. That is my primary interest right now.” Other classroom activities including working on the class auction project. “When we were new to Arbor, I started out with smaller projects, to get my feet wet and learn my way around the school.”
Since then, in addition to being a PIC, she was the Arbor representative for the Montessori Institute’s 100th Anniversary Celebration of the first Montessori’s school. This was a very exciting experience for Anne: “I got to meet and work with people from other Montessori schools in the community; talk to other parents; and really experience the global spirit of Montessori.” She adds, “It was a lot of work but something I feel was personally satisfying.”
When asked why she volunteers, Anne responds, “It just feels natural…it goes without saying that I want to be involved in the school and any activity that my children participate in …it’s the best way to support them and to know what they are doing.” It’s also a great way to get a better insight into Montessori. You can understand a lot more about the philosophy and the academics by being at the school and in the classroom with the materials. “School life flows into home life. With a greater knowledge of why Montessori philosophy works, I’ve had a better idea of when to help my kids or back off and let them be independent.”
She sees volunteerism as having a ripple effect in the school. “If you are passionate about what you are doing in the Arbor community, it shows! That feeling is passed on to others and builds a stronger school.” On a practical side, it has also helped her navigating her way through a new school when her kids had recently transferred: “I was able to know who to talk to when I had a question…everyone wants to help you.” Her advice for new parents or those who have hesitated to volunteer is: “Ask to do something rather than wait to be asked.” She adds, “I know that can be hard, especially if you are new. But being proactive means that you get to help out on something that you already have an interest in. You’ll be surprised to see how eager people are to have you join them.”
She suggests volunteering for her favorite Arbor event: The World’s Fair. “I loved the Fair before the kids were even enrolled at Arbor. We’d come every year as a family to join in the fun.” What sets this experience apart is that it is a school-wide event: “Everyone gets to participate so you feel a deep sense of community. You get to see beyond your child’s classroom.”
Photo left: Daren, Kallan, Kennet, Anne & Grandfather Dwight Sorenson on Whidbey Is. Washington
Building a Vibrant Community through Volunteering
By Steph McCaa
Why does Jay Brownstein volunteer? “First and foremost,” he says, “I want to be involved as much as possible in my daughter’s education and this is the best way to do it.” He lives up to those words. In the five years that his daughter Amanda has attended Arbor, Jay has served as a PIC for two years and was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, Grounds Committee, and Auction Class Project Committee. His contributions also include hosting his daughter’s class spring party, serving as substitute teacher, and participating in a myriad of other school-wide and class projects. By being involved in his daughter’s school, he says, “I feel like I’m helping to make her daily environment and experience a great one.” For Jay, Arbor is a terrific and vibrant community and volunteering makes him a contributing member of that community.
Jay has enjoyed different aspects of his volunteer experiences but being with the kids is probably the most fun. He cites events like picture day, baking projects and class parties as highlights over the years.
Amanda, a second year in Emilie’s class, has worked hand-inhand with her father on a variety of projects. For Jay, one of the most satisfying parts of being involved is his daughter’s response to this collaboration: “Amanda gets a kick out of it when I show up at school or come into her class for something. She seems to like seeing me there.” His participation also makes Amanda know that “her school is important” to him.
For new parents or those parents who haven’t had an opportunity to volunteer, Jay offers this advice: There's plenty of ways to help and choices available, so it’s not too hard to find something that interests you.
Jay truly lives his philosophy that “you only get out of something what you put in.”
Photo left: Amanda and mom, Tien visiting with old friends!
Photo right: Jay explains technical details of the class’s auction project.
Eight Years Later
By Bruce Pfleger
Richard Robison and his wife Andrea Doneff joined Arbor in 2000 for their daughter,
Samantha. In moving to the acclaimed Oak Grove public school district, they figured their
involvement with Arbor would be short term. But the Robison/Doneffs couldn’t be happier in
choosing Arbor and eight years later Samantha has entered middle school while her sister
Amy is in Kate’s upper
elementary class.
Some parents of Arbor students focus on one or two school activities. Then there is Richard. He’s worked six years as a parent involvement coordinator, serving as a go-between for teachers and other volunteer parents.
Richard has done sound and lights for class plays, the school auction, and spring concert. Richard has even chauffeured kids around in the Arbor school bus. Drawing on his experience as a computer consultant, he installed and modified free software to run the on-line auction. He also took over maintenance of the auction management software created by former Arbor parent Carol Herrick. He notes that he enjoys it most when he is working directly with others doing something he is good at. Not all jobs suit Richard though. He’ll leave gardening and grounds work to others.
Photo: Richard and Andrea and family, courtesy of Duane Stork Photography
The Road Less Taken
By Bruce Pfleger
Liticia and Keyton Weissinger and daughters Margaret and Hannah live farther away from school than most families in Grayson, a small town in Gwinnett County. But their 27 mile commute to Arbor hardly keeps them from having meaningful roles at school. In this, their second year at Arbor, both Liticia and Keyton are first time parent involvement coordinators or PICs, Liticia for Kate’s upper elementary class where her daughter Hannah is a student and Keyton for the middle school which Margaret attends. PICs serve as a liaison between teachers and parents, helping to plan and conduct special activities as well as matching volunteers to the numerous jobs and demands that classes need assistance with. One of the popular events PICs help coordinate is the beginning of the year dessert parties. These delicious (if not nutritious!) gatherings allow PICs to circulate and talk to new and existing parents and steer them towards the various activities in need of parental support. The couple feels the PIC position provides a great way to get to know other parents, get them involved, and help with their transition to Arbor. Liticia has also made the transition from stay at home mom to part time to now a full time position in the Arbor office. As an administrative assistant, she works at the front desk handling phone calls, dealing with admission applications, updating the student database, ordering supplies and equipment and handling other responsibilities as needed. Keyton has been involved in past activities such as water conservation and the auction.
Photo: The Weissinger family
The Sweet Sound of Service at Arbor Montessori School
by Todd Poole
When Beth and Joey Bowers, parents
of Cass (Lower Elementary) and Stella (Emory 2), volunteer at Arbor Montessori, they
do it to a soundtrack. Joey’s band, the DejaBlue Grass Band, played several Arbor events
over their past four years in the Arbor community. The band recently placed second at
Telluride’s 35th Annual Blue Grass contest in Colorado. In addition to their cultural gift
to the Arbor community, Beth serves on the Fund Raising Committee and both Beth and
Joey were involved with committees to establish the school’s strategic plan. The
Bowers’ volunteerism at Arbor is an extension of their passions for giving. Beth, a
business development manager for Cox Radio, organized Tickled Pink and Call for the
Cure to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Tickled Pink is a benefit thrown by
B98.5 FM and by hosted by nationally recognized comedian, Elayne Boosler. 
Call for
the Cure is a call-in fundraiser utilizing the talents of B98.5 FM morning show hosts
Steve and Vicki. More information about these events can be found at http://b985.com/pinkchannel/. Beth is also involved with Go Girl Go, an offshoot of the
Women’s Sports Foundation dedicated to promoting an active lifestyle for girls. Joey
interconnects his work and volunteerism. He developed and runs the member networks
of Young Presidents Organization/World Presidents Organization, a social enterprise
network of 20,000 presidents, CEO’s and Chairpersons. Several of these networks focus
on fund raising and coordinating volunteers. If you can’t see him coordinating volunteers
online, you may catch him helping to maintain the Emory playground. Arbor is thrilled
that the Bowers share their time and considerable talents, and invites you to do the same.
Photo: The Bowers family
Todd Poole is a business litigation attorney at Johnson Hobgood Rutherford LLC. His daughter Madeleine is in her first year in the Emory 2 primary class.