Along with our outstanding teachers, supportive staff, and vibrant student body, our parents are our greatest asset. Each year, we rely on our parents to spread the word about MICDS, and the most visible way to do that is by joining the Parent Ambassador and Welcoming Committee (PAWC). This week, PAWC members spent time preparing for the busy admission season ahead.
Around 500 prospective families visit our campus each year. Children shadow our students, getting a feel for what life is like inside our dynamic classrooms (and how good the food is in our dining halls!). Parents spend time with their peers: people who are experiencing exactly what they hopefully will the following year. The contacts are invaluable; learning about MICDS from someone currently in the community is the best insight into actual experience, plus it’s easier to ask questions parent-to-parent. While our dedicated team of admissions professionals is committed to ensuring each prospective family has a great experience at MICDS regardless of the outcome, it’s important for prospective families to hear a genuine voice in their very position.
Current Parent Ambassadors to the rescue! We are fortunate to have about 60 parent volunteers willing to shepherd prospective families around our campus this year. This past week, they all gathered in the Presentation Room in Olson Hall for training before heading out in small groups for their own tours.
They’ll be busy from late September through the end of January, shepherding curious parents around campus to see how our students learn and how our teachers keep them engaged. Note: Our teachers are an important part of the tour guide process, too! Teachers not currently in a class will often stop to chat with prospective parents on their tours, answering questions about curriculum and classroom experience.
Interested in becoming a Parent Ambassador? It’s not too late! Email any member of our Admission Team to express interest, and they’ll be in touch. “Don’t be intimidated,” said Eric Brunt, Director of Enrollment Management. “There are many options from being a tour guide—we’ll train you!—to serving as a greeter at events.” Parents can volunteer as much or as little as their time and interest allow.
Brunt and his team frequently express the vital role our Parent Ambassadors play in the admission process. “They are the genuine voice,” he said. “We hear over and over how important it is for families to know and feel they will find their place within our community. People know we have a beautiful campus with strong programs and excellence across the board. At the same time, our stately campus and size can be intimidating. Parent Ambassadors help us overcome these concerns by providing the ‘warm hug’ that lets prospective families know they will be known and valued in our wonderful community.
“We have many veteran parents and also many new parents in our Parent Ambassadors group,” Brunt continued. “It is a great way to volunteer with the school no matter how long you’ve been in our community. You get to know the school better, see it in action on a regular basis, build relationships with prospective families, and spread the word about the wonderful opportunities and community at MICDS! We in Admissions cannot do our work without our dedicated and enthusiastic parent ambassadors.”
Don’t take it from us! Leah Eggers P ’30 ’33 said, “Guiding admission tours is a wonderful way to welcome prospective families, get acquainted with faculty and staff, observe the student experience, and keep apprised of what’s happening on campus. What a meaningful volunteer opportunity that’s accessible to new and longtime MICDS parents alike!”
Kelly Wright P ’25 ’27 ’29 agreed. “It’s a great way to get involved, and you never know where it can lead…new friends, get to know teachers better, learn about our School, and other new, fun volunteer positions.”
Teron Sutherlin, Associate Director of Admission for the Upper School, said that volunteering also offers parents a sense of ownership of their place with MICDS, allowing them to find their place in the community and see first-hand how they are appreciated. “I love working with the PAWC, and they offer such a unique look into what we have going at MICDS,” he said.
Many thanks to our amazing Parent Ambassadors and Welcoming Committee. Here’s to a great season of informative, fun, and interesting tours and events!