A Community Development Update

With just six weeks left in the 2021-2022 school year, there is much to be celebrated as a community. From social moments and rites of passage to volunteer opportunities and learning connections, don’t miss a thing.

LEARN

Thursday, April 14, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Virtual Parent University with Essential Partners/Part 2: Dialoguing Across Difference
Meeting ID: 871 4004 5705 / Passcode: D8nghL

Essential Partners returns in conjunction with Mount Vernon faculty/staff and students to share ways in which our community has absorbed and implemented learning connected to dialogue and effective communication. With the support of faculty facilitators, students will have had the opportunity to engage in the practice of dialogue through Upper School Advisory and Middle School Community gatherings to learn more about themselves and one another. This work reflects our belief that we are #bettertogether and directly supports the advancement of IDEA. Join us to hear stories of growth and curiosity as we share moments and ways in which we’ve achieved deeper understanding across differences.

Friday, May 6, 9:00 – 10:00 am
In-person Parent University with Kate Parker
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall Quad B

Katie T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.”

But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. THE HEART OF A BOY, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

Photography by Kate Parker

SERVE

Friday, April 29
Mustang Rally
With a need for 100+ volunteers for this community event, we could still use your help. At this time, we need the most help with the field races portion of the event. Sign up to participate behind the scenes before you enjoy the carnival as a family!

Friday, May 13, 8:30 – 9:15am
Volunteer Engagement Fair
Upper Campus Cafe Patio

Learn how to plug in and get connected during the 2022-2023 school year beginning as early as this summer, by visiting with this year’s and next year’s MVPN Chairs at a casual meet and greet on the Upper School cafe patio. There are 15 MVPN Committees with more than 100 ways to engage and participate.

1. MVXperts: Share your professional or personal specialty with the School by providing expertise to students at any/every level and/or help connect faculty with external professionals
2. MV New Families: Welcome our newest MV families who are joining our community for the 2022-2023 school year through coffees, informational sessions, and socials
3. MV Events: Go behind the scenes to plan and execute the School’s largest community events: Homecoming, Rock the Block, and Mustang Rally
4. MV Spirit: Inspire Mustang pride within our community through spirit wear and special swag moments throughout the year
5. MV Appreciates: Show appreciation to MV faculty by designing moments of gratitude throughout the year
6. MV Serves: Develop engaged citizen leaders through service learning by building local partnerships and making an impact
7. MV Cares: Provide support to members of the MV community: families, students, faculty/staff through prayers, notes, meal trains, and more
8. MV IDEA: Further the School’s mission of inclusion and belonging by ensuring all voices are represented
9. MV Gives: Support the School’s fundraising efforts through the MV Fund
10. MV Connection: Provide moments of unity and connection for students and their families from Preschool through Alumni status
11. MV Grandparents: Grow the MV Grandparent network to encourage participation and engagement through newsletters and special events
12. Lower Campus Engagement: Design student/family social experiences for Lower Campus
13. Upper Campus Engagement: Design student/family social experiences for Upper Campus
14. Mustang Athletic Club: Foster community athletic engagement while celebrating coaches and athletes through athletic events and behind the scenes support
15. Mount Vernon Arts Alliance: Foster community arts engagement while celebrating directors and performers through arts events and behind the scenes support

Year of Impact

To date, the School’s Year of Impact total is 43,590. We have until the end of May to reach our goal of 50,000 impact hours, so we still need everyone’s help! Log your volunteer hours here. Together, we give back. Last month’s school-wide collection drive was a huge success! The MV Serves committee delivered almost 2,500 food items and approximately 9,000 personal items to Solidarity Pantry at Sandy Springs.

Photography by Betsy Armstrong

GIVE

The School is grateful to the entire MV community for going above and beyond to elevate the Mount Vernon experience through the MVFund, MVat50 Benefit, and Mustang Rally. With continued benefits through corporate matching programs, tax-free IRA contributions, and stock transfers, support for the Ron Hill Field, Upper and Lower Campus mainstage technology upgrades, Lower Campus gym updates, Faculty/Staff professional learning and development, a new fleet of buses, and additional resources that are essential to every student’s experience are nearing full funding. However, there is still more work to be done to close the gap for the year and we need our entire community’s assistance. Please consider reinvesting in the School by placing your initial online gift or pledge or by increasing your contribution.

Additionally, GOAL is currently accepting tax credit applications for the 2022 tax year; please click here to apply.

Community Recap:

Lower Campus students celebrated the last two Fridays by bringing a special guest to their respective events. Thank you to Jacki Fink, Sarah Linden, Ashly Cox, Cissy Zelickson, Anna Copeland, and Stephanie Brady for designing, planning, and executing two successful events measured by the smiles.

Photo Galleries:
Kindergarten – Grade 2 Campout Cookout
Grades 3- 5 Glow Crazy Dance Party

Photography by Betsy Armstrong

With many moments to engage before the end of May, the Community Development team looks forward to seeing every family on-campus as we close out this year and prepare for next.

Please contact Anne Katz with any questions,
[email protected].