August 2012
Dear Parents:
Greetings from the Maret Parents Association (MPA). On behalf of the MPA Executive Committee,I would like to extend a warm welcome to both new and returning families. As preseason sports and “Back-To-School” sales remind us that the first day of school is near, we thought this would be a good time to provide some insight into the 2012-2013 school year. Every year we select a theme for the year’s activities and events. This year’s theme is "The Global Mosaic" which emphasizes the many ways in which our students experience the world beyond 3000 Cathedral Avenue. This mailing includes information about selected school activities and MPA programs that we hope you will find useful in the weeks ahead. Please don't hesitate to contact us or any Maret staff members with questions or comments.
MPA News and Other Information on the Maret Website
The best way to keep abreast of school announcements, MPA news and other activities in our community is to frequently visit the new and improved Maret website at
www.maret.org:
Maret Parents Association Resources: Under the tab “Support Maret,” click “Maret Parent Association” for MPA messages and announcements, Scholarship Auction and Fete news, and other helpful resources. Information about the MPA is also available under the “Parents” link by clicking “Maret Community.”
Parent Directory: A paper directory is being mailed again this year. However, please continue to use the online directory for the most up-to-date contact information. Update your family information and please continue to make changes to your data as needed throughout the school year. This will ensure that the online Directory and the information maintained at the School remains current and correct. (If you have trouble accessing your information, contact Administrative Coordinator, Anissa Wills at 202-939-8800 or director@maret.org).
Site map: This is great resource! Click on "Site Map" at the bottom of the page for a fast and easy way to find information.
Maret Community Access: Certain pages of the website are designed for the Maret community only and are password protected. If you are a new family in need of assistance accessing the protected pages on the website, or if you are a returning family in need of assistance retrieving your user ID and/or password information, please contact Maret's Administrative Coordinator, Anissa Wills at 202-939-8800. If you do not have Internet access, please contact the Development Office at 202-939-8809 for news updates.
MPA Meetings
The MPA general meetings will be as follows: The October, December and April MPA meetings will be held at 8:15 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month in the Movement Studio. The February meeting will be on the 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the Theatre. These meetings are a good way to learn about parent- supported programs and projects in the school community, and an opportunity to ask questions. Parent Appreciation Night will be held in May and is the meeting at which the election of the next year's MPA Officers takes place. The meeting dates for this year are:
o October 3rd
o December 5th
o February 5th
o April 3rd
o May 14th
Class Potlucks
Each class will have a potluck in the fall on the school campus; they are designed to allow new and returning parents to meet in an informal setting to get to know each other and learn about events for the upcoming year. All parents are encouraged to attend. Be on the lookout for potluck information from your Class Representatives through the class email list.
Gift Wrap Sale
This year the MPA will sponsor products from Charleston Wrap to benefit our children. Sales begin October 1st for all orders placed through the catalog or online. Additional information about the Charleston Wrap program will be mailed home at a later date.
Amazon Program
You (and friends and family) can support Maret through every Amazon.com purchase. At no extra cost to the buyer, our school will receive 4-to-10% in referral fees of all purchases made at Amazon.com by originating your purchase through the search box on the MPA page of the Maret website. Please don't forget to start your shopping visit to Amazon from this page. Shopping must originate through the special link in order for our school to receive credit. You can bookmark this link for all your future purchases! Money raised through this MPA program will be used to support Maret.
Scholarship Auction
One of the highlights of the year is our community-wide Scholarship Auction. The MPA is proud to sponsor this outstanding event that contributes so much to our school community and our children’s' education. This year’s auction theme is "Bazar Bonsoir.” It promises to be an exciting and fun evening and should not be missed! The Auction will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Please see the accompanying information about ways to support the auction. Volunteering to help with the many facets of the Auction is one of the best ways to get to know others while helping Maret.
School Store
The School Store is located above the Atrium in the Academic Center Building and provides a convenient location to purchase school supplies, athletic uniforms and Maret spirit wear.
MPA Diversity Committee
A chairperson leads the MPA Diversity Committee, two co-chairs from each division (Lower School, Middle School and Upper School) and the MPA President, who serves as an ex-officio member. A list of the Committee leadership can be found on the Maret website and in theschool directory. Please feel free to contact any member of the leadership if you have questions regarding the committee or would like to be involved. The committee will be hosting both school-wide and division-specific programs throughout the year and encourages all parents to participate.
Volunteering
The MPA Volunteer Form is included in this mailing. Please fill it out and return to the Development Office by Sept. 9th. There are many opportunities for service for whatever time you may have to give. Outstanding annual events include Homecoming in October and the Fete in May. Contact your MPA Class Representative listed on the Maret website and in the school directory for information regarding volunteering at Maret. If you have any questions on volunteering, please contact Director of Constituent Relations Marilyn Potts in the Development Office at 202-939-2463.
I look forward to working with you this school year.
Alison Arnold-Simmons
MPA President 2012-2013