Parents and Alumni: Strengthening the Ties
As anyone who has been to a Homecoming dinner, an end-of-year party or a performing arts event can attest, Ravenscroft is more than just students and teachers. Current families and the more than 4,500 alumni and their families — many of whom count the years of their relationship with the institution in decades — are also indispensable members of the community.
OUR COMMUNITY SHOWS UP
Parent-led organizations such as the Parents’ Association, RAC (Ravenscroft Athletic Club) and the Fine Arts Association have proven to be community-building powerhouses over the years, organizing everything from grade-level parent meetings, athletics concessions sales and concert attire to major events including Fall Festival, the Golf Tournament and stage productions. Along the way, they’ve engaged countless families in volunteerism and philanthropy, two of the cornerstones of Ravenscroft’s success.
“Community is at the heart of our mission statement,” Peggy Robbins, who served as 2018-19 PA co-president, said. “Creating those connections is what builds the foundation for a strong sense of belonging in our community.”
“This past year Ravenscroft produced its largest musical to date with ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” said Fine Arts Association president Angie Crookenden. “Parents and grandparents worked to provide meals, put up headshots and posters, distribute tickets and keep up with costumes. It made my heart swell with pride for how our community showed up for the arts.”
Families have also shown up for one another. Groups such as Global Parent Ambassadors and the PA’s Parents Supporting Diversity and Inclusion plan social events, host information sessions and advocate for students and families.
“Our mind-set is one of inclusion,” said GPA’s Karen Taber. “We act as a springboard for international parents to participate in and contribute their rich diversity to our community.”
“We’ve been a vocal advocate for additional affinity groups,” said PSDI’s Tijuana Crosby. “They’re essential in helping to establish a welcoming environment for minority families — which, in turn, helps to strengthen the larger Ravenscroft community.”
THE PLACE THAT CONNECTS US ALL
Alumni, too, play an integral role in maintaining Ravenscroft’s strong sense of community. The Alumni Association is charged with keeping all alumni connected, from the school’s earliest students on the Tucker Street campus to the almost-graduated senior class. The association spearheads class reunions and other events that bring alumni back to campus, including the Legacy Lunch, athletics reunion games and visits from college-age alumni to talk about their experiences after Ravenscroft.
“It’s fun to be a part of,” Jeremy Bull ’00 said of the alumni lacrosse game, which takes place over Thanksgiving break. “You’ve got guys spanning 25 years out there competing, becoming friends, catching up. It brings us back to the place that connects us all.”
Of course, many alumni are also current parents or grandparents. Their presence is felt in the day-to-day volunteer roles they play on campus and in the policy-shaping work of groups such as the Alumni Council and Board of Trustees.
John Parham ’84, whose children Jordan ’17 and Rhett ’20 are also Ravens, has served in both groups.
“My alumni connections have deepened because of my involvement initially with the Alumni Council and then the Board of Trustees,” he said. “When I became president of the Alumni Council, I reconnected with my ’83-’85 classmates to ask for their involvement in Homecoming weekend and a variety of campus events. There are many Ravenscoft alumni serving on the board as well, and it has been fun getting to know them better since we are all from different time periods.”
What connects them is their dedication to ensuring Ravenscroft continues to fulfill its mission for this — and the next — generation of leaders and learners. For parents and alumni, as for teachers and students, when it comes to the Ravenscroft community, they’re all in it together.