Country Day School PA Events 2022-2023

Download the CDS PA Calendar PDF

• CDS Fall Festival, October 2022
  Join the Fall Festival Planning Committee by contacting Amelia Grubman.
• Sponsor a Treat the Teachers Breakfast
  Support our teachers by sponsoring a Treat the Teachers Breakfast (sign up coming soon!)
• Parents Association Meeting
  Oct. 21, 2022
• UPA Haunted Walk
  Sunday, Oct. 30, 5-7:30 p.m., Senior School 
  Young children should arrive at 5 p.m. for mild spooks.
• Shady Side Gives Back Fundraising Event With the Junior School
  Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Frick Park, Frick Park Parking Lot (Nine Mile Run Trail), Sign up online. 
• UPA Academy-Wide Ice Skating Party
  Saturday, Dec. 10, noon-2 p.m., Hunt Armory Rink
• Winterfest
  December 2022
• Cookie Shoppe
  Dec. 12-16, 2022
• Parents Association Meeting
  January 2023
• UPA Sledding Party
  Winter 2023
• CDS Movie Night
  February 2023, Tentative
• Earth Day Crayon Drive
  April 17-21, 2023
• Bulldog Day
  April 21, 2023
• Uniform Swap
  Spring 2023
• Teacher Appreciation Week
  May 2023
• Cocktails and Conversation
  May 2023
• CDS Field Day and End of Year Celebration
  June 2023
• End-of-Year Teacher/Staff Luncheon
  June 2023
• SSA Kennywood Day
  June 2023

Country Day School PA Division Officers 2022-2023

Amelia Grubman, Division Chair
Laura Bernardo, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Urish and Megan Grguras, Co-Secretaries
Sarah Pitt, Treasurer

Junior School PA Division Officers 2022-2023

Middle School PA Volunteer Opportunities 2022-2023

Ice Cream Socials
Two Ice Cream Socials are held before the school year starts: one for sixth grade families and one for Form I & II (grade 7-8) families. Students and parents get the chance to meet teachers and other families and enjoy an ice cream treat.

Bagel Days
Every Day 6 (with a few exceptions) Panera Bread bagels are donated by parents and served to students during morning break. Parents can donate money to buy the bagels and/or sign up to serve them between 9:15-10 a.m. 

• Volunteer to serve on a Bagel Day: Sign up online.
• Donate to sponsor a Bagel Day: Sign up online.

Form Parents
Form parents serve as a liaison between the PA and all parents in a specific grade. Duties vary during the course of the year but may include emailing parents about upcoming events or to ask for volunteers, and communicating with form deans to organize treats for the students.

Parents' Night
During a weekday evening in September, parents will have the opportunity to walk through their child's schedule (with 15-minute classes) to meet each teacher and hear about the classes their child is taking.

Class-Level Parent Meeting
This is an informational meeting for parents that focuses on their child's grade-level social and emotional development. The school counselor and learning specialist will lead the conversation.

PA Coffee With School Head Amy Nixon
The PA schedules coffees with School Head Amy Nixon several times per year. Ms. Nixon gives updates about the school year and information about upcoming events. There are often guest speakers of interest to parents as well.

Tailgate Party
The Unified Parents' Association sponsors an all-Academy tailgate party at the Senior School for students and families prior to a home football game.

Take Your Parents to School Day
Students invite their parents to attend a day of school with them. This is an open house event where parents can attend as many classes as they wish with their child – including lunch!

Haunted Walk
The Haunted Walk takes place along the cross country course at the Senior School. All Academy students and families are invited to participate...if you dare!

Flavors of Fall
This is a parent-only social event at the Middle School. Parents will be asked to bring an appetizer, dessert or bottle of wine and enjoy an evening of camaraderie. 

Faculty Fridays
To acknowledge the hard work and compassion our teachers show on a daily basis, parents volunteer to host a monthly breakfast for the Middle School faculty. Parents may do this individually or pitch in to host together. Parents can choose to order from Metz, another caterer or prepare dishes at home to show their appreciation for the teachers. 

Treat the Teachers
Similar to Faculty Fridays, this is an opportunity to provide a special treat for the teachers during their monthly faculty meeting after school.

Halloween Parties
Sixth graders enjoy a Halloween Parade and costume party while Form I & II students enjoy a performance with treats. Parents help decorate and provide the food for both events.

Holiday Cookie Shoppe
The Holiday Cookie Shoppe is a long-standing tradition at Shady Side. Parents volunteer to donate several dozen cookies or to set up the Cookie Shoppe. The teachers go through the shoppe filling a box with cookies to take home for the holidays.

Form I & II Dances
Parents are asked to assist a faculty member and several students to plan the Form I & II dances.

Spring Parent Event
This is a new event for 2022! Similar to Flavors of Fall, it will be a parents-only potluck event.

Trivia Contest
The PA provides the questions and prizes as the students try to outdo each other with the best Kahoot! score. A trivia champion is crowned at the end of the week.

Teacher Appreciation Week
The first week of May is National Teacher Appreciation Week. All four campuses participate to show our teachers that we appreciate all they do for our children. Each day of the week is a celebration of their dedication.

Field Day
The PA provides a treat for the students during Field Day. Traditionally, the Kona Ice Truck makes an appearance.

Graduation Gift
The PA provides a gift to all Form II students as a send-off to the Senior School.

Faculty End-of-Year Luncheon
The PA asks parents to donate a food item (homemade or purchased) and sets up a beautiful luncheon for faculty at the end of the school year.

Middle School PA Division Officers 2022-2023

Ornella Castman, Division Chair
Erica Salmond, Co-Chair
Margo Litwin, Treasurer
Kate Bitsoff, Secretary