Message from the President
First of all, I would like to say how delighted and honoured I am to begin my term as HTS Parents’ Guild President. We have a warm and caring volunteer organization that helps build the special community that is so important to HTS. I am especially fortunate to be working with such a hardworking and dedicated executive including our Past President Karen Sullivan, Marianne Baker, Carolyn Barber, Lorrie Boehmer, Vicki De Meneghi, Vivienne Fazio, Shirley Marchant, Pam Merkel, Sandra Murphy, Carole Palmer, Mona Schultz, Nonna Schiefer, Cathy Stuart, Debbie Sutherland and Angi Turner. Many thanks to our tremendous group of volunteers in the Parents’ Guild that make up our HTS volunteer family. Our mission is to enhance the social, physical and spiritual environment of the school, while fostering community spirit among students, staff and friends of the school. Our thanks go to our strong team of parent volunteers working with the school to support our children’s daily life at HTS.
Many thanks go to all our volunteers who contributed to our spring events including Trinity Fair and our Ladies Luncheon. Special thanks go to our Trinity Fair co-chairs Karen Sims and Carol Hix, and to Peter Gismondi who, through his Great Canadian Amusement Company, was very generous with his time and expertise. This year’s Ladies Luncheon, held in May at the Richmond Hill Country Club, was a special celebration of HTS’ twenty-fifth anniversary. Everyone had a wonderful time, thanks to the hard work of co-chairs Karen Sullivan, Vicki De Meneghi and Lorrie Boehmer.
Our Annual General Meeting was held in May at HTS. Angi Turner, VP Finance of the Guild, informed the membership that the total value of donations from the Parents’ Guild to HTS in the last school year was $49,077.51. These funds included monies raised through the fundraising efforts of our volunteers and participating families, as well as our ambassadorial efforts, such as hosting New Parents Receptions, funding Popsicle Days and Sundaes on Thursdays, etc. Again, an impressive contribution to the life of HTS by all the Guild volunteers and participating HTS families!
Our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, organized by Sandra Murphy and Pamela Merkel, our outgoing and incoming VPs of Volunteers, was well attended by over 110 volunteers. Karen Sullivan, Guild Past President was honoured to present, on behalf of the Guild, a contribution of $25,000 to Mr. Rutherford, again in recognition and celebration of our 25th Anniversary. HTS Parents’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to two unquestionably worthy candidates: Heather Dixon and June Kelly. Retiring from the Guild Executive were Brigette Anderson and Summer Filgiano. We thank them all for their work and support of our school community on behalf of the Parents’ Guild.
Wendy Fursey, Nancy Thunem and Heather Dixon ran our Used Textbook Sale, always a tremendous service to our HTS families, in June, with a dedicated group of volunteers. This is a special contribution to our school community and has raised funds to purchase all the books that are in the Senior Library.
Our Fall events have included a delightful Guild Welcome Tea organized by Carole Palmer and her dedicated group of Family Mentors who welcomed our new families into the HTS Parents’ Guild. Helen Cheung and Bridgid Wilson led a very successful magazine and giftwrap campaign, raising funds to benefit the school community. Popsicle Day was organized by Helen Cheung in October and staffed by a group of new HTS parent volunteers. Popsicles were enjoyed by children of all ages! Marianne Baker and Summer Filgiano and their committee are working hard in preparation for our Christmas Country Store, an annual HTS tradition, to be held at the end of November. Wendy Fursey and Nonna Schiefer are working with our HTS Athletics department to host the Hawks’ Invitational, the U14 Volleyball tournament, also at the end of November.
We are all looking forward to another year working together, and welcome our new families to the Parents’ Guild. All HTS parents are members of the HTS Parents’ Guild, and are welcome and invited to join us, as you are able. We have volunteer opportunities for everyone, big and small, daytime and evening, something that will fit into everyone’s schedule. Please contact Pam Merkel, our VP Volunteers, pamela.merkel@sympatico.cato get more involved. We look forward to working with you for the good of our children and their daily lives at HTS.
Sue Tiffin
Fall 2007
