Together in Care and Education: Our Parents
9 January 2025
Lately, I have often found myself lost in thought about parenthood. Part of this reflection has been fueled by the tragic news in Crans-Montana. As I was glued to the news about the horrific events last week, like most of you, I was thinking about and praying for those who had to wait an agonising amount of time to hear news about their children. I cannot imagine the pain they have suffered and continue to suffer. Other reflections came from spending time with friends back home in Canada who are new “empty nesters.” Many parents struggle as their children head off to new adventures, leaving them to worry and to figure out a new sense of identity for this next chapter of life.
As I reflected on our first semester over the break, I also found myself thinking about our parents at ICS—the love they feel for their children and the vital role they play in our community. As so much of my role is focused on student care and wellbeing, I do not always have the opportunity to fully consider the parent perspective. The bottom line is that we simply cannot do what we do in holistic education without our parents and guardians.
Thankfully, we have an incredible parent body and an amazing Parents’ Association (PA) that helps keep the parent voice at the forefront of our discussions. As a leadership team, our relationships with parents are a top priority, and we often rely on input from the PA. We are fortunate to meet regularly with the Parents’ Association Board. In addition, we meet separately with our dedicated PA President, and each principal meets with the Vice President of their respective school. These conversations have a significant impact, and we are continually learning from our parents. It is a powerful system, with parents providing feedback to grade-level representatives, who then share with Primary, Middle, or Senior School representatives before bringing information to us as principals.
The open communication that has developed through this collective feedback system has informed countless decisions. Topics have included digital platforms, events such as Curriculum Evenings and Coffee Mornings, grade-level concerns, communication challenges, curriculum feedback, and operational matters. The President and Vice Presidents also meet with the Student Life team to share feedback on athletics and extracurricular activities. In addition, we work closely with the PA to support the planning of community events such as Halloween, the Winter Market, and the International Festival.
We are deeply grateful for what our parent volunteers bring to our community. Whether it is running book fairs, serving on the PA board, acting as a grade-level parent, helping run a stand, or setting up for an event, every contribution is critical to maintaining our special, welcoming, and connected community. It is easy to forget that all of these roles are volunteer positions. If you are reading this and have not yet actively engaged with our community, I encourage you to consider getting involved in the International Festival or one of the other events this semester. The PA always needs more support to keep these events running so beautifully, and we have unfortunately seen a decrease in parent volunteerism over the past few years.
In closing, our parents are incredibly important to us. Thank you for trusting us with your children. We do not take for granted that you chose ICS, and I truly cherish all the conversations I have with parents—even the challenging ones—because they reflect the strength of our partnership. Education, like parenthood, is never simple or static; it is an ongoing journey of growth, trust, and shared responsibility. Together, through open communication and mutual care, we continue to support our children as they learn, grow, and find their place in the world.
In partnership,
Lindy Hirt
Middle School Principal