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By Jillian Boice, VP Community Engagement, CSPA
If you ask any family what they like most about Carey, you will hear a version of the same answer: the community. Our school’s community is one of its greatest strengths. It can feel as effortless as a familiar face at pickup, a warm conversation in passing, or a shared smile as we all try to make it through the daily grind. But our Carey community is also made up of deep friendships that are formed through time spent together at school events, birthday parties, sports games, parent’s nights out, family vacations, and side-by-side volunteering. Behind the scenes, Community Engagement is a key mission of The Carey School, OneCarey, and the CSPA. Together we are creating consistent opportunities to connect and build traditions where every student and family feels seen and valued.
Why connection matters and how our community brings our mission to life
Community shapes the way we see ourselves, the way we treat others, and the way we build meaningful relationships. When students experience a true sense of belonging, they are more likely to take healthy risks in learning, build friendships across differences, and develop confidence that carries beyond the school years. When families feel connected to each other and to the school, they become active partners in creating the kind of environment every child deserves. Community does not happen by accident. It grows through repeated opportunities to meet, share stories, celebrate traditions, and support one another. We are proud to offer multiple pathways for families, staff, and students to connect.
Carey Gathers - Interest Groups
Interest groups are a meaningful way for our parent community to connect and bond over shared hobbies and experiences. This year we have been excited to kick off two new groups, the Carey Running Club (Lauren Hum, lead), and Carey Book Club (Binita Patel, lead). We are always looking for new ideas and suggestions for additional groups and ways to connect. Two additional interest groups are launching soon. Service Learning (Jillian Boice, Christyn Ramirez, Heather Jolly, co-leads) and Women's Health (Shital Gandhi, Neeti Bathia, co-leads).
Cultural Committee: Celebrating and learning from one another
Now part of community engagement, the Cultural Committee helps celebrate the amazing diversity of The Carey School and strengthens a community where everyone feels they belong. Under the leadership of Helen Chen and Carol Liu, the Cultural Committee created a community cookbook featuring recipes shared by Carey families and staff, and gave us all an invitation to learn about one another through the traditions we bring to the table. This year, the committee is building on that momentum by hosting a community food night on March 12th from 5-6:30 creating another joyful opportunity to connect across grades and backgrounds. We hope you sign up to attend!
Supporting 5th grade connections and middle school transitions
As our 5th grade students get ready to transition to the next chapter of their education, community and social confidence become especially important, and families often have new questions about the path ahead. As part of our community engagement work, we hosted a panel night with middle school parents who have already gone through the application process, creating space for current 5th grade families to connect, learn, and ask candid questions. We also created a contact list of middle school families who graduated from Carey so families can continue those conversations and reach out for peer support as they navigate the transition. In this way, our community doesn’t end at graduation, it extends beyond elementary school to support families in the years ahead.
Preschool outreach: strengthening our partnerships and our diversity
Carey’s community is connected to the broader community around us, including the early childhood educators who know local families best. By inviting preschool directors to visit our campus, see our program in action, and meet our team, we build authentic relationships and create a warm bridge between early childhood and elementary school. This outreach helps more families learn about what we offer, encourages diversity, and strengthens our applicant pool, supporting a student body that reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
We are proud of the community we have built and the confident, compassionate future it helps to create for our children. Whether you join an interest group, share a family tradition, attend a community event, or volunteer your time, your participation matters. Together, we can keep strengthening the relationships that help every child and family feel that Carey is a place where they truly belong.
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