The first-ever webcast of a George School Parents Association meeting took place on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. eastern standard time, making it possible for parents at a distance to participate in the meeting in real time. The event took advantage of the technological capabilities in the Conference Room of the new, green Learning Commons and Mollie Dodd Anderson Library, where the meeting was held at George School.

At the meeting, Parents Association President Sara Pinkus, p ’11, and Vice President Kim Scott, p ’11, welcomed the newly created George School China Parent Association. Approximately thirty George School parents living in China convened in Shanghai in November 2009 to establish the new group. At the December 8 meeting, Sara and Kim read aloud a letter of welcome they had sent to the group in China, and the letter they received in response from the new group’s president, Qi Gao, p ’10, and Jane Qiao, p ’13.

The China group is one of two new Parents Association groups. The first meeting of the new Taiwan Parent Association initiated by Sarah Lee, p ’11, took place in May 2009. The members of both the China and Taiwan groups hope to develop stronger links between themselves and parents in the United States, and to find new ways to take part in the George School community. The group in China has created a new website to keep its members connected.

Debby Telatovich, p '11, participated in the December 8 Parents Association meeting from Nigeria, and was grateful for the webcast. She said, "It was almost like being there. I could hear everyone clearly. . . . It was well worth staying up until 2:00 a.m. to hear the serious and the funny little things that are going on there. We feel quite blessed that our daughter can be a part of such a caring and interesting school!"

At George School, the Parents Association holds evening meetings five times per year. In addition, the Parents Association funds a series of events that provide students with well-timed surprises. Opportunities for parents include mentoring new families, hosting international students, volunteering in the bookstore, and helping the school in other ways.