BEHIND THE BOOK Parents share their insight upon the themes and underlying concepts, encouraging each other to express their voice, and in all working to foster a welcoming and creative environment. “The conversation that night was remarkable,” said the upper school GPO lead, Finn”Parents brought such depth of knowledge, life experience, and curiosity that the discussion quickly expanded into how people interpret ideas, stories, and the world around them.”

Long before a tray of cookies appears on the teacher’s desk, a parent hears the latest school update or the donuts reach the senior forum, the Greenhills Parent Organization has already been at work—linking families, faculty, and administrators through a network of volunteers committed to making the school feel more united. 

The Greenhills Parent Organization (GPO) is recognized as the “engine behind students’ success,” driving a more supportive school community. While their annual cookie exchange, new book club and potluck are closely tied to faculty, the GPO has a more behind-the-scenes presence when it comes to the students, actively shaping their scholastic experience. With 37 parents acting as the school’s internal parent board, this expanding organization of grade representatives and subcommittee members comes together to represent the voice of caregivers.

“We collaborate with the Greenhills community to get a pulse of what our class parents are actually feeling,” said Kathrine Horan, 11th-grade GPO representative.” We bring all feedback together in monthly meetings, and then filter it up through the presidents, and vice presidents of the GPO, who meet with the school’s leadership. Giving caregivers a direct line to school management and administration, allowing us all to have a say in shaping the future of the school.”

“We collaborate with the Greenhills community to get a pulse of what our class parents are actually feeling,” said Kathrine Horan, 11th-grade GPO representative.” We bring all feedback together in monthly meetings, and then filter it up through the presidents, and vice presidents of the GPO, who meet with the school’s leadership. Giving caregivers a direct line to school management and administration, allowing us all to have a say in shaping the future of the school.”

Bridging informational disconnections between parents and students is one of the fundamental pillars of GPO’s mission. Kritsen Finn, the upper school GPO lead emphasizes the importance of school networking.

“The biggest part is just making sure that everyone feels like they have a voice or at least a conduit for information,” said Finn. “The e-form is wonderful, but it is a mecca of information. So, the grade reps ensure the connections of the parents to the school, because kids don’t always tell their parents everything. It’s also about sharing experiences. Freshman parents, for example, might not know what homecoming really looks like at Greenhills, or what to expect at different stages of school life. So passing the knowledge torch is one of our priorities.”

With such a diverse faculty, many of whom take on responsibilities beyond teaching, the GPO serves as a reliable support system, helping build essential foundations and strengthening partnership with the faculty.

“From an administrative perspective, they’re truly appreciated—they step in to support our work in meaningful ways and recognize the long hours we put in,” said Head of Upper School Deano Smith.” Their involvement also helps keep faculty engaged with what’s happening across the school. The GPO is basically the liaison between school and families.”

The organization hosts numerous events a year, but Smith said, the cookie exchange is by far the most memorable. This holiday event allows parents to come together to bake an array of cookies and distribute them to the teachers, bringing not only their appreciation, but also their culture to the table.

“The first time I saw the cookie trays, I was honestly in awe,” said Smith. “Parents were all together in the dining room, laughing and having fun while putting these beautiful trays together for the faculty. These desserts are pieces of people’s family traditions and history brought to be shared with the faculty. The exchange becomes this genuine moment of community and gratitude. It goes way beyond just munching on a cookie.”

Teachers also value the annual potlucks to commend their hard work, recognizing the effort it takes to do the thousands of parent teacher meetings.  For many of the parents, cooking is an act of service as well as an extension of themselves.

“These pre-conference meals used to be catered events, but as parents, we wanted a way to show the teachers our appreciation more personally, “ said Cori Peng, the Middle School GPO lead. “Everyone cooking and bringing in their own dishes felt like a meaningful gesture,  showing compassion in a way that is beyond the food itself. And the teachers really noticed that difference. The speed by which the volunteer slots were filled really shows how much the community values the faculty.”

One of the many ways to further involvement is through the GPO’s numerous parent clubs, with their most recent being a new literature based reading group. This year’s book of choice, Demon Copperhead by Barbra Kingsolver, a piece about resilience and hope in the face of poverty and hardship.

“Book clubs mean very different things to different people, but at their core, they’re about coming together and building that sense of belonging,” said Finn.“And that’s really the larger goal, offering different ways for people to collaborate. Some enjoy something active like pickleball, others prefer trivia, or a casual gathering, or even service-focused events. But in all we’re creating a palette of opportunities for people to connect within the community. 

But these annual traditions are not exclusive to the faculty and parents, sometimes it’s the small things that provoke big celebrations, because in the end every stepping stone and moment shared brings the grade closer together. 

“A few years ago, one of the representatives for the senior class unintentionally started a really lovely tradition,” said Finn. ”After the Nov. 1 deadline for early applications, a parent showed up with donuts, cider, and treats for the seniors—completely on her own. Mr. Huntoon loved the idea so much that he wanted to make it a real annual tradition and now the GPO has supported it each year. It’s such a great way to celebrate those senior milestones—big and small, though Nov. 1 one is definitely a big one.”

Much of what the GPO does happens quietly behind the scenes, supporting the community in ways that often go unnoticed. Students may not fully acknowledge the work of the GPO, because sometimes it’s something as simple as providing that special treat on their annual class trip.

“ We are the ones making sure the students have marshmallows for their camping retreat,” said Finn. “They appreciate the marshmallows—we know they do—but they might not realize that the GPO is working behind the scenes. I’m sure many students don’t even know it exists. There aren’t as many direct touchpoints between the GPO and the student body, since our work tends to happen below the surface.”

Even if students aren’t always aware of their presence, the GPO remains committed to elevating the student experience and contributing meaningfully to the student body as a whole.

“We hope they see us as a resource, “ said Horan. “That we’re not just a bunch of moms that will say something and deliver nothing. We want them to see that we’re an asset that can move their ideas forward. If they’re looking for another voice, a different voice, we can be that angle. There’s also a resource in terms of finances, if they want to have something, like a refrigerator, or a microwave to better their forum experience, we can help with that. So it’s not just, they would have to ask their mom or dad, we can also be that extra set of hands that ensure that their ideas are not only heard but hopefully made a reality.”

The parents community are parents afterall. Like all caregivers who simply want the best for their kids, the GPO produces the fuel that fabricates the student’s future.

“As we see it, the GPO is like the engine behind the students’ success, something propelling them forward,” said Horan.”The students are going to be that car, or that mechanism that goes, but we’re that hidden underground motor that’s driving them. We do everything we can on the back end to make sure the gas tank is full, so that the students can go forth and do everything that they’re meant to accomplish.