On Saturday night, PKS families gathered under the big tent for Parents Night Out (PNO), our annual excuse to spend some time at school without the kids. Normally, the tent is a boisterous place, with simultaneous basketball and soccer games alongside tag, jump rope, and other fast-paced activities. For PNO, it’s transformed by creative parents into a elegant nightspot, complete with Chinese lanterns, holiday lights, decorative saplings, quality wines, a whole pig, and made-to-order waffles.
But PNO is more than just a mingling opportunity: it’s the “opening ceremony” for the school year’s “Count Me In” program. Count Me Ins are hosted by PKS parents for other parents and families - we sign up to attend skating parties, discuss notable books, sing karaoke, learn traditional noodle making, hike the city, and camp with kids, to name just a few. All participation fees are earmarked for PKS. CMIs are a fun community-builder, bringing together parents of students in different classes and grade levels.
In a departure, this year’s PNO also marked the kickoff of our first-ever online silent auction. On the kid-pleasing end of things, your son or daughter could be Head of School for a day, although the position does not include the power to permanently alter curriculum or other school policy. More traditionally, you can bid on restaurant gift certificates, vacation-home stays, theater tickets (including Hamilton!), original art, and about 95 other things.
PNO requires a huge commitment of time and energy by the organizers. It’s challenging, but hopefully not thankless! Special thanks to Donna Tse, the chairperson and a well-known miracle-worker in the PKS community, along with Melanie Lok (food), Jeremy Bailey (A/V), Lydia So (Count Me In), and Monica Savini (decorations). Of course, these are only a small fraction of the contributors. Thank you, everyone, for making the evening unforgettable!
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