Volunteer of the Month

Each month the Executive Board selects someone who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to volunteer around the school or at one of our PTA events!  The Volunteer of the Month receives a little token of appreciation from the PTA.  

Kristen Hallinan

Volunteer of the Month | December 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
Meeting fellow parents who care deeply about the success of Bridlewood and the success of their children has definitely been a highlight! 
 
What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
I would describe the PTA as engaged, resourceful and very diligent!
 
What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
I have certainly gained an extra dose of appreciation for how much love and energy goes into every event or initiative put on by Bridlewood’s PTA. T-shirts don’t make themselves and book fairs don’t just show up!
 
What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
I believe the most challenging thing about serving in PTA is making decisions about where limited resources are allocated; all the suggestions and initiatives are so deserving and could be so impactful. What a beautiful problem to have!
 

Laura Wickham

Volunteer of the Month | November 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
I have loved serving our community and kids in multiple ways, but one of my favorite memories has been cleaning up and redoing the kindergarten free choice center room in 2017. I met some amazing moms and was able to help create such a fun space for our kindergarteners to be kids and play! 
 
What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Dedicated, Involved, and Serving.
 
What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
I have gained so many valuable relationships with other parents and teachers who are involved in making our school a success. Without being involved in PTA, I would not have felt as connected to what’s going on at our school, getting to know the teachers/staff, and finding other families to create friendships with.
 
What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
There is never enough time! It would be great to have all the time and resources in the world to do whatever was wanted/needed, but we have to be mindful of our and others’ personal limits! 

Brooke Morford

Volunteer of the Month | July 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
Serving as the Bronco Bash Sales Chair and the Box Tops Chair, it surprised me to see how excited my children were to see me volunteer.  They were SO happy to help me deliver spirit sticks for various contests or to count admission tickets.  They wanted to come with me to ask local business for donations for school fundraisers. They were elated every time they saw me at school “working for PTA” to help make their school a fun place to be. 
 
What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Helpful, Creative, Fun.
 
What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
One of the reasons we chose to transfer to BES is because of the PTA’s reputation for excellence and active parent involvement.  We wanted to be part of a community that gave us the opportunity to model the importance of service to our children.  I want to teach them to give back!  I have also gained many great friends through serving in PTA.  Since we transferred into BES, I don’t think we would have made so many BES friends so quickly if it had not been for the PTA.
 
What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
It is challenging to serve in PTA if you still have babies/toddlers at home; however, the PTA offers many different positions with varying degrees of time commitments.  It is not difficult to find a small OR large role that makes an impact that can be done virtually or in the evenings/weekends. 
 

Cristiane Foust

Volunteer of the Month | June 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
I was very impressed by how much Bronco Bash has been positively impacting the BES community. For the last two years, I have been involved in promoting Bronco Bash at Marcus Homecoming Carnival, responsible for vendor booths along with many other duties for the Bronco Bash and BES Buzz. My experience was delightful and I loved to see the involvement of the entire community and how everyone was always going above and beyond to make this a very successful event.

What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Rewarding, Caring, Fun. 

What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
It made me understand what PTA entails and how important it is to the BES community. Bronco Bash, Book Fair and Build a Bronco are just a few examples of the importance of BES PTA. It also gave me the opportunity to be more familiar with BES staff, parents and students. 

What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
Establishing a healthy “volunteer-life balance” since I love to participate in as many BES PTA activities as possible. 

Jonathan Cervenka

Volunteer of the Month | May 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
A highlight for me is just helping a kid smile. 
 
What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Passionate, caring, energetic
 
What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
I have gained a better understanding of the amount of energy it takes for our staff and students to accomplish their daily goals.
 
What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
Saying no, because I know I’ll do it. 
 

Laura Riley

Volunteer of the Month | April 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
The highlight of serving as the Book Fair Chairman has been seeing the excitement of the children when they come into the fair. It warms my heart to see the joy on their faces when they find a book they want to purchase. My son adores that I am the book fair chair. I love how proud he is that I am running the fair.  Since I am new to Bridlewood Elementary this year I have really enjoyed getting to know other parents on on the PTA. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming. 

What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Friendship, Fun, Rewarding 

What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
I have gained so much from serving the PTA! It has given me the opportunity to really get to know the staff and other parents at the school. Without volunteering I do not think I would have had that same experience. 

What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
Since I am new to Bridlewood this year, the Fall book fair was difficult for me because I was not familiar yet with the staff, the building, and other parents. I definitely feel next year will be much easier. 

Jay Stobie

Volunteer of the Month | March 2020

What has been a highlight of serving the BES community?
The highlight of my services over the years with the communications team has been the ability of the BES community easily and efficiently acquire information from the PTA website.  Knowing that a central place for parents to go for the latest news, events and information is available at their fingertips by phone or computer is second to none in the area.
 
What are 3 words you would use to describe PTA?
Passionate, Serving, Compassionate 
 
What have you gained from serving in the PTA?
A clear understanding of the entirety of the PTA and what is involved in the PTA organization.  When comparing to other PTA organizations, there is a clear and divided difference that makes me proud to support the BES PTA.
 
What is the most challenging thing about serving in PTA?
The most challenging part of serving the PTA is the endeavor of attempting something most PTA organizations don’t even put an ounce of effort into at all.  What BES has done with their PTA website has changed the whole dynamic of how a PTA can reach its members and keep in contact with their community.