LPA President Welcome Message

I’m not sure who loves summer more – me or my three boys.  As a child, summer seemed to last forever.  Even now, time seems to stand still or at least slow down each summer.  I love watching Paul, Harry, and Jack lounging like house cats, each day spanning from the sofa to the pool.  I love the smell of chlorine, sunscreen, and hot dogs cooking on the grill.  I like falling asleep to the sound of crickets and waking up to the sound of lawn sprinklers.

In a few days, our family will travel to Paris, France with several other Lamplighter families.  We began planning this trip a year ago, with the help of Matt Brenner, our group leader.  We’ll spend 8 days together in and around Paris.  Our family will then travel to my husband’s ancestral home of Hamburg, Germany, where we’ll rent a minibus and meander along the German ‘Fairy-Tale Route’ from Bremen to Frankfurt.

While most of us wile away the summer doing many fun things, others will selflessly devote themselves to getting ready for the 2006-07 school year.  Planning for ‘Welcome Back’ parties, Carpool assignments, Carnival, Special Lunch, Spirit Store, Auction, and many other programs are currently underway.

Behind each of these programs is the Lamplighter Parents’ Association.  Every day of the year, parents donate countless hours bringing these services to life for our children.  When my eldest son, Paul began attending Lamplighter several years ago, I thought I would simply drop him at the door and kiss him goodbye.  I had no idea that there were parents parking in the lot and going inside to volunteer.  What I did notice, however, were how many fun activities and valuable services occurred on a regular basis and how much my family appreciated them.  Then one day, I volunteered.  Soon, I too began parking in the parking lot and going inside.  Soon, I began seeing my children in their classrooms – and the huge smile on their face when they saw me at school.

In May, Paul graduated, and I took that opportunity to reflect on our mutual experience at Lamplighter and how entirely different it would have been, for both of us, had I not volunteered.  What I realize is how much more I derived from my volunteer work than I ever expended.  For these same reasons, I encourage you to volunteer in 2006-07.  These years are so precious, but fleeting.

These days, as LPA President, I can’t help but think about the fall.  At least for the moment, though, it remains in the distance.  Between now and then, lies a European vacation and a childhood I wouldn’t miss for the world. 

Enjoy your summer!

Jill Herz

2006-07 LPA President