Parents
Lamplighter isn't just a school for your children. You'll find a home here, too.
Parents are an active and vibrant part of the Lamplighter community. The Lamplighter parent community is called the Lamplighter Parents' Association (LPA), and all parents are members. From volunteering their time or talent, to building friendships, parents come together throughout the year to support the School in myriad ways.
Led by the LPA Board, the Lamplighter Parents' Association spearheads special events, engagement activities, and so much more. Community enrichment and cultural awareness activities deepen Lamplighter's commitment to inclusion and belonging. There is a place for everyone to be involved, at the level that is most comfortable for them.
Ways to Get Involved
LPA Online Spirit Store
The LPA Online Spirit Store is an initiative of the Lamplighter Parents' Association. Thank you for supporting the LPA and its activities through your purchases of Friday Lunch, Carnival items, and spirit wear and gear.
Plus, every Friday is Spirit Day at Lamplighter! Students are encouraged to wear their red and white spirit wear to school on Fridays.
Welcome from the 2025-2026 LPA President, Courtney Hodges
LPA Auction Gala
Each year, the LPA hosts the Auction as the Association's primary fundraising effort benefiting the School. The 2025-2026 LPA Auction event, Out of This World, took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Gilley's Southside Music Hall.
Explore Our Community Programs
In December before Winter Break, all Lamplighter students participate in the All School Program. The program is a culmination of learning activities demonstrated in an imaginative performance.
The Auction is hosted by the Lamplighter Parents' Association (LPA) as the Association's primary fundraising effort benefiting the School. Auction is usually held in late winter or early spring, with an online silent auction and gala celebration featuring a live auction. Auction Socials are special events held throughout the year for the Lamplighter community to support the initiative.
Held each fall since 1969, Lamplighter's Carnival is organized by the LPA and staffed by parent and alumni volunteers. This fun-filled afternoon event is filled with games, attractions, food, dancing, and a bake sale, all of which rival the State Fair of Texas itself!
The LPA helps organize outreach to areas of our community in a wide variety of ways. Recent initiatives have included laundry pod drives, cereal drives, Halloween costume drives, and snack bag preparation for children served by Family Gateway. The School also organizes an annual Half Day of Service in conjunction with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January.
The LPA Cultural Awareness Committee coordinates cultural co-curricular events throughout the year. These events introduce children to the world's various cultures and their activities through activities such as stories, music, dance, food, presentations, arts and crafts, and other unique ideas created by the presenters.
Dads can get involved by volunteering to help with various LPA sponsored events, including hosting the Smokin' Dads' Diner at Carnival each year.
As part of the Cultural Awareness program, the LPA hosts this event to celebrate and educate Lamplighter students about Diwali, one of the most celebrated cultural events in Hinduism.
The Dolores Evans Speaker Series is a unique program that Lamplighter offers to its parents, faculty, and staff, as well as the broader Dallas community. Each year, the School hosts one or two events to bring thought leaders to campus as part of the series.
These two special events give parents and friends a dedicated time to visit campus and have fun with their student(s).
This school fundraiser specifically supports the Erik Jonsson Media Center, our on-campus library. The Lamplighter community is invited to volunteer and purchase books for the Media Center in honor of faculty and staff members.
This LPA committee and volunteers organize opportunities for Lamplighter parents to show appreciation for the faculty and staff. Some initiatives include providing breakfast during Conferences, filling snack jars throughout the year, and providing special treats for monthly community meetings.
Friday Lunch is an LPA fundraiser for the School which pays for a delivered lunch, usually pizza, to students each Friday. It is a treat for the students and their lunch-packing parents! Most full-day students participate in the Friday Lunch program. The program is affectionately referred to as "Pizza Friday."
A parent volunteer serves as the grade-level point person by organizing classroom activities and sharing pertinent information to parents on a regular basis.
Held every spring, Grandest Friends' Day is an opportunity for students to invite a grandparent, another family member, or special adult friend to Lamplighter to spend a morning or afternoon on campus.
Grandparents (and special Grand Friends) are invited to read to classes of Pre-K through second grade students throughout the year on designated days.
Hootenannies are one of Lamplighter's oldest traditions. Once a month, the entire school comes together to sing favorite songs. Parents of children in each grade level are invited to attend one assigned Hootenanny per child.
International Night is an LPA-sponsored event held every spring that gives families the opportunity to "tour" the world, sample food from cultures around the globe, participate in craft projects, and enjoy live entertainment.
Students and parents of Kindergarten, T1, first and second graders are invited to a special STEM Night on campus each year. Students take part in an engaging evening of discovery and experiential learning. The School partners with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Arboretum, and other local organizations to host a variety of activity stations.
The LPA plans, executes, and funds numerous activities and services throughout the year that benefit Lamplighter students and the community. Serving as a leader on the LPA Board is a wonderful way to get involved, meeting other dedicated parents, and make a difference
As part of the Cultural Awareness program, the LPA hosts this event to celebrate and educate Lamplighter students about Lunar New Year, a 15-day celebration that starts with the first lunar moon of the year.
Parent Perks is a parent education series featuring educators, psychologists, and authors who speak to the Lamplighter community about important trends in the education world and topics that reflect the mission of the School. The series hosts 5-10 events per year, some of which are offered virtually.
Parents of Early Childhood students (Pre-K, Kindergarten, and T1) are invited to join students for recess on assigned days.
The Spirit Store is an online shop where parents can purchase a variety of Lamplighter spirit wear and gear. The shop is completely run by parent volunteers, and is an LPA fundraising ("Spirit Raising") initiative. The LPA hosts several pop-up shops throughout the year in conjunction with special events.
School Traditions
There are many special traditions celebrated at Lamplighter each year. From Hootenannies and square dancing to the All School Program and Halloween Parade & Picnic, there is always something exciting to enjoy.
