The Parent’s Association’s annual Celebrate Community event brings together diverse groups of parents, faculty and alumni in one of the school’s biggest social events. This year, headlined by music group Big City Outlaws, the event celebrated its fourth year in its new, more open format.
Prior to 2022, Celebrate Community represented a more closed-off event similar to a fundraiser, with tickets costing more and attendance being relatively exclusive.
However, hoping to bring the event to everyone, the event has since changed to a more general event celebrating the school community.
“It used to really be more of a fundraiser, so we had a big live auction, and tickets were really expensive to attend,” Parent Association President Katherine Steinbrueck said. “We’re really trying to make sure this event feels like the focus is, if you’re part of this community, then this is a party for you.”
As a result, the event has seen increased attendance from a wide variety of parents, with the core identity of the event changing to a social opportunity for parents, faculty and past students alike to converse and learn more about each other. Previously, the event featured more formal aspects like assigned seating.
“Now we don’t have any of that,” Steinbrueck said. “You just come and you get to hang out with and you get to mingle more; you’re not stuck at a table. So I think people really like that.”
Now, Celebrate Community is much more focused on the social-side, but not abandoning the auction from the old event. Instead, it’s been nearly completely rebranded.
“It’s around 600 people that will kind of gather,” Steinbrueck said. “And honestly, it’s just an opportunity to celebrate our community. We have a really fun night, have a party, and it’s fun to be together. As a part of that, there is a silent auction. So many of our faculty and staff have volunteered. ‘Gifts of time’ is what we call them.”
The ‘gifts of time’ typically involve faculty and staff giving students a fun experience in some way.
For example, photography teacher Scott Hunt teaches some boys how to shoot photos, and Dr. Perryman takes boys to three barbecue spots around Dallas. One boy also gets the opportunity to be Headmaster for a day.
This year, the event was centered around the recently-finished Zierk Athletic Center to commemorate its completion. A unique, school-branded INEOS Grenadier electric SUV that stood in front of the school was also auctioned off alongside the event, continuing tradition.
