WPC meetings are open to any member of the community and held on Zoom. Meeting dates,  the meeting Zoom link and notes from past meetings are also on the  WPC Home page at the bottom of the page. 

Families & Grade Levels provide breakfast for grateful staff every Friday.  This is a great opportunity to work with another family or share with your grade.

Sign up now for Staff Breakfast 2026-2027 

We are often asked, how can I help?  

Here is a list of our current needs: 

• Grade Level Reps

• Sign up for Friday Breakfast

• Coordinate Community Service Day

• Hartford Sporting Events

• Grant Writer

Send an email to: parentcommunity@watkinson.org

Watkinson will be hosting a table at Celebrate! West Hartford on Saturday, June 6th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday, June 7th from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm. We would love to have parent (and student) volunteers join us as we greet prospective families. If you're willing and able to help, please use the link below. If you have any questions, please contact erin_rose@watkinson.org. 

www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445ADAF2DA4F9CE9-64184350-celebrate 

WPC provides decorations, cake and gifts for graduates; Grade 12 and Academy families provide a potluck dinner; Grade 10 & 11 parents volunteer for setup, prepare gifts for the graduates and get a preview of what is to come for their soon-to-be seniors. Dining services and Facilities setup most of this event; volunteers are most needed to facilitate and host. Details of the help needed is on the  Spring Volunteer Form. 

The gala, Watkinson's biggest event of the year, supports The Fund for Everyday Excellence -- funding that goes directly into the classrooms, programs, and people that make Watkinson extraordinary. It's also a chance to connect with people who share your passion for this school and celebrate everything that makes Watkinson so special. Current Watkinson parents receive an exclusive 10% discount on tickets, tables, and sponsorships with promo code PARENTS2026. Visit A Watkinson Affair to reserve your seats and to purchase (or sell!) a sponsorship or program ad. 

WPC sponsors an annual picnic dinner for all staff at Watkinson on behalf of all families. Grade Level Reps help facilitate staff gifts, and WPC volunteers set up and help run this event. This year, parents will contribute beverages, ice, desserts, and decor for a catered picnic. We need parent support before, during and after this event. Signup on our Spring Volunteer Form to let us know how you can help  us show appreciation for our fabulous staff! 

This spring families will be working again with Journey Home, in their program A Hand Up, delivering furniture for clients moving back into independent housing from 1:00 - 4:00pm. This is a great chance for some high school students to do some heavy lifting, but there are lighter tasks available for all ages. To sign up, follow this link, and select the "reserved for Watkinson" volunteer slot on May 17th. (Students over 18 may complete the volunteer signup independently they are comfortable with them getting themselves to/from the warehouse and delivery sites.) All members of the Watkinson community are invited to participate!

Through the BEADS for education program, families can help Student Foundation and the Watkinson community sponsor students at Tambea school in Kenya. Donations from families are always appreciated, but we hope you will expand the circle and share this information with your friends and neighbors -- spreading the word on this impactful program that the Watkinson community has united behind for decades. There is some grade-level competition set up to motivate you and your student to share this giving opportunity far and wide. Post away, and we will keep you updated as this campaign finishes strong through the end of April! Download this  shareable flyer with links to Tambea students' letters, details on funds raised by grade level and a donation link or  just post this quick shareable link directly to the Watkinson Student Foundation's donation page.

We are also hoping to see families (faculty and staff too!) at The Hartford Athletic Game on Saturday, April 25. Watkinson students will be performing the national anthem at the game. We expect this game will sell out, so please get your tickets early if you plan to attend! 

WPC This year, WPC volunteers coordinated parent support for a Middle School Game Night after school. Middle School families  contributed beverages, dinner items, snacks, and money for decorations for this event. (The kids like to do the decorating themselves!) Thank you to all who donated!

Watkinson is hosting a bookfair with local bookseller River Bend Books throughout the school day this April 17. Student, faculty and a few parent volunteers will be on hand to help the Watkinson community make their selections. If your student plans to shop, don’t forget to have them bring their "book money" that day. Families can also order through the website: https://riverbendbookshop.com/Watkinson. Do make sure you follow the directions when checking out to ensure a portion of the proceeds comes back to Watkinson!

Head of School Teri Schrader and Upper School Head Ryan Reese joined parents in September, December and February for a structured conversation around schooling. Those who attended the parent breakfast in can attest what a meaningful conversation we had as a community. We hope families will continue to take advantage of this new tradition to connect parents and faculty around supporting our students in their educational and personal progress. Please check back for additional dates in the 2026-2027 schoolyear.

In one of Watkinson’s most beloved traditions, donations of breads – homemade or store bought – were collected. Friday morning, parent volunteers wraped breads for every staff member to enjoy over the holiday weekend. We had great success this year working with two local bakeries! Click here to volunteer.  FAMILIES

Join us for the 8th-annual tournament to support our City Scholars Program, a post-graduate program that gives promising Hartford public school graduates the academic foundation and confidence needed for college readiness. Click below for more information about the event or here to volunteer. 

Support the Golf Classic 

This event is on a larger scale this year than in years past. Parent volunteers will be helping to direct alumni guests and panelists. Click  here to volunteer. More details to follow. ALUMNI & PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Community Feedback Night is when our seniors and Academy students share their initial ideas for their individual, yearlong Senior Projects, drawn from personal interest, passion, or curiosity. They need you, the adults in Watkinson's community, to listen and help them unpack their thinking and discover perspectives they wouldn’t otherwise have considered. Join us for this fun, communal evening to hear what the Class of 2026 is delving into. PARENTS & COMMUNITY ADULTS
RSVP here.

David Watkinson Evening serves as Watkinson School’s  academic open house – the essential event for parents to get to know their students’ daily experience – from dinner in the dining hall, parents progress through their student’s class schedule, meet their teachers, and preview the academic goals for the year.  PARENTS ONLY

Head of School Teri Schrader, Assistant Head John Crosson, and school leadership joined us for coffee, light breakfast, and updates on the school year. Parents reconnected and were asked to reflect on their student's Watkinson experience so far. 

This special celebration honors the important role that grandparents and family friends play in our students' lives. This year, the event hosted more than 100 guests!

Every fall sport (cross country, soccer & volleyball) has a home game scheduled on one afternoon, and the school spirit on campus is palpable.  Refreshments are provided by the WPC and complimentary for players. Go Rams!! WPC volunteers were essential in hosting this event in Watkinson style.

Parents of all students come to campus for casual drinks and hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to chat with fellow Watkinson parents in an informal, friendly environment. PARENTS ONLY