Sending your son to boarding school is a significant decision. The Hargrave Parent Association ensures families remain connected, informed, and actively involved in their sons’ experiences. Since 1987, the Parent Association has served as a bridge between families and the school.
Three Core Functions
The Parent Association serves three essential purposes. First, enhancing the cadet experience through fun events and milestone celebrations that make Hargrave feel like home. Second, facilitating engagement between families, faculty, and staff through social events that build community. Third, acting as a communication liaison between parents and administration, ensuring your voice is heard.
Welcoming Your Son
From the moment your son arrives, the Parent Association creates a sense of belonging. On Matriculation Day, welcome bags greet new cadets in their rooms. Throughout the year, birthday bags and monthly parties celebrate each young man. These thoughtful touches remind cadets that they’re valued and remembered.
Dogs & Donuts events bring joy to campus. The Cookie & Cocoa Social during Hanging of the Greens celebrates the holiday season. The Super Bowl Party creates excitement around a major sporting event. Exam break snacks provide encouragement during stressful academic periods. These events break up the routine and show cadets that people care about their happiness and wellbeing.
Major Family Weekends
The Parent Association plays a crucial role in organizing major family events. Parent Weekend in October includes parent-teacher conferences, Beta Club inductions, tailgate dinner, varsity football game, Crest Ceremony, and parade. The Silent Auction during Parent Weekend raises funds while bringing families together.
Military Ball weekend in February welcomes parents to attend this formal celebration. The Parent Dinner during Military Ball provides families an opportunity to connect with each other and faculty. Mother’s Day weekend in May features underclass awards and a special breakfast honoring mothers. These weekends strengthen the partnership between families and school.
Building Community Among Families
One of the Parent Association’s most valuable functions is connecting families with one another. Parents of cadets share unique experiences, concerns, and joys. The Parent Association facilitates relationships that often become lasting friendships.
Through social events, volunteer opportunities, and informal gatherings, families build support networks. A mother in Maryland connects with a father in Texas. Both have sons in the same company who have become friends. They share photos, swap stories, and support each other through the challenges and celebrations of raising young men at boarding school.
Communication and Advocacy
The Parent Association acts as a communication liaison between parents and administration. When families have questions, concerns, or suggestions, the Parent Association provides a channel for that feedback to reach school leaders. This ensures parent perspectives inform decisions and that families feel heard.
The association also helps communicate school information to families. When policies change, new programs launch, or important dates approach, the Parent Association reinforces those messages and helps families understand what’s happening on campus.
Volunteer Opportunities
Many parents want to stay involved despite distance. The Parent Association provides meaningful volunteer opportunities. Families can write letters to cadets before Junior Retreat, sharing encouragement and affirmation. They can contribute items for birthday bags, welcome packages, and event celebrations. They can help plan and execute major weekend events. They can serve on committees addressing specific needs or interests.
These volunteer roles allow families to contribute to the community, stay connected to their sons’ experiences, and build relationships with other Hargrave families.
Regional Connections
Hargrave families come from across the United States and internationally. The Parent Association facilitates regional connections when possible, helping families in the same geographic areas connect for local support. Some regions organize informal gatherings during school breaks or holidays. These connections extend the Hargrave community beyond campus boundaries.
Communication Tools
The Parent Association maintains regular communication with families through emails, newsletters, and updates. Information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support cadets flows through these channels. Contact information—parentassociation@hargrave.edu—provides a direct line for questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Financial Support Through Fundraising
While the primary purpose isn’t fundraising, the Parent Association does support the school financially through events like the Silent Auction during Parent Weekend. Funds raised benefit cadet experiences, support special projects, and enhance programs. This allows parents to contribute financially in ways that directly impact their sons and their brothers.
The Partnership Principle
The Parent Association embodies a fundamental Hargrave principle: developing young men requires partnership between school and family. We don’t ask families to drop off their sons and disappear. We invite families to remain actively involved, informed, and engaged throughout the Hargrave journey.
Research consistently shows that students thrive when families stay connected to their schools. The Parent Association makes that connection practical and meaningful, even across geographic distances. Your involvement matters, and we’ve created structures to make it possible.
Transition Support
The Parent Association particularly supports families during transitions. New families receive extra attention during the first semester, with opportunities to ask questions, connect with veteran families, and learn the rhythms of Hargrave life. Senior families receive support as college decisions approach and graduation nears. This focus on transitions ensures no family feels alone during significant moments.
Joining the Parent Association
Every Hargrave family is automatically part of the Parent Association. There are no membership fees or applications. When your son enrolls, you become part of this community. The question isn’t whether to join, but how to get involved.
Some families participate in every event and volunteer opportunity. Others engage more selectively based on schedules and preferences. Both approaches are welcome. The Parent Association meets families where they are and provides opportunities matching different availability levels and interests.
Making the Most of It
Families who engage with the Parent Association consistently report greater satisfaction with the Hargrave experience. They feel more connected to their sons’ lives, better informed about school programs, and supported by a community of families who understand their journey. They build friendships that extend beyond their sons’ Hargrave years.
If you’re considering Hargrave, know that you’re not just choosing a school for your son—you’re joining a family community committed to supporting both cadets and parents throughout the journey.
Connect With Us
Ready to learn more about the Parent Association and family involvement at Hargrave? Schedule a visit to meet current parents, attend a Parent Weekend if timing allows, talk with Parent Association leaders, and ask about ways families stay connected. Discover how we partner with families to support every cadet’s success.
Contact the Parent Association at parentassociation@hargrave.edu or reach the admissions office at 866-994-4582 or admissions@hargrave.edu in Chatham, Virginia.
