We had a chat with Donna Mulkern about the role of the PSO (Parent School Organisation), her experiences as a new parent, and the fantastic achievements over a challenging period.
Why did you choose ACS Hillingdon for your children?
We wanted a diverse and warm school community that offered quality, inquiry-based academics, competitive athletics, a variety of after-school activities, robust arts programme, busing, and the ability to transition back into the American public school system once our time overseas concluded. ACS Hillingdon offered all of this and it was conveniently located near our workplace and London. It’s the perfect fit for us!
We arrived at ACS Hillingdon in August 2018 about two days before Orientation Day, without ever having seen the school in person. My daughter was starting Grade 3 and my son was starting Grade 5. They were thrilled, albeit a little jet-lagged, but the Hillingdon staff, parents, and student ambassadors made us feel so welcomed and comfortable.
Tell us about your background
My husband, Tom, is an engineer from Boston, Massachusetts, and I am from Pittsburgh, Philadephia. I trained as a teacher but have worn many different hats over the past 20 years. Tom and I met in Maryland and on our first wedding anniversary moved to Wiesbaden, Germany for about five years. Although we didn’t have children at the time, I worked part-time at the Frankfurt International School Wiesbaden, volunteered as the Scholarship Committee Chairperson for the Spouses’ Club, and had the amazing opportunity to travel. We returned to the United States to Maryland in 2007, started a family, and I continued to volunteer in as many flexible roles I could manage while raising my children, including coordinating an inaugural charity ball for a local organisation, organising fundraising efforts for our local school, and leading parent volunteers in support of our school community’s initiatives.
How would you describe ACS Hillingdon’s PSO to a new family?
ACS Hillingdon’s PSO is a very active organisation made up of ACS parents and staff, that is dedicated to providing assistance and support to students and their families socially, educationally, and culturally within an integrated community of learning. And we create a lot of fun for the students AND parents alike!
What motivated you to join the PSO?
The people! ACS Hillingdon parents are just lovely. Even before I entered the UK, it felt like family. I remember sitting in my house in America about a week before school orientation, reading the Hillingdon PSO social events (I joined the mailing list after completing my Forms Online), and I noticed that the PSO had arranged three walking tours of London within the first two weeks of school.
I was keen to join but wasn’t sure how I could do so, as I didn’t yet have a UK bank account. I emailed the social chair explaining my situation, and she couldn’t have been more understanding and accommodating, “No problem. Just pay when you get your account. No worries. I’ll see you at orientation,” she said. A week later I did meet her at orientation, and I still did not have a bank account. Again, “No problem, just pay later. Come have fun,” she said. I knew we would be in a hotel for a few weeks while house-hunting, so I thought it would be the perfect time to learn my way around the city.
What I didn’t expect was to immediately make so many friendly connections with the other parents from the school. Those tours in conjunction with Orientation Day, the Principal Teas/Coffees, Welcome Breakfasts, and the Kick-Off BBQ offered me and my family the opportunities to instantly meet others and feel at home in a new country. I knew I had to be a part of this amazing team to pay forward that feeling of welcome and acceptance to others.
What has been the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has been navigating through COVID, of course. Bringing the community together, making those all-important connections to create that welcoming and warm environment was incredibly difficult during the pandemic. We had to rethink, rework, and adapt everything we do. PSO Hillingdon worked longer and harder to create online virtual events, help connect parents to one another and the school, and follow government guidance for in-person events as soon as it was safe to do so in order to help ignite that “warmth” throughout our Hillingdon community.
As PSO President, what are you particularly proud of achieving during your tenure?
I remember when the pandemic began, I was just about two months away from being elected the PSO President and was serving as Lower School Liaison. We had just completed our school musical, our talent show, a major fundraiser, and staff appreciation lunch. I actually thought we were all getting a much-needed break as schools closed in March 2020.
But these amazing group of parent volunteers were on Zoom the very first next day discussing how we plan to continue our important role in our community. So, I would have to say that I am most proud of the determination, dedication, resilience, and commitment of our PSO parent volunteers who didn’t let a two-year pandemic slow them down. They are a force of nature, and I am blessed to be part of such an amazing group of individuals.
Any other highlights?
We are a very busy PSO and we all work very hard to bring so many programmes to the students, staff and parents. Our liaisons work with our grade level parents to create student holiday and after-school fun like glow parties, laser tag, and Hallowe’en-themed lunches and manage our popular WhatsApp groups that have kept our parents well-informed, especially when technical difficulties are afoot.
The social committee keeps our parents connected through many, many events including tours, book club, lunch club, cooking club, etc. Multicultural and country reps create educational and delicious experiences for our students and staff to celebrate our community’s diversity. Our arts’ committee hosts Hillingdon’s Got Talent with performances showcasing the talents of students, parents, and staff. Our transitions team helps connect new families with other families in their area, grade level, or native country and organises our October Hillingdon @ Home event. We have been strong supporters of the service and partnerships of ACS and continue to initiate service opportunities throughout the year. Our spirit wear shop has continued to grow and flourish especially with our online store and in-person sales at almost all school events. Our sports liaison works with the booster club and helps with game day concessions, sports awards, and more. Our communications chair manages our Facebook page and website, which provides a wealth of information to all. Another highlight is the PSO Quad-Campus Meeting where the PSO board members from all four ACS schools (Hillingdon, Egham, Cobham, and Doha) come together in person and virtually to collaborate on school topics, our successes, and mutual concerns to help improve our organisation’s role in our school communities. Hillingdon was proud to host the Spring 2022 PSO Quad-Campus Meeting.
What advice do you have for any new parents joining your school?
My advice to all new parents is to get involved in your child’s school and the best way to do that is through the PSO. The connection to your child’s education, the amazing teachers who enlighten them, and the other parents who help support you as your friends and “family” is absolutely priceless!
