By Eric Brunt, Director of Enrollment Management
On September 9, 2026, the 35 members of the Parents’ Association’s New Parent Committee (NPC) met to kick off a new season of Admissions Ambassadorship.
Led by NPC Chair Sarah Bourgeois and Vice Chair Sally Hogan, the NPC partners with the Admissions Department every year to lead campus tours for prospective parents, greet and welcome families at Admissions events, connect with new families after enrollment, and build relationships through the new family buddy program.
"Our current parents are some of the strongest ambassadors of Country Day," said Sarah Bourgeois. "During tours or at Admissions events, members of the NPC are able to speak with prospective families ‘parent to parent.’ Their willingness to share their personal experiences helps us to provide a well-rounded picture of what being part of the Country Day community looks like."
In addition to Sarah and Sally, the group heard from Director of Risk Management and Security David Robinson, Security Manager Ericka Ojaniit, and Eric Brunt, who shared thoughts on the important role of the NPC in the admissions process. At the conclusion of the meeting, tour guides went on a refresher walk around Cannon Campus, sharing tips and favorite stories to tell when touring families.
"I enjoy volunteering and highlighting the exciting and fun things our school does," said Sally Hogan. "I enjoy spending time with prospective families and forming a connection as they navigate Admissions. "I hope to be a smiling face for our applicant families!"
Admissions simply cannot effectively do our work without the dedication and commitment of our New Parent Committee. Parents are able to tell their Country Day story with an authentic voice, connecting with prospective parents who share the same hopes, dreams, and questions as they consider the best educational community for their family. We are so thankful to our New Parent Committee and look forward to a wonderful admissions season together!
A Visit to Our Farm
The New Parent Committee tour guides and Admissions Team also had the opportunity to take an inspirational field trip to Our Farm, learning all about the incredible opportunities and connections beyond the classroom that all of our Buccaneers get to experience throughout the year. After a presentation led by Steve Wall, Director of Educational Programming at Our Farm, the group got a walking tour of the developing mud kitchen, sensory playground, and 2-acre garden which produces 300+ pounds of produce weekly for the cafeterias. A highlight was time spent with Peter Field, Farm Horticulturalist, who shared the inner workings of the recently constructed hydroponics system for growing lettuce. The visit finished with a bus tour led by Steve Wall to see the trail system in the woods, corn maze, fishing pond, apiary, pumpkin and squash fields, archery range, and livestock.
Lindsey AdamsNew Parent Committee volunteer
What an incredible gift we have as a school community to have a place where our children can experience hands-on learning firsthand. We are always proud to be part of the Country Day family, but today was one of those days that made me especially grateful. There is something pretty amazing about watching your first grader and third grader still be so genuinely excited about learning and realizing that so much of that curiosity is being nurtured by experiences like the Farm."
The group left feeling “fed” by the power of the Farm and its connection to the School’s Bold and Visionary Plan’s four pillars of lifelong community, excellence in education, responsibility to serve, and healthy striving.