Heathwood Parents Association (HPA)
The mission of the Heathwood Parents Association (HPA) is to foster a strong partnership between school and home by encouraging parent involvement in all areas of school life. We support the faculty and staff in their work with students, welcome new families, and serve as enthusiastic ambassadors for Heathwood Hall.
What We Do
The HPA helps make Heathwood feel like home by:
- Building Community through social events, student and parent gatherings, and welcoming activities for new families
- Encouraging Volunteerism with opportunities for every schedule, skill, and interest
- Promoting School Spirit in partnership with the Highlander Athletic Booster Club
- Supporting Parent Learning through division-specific roundtables and informational events
- Hosting Uniform Resale events twice a year to raise funds for HPA-supported programs
Whether you can commit a few hours or take on a larger role, every contribution is valued—and makes a real difference.
How We’re Organized
Each school division (Early Childhood & Lower, Middle, and Upper) is led by a Chair who assist our Parent Engagement Coordinator in coordinating events, volunteers, and communication.
Each grade also has two parent ambassadors who assist with the following:
- Attends monthly divisional meetings
- Help in planning and implementing division and grade-level events, if requested, which may come up throughout the year
- Help implement Teacher Appreciation events
- Be a positive ambassador for Heathwood
We believe that parent involvement is not just welcomed—it’s fundamental to our mission and culture.
Monthly Meetings - All Parents Welcome!
All parents are welcome to attend monthly meetings in the Dining Commons Conference Room regardless of whether or not they are a grade-level ambassador. The 2026/27 dates are as follows:
- EC/LS: third Wednesday of the month; Aug 19, Sept. 16, Oct 21, Nov 18, Jan 20, Feb 17, March 17, April 21
- MS/US: third Thursday of the month: Aug 20, Sept 17, Oct 22, Nov 19, Jan 21, Feb 18, March 18, April 21
Other Ways to Get Involved
There are many meaningful ways to volunteer beyond HPA activities, including:
- 📝 Senior Exhibition Mentors
Share your knowledge and experience as a committee member.
Contact: Lisa Norman, Assistant Head of Upper School - 💼 Middle School Career Day
Inspire students by speaking about your profession.
Contact: Stacy Gross, Middle School Counselor - 📚 Library Assistance
Volunteer in the Lower or Upper School Libraries.
Contact: Jack Sutton or Susan Powell, Librarians - 🏢 Corporate Volunteering & PVTO
Many companies offer volunteer grants or Paid Volunteer Time Off (PVTO). Use our employer lookup tool to see if your company participates and to access necessary forms. - Become an Internship Host
Help shape a Heathwood student’s future by serving as an internship host. As a graduation requirement, every Upper School student completes an internship that connects classroom learning with career exploration and personal interests. We’re looking for community members who can serve as an internship host, or introduce us to someone who can! Internships can take place in Columbia or anywhere in the world, and hosting doesn’t have to be a major time commitment. Many students complete their required 30 hours with multiple hosts, so even a half day can make a meaningful impact. If you’re interested in hosting or connecting us with a potential internship site, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out this interest form or contact Julie Firetag at jfiretag@heathwood.org. -
Sign up to treat a MS or US teacher on their birthday.
Join Us!
We are so glad you’re part of the Heathwood community and invite you to get involved in whatever way works best for you. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, contact:
Julie Benoit
Parent Engagement Coordinator
📧 Julie Benoit · 📞 803-231-7732