PTF Welcomes New Parents 

The PTF Hospitality Committee recently held their first ever new parent dinner last Thursday night in the cafeteria. They decorated tables with candles and fresh flowers and made goodie bags that included food vouchers to area restaurants like Sticky Fingers and Chick Fila. “The idea was my husbands,” said PTF President Karen Eldridge. “He is always coming up with new ideas and he is always looking for ways to make people feel welcome and appreciated here at Temple. He came to me with this idea and I liked it. I remember what it was like to be new.” At the dinner, Dr. Pearson, Jessica Morris and Rob Eldridge shared with them information that is more geared for new parents.

There are 55 new families that have joined our Temple family since August of 2006. “It’s too easy to just drop your child off and pick them up and never cross paths with others,” Mr. Eldridge said. “I met one family this year who told me they never met anyone all last year. I was shocked!” Now, this lady is part of the Hospitality Committee and is welcoming new families!”

According to Mrs. Eldridge, next year they plan to have a dinner at the end of August for the new Fall parents and at the end of January for the new Winter parents. There are plans to “expand” the ministry of the Hospitality Committee next year. One of the ideas is to offer “mentoring” for the new families next year which would basically assign an existing Temple family to a new one in areas that they have in common like sports, music, etc.; in essence show someone the ropes. “I believe that the secret to growing our school is focusing on developing and building relationships,” said Mr. Eldridge. “We should treat this no different then when you join a new church if we want to be truly successful. Typically, you attend a new member’s class for 6 weeks and they have special meals for you. People are looking for a school that makes them feel welcome, noticed and appreciated. If we do our part, then they will tell others and the growth will amaze us.”

If you would like to be a part of the Hospitality Committee which includes being willing to be a mentoring family, please contact Karen Eldridge at 619-6824 or email her at REldridge@tntempleacademy.com

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