NISPA Workshop – Wednesday, November 19th 2025
The NISPA workshop at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School (SMLS) brought together an incredible group of parent leaders, all committed to building stronger, more connected school communities. The energy in the room was electric — driven by a shared mission to foster collaboration, build community and ensure every voice in our schools feels heard.
In the first part of this workshop, Catherine Hant, Head of School and a well-respected contributor to the independent school community shared insights on community engagement and delivered an unforgettable message – the partnership between the school and the Parent Association strengthens our shared purpose and deepens the sense of belonging.
In the latter part of the workshop, Ashley McNabb, President of the Parent Association at SMLS took the audience on a truly inspiring journey as she showcased the many events and traditions that foster meaningful engagement across all divisions at SMLS. This was followed by engaging discussions in breakout groups to reflect on and share how parent involvement can enrich school life and enhance student success.
Thank you very much to the following schools for being a part of this event: Branksome Hall, Havergal College, St. Andrew’s College, Rosseau Lake College, St. Anne’s School, Country Day School, Appleby College, Pickering College, Holy Trinity School, De La Salle College, St. John’s-Kilmarnock School, Hillfield Strathallan College, Upper Canada College, Trinity College School, St. Michael’s College School, Bayview Glen, Linbrook School.
A heartfelt thank you to St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School for hosting NISPA members and Ashley McNabb, President of Parent Association at SMLS, for sharing such a meaningful presentation on community engagement. We look forward to seeing you at our next NISPA gathering!