When Taneal (Tanny) and Smitha Bhandari’s daughter Maya started Paideia Half Day in 2017, the couple quickly jumped into volunteering, understanding that being on campus and helping out is an essential part of the school’s culture. They have served as class parents, led tours with admissions, volunteered with events, including the Feast, Pi Party and Fall BBQ, and volunteered in classrooms with reading, “Making Words” and affinities.
Eight years later with Maya in Junior High and their sons Jaylan and Niam in Elementary, volunteering continues to be an important part of the Bhandari’s routine. Tanny and Smitha regularly volunteer together and have worked the same monthly Pi Bites shift for the past three years.
Q. What got you started?
S: A friend from Half Day invited me. My first volunteer experience was the Fall BBQ.
T: I volunteered to help with reading in the Half Day.
Q. What do you enjoy the most about volunteering on campus?
B. We love being on campus and spending time with other parents and students.
Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of having parents involved at Paideia?
B. Having parents on campus really strengthens the feeling of community and helps us feel connected to what's happening at school. Volunteering is fun for us and gives us extra time to hang out together.
Q. What advice would you give to new parents who are unsure where to start?
S. Pick an event you really enjoyed attending and see how you can help, or pair up with your partner or a friend and volunteer together!
T. You can sign up to volunteer ahead of time. Looking at the calendar and picking a couple of dates can help you stay consistent with volunteering.