Shining a Light On. . .Gianna Soefker and Dominican Community Connections

Gianna Soefker is the Director of Community Relations for SAA-SDS. A graduate of the University of Memphis, she was a middle school teacher for six years until she became a mother of twins-its own full-time job. Gianna has three children that attended SAA-SDS, Mary (SAA ’21), John Paul (SDS ’17) and Jude (SDS ’19). Take a minute to get to know a little more about her and our incredible parents club, Dominican Community Connections.

How long have you been a part of the SAA-SDS community?

Have I ever not been here? Haha! I joined this community as a parent when my twins began PK in 2006.  I quickly became involved with the parents’ club and then switched from parent to employee in 2014 to assist in establishing our 2-year-old program (PK2).

What is Dominican Community Connections?

This is the name of our campus-wide parents’ club.  We wanted a name that incorporated all parents on campus, PK2-12. As the name says, the goal is to help all families, regardless of student age, feel connected and a part of the greater SAA-SDS family.

How would you describe your current role here at the school?

I work with all things “volunteer.” I gather volunteers for various events at school and create unique opportunities for parents to volunteer. I am always looking for ways I can assist parents in getting connected with the school community.

What do you hope to accomplish in this role?

I hope to provide ways that everyone can be involved.  Most of our parents work outside the home, often without much flexibility.  We want to provide easy ways for them to connect as volunteers and help them feel included in the fun! Speaking of fun-that is what being involved, and volunteering should be.  I do not want parents to ever feel burdened or stressed by committing to involvement in their child's school community.

What makes the SAA-SDS community special? What does it mean to you?

Our school community nurtures each child as an individual.  That has always been evident to me as a parent and as an employee. Each student is known and loved. For parents, SAA-SDS provides a network of support for the challenges faced at every stage. Everyone will face a parenting challenge at some point, and it is comforting to know that the SAA-SDS “village” is here to help!

What are some of the events Connections has planned for the 2022-2023 school year?

One of our favorite returning events is the Family Night and Spaghetti Dinner, being held on September 20. Dinner is provided and it is a great evening of fun and fellowship! Deck the Halls (Christmas Decorating) and Staff Appreciation Month (February) are two fun opportunities to volunteer through both on-campus activities and donations.

One new Connections initiative I am excited about for this year is our speaker series, focusing on the emotional health of our children at all ages. Our first guest will be Germantown Behavioral Health, speaking on the topic Positive Parenting for Young Children. They will share valuable information for our ECC parents on October 19, 2022, 7:15 am- 8:15 a.m. in the Hook Theatre. Later in the year we will have speakers addressing parents of Lower School and Upper School students.

How can parents sign up to be a volunteer?

All you have to do is complete the volunteer form which can be found in the Wednesday Wire and on our website.  Check all the boxes for events that interest you.  I will contact you closer to the time we need help. If you can help, great! Too busy, no problem! Filling out the form does not equal a commitment! We have a wide variety of ways to get involved, some do not even require one to set foot on campus. We love for grandparents to get involved too!