Attendees stepped into their best western gear and saddled up to celebrate The Parish School’s 32nd annual Gala and auction at The Ballroom at Bayou Place on Saturday, February 8, 2025. Attendees wrangled their herd of friends and family, filling the ball- room with over 250 guests at our Big & Bright – Deep in the Heart of Parish Gala . The theme was chosen to highlight how our students thrive and shine “Big & Bright.” Kaitlin Monte Fohlin, the Emmy-nominated journalist, former Houston evening news anchor and now partner at Fohlin & Company, was the emcee for the event, welcoming guests into the ballroom’s Lone Star ambience with the rich, rustic décor and country tunes filling the air. The Gala opened with Upper Elementary student Shany R. of the Cowboys class welcoming guests in and reflecting on how he and his fellow classmates make an effort to shine “Big & Bright” every day.
“When I think about how Parish students shine big and bright, I think about the effort everyone puts into their schoolwork,” Shany said.
Next, the Gala co-chairs then took to the stage, sharing their unique journeys that led them to Parish. Samantha and Michael Derrett’s son Wesley struggled to communicate and experienced difficulties in sensory processing and emotional regulation. Teachers and therapists recommended Parish, so they toured the school and knew he needed to be here. The Derretts were nervous to tell him he’d be going to a brand new school, but they soon realized it was the best decision they made for Wesley. “His communication, mood and ability to cope with changing situations have markedly improved,” Samantha said. “He’s proud to exhibit small acts of kindness and ask his sister how her day was – things that may be obvious and easy to many of us, but were, at one point, seemingly impossible for Wesley.”
THE PARISH SCHOOL’S 32ND ANNUAL GALA
Wesley has shown incredible progress thus far, as he enters his third year at Parish in the fall.
WHERE STUDENTS SHINED “BIG & BRIGHT”
“Parish has far exceeded our expectations in every way. There is no other school like it,” Samantha said. “We now fully understand why families move from all over the country to Houston just to send their kids here.
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