Extended Day

Each Monday in Extended Care, students will learn about how unique our planet is by taking a deep dive under the sea. We will make sand art, a coral reef diorama, jellyfish and craft a fish weaving display wall.  All activities, crafts and games will be in a structured environment and managed by the Extend staff.

Each Tuesday in Extended Care, students will experiment with exploding milk, invisible ink, racing water and other zany STEM activities. All activities, projects and games will be in a structured environment and managed by the Extend staff.

Each Wednesday in Extended Care, students will travel around the world exploring the customs, cultures and languages of our beautiful, diverse world. Students will create masks, Egyptian collar, an Eiffel Tower, and delve into the celebrations and holidays that various countries celebrate. All activities, crafts and games will be in a structured environment and managed by the Extend staff.

Each Thursday, students will build and create, using Legos, Marble Madness, Hot Wheels, blocks and tiles.  What a fun way to learn more about counting, measuring, speed, and distance! All activities, projects and games will be in a structured environment and managed by the Extend staff.

Each Friday, Extended Care students will create their own art and will be able to let their imagination go wild! They will create masterpieces using crayon resist, bubble wrap, puff paint and bubbles! All activities, crafts and games will be in a structured environment and managed by the Extend staff.

Darlene Jennings was born in Ohio and attended The Ohio State University. She is a Parish alumni parent. Her daughter Abby started at Parish in Pre-K and graduated in 2014.  Darlene has worked at Parish for over 20 years in kindergarten and first grade. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and daughter who lives in Houston. “It is a joy and privilege to work in this amazing place!!”

Melanie Ware is an alumni parent with a number of ties to Parish. Parish holds a special place in her heart as her twin daughters, Lauren and Ashleigh, started at Parish in kindergarten and were part of the first graduating class in 2007. Lauren is now Parish’s Director of Alumni Relations. Melanie cherishes Parish’s close knit, loving community which she credits for keeping her connected. Melanie has worked with the Extend program since Fall 2017. Prior to joining the Extend team, Melanie was an avid volunteer with the Parents’ Association where she worked with students in a variety of capacities, and she currently assists with her church’s Sunday school program. In her free time she enjoys needlepoint, reading, cooking, traveling
and spending time with her children and their spouses.

“The students teach ME! I love watching them grow and mature and feel that I have an opportunity to help nurture them for the few hours that I’m there.”– Melanie Ware

Molly grew up in Indiana and moved to Texas in 1992. She is a graduate of the University of Houston with a B.A. in English. Molly enjoys reading,  gardening and hanging out with her husband and dog.  

Renee Estrada was born and raised in Dallas. She has five children and six grandchildren. She loves being with the students and watching them learn and grow with new experiences. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, fur babies, and lake getaways with her husband. 

Riley graduated from Parish in 2019 as a Parish “Lifer”. In addition to working with the Extend program, she also serves as a Substitute teacher at both campuses. She is currently finishing her B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Texas and hopes to become a teacher or school counselor. In her spare time, Riley enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her eight dogs.

“My favorite thing about working in Extend is seeing the students everyday and their excitement to see me. I enjoy my time with them! Although I am typically with students in grades 3rd-6th, I love my time with the Hillcrest friends as well.”– Riley Coleman

Savannah was born and raised in Dallas. She is currently pursuing her B.S. in Psychology at the University of North Texas and plans to work in the child psychology field. Savannah became a Sunday School teacher while in high school and became more involved in the Children’s Ministry after graduation. When she is not serving at church, Savannah enjoys going to boba shops and hanging out with her family and friends.

Susan is an alumni parent who held many board and volunteer positions during the 10 years her two sons, Austin and Parker, attended Parish Day. She attributes Parish with the great educational foundations that her sons received and have led them to a successful life both professionally and personally. During her tenure at Parish, she served as room mother, auction chairman, and headed up the capital campaign. She has wonderful memories of the excellent teachers and the many dear friendships she made along the way. Prior to joining Extend, Susan was a consultant for The Carlisle Collection, a ladies upscale clothing line from New York, for 25 years. Most recently she was an administrative assistant for Providence Energy, a local oil and gas company. Susan enjoys spending time with her three granddaughters in Houston where her son, Austin is an oil and gas attorney, and with her three grandsons in Rye, New York, where Parker is a merger and acquisitions attorney. In her spare time, she enjoys organizing events for friends and special occasions and is an avid Kentucky Wildcat basketball fan. She loves visiting her Old Kentucky Home as much as possible. She is very excited to be part of the Extend program and working with the wonderful children of Parish.