Playing an active role in your child’s education can improve their performance, enhance their sense of well-being, and boost their motivation. If you’d like to do more than supervise homework, consider getting involved at your child’s school.
Schools generally hold their annual general assembly of parents in August or September. The goal of the meeting is to provide an overview of what the new year has in store for students.
The school’s governing board is composed of parents, community representatives, and teachers, among others. Board members are responsible for making all major decisions concerning the school. They also discuss the following:
The parents committee acts as a bridge between school boards and parents. Members of the committee have the following responsibilities:
The members of this committee help improve school services for students with a disability or disorder.
The parents committee elects three or four parent commissioners to sit on the council and run the affairs of the school board. Parent commissioners also have certain rights and obligations. Their role comes with the following responsibilities:
Some schools also have a parent participation organization (PPO). Members of a PPO do the following:
Would you like to join one of the above-mentioned committees? To find out how and when to apply, contact your child’s school. An administrator or other school official will be able to answer your questions.
Every year, teachers organize class field trips. Parents are often asked to chaperone these group outings to ensure the children’s safety and answer their questions.
If you volunteer your time, you’ll not only help make the field trip go smoothly, but also get to know your child’s school friends.
Parents are always encouraged to help out in the classroom. For example, you could do arts and crafts, lead a cooking workshop, read a story aloud, or talk about what you do for a living. Each person’s talents and skills contribute to enhancing the students’ experience.
You can also show your commitment to your child’s education by going to parent-teacher meetings, looking over your child’s report card, and attending their year-end performances.
Writing: Marie-Ève Cloutier
Scientific review: Hervé Charbonneau, Conseiller à la recherche et au développement (Formation et services-conseils), FCPQ, et Jean-François Rioux, LL.L., Conseiller à la recherche et au développement (Services-conseils), FCPQ
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Rewriting: The Alloprof Parents’ team