Every voice counts: School councils support student success
Focused on student success
Every Peel school has a school council--a group focused on helping students succeed. Though Peel schools have long welcomed and encouraged parent involvement, school councils were legislated by the Ontario government in 1996. Schools can have another parent organization, such as a parent-teacher association, in addition to a school council.
Councils offer advice to the school principal on a number of topics. In Peel, most of the work of councils focuses on three main areas: school community communication strategies, ways of responding to parents and the community and school code of behaviour. School councils include parents, school staff, community representatives and, in some cases, students.
We welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members in our schools, and on councils. In this section, you can find out more about school councils, including how to become a member.
Find out Everything you need to know about school councils including the role of council, the term of office for elected position and more. You can also find out more in Your School Council Guide--a one-stop shop for school council members in Peel. This guide was created at the suggestion of school council members and principals who asked for all the key information they need to be in one place for easy reference. It includes resource materials and templates that council members will find useful.
School Council blog to share ideas, find ask for advice
Visit the School Councils in Peel blog and share success stories from your school or ask for advice. The blog run by the Peel board's Parent Involvement Committee and is intended to provide a way for councils to collaborate online.
Presentations and handouts from school council orientation event
School council members were invited to attend a school council orientation and training on Oct. 24, 2011at West Credit Secondary School in Mississauga. Participants attended workshops designed to provide tips and tools to help school councils get off to a great start. Here are some of the materials from the event:
- Boost parent involvement at your school - PowerPoint presentation
- Everything you need to know about school councils - PowerPoint presentation and tip sheet
- Quick tips for communicating with parents - PowerPoint presentation
- Safe and inclusive schools in Peel – The role of school council - PowerPoint presentation
- Sharing effective school council practices for middle schools - PowerPoint presentation
Healthy fundraising ideas from the Region of Peel
The implementation of the School Food and Beverage Policy has created the need for schools and school councils to get creative when coming up with fundraising ideas. The Region of Peel has put together some resources to help.
Apply for a PRO Grant to support parent engagement
Every year the Ministry of Education invites school councils to apply for Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants. The application period for grants for the 2011-12 school year is now closed. Successful grants were announced in the fall.
School council support
The responsibility for school council support is with Communications & Strategic Partnerships and we continue to look for ways to be helpful to councils. We:
- provide school council orientation and training evening in the fall - the 2011 event was on Oct. 24 at West Credit Secondary School in Mississauga
- support the meetings of councils at the family of schools level
- answer questions related to school councils
- update Your School Council Guide annually
- send information to councils
- maintain and update the Peel board website
If you have any questions about school councils, please contact Alison Farbar, communications officer, acting, at 905-890-1010, ext. 2626.
