Research shows that parent involvement positively affects student success. There are many ways to be involved. Attending the Peel board's Make a difference in literacy and beyond parent conference, volunteering for your child's school and reading to your child at night are all forms of parent involvement.

Explore this section to:

• find out more about getting involved and volunteering in schools

• get information about upcoming workshops for parents

• download tip sheets to help your child succeed

• meet the Parent Involvement Committee

• learn about school councils

Why get involved?

Becoming involved in your child's education will enhance your family's life. Here are just some of the benefits of parent involvement:

• learn new ideas and activities to do with your child at home that boost learning

• meet your child's friends and get to know other parents

• experience student success first hand

• get to know your child's principal and teachers

• show your child that you value education and enjoy visiting the school

• help welcome new families to the community

• get to know your child through one-on-one reading time at home

• offer advice and share ideas at school council meetings and community consultations

• share your skills and inspire youth

• educate other children about your family's culture and traditions

• gain skills employers value if you're seeking re-entry into the workforce or if you're looking for job enrichment or a career change

 Share other benefits of parent involvement by contacting us.

Become a volunteer

Follow these steps to become a volunteer

If you live in Brampton or Mississauga

• Inform your child’s school that you are interested in volunteering. The school will conduct a short interview and give you a police records search form and authorization letter. Fill out the form and deliver it in person, along with the authorization letter, to one of the Peel Regional Police stations indicated on the form. Police record checks are free for volunteers. You will need to have two pieces of government-issued identification with you. One must have a photo. Examples of identification include drivers' license, health card, passport, birth certificate and citizenship card.
• It may take several weeks for your criminal record check to be processed. Once completed, you will receive the criminal record check in the mail. You must deliver the original copy of the criminal record check to the Peel board office within six months of the police search date. We recommend delivering it in person. If this is not possible, it can be sent by mail or through the school. Please deliver it to: Lisa Cruickshank, Human Resources, Peel board, 5650 Hurontario Street, Mississauga
• Once your criminal record check is received and approved, you will be added to a database as a school volunteer and can begin volunteering. The criminal record check becomes the property of the Peel board.

 If you live in Caledon

• Visit your child's school to complete the necessary forms. You will need to show two pieces of government-issued identification, which will be photocopied and sent along with the completed forms to the Ontario Provincial Police.
• Once the OPP has completed the criminal record check, they will forward the information to the Peel board. When the criminal record check has been received and approved, you will be added to a database as a school volunteer. The criminal record check becomes the property of the Peel board.

Get more information about the criminal record check process.

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Volunteer opportunities

There are many ways to use your skills to support student success. Not all volunteer tasks need to be done at the school, or even during the day. Many volunteers complete tasks at home.

Here are some examples of volunteer opportunities:

Elementary (Kindergarten to grade 5)

• preparation of arts and crafts supplies and other classroom materials, e.g. laminating, photocopying

• baking for bake sales

• classroom reading buddies

• membership on school council or attendance at school council meetings

• fundraising

• coordination of hot lunch or pizza days

• field trip supervision

• concert/special event assistance, e.g. refreshment distribution at Terry Fox fundraiser

• welcoming new families, providing help with translation/interpretation

• helping with the school's environmental program, e.g. garden planting or recycling

• assisting in the library
• bulletin board maintenance
• kiss 'n' ride assistance

Middle School (Grades 6 to 8)

• concert/special event assistance

• field trip supervision

• membership on school council or attendance at school council meetings

• welcoming new families, providing help with translation/interpretation

• helping with the school's environmental program, e.g. garden planting or recycling

• speaking to students on Career Day

• assisting in the library

Secondary (Grades 9 to 12)

• speaking to students on Career Day or at Job Fairs

• assisting in the library

• membership on school council or attendance at school council meetings

• welcoming new families, providing help with translation/interpretation

• helping with the school's environmental program, e.g. garden planting or recycling

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