Once again, we have a Cleveland Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) Meeting tonight at Cleveland School (7:00 pm in the library). Dress warm, as schools turn off the heat at 4:00 pm to save money (no comment needed on adequate funding of public education).
The CPAC plays an important role in our school culture. I may have blogged a bit about the PAC before, but I think it is important to keep talking about the ways in which a PAC support a school.
Involvement & Student Success – We often hear that research shows that children do better in school when they know that their parents are involved and present. I have read many articles in the past, although I don’t have the links to them for this blog. Trust me – your involvement helps. Not all parents can come out during the school days any more, but by becoming involved in a PAC, you show your children that you are doing your part to support the school. Every little but helps, and you don’t have to volunteer to do major projects.
Parent Advocacy – The CPAC, teachers, support staff and school administration (your friendly neighbourhood Principal and Vice-Principal) keep in touch via phone calls, emails and/or meetings to discuss issues that have come up or are brewing in our school community. Having open channels of communication are important to assist us in being a team that supports all of our 500 students and their families.
Event Organizers – Parents have been involved this year in organizing (or assisting with organizing) the Terry Fox Run, the Welcome Back ice cream social event, Pancake Breakfast, grade 7 craft fair, school directory, the Harry Potter fund raiser, Walk to School Wednesdays, Free the Trees (and building new planters and planting new plants), a grade 2 dance, Student Safety Patrol, Mediated Reality (Internet Safety for kids and families) and Stand By Me (social responsibility student workshops and parent session). I am sure they have done more, but this was off the top of my head. Looking at the next few months, parents are organizing a Father/Daughter dance, Bike week, and supporting the Kindergarten Orientation meeting. I’m sure there will be more.
Volunteer support – Parents show their support by helping us with field trips, the Band & Strings Festival, the library circulation desk, in the classrooms, Fun at Lunch programs, basketball, volleyball, cross country, shore cleanups, Diplomats of the World, arts & crafts, reading to students, listening to students read, emergency preparedness, and the CARE committee. Parents also help us by keeping us informed of milestones, achievements, and challenges that are part of the lives of our students. There are many other ways parents volunteer, but the meeting is less than an hour away, and I still have to write about…
Fund Raising – This is not the only role of the PAC. Honest. The PAC may do a lot of things that provide financial support to classrooms and to the school, but as you can see from above, there are many ways that parents support the school beyond find raising. That being said, however, the fund raising activities (food days, the Harry Potter event) are important, and are successful thanks to the time and dedication of many people (or some people doing many jobs). The food days require technical support (on-line ordering), research and planning (food-safe guidelines), organization (come to the school on a Tuesday and 11:45 am – you will see organization in action) and patience (our volunteers are brilliant with our students who are not happy with their lunch). For the fund raising night, it was wonderful to see parent volunteers in our hallways, painting with children, and encouraging the children to be creative (within reason). The amount of effort it took to pull the whole thing off was outstanding, so thanks once again to all the volunteers and organizers.
Thanks again for all the support the Cleveland Parent Advisory Council. I better go get ready for the meeting now.
Take care.