Parent Information: General Info
School Procedures
- Reporting on Student Progress
- Parent Teacher Interviews
- Home - School Communication
- School Based Teams
Parent Involvement
Parent Committees
Yarrow Elementary
Computer class at Greendale
Reporting on Student Progress
Everyday children are in school, their teachers monitor their progress. They watch for participation in the classroom, interaction with others, look over classwork and homework, and grade assignments and tests.
In Chilliwack School District, teachers abide by Ministry of Education regulations requiring a minimum of five reports per year on each students progress. Three or four of these reports (depending on the school) come home via a written report card.
The report card summarizes the achievements and/or work habits of your child. In parent-student-teacher conferences, the teacher will discuss those results with you, along with other observations of your child's progress. You'll also have the chance to review some of the work your child is doing at school.
In addition to the report card, your child's teacher may choose to communicate with you in a variety of ways: through a telephone call, a note or a meeting.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Meet the teacher nights, parent- teacher interviews and student-led or student-involved conferences are excellent ways to get to know your child's teacher(s).
Here are some questions that you might want to ask during an interview:
- is my child performing up to his/her ability in the subject?
- if not, what alternative strategies can be taken to help him/her at school?
- are there any special school programs that might help my child?
- what are my child's strengths and weaknesses?
- does my child get along with other students?
- how are my child's work habits?
- what is the best way to contact you during the year about my child's progress?
During the interview you may also want to share important things about your child. Let the teacher know about your child's interests and about anything that might affect his/her learning at school.
Home - School Communication
Education is a shared process with the home and school and good communication is an excellent starting point for resolving an unhappy situation. School staffs welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your child's education. If you have a specific concern or question about the education of your child, the following steps will help ensure an effective line of communication.
Step 1: Teacher
The first person to talk to is the classroom teacher. He or she knows your child well, and often concerns are addressed at this level of communication. Please setup an appointment by contacting the school so that your concern can be heard with out distractions.
Step 2: Principal
If you need extra assistance with your concern or question, your school principal is there to help you.
Step 3: District Staff
If you still have questions that you feel were not resolved, contact the administration office at 604-792-1321 and ask for the Zone Assistant Superintendent. If not solved at this level, it will proceed to the Superintendent.
Step 4: Board of Trustees
If your concern is still unresolved, contact your school trustee.
School Based Teams
All of our schools have school-based teams to help your child achieve his or her full educational potential. For more information, please contact our board office at 792-1321.
Parent Involvement
Parents and guardians who are informed and committed to their children's education make a difference to their children's quality of learning. Parents can get involved by:
- volunteering in their child's school.
- communicating with their child's teacher.
- attending school events.
- putting their names forward to sit on school or district committees.
- monitoring their child's homework.
- actively participating in their school's Parent Advisory Committee.
Volunteers in the School
The involvement of parent and non-parent volunteers is welcomed in our schools as volunteers offer valuable assistance to school personnel and programs. Volunteers are utilized for a variety of tasks, depending upon the needs of the teachers and their classes. When a volunteer has a special talent or training, it can often be put to good use in the classroom or within the school's activities.
While welcoming volunteer participation, the Chilliwack School Board is responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students. Therefore, it requires anyone serving as a volunteer in district schools or on school sponsored activities to submit to a Criminal Records Search.
An information brochure on the process is available at your school or at the administration office. Volunteer drivers must be prepared to submit a drivers abstract or disclose information about their driving record regarding motor vehicle accidents or traffic violations.
Criminal Record Checks
All teachers and staff are required to complete a criminal record check to ensure the safety of students. While welcoming volunteer participation, the Chilliwack School Board is responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students. Therefore it requires all persons serving as volunteers in district schools or on school sponsored activities to submit to a Criminal Records Search (CRS) For more information, please contact our board office at 604-792-1321
Parent Advisory Committee
All parents and guardians who have a child registered in Chilliwack School District are automatically members of the school's Parent Advisory Council. (PAC)
Parent Advisory Councils. (PACs):
- enhance communication and cooperation among students, school, home and community in providing for the education of children.
- advise in local school decisions
- assist in setting school policy
- sponsor programs and forums
- volunteer in schools
- coordinate school events, hot lunches and fund raising
The District Parent Advisory Council. (DPAC):
- provides input to the School Board on parental views about school district programs and policies
- communicates with parents about school district policies, programs and activities
- assists parents and PACs in accessing services and information
- liaises with the partner groups and community organizations
- organizes school district events for parents
- provides parent representatives for various committees
- provides a local voice on the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. (BCCPAC)
For more information on PAC or DPAC, contact your child's school.
Advocacy Service
Advocates are volunteer parents appointed by the district's DPAC and trained to
help other parents in resolving school based issues. The Advocacy Service will
assist in situations where additional support may help parents and students to
quickly and effectively resolve concerns with the school before they grow into
more difficult problems.
An Advocate can:
- be an active resource person that parents can turn to for information and support
- be a good listener, someone to help you analyze a problem and identify the issues
- help by explaining rights and responsibilities, as well as policies, procedures, and protocols within the education system
- assist you in considering the options available and in developing a strategy for resolving your issue.
Further information is available from your child's school or your school PAC.
Advocacy Service Hotline 604-702-2903