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Mission Statement Meeting

The Parent Advisory Group Inc. (P.A.G.), our parent council, is involved in all facets of school life at École Robert H. Smith School. This means that there is truly something for every parent who wants to become involved with their children's school or the wider school community and educational issues at large.

The parents who are involved in our standing committees and the directors at large positions, spend countless hours organizing, planning and executing a wide range of exciting opportunities and events for our school community each year.

Our P.A.G. operates the Callback Programs to ensure our children arrive at school safely. We organize and support the block Parent Program and provide four Fun Lunches per year to give students and parents a break from their regular lunch routines. We organize a much anticipated Staff Appreciation week for our staff and administration each year, host an Annual Family Dance in the winter and offer an outdoor Family Picnic in the spring for all students, families and staff. The P.A.G. Fundraising and Promotions Directors plan various opportunities throughout the year that allow families to participate in raising monies for projects, large and small, to aid our students' education and enhance their school experience. Our most recent major fundraising drive resulted in the paved fitness track that runs along the inside perimeter of our school property. Our Environment Committee works hard to ensure that our school property is green and eco-friendly and our volunteer Recruitment Directors do their best to include all those parents and guardians who wish to volunteer, with an opportunity to do so.

The P.A.G. is also deeply committed to its involvement in the wider educational community. We have representatives who participate in the Winnipeg School Division's French Immersion Advisory Committee and the South District Advisory Committee. Through these committees, our parents and P.A.G. become aware of policy decisions and updates made at the school division level.

Our P.A.G. meets approximately five times during the school year and all parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend. See the monthly school Newsletter for regular updates and information from the École Robert H. Smith School, Parent's Advisory Group.

School Consultation Process

In addition to the above, parents and/or teachers are involved in the process of developing such areas as school goals, discipline models, staffing, budget allocation and the year-end report. Information on all the above are shared both at staff meetings and parent advisory group meetings. Often, input is obtained from parents during executive meetings or School Success Team meetings.

Typically decisions at the school level fall into three categories:
decisions made exclusively by the principal
decisions made by the administrators after consultation with others
decisions made by parents/guardians, staff members, or students after the principal provides guidelines or parameters for the decision.

The principal retains responsibility for all decisions made at the school level.

In determining if there is a need for consultation prior to the decision, the administrators will consider factors such as:
whether there are policies, procedures or regulations to help determine the need for consultation
whether there are policies, procedures, or regulations in effect which essentially determine the
outcome, with or without consultation
whether there is sufficient time to consult before the decision must be made
the number of people that will be affected by the decision
the extent to which people will be affected by the decision.

In deciding the extent of the consultation that is appropriate for a particular situation, the administrators will consider factors such as:
the amount of information that will be provided to others
the amount of time that will be allowed for consultation
the numbers of people and particular groups that will be consulted
the ways that will be provided to receive responses, such as surveys, public meetings, focus groups, informal discussions, committee meetings, etc.
whether a formal action by the parent advisory group will be requested
whether the need for confidentially limits consultation.

Disagreement may sometimes arise with decisions made at the school.

If parents/guardians have a concern respecting their child and the school, the following procedure should be followed to resolve the concern:
The parent/guardian shall make the initial contact at the school level with the teacher.
If the matter remains unresolved, and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter, the parent/guardian shall contact the principal.
If the matter remains unresolved, and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter, the parent/guardian shall contact the superintendent responsible for their school.
If the matter remains unresolved, and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter, the parent/guardian shall contact the Chief Superintendent.
If the matter remains unresolved, the parent/guardian may appeal to the Board of Trustees.

If parents/guardians have a concern of a more general nature, the following procedure should be followed to resolve the concern:
The parent/guardian shall make the initial contact at the school level with the principal.
If the matter remains unresolved, and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter, the parent/guardian shall contact the superintendent responsible for their school.
If the matter remains unresolved, and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter, the parent/guardian shall contact the Chief Superintendent.
If the matter remains unresolved, the parent/guardian may appeal to the Board of Trustees.