School Community Councils / Sun West School Division

Over 200 parents, community members, teachers and school-based administrators are members of School Community Councils (SCC) in 23 Sun West Schools. The function of School Community Councils is, through an advisory and practical manner, to assist the administration of the school and the Board of Education in:

Developing shared responsibility for the learning success and well-being of all children and youth;
Encouraging and facilitating parent, community and youth engagement in school planning and improvement processes;
Delivering educational and extra-curricular programs; and
Providing the school and division with a critical link to facilitate understanding of the community.

School Community Council duties vary as needs change in schools, but members are commonly involved in:

School learning improvement planning;
Review of school finance and activities;
Family and community engagement; and
School Community Council development.

The work that School Community Councils do has the potential to make a positive impact on their:

Student Benefits

Increased involvement in classroom activities and a more positive attitude towards homework:
Improved grades and graduation rates; and
Higher attendance rates and greater enrollment in post-secondary education.

Parent Benefits

Enhanced communication between parents, administrators and teachers;
More opportunities for learning activities in the home; and
Better understanding of how schools operate.

Community Benefits

Increased cost-effectiveness due to the pooling of time, money and effort.
Strengthened community pride through involvement in the school’s achievements.

Student Learning Improvement and Wellness

School Community Councils in Sun West and throughout the province work with school staffs to help improve student achievement and wellness. In Sun West, all schools set an improvement goal based on data and the needs of their students. Areas for improvement could include achievement in the literacies of reading, math and writing, increased student engagement, and increased mental/physical health and wellness.

School Community Councils play a critical role in helping schools with improvement planning and meeting their goals. Each fall, SCC members are invited to join the school staff in the development of the school’s Level 3 School Strategic Plan and contribute a parent and community perspective into areas for improvement. This planning results in actions that the staff takes with students and parents, actions that the SCC takes with students and parents, and actions where the staff and SCC working together. When schools and SCCs work together

Invitation

Want to join us in helping our students achieve our vision of “Success for All”? Talk to your school principal about how you can get involved with your local School Community Council. The partnership among families, schools and communities creates the best opportunities for students to reach their potential as students and people. We welcome you!