4.0 PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents are vital to the successful operation of the school. As a co-operative parent, you are required to:
- assist as a duty parent (see "Duty Parent Responsibility");
- participate in fundraising events;
- serve as a director or on a committee;
- attend General Meetings.
Parents are required to read, understand and agree in writing to be bound by these policies.
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4.1 DUTY PARENT RESPONSIBILITY
General
Each parent is required to assist at the school according to a duty roster. Your presence on your assigned duty day is essential to the operation of the school - our license under the Day Nurseries Act depends on maintaining the permitted ratio of children/adults for each and every class. Each parent should acquaint themselves with the policies set out in this Handbook, as well as those set out in "Golden Rules for Enjoying Parent Duty Days/Parent Duty Day Expectations".
Substitutes
Should you be unable, for any reason, to assist in class on your assigned duty day, you are responsible for finding a substitute duty person for that day. Please give your substitute a brief summary of their duties (e.g., bringing a suitable snack for the entire class), should they not be familiar with the school. All substitutes must have approved Criminal Reference Checks (see below, “Criminal Reference Check”).
If you are unable to find a substitute, you will be charged a $30.00 fee (for each duty day missed),
Siblings
Parents should be aware that their duty day is for sharing with the nursery school child as well as for contributing to the smooth functioning of the program. Our license is granted based on a maximum number of children in each licensed space and the maintenance of an approved child/adult ratio. For these reasons, alternate arrangements must be made for siblings.
Arrival
The duty parent should arrive 15 minutes before the program and be prepared to remain 15 minutes after to assist with clean-up and vacuuming.
Snack
The duty parent is to provide snack for the whole class. Children will bring their own cups, but any other service required should be supplied by the duty parent. Crackers, cheese, fruit, biscuits or muffins with fruit juice are nutritious snack suggestions. Cake and other sugar treats are not appropriate, with the exception of special occasion days. All snacks must be peanut/nut free.
A list of suggested nut free snacks can be obtained through the school (or click here to view).
Special Occasion Snacks
Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Graduation and Birthdays are special occasions. The teachers will co-ordinate special snack arrangements with the duty parent.
Telephone
The duty parent will check messages on the answering machine midway through the program. If any message requires immediate atttention, the parent will inform the Director. Otherwise, the message should be recorded for the Director to respond to after the program. Please remember to note the time and date of the call.
Duty Rotation
The frequency of duty days will be determined by the size of the class and the number of class days per week (e.g., preschool class of 20 children, twice a week, translates into a duty day roughly once every 10 weeks; toddler class of 12 children, three times a week, translates into a duty day approximately once every 4 weeks). A parent volunteer is in charge of drawing up a duty roster and circulating same to all parents within the class. Any preferences as to duty days should be discussed with the duty roster parent prior to its issue.
Suggestions for Duty Days
Parents are referred to "Golden Rules for Enjoying Parent Duty Day/Parent Duty Day Expectations". In addition, the following may be of some help:
- Before program: Perhaps your child will be clingy and possessive the first few times you help at school. It is anticipated and understood. Talk over with your child the duty day responsibilities and the expectations to assist with all children. Allow your child to help prepare the snack. It may give him a sense of contributing to the special day. Please bring your own interests and talents to share with us and enrich the program
- During program: When interacting with children, speak to them at their level and listen to their response. Encourage children to use their own resources and to help themselves. Do help if assistance is requested. Do not disturb a child unnecessarily. Observe and listen. Watch for deterioration in play and redirect attention. This may involve changing the course of an activity or closing it altogether. Give directions positively, e.g. "Please walk" (rather than "Don't run"), "The sand stays in the box", "We paint on paper". Negative tones should be kept for dangerous situations, e.g. "You must not throw blocks - they hurt".
- Give the child a choice only when one is available. If no choice is possible, use a positive statement, e.g. "We're tidying up now and I need your help over here".
- Establish possession and turns by saying "she has it now, but you may use it later". Quietly remind the child with the toy when he is finished "Tommy would like a turn".
- Avoid talking about children during the session. If you see behaviour which disturbs you or you have doubts about handling, discuss it with the teacher after the children have left. If it is urgent, seek the teacher out immediately.
Above all, enjoy your day. Have fun with your child at nursery school.
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4.2 MEETINGS
An orientation meeting is held at the beginning of the school year. This meeting is extremely important, and every effort should be made to attend. Board meetings are held monthly and parents are welcome to attend.
Annual General Meetings
The AVCNS Annual General Meeting is held in April/May for presentation of the annual reports of the outgoing Board of Directors and in order to elect the Directors for the next year. Also, capital budgets, fees and capital fund raising for the following year may be reviewed and approved.
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4.3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The school is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors, made up of parents whose children attend the Nursery School, together with the school Director. The following are the offices held by the voting members of the parent Board, also know as the core board:
President: Co-ordinates the overall administration of the school.
Vice-President: Will assist the President in all aspects, taking on special responsibilities as required. The Vice-President will also act on the President's behalf in his/her absence.
Registrar: Establishes registration procedures in conjunction with the school Director (i.e. viewing of program, annual registration events, entry of children). Maintains lists of children currently enrolled, waiting lists and records of withdrawals and transfers.
Treasurer: Is responsible for the finances of the school (deposit of fees and fundraising proceeds, payment of expenses, payroll); budgeting for following school year.
Secretary: Responsible for the minutes of meetings of the Board, correspondence of the school and related duties.
Fundraising: A chair organizes fundraising events; attends meetings of the Board of Directors, reports to Board of Directors on fundraising activities and receives approval for same; co-ordinates reporting of funds with Treasurer; reports at General Meetings.
Promotion/Outreach: A chair promotes the school in the community; develops advertisings for any special events such as registration events, general meetings etc.; assists fundraising committee in promoting events and school.
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4.4 COMMITTEES
There are a number of committees organized to provide essential services to the school. Those parents who have not been elected to the Board of Directors are expected to assist on one (or more) of these committees.
Fundraising
Members help advice, plan, promote and carry out various fundraisings events.
Duty Roster
Each member (one from each program) prepares parent duty rosters approximately every six weeks and makes copies for each parent; each member maintains the parent information files for the program, checking on a weekly basis to ensure that information has been collected and contacting parents if necessary; sets up files for new members as notified by Registrar/Assistant Registrar.
Newsletter Editor
Posts deadlines for articles/ads well in advance; collects articles for publication from staff, Board and others; edits material and creates a balanced newsletter; arranges for duplication upon completion.
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