Class Representative Guidelines
Being a Class Representative is a great opportunity to be involved in the school and to meet other parents. It provides much valued support to our classroom teachers.
The following guidelines describe the responsibilities and duties of a Class Representative:
The following guidelines describe the responsibilities and duties of a Class Representative:
- Arrange a meeting with the teacher to discuss what he/she wants, needs, expects or wishes from a Class Representative. Some teachers have lots of duties and some not as many. Ask the teacher if he/she is willing to share his/her email address/home phone numbers. The teacher’s ability to send a request or some information via a quick email/phone call (like when they think about it or when they are at home planning class activities) is very useful and helpful to both of you.
- Have an “inbox” in the classroom for you so you can pick up forms, notices, Scholastic orders or anything you can take home to sort and organize for the teacher;
- Ask you to help contact any families who are tardy in getting forms/money in for any up-coming events;
- Organize field trips by collecting forms and money where applicable. Sort through the driver volunteers and set up drivers with the correct number of children in each car with seatbelts and/or booster seats;
- Introduce yourself to your division to let them know that you are the Class Representative. This can be done via email/at curriculum night or at a morning coffee/evening wine and cheese get together for the class parents;
- Host a morning coffee or evening wine and cheese get together for the class parents at your home or another venue (the multi-purpose room at the school can be used for this);
- Create a class email distribution list (email addresses provided by MPAC Communications Coordinator) which allows you to send out information in one email (blind copy) to all of the class parents. Emails have become a vital link in communicating classroom specific news, events and request for volunteers to parents. Please ensure that you also blind copy the teacher (unless, of course, it is in reference to a gift for the teacher!) as well as the Class Representative Coordinator. The Class Representative Coordinator will be tracking whether or not the emails have been sent out so this is VITAL. This will help keep the lines of communication open and will be particularly helpful when there are two teachers in a division. Please also remember to copy Mrs. Hill ([email protected]) if the email is related to school plays or the music program;
- Maintain regular contact with the teacher either in person or via email/phone calls. Ask what is going on in class that that he/she may need assistance with: upcoming field trips, crafts, or treats for class parties;
- Set up a class telephone tree for contacting parents in case of an emergency – template provided and data provided by the MPAC Communications Coordinator. Make sure you are not assigning a lot of calls to a family that works or has limited English. Distribute the telephone tree to all class parents and one copy to the school office. Please remember to provide an updated copy if a new student joins your division during the school year;
- Co-ordinate volunteers when needed for Scholastic book orders, Halloween pumpkin carving, class parties (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s day, Year End), Christmas/spring concerts, reading/math programs, craft, art, or cooking projects, Science Fair assistance, year-end activities;
- Attend monthly PAC meetings and send out a brief email summarizing the topics discussed. Alternatively, ask for a class parent to attend and report back to you;
- Encourage all parents to get involved in their child’s class and the school. Some parents are able to do a lot of volunteering, while others volunteer when they can. You may need to recruit volunteers by directly asking them to help with a particular activity. Often, people are willing to help when asked.
Grade 7 Class Reps
Organize a Grade 7 parent meeting in September to gather ideas about year-end activities and fundraising and to form a parent committee.
Grade 6 Class Reps
Organize the tea that follows the Grade 7 Farewell Assembly in June. All Grade 6 parents need to provide food for this event and volunteers are needed to help on the day.
Teacher Gift Protocol
Montroyal has a tradition of parents and children showing their appreciation for the teachers with a Christmas and year-end gift. We propose a $10/child per division*, per year limit that may be split between Christmas and year-end gifts. The staff is always appreciative of the generosity shown by the Montroyal community but would feel more comfortable with a limit in place. This will eliminate any discrepancies between the value of gifts received by the various teachers. The suggested $10 makes it affordable for all families to be included in the group gift. Families are always welcome to do a personal gift as well. Please remember that this is optional and parents may choose not to participate.
*Should there be more than one teacher in your division the $10 shall be allocated based on days worked (or something like that).
*Should there be more than one teacher in your division the $10 shall be allocated based on days worked (or something like that).
Parent Complaint Protocol
Should any Class Representative receive a written or verbal complaint or concern from a parent or guardian regarding any aspect of the school, administration, or MPAC as a whole we ask that you please acknowledge this complaint and if received in writing it is to be forwarded to the Principal and MPAC Chair. If a verbal complaint or concern is received the parent or guardian should be encouraged to speak to the school principal or MPAC Chair directly.
Should any Class Representative receive a written or verbal complaint or concern from a parent or guardian regarding any aspect of a class room or teacher issue the parent or guardian to be encouraged to go to the teacher to discuss the complaint or concern directly. If their complaint or concern is not resolved that parent or guardian should then go to the Principal or Vice Principal.
As Class Representative, please do not try to address any complaints or concerns as this is to be left to the Principal and MPAC Chair.
Should any Class Representative receive a written or verbal complaint or concern from a parent or guardian regarding any aspect of a class room or teacher issue the parent or guardian to be encouraged to go to the teacher to discuss the complaint or concern directly. If their complaint or concern is not resolved that parent or guardian should then go to the Principal or Vice Principal.
As Class Representative, please do not try to address any complaints or concerns as this is to be left to the Principal and MPAC Chair.