Parent Council

December 9, 2024

Winnipeg School Division Guidelines for Board Advisory Committees

The Board of Trustees has established the following Advisory Committees to enhance communication between the Board (Trustees) and Parent Councils within each district: Central Advisory Committee; Inner City Advisory Committee; North Advisory Committee; South Advisory Committee. A French Immersion Advisory Committee has been established to make recommendations for the French Immersion Programs in WSD. A Student Advisory Committee has been established to encourage student voice by allowing students to provide input on WSD initiatives and policy changes, and to provide a networking opportunity for students from high schools across WSD.

The general purpose of Advisory Committees is to provide a line of communication between the Board of Trustees and School Parent/Student Councils and the community.

Grants & Funding Proposal Information

Find information here on which agencies accept funding proposals from schools and parent councils. Also included is a step-by-step process on how to write a grant/funding proposal.

Funding for Playstructures/Grounds

The Board of Trustees approved a process to provide financial support to schools to upgrade Playgrounds/Structures that would improve accessibility for children in WSD.

Parent Councils are invited to submit an Funding for Play Structures application to the Building/Transportation Committee c/o Brenda Lapointe, Board and Community Liaison Officer, Board Office, to apply for financial support from the Board of Trustees to improve play structures/grounds, accessibility for students up to a maximum of $20,000 during the school year. (may include funding to assist in the purchase of supplies/equipment for accessible-friendly inclusive indoor activities)

The following criteria should be met to request funding:

Parent Council/school committees must submit a letter identifying the purpose of requesting funds.
Provide quotations from a minimum of three suppliers. (playstructure/grounds improvements)
Provide a listing of grants applied; include letters of funding confirmation and funding received to date. (playstructure/grounds improvements)
If parent councils/schools are fundraising to assist with improvements to play structures/ grounds, a recent bank statement indicating amount raised to date must be submitted with the request for financial support.
Schools which have identified a financial need will be chosen for consideration.

The Building/Transportation Committee will review the proposals and notify school(s) of their discussions at the earliest opportunity. Should you require additional information, please contact Brenda Lapointe at 204-789-0469.

Manitoba Association of Parent Councils

The Manitoba Association of Parent Councils (MAPC) is an organization of school based parent groups throughout Manitoba. Most of those members are Parent Advisory Councils (PACs), Parent Councils, Advisory Councils for School Leadership (ACSL), and other parent committees from individual schools as well as individual members who do not currently participate in an active parent group in their community.

MAPC Mission Statement:
The Manitoba Association of Parent Councils is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and enhancing meaningful involvement of parents and caregivers within school communities, representing their voice to all educational stakeholders to improve the education and well-being of children in Manitoba.

Parent Council Fundraising FAQ

Is fundraising banned?

Not at all. As a community, we want to stop, slow down, and think about the unintended consequences. If schools and Parent Councils have questions, connect with your Assistant Superintendent or the Superintendent.

What are some things we should keep in mind as we think about fundraising?

What is the purpose of the fundraising?
Are the principal and community aware of the purpose?
How many times have we gone to the community? Less is more.
What might be the impact of the fundraising on families who are not able to contribute?

Does the fundraising proposed seek to address something that's already funded by the people of Manitoba?

Here are things that are funded through the division’s budget:

Laptops, electronics, interactive boards
Books and curriculum materials
Field trips, athletics, productions

Here are things that are not supported by provincial funding:

Bursaries and Scholarships
Camps
Welcome packages for new families
Farewells and Graduations
School trips outside of the city or curriculum
Community Projects

Are there grey areas when it comes to fundraising?

Yes. So let’s take time to think, talk with each other, and talk to our school leadership. The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents are happy to come to a Parent Council meeting and help brainstorm.

Our Parent Council loves to fundraise, and we are excellent good at it:

Amazing! We love energy, enthusiasm, and support for schools! We don’t want to diminish this, whatsoever. Please support and lift up your school. We also encourage fundraising for charities and charitable causes outside of the Division.

Parent Councils are reminded that all fundraising project amounts raised must be published on a yearly basis on each school’s website.

Can we still do fun lunches, book fairs, and dances that are used as fundraisers?

Sounds great! But make sure each and every child receives a fun lunch, receives a book, or can attend the dance without stigma. These events should not be exclusionary.

What if we really want to donate our money to the school division, either as a Parent Council, a foundation, or family?

Great! The Children's Heritage Education Endowment Fund is an awesome charitable branch of the Division where many foundations and families donate money for nutrition programs, bursaries, school ground improvement projects, arts programming, after school programming, etc. These funds are distributed equitably amongst the schools.

Donors may also donate funds to the Children’s Heritage Education Endowment Fund and designate a school of their choosing to be the recipient of the donation.

District Advisory Summaries of Discussions

Central District Advisory Committee

Inner City District Advisory Committee

North District Advisory Committee

South District Advisory Committee

French Immersion Advisory Committee

District Advisory Reports

Central District Advisory Committee

Inner City District Advisory Committee

North District Advisory Committee

South District Advisory Committee

French Immersion Advisory Committee