Brentwood School Parent Council
Today's Learning, Tomorrow's Success
FAQ
Most frequently asked questions from Brentwood Parents.
Parent Council:
Q1. Who are we?
• A non-profit organization with insurance paid by the council.
• We are also parents willing to be the voice of all parents - the Chair and Treasurer (in charge of all the funds) meets with the Principal and Vice Principal monthly to discuss parent concerns and organize events.
• We are strictly volunteer-based meaning we also take time out of our busy schedules just like parents like you.
Q2. What is the role of the Parent Council?
• Advise principal and Board of Trustees on school matters, ensure the parent and community perspective is represented in school decision-making.
• Consult on topics such as annual school budgets and school development plans.
• It is not the primary function of council to fundraise, that is the role of the parent fundraising society.
• We do not participate in school governance, employment issues, and school management.
• Create space where parents, students, teachers, and communities can be connected and engaged, which is a key to increasing student success.
Q3. What can Parent Council communicate to parents and what can they not?
• CBE email accounts and direct access to CBE communication tools are not provided to school councils.
• School councils and parent societies operate under the Personal Protection Act (PIPA).
• School websites have dedicated pages for school councils and parent societies, content can be provided to the school to update.
• We have created an email list where parents can consent to opt in or opt out of emails from Brentwood School Parent Council.
Q4. Do we have to join the Parent Council in order to volunteer?
No - In order to volunteer, you will need to have completed an Annual Volunteer Registration Form and a Police Clearance Check for the vulnerable sector. For more information on how to start volunteering, please visit this link that will take you to a page on our website: https://brentwoodcouncil.wixsite.com/mysite/police-clearance-and-forms
Q5. How can we join the executive board of Parent Council?
We are looking for committed parents who volunteer regularly and are dependable to be a part of the council board. If you are interested, please express your interest with one of our current board members. The board will vote and come to a decision and to make it official, you have to be present at the next council meeting to be appointed as a member on the board.
Q6. Is there a group for parents to join to get notifications and news faster?
Yes - A WhatsApp group is created each year. If you would like to join, please send us your phone number to brentwoodschoolcouncilinfo@gmail.com
Q7. How can we subscribe for Parent Council emails?
To opt in for our emails, scroll to the bottom of our ABOUT US page and enter in your email address.
General Questions:
Q1. What teachers can communicate/share with parents and what can they not?
• Classwork and school communications.
• Information about your own child.
• Due to privacy, they cannot share with you other students or parents information.
Q2. What are some alternative ways we can get in touch with other parents?
• We recommend parents during pick-up and drop-off to take the initiative to get acquainted with other parents or at the bus stops.
• Other options we recommend would be to send small notes with your own information to school with your child so it can be given to their classmates to pass off to their parents - please also remember to inform the teacher you will be doing this. This way you are consenting to giving out your information and it is up to the other parent to accept or decline.
Q3. What are the uniform requirements?
• Please visit the school website link here: Dress Code
• Please also note special occasions where Formal Uniform is required for assembly days (ie. Remembrance Day)
Q4. When are casual wear days and what does that mean?
As of 2023, Fun Lunch and Treat Days are casual wear days. The school may sometimes have special occasions where they allow students to show up in different types of attire - please make sure you check your school emails or subscribe to council communications to know when these casual or theme days are allowed.
Q5. Are we allowed to bring treats or food for birthday's or holidays for my child's class?
No - Food items such as candy, chocolates, cupcakes, etc. are not allowed to be given to other students besides your own child. This is due to dietary restrictions and safety precautions. For special occasions, we recommend small gifts such as pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.
Q6. What places offer Before and After childcare?
Fundraising:
Q1. Why do we run fundraisers?
In order for the council to run memorable and events and experience for parents/families, students, and Brentwood staff, we require fundraisers to help us accumulate funds. We believe that the school experience goes beyond just academics, but school spirit and community building are just as important aspects to shape our children's lives.
Q2. How much do we make from Fun Lunch and Treat Days?
• On every item that we select, we are simply rounding up to the nearest $0.25, $0.50 or $1.
• We gain a few cents from each item, meaning we gain the most from quantity of orders.
• Simply purchasing a juice box, a bag of chips, or a cookie can help contribute to the council even if your child cannot enjoy certain items due to dietary restrictions.
• We are limited as to what vendors are available to us and what items these vendors make available for us to select for you to purchase. Therefore, we try our best to take into account all dietary restrictions.
• Halal? If you know of a vendor or restaurant that serves halal goods, please encourage them to apply to Healthy Hunger. We are limited when it comes to choices and have to take into consideration vendor locations to account for delivery times so the food can still stay relatively hot upon arrival. If there are any issues with orders, a vendor that is far away will not make additional trips to remedy the situation, but close vendors sometimes may make the extra trip since they are close by.
Q3. Why is the Casino so important to volunteer for?
• The Casino is our largest fundraiser that contributes to the school as a whole. Casino funds are used towards school improvements, literacy resources, residencies, new technology and equipment, and so much more. The council cannot use these funds towards school events - we get audited every year and can face serious implications for misuse of these funds.
• It is incredibly crucial that Brentwood Parents volunteer for this event because any 3rd party volunteers can misuse our vouchers: taxi, meals, etc. Anything that costs extra comes out of the council, not the casino funds.
Q4. Can we just cancel or forfeit the Casino?
• The Casino generates at least $50K to be used in the span of 3 years.
• We hold a Casino every 2 years.
• You do not require a Police Clearance Check to volunteer.
• Failure to complete a Casino with enough volunteers result in losing our placing for future casinos.
• Failure to use up our casino funding will also result in losing our placing for future casinos.
• To put into perspective:
In 2022 - 2023, we ran one fundraiser that ran for about 3 weeks. With a population of 745 students, we only managed to fundraise about $750. How many fundraisers would we have to raise in order to make $50K?
Q5. Are parents allowed to make donations to Parent Council?
Yes - however, you will not receive a receipt for tax purposes. For more information on how you can make a donation to Parent Council, please send us an email at brentwoodscholcouncilinfo@gmail.com