School Council

The Manor Park School Council is made up of volunteer parents/guardians of students from Manor Park School. School Councils are advisory organizations, mandated by the Ministry of Education, and make recommendations to the principal and School Board when appropriate.  For more information about School Councils, please see http://www.ocdsb.ca/pc_school_councils_wp.asp.

The Manor Park council promotes the educational interests of our students and school.  Once a month, parents/guardians meet to plan, organize and start activities to increase the educational experience of the students at our school, through input and direction provided by the principal, teachers and staff.

The Executive Committee is made up of the following positions:

Chair: The Chair of the School Council leads the operation of Council. Acting on behalf of all parents/guardians of students at the School, the Chair liaises with the Principal, Staff and Board representatives to enhance the quality of education and experience for all students at MPPS. The functions of the Chair include, but are not limited to, the following: preparing the agenda for Council meetings in consultation with the Principal and members of the Council; chairing monthly meetings of the Council; communicating with the Principal on Council business; ensuring that there is regular communication with the school community; consulting as required, with the school community, the trustee and senior Board staff; proposing Council objectives for the school year; facilitating input to the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training as appropriate; working in conjunction with the Ontario Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC); the Alternative Schools Advisory Community (ASAC) and the Federation of Ontario School Councils; preparing the Council’s annual report; conducting the business of the Council between meetings; and, ensuring that Council records can be safely housed at the school.

Vice-Chair: The Vice-Chair works closely with the Chair to assist in the day-to-day operation of the Council. The Chair may delegate specific responsibilities. The Vice-Chair and should stand in for the Chair at the request of the Chair or when the Chair is otherwise unavailable.

Secretary: The Secretary of the School Council is responsible for the administration of the Council. The chief responsibility of the Secretary is to take, distribute and maintain accurate minutes of Council meetings, including the recording of motions or votes undertaken by the Council. The Secretary is required to provide notice to the school community of Council meetings, attend Council meetings, or appoint a designate to undertake their responsibilities. Minutes must be approved and amended as necessary, and made available to the School Community. The Secretary is also responsible for ensuring that the minutes are signed by either the Chair or Vice Chair following their adoption by the Council; ensuring that the minutes are retained for a five-year period; providing, on request, a copy(ies) of the minutes to any member of Council or the school’s community; preparing correspondence on behalf of the Chair or Vice-Chair and for circulating or organizing the circulation of council-related documents to the school Community on behalf of the Council Chair or Vice-Chair.

Alternative Program Representative: This Member should be a parent/guardian with one or more children in the Alternative Program. The Alternative Program Representative assists with ensuring that each alternative classroom has a Class Parent Coordinator, and with whom the Representative consults as to issues that should be brought to the attention of the Council.

ASAC Delegate: This member serves as the MPSS delegate to the Alternative Schools Advisory Council (ASAC), which meets about 10 times per year, as per the ASAC schedule. As the ASAC Delegate is the individual responsible for representing the views and input of the Council to the larger body of ASAC School Councils, and pursuant to their meetings, report back to, or seeking input from, Council with regard to the activities of ASAC.

English Program Representative: This Member should be a parent/guardian with one or more children in the Regular English Program. The English Program Representative should help ensure that each English classroom has a Class Parent Coordinator and with whom the representative consults as to issues that should be brought to the attention of the Council.

French Immersion Program Representative: This Member should be a parent/guardian with one or more children in the French Immersion Regular English Program. The Representative should help ensure that each French Immersion classroom has a Class Parent Coordinator and with whom the French Immersion Program Representative consults as to issues that should be brought to the attention of the Council.

Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC) Representative: This member is responsible for attending the OCASC meetings – about 10 in total for the school year. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month during the school year. The OCASC representative is responsible for representing the views of Council to this association of Councils, and pursuant to their meetings, report back to, or seeking input from, Council with regard to the activities of OCASC.

Member-at-Large: The two (2) members-at-large represent the interests of the entire school community, having have no specific assigned duties.

These positions are voted in by other volunteers.  Every parent/guardian has a vote to elect in the council. Afterwards, the council makes decisions by consensus or by vote.  Parents/guardians are able to participate in discussions and voice their opinions, concerns and ideas at council meetings or via email or a note to the council.

Home and School Association

The Manor Park Home and School Association is also made up of parent/guardian volunteers. The Home and School was the original “parent council” at Manor Park.  The Home and School differs from the Council in that all fundraising activities for our school are organized by the Home and School.  The Home and School is made up of a chairperson, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer, as well as committee heads (for example: pizza lunch, May Fair)

The Manor Park School Council and/or Home and School Association members can be reached at the following email address:

manorparkschoolcouncil@yahoo.ca


There is also a mailbox in the school office where messages/notes can be left.