The Dufferin-Peel Roman Catholic Separate School Board recognizes the importance of the partnership of schools, parents/guardians, the Church and the community in creating a positive learning environment for students. It is hoped that Catholic School Councils will build upon the successes of the Education Committees which supported the Catholic schools in Dufferin-Peel for many years.

The Catholic School Council is established by Board policy, in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Education and Training. It is intended to serve as an advisory committee to the school principal and, where appropriate, to the school board. The Roman Catholic School Advisory Council provides for parents/guardians, students, staff, the parish and members of the community to be actively involved in the operation of their local school.

The major goals of the Catholic School Council are outlined in the Board policy:

• to promote the vision and values and the sacramental life and Catholic practices of The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, and, to be faithful to its mission; and

• to advise the principal with regard to the operation of the school.

It is the responsibility of the Catholic School Council to promote the best interests of the Catholic school community.

In their pastoral letter on Catholic Education in Ontario, This Moment of Promise, the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops write:

The Mission Statement of The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board recognizes this call to community by recognizing the partnership with the family and the Church in providing a Catholic education, which seeks to develop the student spiritually, as well as intellectually, aesthetically, emotionally, socially and physically

At this time in the evolution of education in Ontario, it is essential that Catholic School Councils recognize the religious dimension of their call to serve, and that they be "fully committed to the preservation of a Christ-centred system of education" (Council of Ontario Separate School, 1994).

The School Board and the principal are committed to:

• respecting the recommendations of the School Council acting within its mandate;

• giving serious consideration to these recommendations in their decision-making processes; and

• providing reasons for decisions when the recommendations of the Catholic School Council are not accepted.

In December 2000, the Ontario Ministry of Education created regulation 612/00 which confirms the advisory role of school councils and clearly states that their purpose is to improve student Learning and enhance the accountability of the education system to the parents. This regulation clarifies the role of school councils and establishes their right to express their views on issues that are important to them. Additional, the Ministry of education also released in December 2000 regulation 613/00. It sets out the duties of principals regarding school councils.

The Education act, under both these regulations, requires principals to solicit views from school councils and report back to school councils regarding the views.

In identifying its priorities the council may advise the principal on any of the following matters:

• the faith development of the school community;

• the Board school-year calendar;

• school code of student behaviour;

• curriculum and program goals and priorities;

• preparation of the school profile;

• the responses of the school or school board in achieving provincial and board assessment programs;

• selection of principals in a manner prescribed by the board;

• school budget priorities, including local capital improvement plans for submission to the board;

• school-community communication strategies;

• methods of reporting to parents/guardians and the community;

• extracurricular activities in the school;

• school-based services and community partnerships related to social, health, recreation, and nutrition programs;

• community use of school facilities;

• local coordination of services for children and youth; and

• development, implementation, and review of board policies at the local level.

a) Council members shall maintain a school-wide focus on all issues and act in the best interest of the school and its students;

b) Council meetings are not to be used as a forum to discuss individual parents/guardians, students, staff, trustees, or other council members;

c) Council members shall recognize and respect the rights and ~ responsibilities of individual students and Board employees;

d) The Catholic School Council shall operate in a non-judgmental manner, respecting confidentiality, employing constructive discussions and reaching decisions through consensus.

It is the responsibility of the Catholic School Council to:

• establish its goals, priorities, and procedures;

• organize information and training sessions to enable members of the council to develop their skills as council members;

• hold a minimum of four meetings per school year. (All meetings shall be open to members of the school community.);

• communicate regularly with parents/guardians and other members of the community to seek their views and preferences with regard to matters being addressed by the council, and to report on the activities of the council to the school community;

• promote the best interests of the Catholic school community;

• supervise the election procedures for the Catholic School Council.

It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that the vision, mission and values of the Board, as outlined at the beginning of this document, are central to the work of the council.

The Chair of the Catholic School Council shall also be responsible for:

• calling school council meetings;

• preparing the agenda for school council meetings;

• reviewing the school council meeting agenda with the school principal prior to the meeting;

• chairing school council meetings;

• ensuring that the minutes of the school council meetings are recorded and maintained;

• participating in faith development, information and training programs;

• communicating with the school principal;

• ensuring that there is regular communication with the school community;

• consulting with senior board staff and trustees, as required

It is the responsibility of school council members to:

• provide informed advice to the school principal on matters related to student learning and school improvement;

• maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;

• act as a link between the school council, the parish, and the school community;

• encourage the participation of parents/guardians from all groups and of other people within the community;

• attend regularly and participate in council' meetings;

• participate in faith development, information and training programs.

The parish representative will lend knowledge, support and experience in promoting and developing the ideals of the Faith in our schools. The goal will be to strengthen that fundamental partnership between the parish, home, and school.