The Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) focuses on partnering with students, parents, guardians, staff, principals, school boards, government, and the local community to encourage involvement in student learning and supporting student achievement and well-being. As a school council member, you can be part of a dedicated team that is continuously discovering new and exciting ways to contribute to the education of students in your school.

Message from the Catholic School Advisory Council:

School councils play a vital role in our Catholic school communities. They are shining examples of open communication and partnerships between all key stakeholders – parents, students, staff, principals, parishes and members of the broader community. We chose to call our school councils Catholic School Advisory Councils (CSACs)  because the name reflects our common faith and emphasizes the importance of our Catholic community.

Our CSACs provide a forum for parents and other members of the school community to contribute to the improvement of student achievement and school performance. The councils make recommendations to principals and the Board on matters they believe relevant. We consult with CSACs on a range of matters that affect student learning and consider recommendations made by the councils. Whether through attending local CSAC meetings, sharing ideas and information with fellow CSACs from other schools, or partaking in various Board initiatives, we have found parents’ advice to be extremely thoughtful, caring and beneficial to enriching the fabric of students’ learning and faith development.

What are the benefits of becoming involved on a CSAC?

You will become an important partner in the education system
You will contribute to the shared goal of improving student achievement
You can use CSAC as a vehicle to express your opinions on relevant issues
You will be kept informed about what is happening at your child’s school and within the Board
You will find it a rewarding experience that will make a difference in your child’s education

How can you become a member of a CSAC?

The membership of our school councils changes from year to year. Potential new members will be recruited for election, so be sure to let your interest be known to your school’s principal or current members of your school’s CSAC.  We always strive for our councils to reflect the diversity of the school. The majority of our CSACs consist of parents, but will also include the principal or vice-principal, one teacher, one non-teaching staff member, one student (optional for elementary level) and other community representation.

If you are interested in participating on the CSAC at your child’s school, please contact the principal directly.

Catholic School Advisory Council Members:

• J. Hachler, Chair
• J. Reinink
• A. Tschudi
• A. Straus
• J. Walsh
• S. Wood
• I. Nyenhuis – Community / Parish Representative
• C. DuLuca – Staff Representative
• L. Scherbarth – Non-Teaching Representative

RESOURCES:

Catholic Parent Involvement Committee 

Ministry of Education – Catholic School Advisor Councils 

Ontario Association of Parents for Catholic Education 

Parents Reaching Out Grants