Every Board in the province is required to have a Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) that meets throughout the year to provide advice to its Board of Trustees and staff regarding how parents and school councils can best support student achievement and well-being.
YRDSB’s PIC has been active for many years under the name of Parent, Family and Community Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) as the Board has focused on the integration of these forms of engagement. YRDSB also prefers to use the term "engagement" as this is seen as both more comprehensive and action-oriented.
From 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 School Years
Parent, Family & Community Engagement:
- Launched the new PEAC website and Newsletter
- Hosted annual School Council Fall Forums and Regional PEAC Symposium, Parent Voice Matters!
- Launched the NEW School Council Collaboration Space via groups EDSBY.com
- Created instructional video on how to use EDSBY Groups narrated by a PEAC member
- Worked with Inclusive School & Community Services (ISCS), Corporate Communications and Trustee Services to redesign policy consultation process
- Collaborated with Curriculum & Instructional Services, RAS and ISCS to offer Culturally Responsive/Identity Affirming Parent/Family Pathway Planning workshops
- Reviewed policies to make more accessible for Multi-Language Learners by collaborating with Corporate Communications to convert PDFs into unique HTML pages for AODA compliance and translation for families
- Collaborated with the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation to provide space at Sutton District High School for their annual Pow Wow
- November 2021, presentations on “The ABCs of Mental Health at Home” to over 250 participants at four regional School Council Forums, 180 families participated in four separate regional Family Of Schools Parent Evenings
- January 20, 2022 PEAC provided consultation and input into the development of the Student Mental health and Addictions Strategy revision.
Student Leadership & Engagement:
- Collaborated with classroom teachers to educate and raise awareness among Grade 5-12 students of importance of student voice and the role they play in policy and student elections
- Increased student voice and input on Policy Review to make changes to annual Student Trustee election process
- Increased awareness and engaged more students in York Region Presidents Council (YRPC) led Student Leadership opportunities
- Hosted in-person and hybrid YRPC General Assemblies
- Piloted a General Assembly initiative to engage and amplify voices of under-represented identities
- Collaborated with Mental Health Lead to create Youth S.P.A.C.E [Students-Promoting-Awareness-Connection & Empowerment]
Updated January 2023