The primary right and duty to educate rests with the parents, and the school exists to complement the work of parents as the first teachers of their children. By parent example children are taught reverence for God and respect for the dignity of others.

At St. Edmund’s, we ask that parents:

• Be advocates for Catholic education.
• Work co-operatively with the school and support the administration and staff.
• Support opportunities that foster student success.

To achieve these expectations, it is necessary that parents be involved with the life of the school. This involvement can take the form of membership in leadership groups, or more direct participation in the daily routines of the school. Following is a brief list of some ways parents can help support the school in the education of their students:

Parish Education Committee – the PEC is the main governing body of the school, made up of a group of St. Edmund’s parents who are either appointed or elected. They work in conjunction with the Principal and the Pastor in the running of the school. Please see the separate Parish Education Committee Link for more information.

Parent’s Association – the Parent’s Association is a group of parents who help coordinate class sponsored events throughout the year. These events include the Back to School BBQ, the Santa Breakfast, the First Communion Reception, the Confirmation Reception, and the Grade 7 Graduation Reception. Please see the separate Parent’s Association Link for more information.

Class Mom (or Dad) – Our class parents are volunteers who help the school disseminate information regarding various school functions. Each grade has a parent with a class phone list to communicate with parents when needed.

Coaching – In order to maximize student participation, we have to draw on both our staff and our parent community to help with our athletics program. If you have some experience with any of the sports that are offered at St. Edmund’s, your time and expertise would be much appreciated.

Helping out at Events – Numerous events throughout the year (whether run by the PEC, the Parent’s Association, or the school itself) require various contributions. Examples include selling tickets before an event, coordinating volunteers, preparing food, decorating the venue, and clean-up afterwards. When entering St. Edmund’s, a parent is asked to complete a parent skills survey, which will be kept on file at the office. A copy of this parent skills survey is available through a link in the bulletin section of this website. When you are called to help, please try to be as accommodating as possible.

While the items mentioned above are some obvious examples, it is by no means an inclusive list. Other areas where parents could support the school include joining the Emergency Response Committee, becoming a Library Mom (or Dad), and helping with the many fundraising events the school runs. For more information on the Emergency Response Committee, please see the separate link.

St Edmund's places a very high value on the involvement of parents, and believe the amount of parental contribution is a key component in the quality of the educational program a school can offer. Please consider becoming involved in a way that suits your availability.