2. What to Expect as Chair
A cooperative relationship with the principal and
school staff for the betterment of the school as a
whole.
Sometimes hard but very rewarding work!
Making a difference in your community.
Becoming a member of a large network of people
who are dedicated to making education the best it
can be.

3. A Guide for School Councils

4. What is a PIC? PIC = Parent Involvement Committee
Created by the Ministry of Education in 2009
Education Act requires a PIC at every board
Support School Councils
Gives parent input on Board work and policies
GECPIC meets monthly during the school year

5. What we do? Advise Board from a parent perspective
Champion parental engagement
Contribute at meeting of PIC
Raise common parental issues with Board
Support parents navigating the school system
Give feedback on policy, programs and strategies
Communicate with school councils
Help parents support learning at home and school
Work on topics that affect more than one school

6. What GECPIC can do for you?
Provide guidance on procedural issues
Provide direction to find answers to questions
Assist in conflict resolution
Help you navigate the Board structures
Share best practices for engaging parents
Advocate on behalf of parents
Direct link to Board senior staff and Trustees
A sounding board for your ideas and concerns

7. Activities

8. Meetings with speakers and presentations
Health and Wellness
Student Success Team
Individual Pathway Plans
Career Cruising
Specialist High Skills Major
OYAP
CO-OP Education
Re-Engagement Initiative
SWAC (School Within a College)
JK Registration
Parent and Family Literacy Centres
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Learning Disabilities Association

9. WORKSHOPS

10. Provide funding for the Mental Health Series
Are part of the Mental Health Planning Team

11. Videos of the Mental Health Seminars can be viewed on
By typing publicboardPD in the search bar.

12. Representation at the Ministry of Education and People for Education

13. How PICs help Education Systems?
The benefits of parent-school partnerships are:
Improved student achievement
Reduced absenteeism
Better behavior
More parent confidence in child’s schooling

14. GECPIC Membership We are a parent-led committee.
The chair/co-chairs are parents and the majority of members are also parents.
For parents to qualify for election or appointment, they must have a child
enrolled in a school of the board.
All parents are welcome however, there is only one vote per school.
The PIC appoints up to three community members.
Each Parent Involvement Committee decides, based on its local needs, who else
to include, such as a principal, teacher and support staff.
The committee meets at least four times a year.

15. What can you do for us?
Talk to us. Tell us what works, what doesn’t and what
you need help with.
Spread the word about GECPIC!
Link the PIC page on the board website to your school’s website & newsletter
Use news items on our GECPIC site in the school’s monthly newsletter
Visit us. Anyone can observe a PIC meeting. Check
the board website for details.

16. Greater Essex County Parent Involvement Committee
Where to find us?
Greater Essex County Parent Involvement Committee
@GECPIC
Publicboard.ca
Parents Tab
Parent Involvement Tab

17. Helpful Resources

18.
The school board website is the first place to look for information on the Greater Essex County District School Board.
Includes links to individual school sites and parent involvement information.

19.
Information on all education in the province of Ontario
Includes information regarding the curriculum and major
programs and initiatives

20. What parents can do to
help their children
succeed in school
A guide for
parents and schools

21. Guides for helping your child in Reading/Writing,
Tip Sheets on Reading, Mathematics and Homework in many other languages
Guides for helping your child in Reading/Writing,
Mathematics and French Immersion

22. Other tip sheets and booklets in many languages.
Other tip sheets and booklets in many languages.

23. AERO
Alternative Education Resources Ontario is a web-based digital repository operated by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
They provide alternate format text to students with perceptual disabilities who attend publicly funded educational institutions in Ontario.
AERO enables students with perceptual disabilities to access educational materials in a format they require in a timely manner.

24. Free or low cost publications shipped directly to you
Free or low cost publications shipped directly to you
Many can be ordered in bulk

25.
FREE online help in math for students in Grades 7-10 with certified teachers.

26.
People for Education is your strong voice for public education.
They conduct vital research, answer parents’ questions, make policy recommendations and ensure there is broad coverage of education issues in the media.

27.
TVO Parents includes videos and information on a variety of topics including school & learning, health & development, as well as social & emotional issues.
Links to Homework Zone and TVO Kids

28.
A collaborative project designed to provide resources about children and youth mental health and addiction issues for educators, service providers, community partners, parents and students in Windsor-Essex.
Links to community supports and services, organized in the following age categories: 0-6 years, 6-12 years, years and over can be accessed easily by clicking on the logo of each service provider.

29. We R Mental Health Community Links

30.
Assist children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities, and those who support them, through information sharing, support, and relevant programs.
Help further the educational, social, recreational, legal, medical, vocational, and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

31.
Receive one-to-one tutoring in one hour sessions, twice weekly, for approximately 8 months (34 weeks) during the school year. 
Use the Orton-Gillingham approach which is based on a technique of studying and teaching language, understanding the nature of human language, the mechanisms involved in learning, and the language-learning processes in individuals.
The child experiences success in every lesson, gaining confidence as well as skill. Self esteem improves, sometimes dramatically, and success in school follows.

32. GREAT BOOKS