The Importance of Parent Councils in Supporting STEM in Schools

From raising money to advocating for issues that impact students, parent councils take an active role when it comes to your child’s education. School parent councils strive to create a positive and caring environment in the schools. They also help to raise funds for field trips and other enrichment programs for students.

We’re going to explore the importance of school parent councils, as well as the role they play in your child’s STEM education.

The Role of Parent Councils

Parent Councils take on the role of gathering parents together to work collectively to address issues that are important to schools and administrators. They also advocate for funding that impacts different aspects of student education. From the arts, sciences and other fields, Parent Councils look to incorporate many different topics into their efforts.

Parent Councils help to create partnerships between home, school, and the community. They can also help to contribute to the school’s vision. This is why it’s so important for parents to get involved. The more parents involved, the greater the impact a Parent Council can have.

These groups are also instrumental in events such as improving planning for learning with extracurricular activities.

“Maurice Cody’s, Family School Association, with the support of our teachers, work together to build robust in school and extracurricular programming that enhances the educational experience for our kids,” says Maurice Cody, Public School Parent Council Vice Chair, Nicole Medina.

“We value and appreciate the support we get from partners like MakerKids and as a Cody community, we do our best to reciprocate by raising awareness and promoting the incredible STEM learning that MakerKids provides.”MakerKids programs provide excellent STEM courses that can supplement the STEM lessons such as coding, that are now part of Ontario’s curriculum. This is a positive display of the partnership that schools and businesses can have to give students the vital lessons they need to build their skills and eventually their careers.

Why are Parent Councils Important?

Parent Councils are important because they not only help to bring programs into the school by raising funds and promoting important collaborations between parents and teachers, but they also help to extend learning in the community. Many times, the funds raised through Parent Council activities help to support educational field trips or coding clubs, such as those offered at MakerKids. MakerKids provides STEM field trips that are not only educational but plenty of fun for kids in grades 1-8.  These are great opportunities to introduce new STEM skills and for kids to build on what they already know.

Besides field trips, Parent Councils can also help to organize after-school activities and events for students to take part in. Whether it’s a walk-a-thon to raise money for a cause or a school dance to have some fun, Parent Councils take on an important role in giving students a well-rounded school experience.

Through the work of Parent Councils, students also learn the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. Many councils sponsor food drives and other opportunities for children and parents to help those by sharing their skills and time. This is an important area for kids to learn about as they grow and is something they can carry with them throughout their lives.

Are You a Member of a Parent Council?

If you’re a member of a local parent council and would like to learn more about involving MakerKids in your field trips and extracurricular activities, reach out to us today. Let us show you how we can work together to bring STEM topics into more children’s lives!