Parent Participation Program

Log In to the Parent Participation Portal

As a member of the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), St. Thomas Aquinas follows the policies outlined by CISVA. Under the CISVA guidelines parents pay a “participation” fee toward operational costs of the school.

The STA Parent Participation Program was developed to provide volunteer opportunities for parents so that they can reduce this fee or earn full credit by engaging in various school events and activities to help offset operational costs.

Credit for Parent Participation

 

Parent Participation Full Fee

Volunteer Hours Credit

One student at STA

$650

60 hours = full credit 6 hours per month = 1 month credit

Two or more students

$1,000

90 hours = full credit 9 hours per month = 1 month credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

How It Works

  • Members of the Regional Education Committee (REC) manage the program and identify the volunteer activities that qualify for credits on an annual basis depending on the needs of the school.
  • Full time positions and seasonal or part time opportunities are available throughout the school year.
  • Parent Participation fee is collected at the start of the academic year either in full or as monthly installments of 10 cheques, deposited on the 15th of each month.
  • Full time positions earn full credit, but these are limited in number. Credits for part time or seasonal positions depend on the type of event and nature of engagement.
  • Volunteer credits are managed through our online Parent Participation Portal. Credit hours for part time opportunities are applied after the task has been completed and hours have been logged into the portal.
  • Check with the coordinator for the event/position whether the hours will be automatically registered at the end of the task or if you must submit hours for “Ad hoc” events.
  • Uncashed cheques will be discarded or may be picked up by a parent/guardian at the end of the school year. Depending on the event/position a refund could be applied at the end of the school year.
  • There are “how-to” videos that can help you with troubleshooting.
  • Email parentparticipation@aquinas.org for any questions or difficulty registering or applying for credits.

 

Using the Parent Participation Portal

                                                                                          Volunteer Activities Qualifying for Participation Credits

1. Cafeteria                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The cafeteria is operated by STA - a paid kitchen manager looks after the day-to-day operations and determines what daily tasks are required by our volunteers. Volunteers must be able to commit to the regular hours, as outlined on the application form. Duties include assisting with food preparation, serving and clean-up. This position operates from September to June on days when the cafeteria is open to students. A lead Cafeteria Coordinator provides a schedule for all participants.

2. School Maintenance                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Indoor and outdoor) Maintenance jobs generally involve grounds keeping – grass cutting, leaf collection and weeding. Due to the nature of the work and because the grounds are divided into sections, participation credits are awarded based on the completion of assigned tasks, rather than on an hourly basis. Much of the work is weather dependent, so some assignments need to be completed during the summer months with much less work required in January and February. The lead Maintenance Coordinator provides each participant with a schedule of assigned tasks.

3. Traffic Supervision                                                                                                                                                                                                            Participants monitor and supervise the front and back crosswalk areas of the school during drop-off and pick-up times. A lead Traffic Coordinator provides a schedule for all participants.

4. Seasonal / Part-time
There are several events which take place during the school year where parents can earn participation credits. Examples include Annual Fund Walkathon, International Night and more. Full credit is awarded to selected Chairs for some of these events. The Chair positions require previous event specific experience and are awarded at the discretion of the Regional Education Committee and/or the Parent Participation Coordinators.