Parent Council
April 30, 2025
Winnipeg School Division Guidelines for Board Advisory Committees
The Board of Trustees has established the following Advisory Committees to enhance communication between the Board (Trustees) and Parent Councils within each district: Central Advisory Committee, Inner City Advisory Committee, North Advisory Committee, South Advisory Committee. A French Immersion Advisory Committee has been established to make recommendations for the French Immersion Programs in WSD. A Student Advisory Committee has been established to encourage student voice by allowing students to provide input on WSD initiatives and policy changes, and to provide a networking opportunity for students from high schools across WSD.
The general purpose of Advisory Committees is to provide a line of communication between the Board of Trustees and School Parent/Student Councils and the community.
At a February 12, 2025 meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed the feedback from District Advisory Committees regarding the revised Guidelines for Board Advisory Committees. The Trustees agreed that additional feedback was required. Please complete the Board Advisory Committee Structure Survey by June 2, 2025, for consideration.
Grants & Funding Proposal Information
Find information on which agencies accept funding proposals from schools and parent councils. Also included is a step-by-step process for writing a grant/funding proposal.
Funding for Playstructures/Grounds
The Board of Trustees approved a process to provide financial support to schools to upgrade Playgrounds/Structures that would improve accessibility for children in WSD.
Parent Councils are invited to submit an Funding for Play Structures application to the Building/Transportation Committee c/o Brenda Lapointe, Board and Community Liaison Officer, Board Office, to apply for financial support from the Board of Trustees to improve play structures/grounds, accessibility for students up to a maximum of $20,000 during the school year. (may include funding to assist in the purchase of supplies/equipment for accessible-friendly, inclusive indoor activities)
The following criteria should be met to request funding:
- Parent Council/school committees must submit a letter identifying the purpose of requesting funds.
- Provide quotations from a minimum of three suppliers. (playstructure/grounds improvements)
- Provide a listing of grants applied for; include letters of funding confirmation and funding received to date. (playstructure/grounds improvements)
- If parent councils/schools are fundraising to assist with improvements to play structures/ grounds, a recent bank statement indicating the amount raised to date must be submitted with the request for financial support.
- Schools which have identified a financial need will be chosen for consideration.
The Building/Transportation Committee will review the proposals and notify the school of their discussions at the earliest opportunity. Should you require additional information, please contact Brenda Lapointe at 204-789-0469.
Parent Council Fundraising FAQ
Is fundraising banned?
Not at all. As a community, we want to stop, slow down, and think about the unintended consequences. If schools and Parent Councils have questions, contact your Family of School's Assistant Superintendent.
What are some things we should remember as we think about fundraising?
- What is the purpose of the fundraising?
- Are the principal and community aware of the purpose?
- How many times have we gone to the community? Less is more.
- What might be the impact of the fundraising on families who are not able to contribute?
Does the fundraising proposed seek to address something that the people of Manitoba already fund?
Here are things that are funded through the division’s budget:
- Laptops, electronics, interactive boards
- Books and curriculum materials
- Field trips, athletics, productions
Here are things that are not supported by provincial funding:
- Bursaries and Scholarships
- Camps
- Welcome packages for new families
- Farewells and Graduations
- School trips outside of the city or the curriculum
- Community Projects
Are there grey areas when it comes to fundraising?
Yes. So let’s think, talk with each other, and speak to our school leadership. The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents are happy to attend a Parent Council meeting and help brainstorm.
Our Parent Council loves to fundraise, and we are excellent at it:
Amazing! We love energy, enthusiasm, and support for schools! We don’t want to diminish this, whatsoever. Please support and lift your school. We also encourage fundraising for charities and charitable causes outside of the Division.
Parent Councils are reminded that all fundraising project amounts raised must be published yearly on each school’s website.
Can we still do fun lunches, book fairs, and dances that are used as fundraisers?
Sounds great! But make sure every child receives a fun lunch, a book, or can attend the dance without stigma. These events should not be exclusionary.
What if we want to donate our money to the school division as a Parent Council, foundation, or family?
Great! The Children's Heritage Education Endowment Fund is an awesome charitable branch of the Division. Many foundations and families donate money for nutrition programs, bursaries, school ground improvement projects, arts programming, after-school programming, etc. These funds are distributed equitably amongst the schools.
Donors may also donate funds to the Children’s Heritage Education Endowment Fund and designate a school of their choosing to receive the donation.
District Advisory Summaries of Discussions
Central District Advisory Committee
Inner City District Advisory Committee
North District Advisory Committee
South District Advisory Committee
French Immersion Advisory Committee
District Advisory Reports
Central District Advisory Committee
Inner City District Advisory Committee
North District Advisory Committee
South District Advisory Committee
French Immersion Advisory Committee