Get Involved

When families engage in their child(ren)'s Catholic education, it benefits everyone including students, teachers, schools, parishes, diocese, and communities. Schools become better places for learning and teaching, and student achievement and well-being is positively impacted. Family engagement includes focusing on the importance of learning, supporting students both at home and at school, and participating in classroom, school, parish, and community activities.

There are many opportunities available to get involved at Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) schools or the Board's various family and community member groups.

At the Board level, the groups are:

Catholic School Council Association
Special Education Advisory Committee
Indigenous Education Advisory Council

Opportunities for community members to join the board level groups will be posted on this page as they become available.

At the school level, families of current ALCDSB students can be a part of the Catholic School Council group at their child's school.

Catholic School Council Association (CSCA)

The CSCA represents current ALCDSB families and elected school council members in local, regional, and provincial educational activities.

What is the role of the CSCA?

To provide feedback and input on ALCDSB policies, procedures, strategic goals, etc.
Be a resource for Catholic School Councils throughout the ALCDSB
Reach out to families and help them feel engaged in their child(ren)’s education
CSCA is the voice at the board level

Who is on the CSCA?

The CSCA is a provincially mandated advisory committee comprised of:

Two volunteer family representatives from each of the families of schools who are parent/guardians of students enrolled in a school within ALCDSB.
Director of Education (or designate)
School board trustees
Principal representative
 Diocesan representative
Community representative

What is the commitment for representatives?

Meetings are held at least 4 times throughout the school year
Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue until approximately 8:00 p.m.

Minutes - CSCA - March 5, 2025.docx

Equity Advisory and Accountability Committee (EAAC)

The Equity Advisory and Accountability Committee (EAAC) is in its beginning stages and has been formed as a way to invite families to guide the ongoing ALCDSB Equity Initiatives and share their lived experiences and the lived experiences of their children in our schools. The mandate of the EAAC is to create safer spaces to share and hear the perspectives of equity seeking communities that are often underrepresented in a colonial system. Centring these voices is critical to ensuring the plans we make to create more inclusive spaces that prioritize equitable outcomes for all students are working and to keep ALCDSB accountable to the commitments we make.

Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC)

“I believe that most Anishinaabe narratives teach us mino-bimaadiziwin, the “good-life.” We are motivated to take care of ourselves but also of others, the earth, and Creation. This kendaaswin we learn from our stories.”

Dr. Niigaan Sinclair

The vision of the IAC is to centre Indigenous Voice and uphold success for all Indigenous Students and families in ALCDSB community. We are accountable to Indigenous Students and families in ALCDSB in programming Indigenous Education. We strive to centre our conversations with love, intentionality, and the three principles from the Great Law of Peace in mind, using our Good Minds and promoting peace in order to have collective strength. There are three core values that are intrinsic to the governance and culture of the Kanyen’kehá:ka; Peace, Strength and A Good Mind.

Centring Indigenous students, Indigenous educational programming and Indigenous matters in ALCDSB.

The intention and philosophy of the building of IAC for ALCDSB is to build beautiful, to create a council of most trusted people who have Indigenous Youth and Indigenous matters at the heart of this group and these discussions.

The Ministry of Education has mandated an Indigenous Education Council to attempt to change how decisions have been made. This is a group of Indigenous voices that will gather and discuss any matters that impact Indigenous Youth and Indigenous matters.

On the IEAC sits a diversity of voices including community organizations, representation from folks with an expertise in the lived experience of First Nations, Metis and Inuit voices, Indigenous youth, Indigenous academics, educators and scholars.

Special Education Advisory Committee

The SEAC is responsible for submitting carefully developed and appropriate recommendations to the board on all matters related to the provision of special education programs and services to its pupils with exceptionalities. The SEAC must ensure that these recommendations focus on the most appropriate special education programs and services for all students with exceptionalities, individually and collectively. SEAC membership is comprised of trustees, student services staff and representatives from community agencies.

A copy of the ALCDSB SEAC Handbook is available here: https://22.files.edl.io/0bc7/07/16/24/144849-1e59a13f-004d-4a26-9daf-f912f8ecd887.pdf#page127

Catholic School Council

Catholic School Councils are groups of volunteers at each ALCDSB school made up of families of current students. The Council's activities may vary from school to school, but overall do the following:

Provide advice on issues that are brought to the Council
Support school activities through fundraising efforts
Promote community participation in school events

The Council works with the administrator(s) of the school on the above noted activities.

Meetings are open to all families of current students and are held regularly throughout the school year.

Have questions? Interested in joining? Contact your child's school directly.

A full list of ALCDSB schools can be found here: https://www.alcdsb.on.ca/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1165053&type=d&pREC_ID=1393518