Membership and Orientation Meetings

Orientation Meeting
All parents are required to attend the orientation meeting held in the beginning of the school year. This meeting is held to acquaint parents with the philosophy and policies of the school and ensures that the school operation is understood, and to inform parents of new information.

Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF)

The PTF is a Christian concept. It embraces the school as a family unit, serving together in commitment, love and obedience to Christ, where fellowship and good works are a glorification to God. Its goals are:

1. to help teachers where needed
2. to encourage parental involvement
3. to communicate and fellowship with teachers on school life.
4. to suggest areas of enrichment for the children's education. e.g. workshops, field trips.

Volunteer Work

As an independent school, volunteer work is essential to our health and prosperity, and for maintaining a quality, well run school.

Parent Participation

Parents and students are encouraged to pray for fellow students, teachers and the school as a whole. It is very important for the parents to get involved in their children's education and school because it helps them to establish relationships with the staff members, administration and other families of the society. This creates an atmosphere of community and trust that will help to better support the staff and administration with the care of CVCS students.

Parent/Teacher/Student Communication

Open honest communication is one of the most important facets of any community. Parents are encouraged to keep communication lines open between home and school. Communication should be frequent, focused and constructive.

Following are eleven positive steps to help parents achieve the goal of effective communication. (Summarized from Christian Home & School Feb/96)

1. Make your first contact positive. Be quick to encourage and express appreciation to your child’s teacher, instead of waiting to express concerns about something you consider to be a problem. A positive first contact will pave the way for future communication.
2. Understand the teacher’s expectations. Make sure you understand from the beginning of the school year what will be expected of your child. I.e. homework, special assignments, behaviour, etc. Attendance at the open house to meet and talk with teachers is very valuable and could help prevent frustrations due only to a lack of understanding.
3. Understand the responsibility for your child’s education. The Christian school is an extension of the Christian home. Values such as respect, responsibility, discipline and motivation are first taught at home and reinforced at school. If your child is having difficulties, ask the teacher for specific suggestions to help your child succeed. Such as checking for completion of assignments, study skill strategies, peer relationships, organizing tasks, and setting goals.
4. Use communication lines set by the teacher. Watch for written communication coming home from school. Be aware of important events coming up such as projects and tests, social or special events and mark important dates on you calendar.
5. Suggest additional measures. If your child’s performance is unsatisfactory ask the teacher to set up a way of ensuring you see all assignments. I.e. initialing the homework book or marked papers. Ask for additional quizzes or assignments to help your child at home and then follow through with the teacher to determine the progress.
6. Avoid responding in anger. We as Christians are to be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. If something has annoyed you, give yourself some time to think of how you should respond, this will help to improve the outcome. The majority of problems stem from a simple lack of understanding.
7. Talk with the teacher first. If a problem should arise, always discuss the situation with the teacher first, allow the teacher the opportunity to discuss the situation with you. If the problem is not resolved both of you may need to talk with the administrator or board member. Again as Christians, the Bible exhorts us to go to our brother (or sister) if we have a problem.
8. Take time for parent-teacher conferences. Taking the time to discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses is vital to your child’s education. The teacher can identify areas where your cooperation can enhance your child’s learning.
9. Become involved. Volunteer in the class and at school functions, attend chapel and field trips. Seeing your child interact within the school community will be a valuable experience for you and help you to understand many of the positive aspects of Christian education.
10. Don’t delay. If you see a problem developing in your child, whether it’s schoolwork or social, call the teacher to express your concerns, the teacher will appreciate your keeping them informed.
11. Show support. Christian teachers are dedicated to the education of your child and to modeling Christ to them. Encourage them, pray for them and understand that they are not infallible. They need the support of dedicated Christian parents.

Parental Complaints Procedure ( Matthew 18:15-17)

Our Lord Jesus Christ laid down the wisest principles for reconciling concerns in Matthew 18. For believers he calls everyone to "go to" the one who has allegedly caused offence. This has great implications for the administration of justice and relationships in our school community and we are all charged with this responsibility. Only rarely should such a principle be avoided. Criminal matters (abuse, law breaking etc.) would be matters which may require going directly to other authorities.

The manner in which complaints are dealt with can mean the difference between harmony and tension within the school community. The proper route for filing a complaint is as follows:

1. The parent(s) discuss the concern with the staff member involved. If the parent(s) find(s) it difficult to meet with the staff member, a letter could be written, signed and handed to the staff member by the parent(s).
2. If the matter is not resolved, the parent(s) meet(s) with the teacher and the principal.
3. If the matter is still not resolved, the parent(s) may meet with the Education Committee

All of the steps above must be taken prayerfully and in the true spirit of reconciliation.

If the person filing the complaint has not taken the proper route as described above they will be asked to do so. Please, in all fairness allow enough time between the processes for progress to be made.

Staff at CVCS

The faculty at CVCS is qualified Christian teachers, certified to teach within British Columbia. All of our teachers are required to complete several courses in Christian Education. They express a sincere and firm commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their lives and are in good standing with a church based on the Word of God whose teachings are compatible with the constitution of our Christian School. They display a consistent Christian witness in both faith and lifestyle.

The school also employs a secretary, bookkeeper, custodian and bus drivers.