Parents Advisory Committee

"What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must be what the community wants for all its children” – John Dewey. 

Engaging parents in the education system activates a built-in support system that works to help both students and teachers do a better job. This is possible with an organized programme involving the school and the parents in activities linked to the school goals. A well structured partnership programme improves the school, strengthens families, and increases student achievement and success. With this goal in mind, we have initiated a Parents Advisory Committee for the parents of Indus International School students. The features of the committee are given below:

Aims and Objectives

• To provide an opportunity for Indus parents to share their ideas and mutual concerns on every facet of school life.

• To provide on-going communication between parents and the management.

• To keep all parents informed of school policies and issues, and provide continuous feedback.

• To endorse, recommend, and collaborate on school initiatives.

Nature of the Committee

• Parents of each Grade/Section are requested to give their acceptance to be a Parent Representative of the Grade, to the Grade teachers of their children.

• We will collate the list of interested Parents and short list a few. We will request the Parents of that Grade to vote for the shortlisted candidates, who will be elected as Parent representatives of that Grade/Section.

• Parent representatives will then elect the Advisory Committee amongst themselves. This will include 8 parents and 3 teacher members. 1 parent out of the 8 will represent the expatriate community. In addition, there will be 1 Parent representative from cities wherever there are a minimum of 5 students. The teachers will be nominated by the Principal.

• Members will serve on the committee for a period of one Academic Session.

Functions of the Advisory Committee

• Communication

  • Communicate with all parents about school programmes.

  • Enable parents to share information about culture, background, student’s talents and needs with the School.

  • Establish clear 2-way channels for communication from parents to school and school to parents. Ensure all information for and from parents is clear, usable, and linked to student’s positive growth.

  • Provide clear information to parents on school policies, improvements and transitions. This will help in better understanding of school programmes and policies.

• Organize Parent Support

  • Recruit volunteers widely so that all parents know that their time and talents are welcome.

  • Make flexible schedules for Parent volunteers to participate in formal and informal curriculum.

  • Organize work, provide training, match time and talent with school, teacher and student needs and recognize efforts so that participants are productive.

• Learning at Home

  • Involve parents with their children in academic learning at home, including homework, goal setting and other curricular related activities.

  • Coordinate parent-linked homework activities.

• Decision Making

  • Include parents as participants in giving suggestions and in advocacy activities through independent teams on Academics, School and Bus administration, safety, sports, food & hygiene etc.

• Collaborating with the Community

  • Coordinate resources and services for the School, including organizing sponsors for school events, interacting with cultural and civic organizations, colleges, universities and businesses.

  • Deal with concerns and rumors; advocate for the school in the community, and advice the school about issues of concern.

  • Organize classes for parents about pre- and early - adolescent development. This will help parents understand the school and give them a forum for sharing what they considered were isolated child-rearing experiences.

  • Organize open houses, parent tours, conferences through which parents can express their feelings about the school.

Criteria for Membership to the Advisory Committee

• Every parent (mother / father / legal guardian / local guardian of the child studying in Indus International School) can be a member of the Advisory Committee.

• Only one membership shall be permitted for a family studying in the school.

• Members of the teaching staff of the school shall be teacher members of the school, even if they have children studying in the school.

• Membership of parents will lapse when the pupil ceases to be on the roll of the School. Likewise, the membership of a teacher will lapse immediately on acceptance of resignation of the teacher by the School.

• Parents of students who have completed at least one year in school are eligible for nomination to the Advisory Committee of the parent’s council.

• Parents should have been a volunteer in class/ school to be eligible for nomination to the Advisory Committee. 

• A parent - to be eligible to the membership of the Advisory Committee - should have participated in earlier PTMs in the school.