INTRODUCTION Educating a child is a big challenge and, as parents, we need strong support to meet that challenge. That is the reason we have produced this handbook, Learning Matters. Created by Richmond School District parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators working in partnership, its purpose is to uphold your efforts as parents in guiding your child’s schooling. There used to be more of a separation between the responsibilities of parents and schools in educating children. However, we now know that education is not only an intellectual process but also includes the child’s physical, emotional, and social development. As a result, our roles overlap. Our district therefore views public education as a shared commitment between home and school, with parents and the home environment playing a crucial role in a child’s learning. Learning Matters is based on the following assumption: As a parent, you are willing to actively support your child’s learning. When both parents and educators assume that responsibility, everyone benefits – especially the learner. We hope this handbook will: • invite you into our district as a partner in your child’s education. • offer specific suggestions for supporting your child’s learning. • tell you where you can get the information and support that you need. • help you address your concerns about your child’s education. • identify who to contact if you have a concern. • support you in resolving any problems that might arise. • explain how we make decisions in our district. • help make your experience in Richmond schools enjoyable. How This Guide is Organized Section One, Our Focus is on the Learner discusses what we know about children’s learning and how we can support it. Section Two, The Parent’s Role addresses the learner’s relationship with his first teachers – his parents. This section explores your essential role in your child’s learning and how to fulfill that role most effectively. Section Three, The Learner, Parent and Teacher Partnership explains Richmond School Board’s commitment to clarity, consistency and communication in the learner-parent-teacher partnership. Additional topics include the teacher’s role, curriculum, homework, and tips for approaching teachers with questions and concerns. Section Four, Spotlight on School and District clarifies how our schools and district are organized, and discusses how you can become involved at the school and/or district level. Section Five, Public Schools in BC explains the role of the School Board, and the Ministry of Education’s role as the ultimate policy-maker. It also explains the role of the British Columbia Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) as an advocate for parents. Quick Reference – answers Frequently Asked Questions about our schools and programs, and includes a phone list and map of our district. It also decodes acronyms like PAC, IRP and SPC.