Class Parents

The UA Class Parent is a valuable member of your class team. The Class Parent is a key point of communication to all the parents in your class. The role of class parent may look slightly different from year to year depending on the needs of the teacher and activities that various grades take part in. Teachers are able to choose how to best work with their class parent, however there are a few key duties that class parent will be expected to roll out over the year. There is a class parent for JK (1 class parent) and for each of the K to Grade 6 classes, with one class parent each for Grade 7, Grade 8, Grades 9–10 and Grades 11–12.

The Class Parent Rep role counts for all of your volunteer hours over the course of the school year. Please ensure that you know how to access the UA Parent Handbook and know them in order to be able to assist the parents in your class.

Express Your Interest

Characteristics of Class Parents

Class parents are friendly, outgoing parents who have been with the school at least one school year. They have strong organizational communication skills and make connections between teachers and parents. Urban Academy Class Parents are engaged in the school and adhere to the school’s guidelines as set out in the Code of Conduct.

How A Class Parent Communicates

We ask that class parents use email to communicate information and that they cc the teacher in their communication. This will allow teachers to know how planning is going and what information is being shared with their class community.

Please DO NOT solely use social media platforms such as WhatsApp when communicating class parent information as teachers and some parents do not use these platforms and it has resulted in some parents missing important information.

The Role of Class Parents

To e-introduce themselves to the teacher and parents at the start of the school year
Facilitate connections between the class community.
In the first few weeks of school, to plan a social, casual class outdoor gathering with parents and students. Generally, these are helpful and welcome activities for younger students. Class parents can decide if Upper Middle and Senior School may be interested in this (Grades 6 and up).
At the end of the school year, to plan a social, casual class gathering with parents and students. Class parents can decide if Upper Middle and Senior School may be interested in this (Grades 6 and up).
To communicate information from the various parent volunteer committees
To communicate formal/day to day uniform days
To act as a buddy family and connect one-on-one throughout the year to new families who have just joined the school and help answer any of their questions.
Relay information and questions that may arise to the Class Parent Coordinator

Other Possible Roles of Class Parents

To help teachers communicate and send reminders with regard to in class events.

To help coordinate chaperones and parent drivers for field trips (younger grades only)

All communication comes from the teacher through the class parent
Lists for drivers and car allocations come from the teacher, but the class parent can help communicate and oversee this.
Are aware of Urban Academy Parent Driver Policy
With support from school administration, assist new parents with the driving rules and what is required to be permitted to be parent drivers.

Class Parents may choose to put together class teacher gifts at xmas/end of the year. If so, please be mindful of the following:
- Be aware of what is being asked for from parents as there are some ‘higher ask’ times in the year with advancement/gala etc.
- Do not set high budgets for amounts to donate for glass gifts, instead keep it minimal to $10-$20 with an understanding that it is a gesture that is well received by teachers, but not expected.

Teacher's Roles With Regard to Class Parents

Various teachers use their class parents differently, some more than others. There is an emphasis on the class parent doing some front-end work with connecting the parents to one another and welcoming families into the school. There are certain things that are NOT the roll of class parent:

To communicate school rules or policy when parents may not be in compliance ie, the teacher/school should be the one communicating rules directly one on one with parents.
To communicate things that should be the teacher’s role to communicate ie: details on field trips, expectations of the students etc. Class parents can send reminders of activities coming up, but the primary communication should be done on class blogs or MySchool so that parents can always refer back to those details, or direct emails from the teacher.
To mitigate any conflict between parents, teachers or students.

Class Parents Process

Once a parent has agreed to fill the role, the following will take place:

They will be introduced to their classroom teacher at the beginning of the school year to connect with them on how they may work together over the course of the year.
There will be a zoom Class Parent Training Session in the first month of school.
They will have the contact information of the families in the class and be expected early in the year to plan a class get-together (junior classes) so that will be the first task.
Connect with the Class Parent Coordinator by phone to go over the role and any questions they may have.
Information to be distributed to your class will be sent to via. the Class Parent Coordinator. The Co-Ordinator will be a resource over the course of the school year.