Behind every successful school, there are parents who get involved!

To show Parenthèse readers how parents from across the province contribute to their school community, we’re publishing “portraits” of parents who commit themselves in various ways to the community.

Annette Azar-Diehl, Board Member, Société d'éducation Gareau (école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville's APÉ)

I have two children: Éric, 12 years old, and Chloé, 10 years old, who have attended l’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville since September 2013. Before that, they attended l’école Anne-Hébert in Vancouver.

I was a member of the parents’ association of the prématernelle V’là l’bon vent at l’école Rose-des-Vents and of the APÉ of l’école Anne-Hébert, and now I am a member of the Board of the APÉ of l’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville.

I made the commitment to the parents’ association of la prématernelle V’là l’bon vent because I was very impressed by what a small group of mothers had started. It was my introduction to the community of Francophone parents in the area and I became very involved in it. I laughed when I was asked to be the President... but since they were unable to find another volunteer, I jumped in! Since then, it seems that I always find myself at the heart of nearby APÉs!

A dream that I hold for my children: That they can respond wholeheartedly: “BOTH!” when someone asks them if they identify more with the Francophone or Anglophone culture and language.

A proud achievement: I am very proud of the work done by parents at l’école Anne-Hébert in recent years: we managed to make our childcare facility a very important service that responds to the needs of the families in the community, and we created a summer camp that’s been offered for four years now. These successes show that just a handful of people with good ideas can do exceptional work!

Since last September, I have been a member of the APÉ of l’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville and I represent the parents on the construction committee for the new school. The planned new school would accommodate 550 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, and would also have local community-oriented rooms (childcare/daycare service, etc.). We are planning a consultation to get the Francophone community’s opinion regarding the use of these rooms. We're all very excited about this project, which will realize our dream to create a healthy and safe environment to inspire learning and the development of our children, from 2017 on.