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.

Christine Leroux, volunteer parent in Penticton

I have two children: Cloé, 14, and Louis, 12, who attend l’école Entre-lacs and l’école Penticton Secondary School (where the Francophone secondary school program is provided) in Penticton.

What I do for the school community:

I've been with the parents' association (APÉ) for ten years, since my eldest entered kindergarten. During these ten years, I served as President for seven years, and now I sit on the board as a member. In these roles, I've acted as a representative of my APÉ at the annual conference of the Fédération des parents several times.

Upon my arrival at l’école Entre-lacs, I got involved in the organization and distribution of hot meals. Following that, I implemented a computerized management system for hot meal orders. Today I'm still part of the team that organizes the hot meals and distributes them.

I participated in the organization of several social events, including our famous Christmas party, and in the implementation of fundraising for the APÉ. I also helped students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 to organize their own fundraising for a year-end trip. I continue to get involved in some social events, and I can't count the number of times that I went with classes on school outings (skating, cross-country skiing, track and field day, year-end trip). In addition, each year I organize a reading contest for students from kindergarten to Grade 8.

Some time ago, with the Principal at the time, we took steps to establish a breakfast program at our school, and since last year I've been serving breakfasts once a week.

Now I'm pleased to be part of the board of the FPFCB as a representative for my region, the Okanagan-Columbia.

Why/how I started:

I was involved with the board of my children's preschool, and so it seemed a good idea to do the same with the parents' association of l’école Entre-lacs when they started there. Over the years, I realized the benefits of engaging actively in the APÉ!

What I love the most about our Francophone school: 

We are a small Francophone and Francophile community that has many parents (both Anglophones and Francophones) who are very motivated to develop our school and its students. The teachers and school administration have always been, and still are, committed to the success of our students in their Francophone and academic journeys.

A dream that I hold for my children:

That they transmit French and their Francophone heritage to their children. I'm crossing my fingers...