By Christina Laughren – Christina has been an active parent volunteer for more than 10 years. She has experienced first-hand the value of being engaged within her school community. With two sons in the WRDSB, Christina is passionate about involving other parents as resources and support for their children’s school experience. This year, she has focused her efforts on enriching PIC.


This week is National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, 2021. It is a time set aside each year to recognize and thank volunteers around Waterloo Region and across Canada for the time and energy they contribute to causes benefiting our communities.

Over the past year, we have witnessed countless awe-inspiring acts of kindness, and the magic that happens when we work together with the common goal of helping one another get through a difficult time. We recognize the value of caring and compassion that each one has shown another, and we recognize the power of people, organizations and sectors working together.

This sense of solidarity is particularly evident in our schools. Parent and guardian volunteers offer a valuable resource and support base for our schools. From chaperoning field trips to organizing evening events. From coordinating fundraising activities to delivering community programs like Strong Start or Nutrition for Learning. From participating on a School Council to serving on a WRDSB committee like PIC. Parent volunteers help create an enriched and connected sense of community within their schools. And, perhaps more importantly, they show their children and youth the importance of participating in something larger than themselves.

The value of one parent serving milk in a lunch program helps to feed hungry students. The power of many parents working with teachers creates rich, positive places to learn and grow.

I see you and say a sincere THANK YOU! Please pass it on.


Parent Posts are written by parents, for parents in collaboration with PIC. This series features guest parent bloggers where they share resources and information with other parents. We invite you to email and let us know if there are other topics you’d like to learn more about on Parent Posts.