Parents volunteers

Get involved in the community

Parent involvement in school life is at the heart of LFS’s DNA. As members of the association that owns the school, parents are invited to take an active part in our educational community! Whether you are a newly arrived parent or already familiar with LFS, you are encouraged to get involved in many different ways throughout the year in the life of our school.
For 30 years, parents’ volunteer engagement has remained a unique strength of LFS, a legacy of the families who built the school by pooling their time and resources. Today, this commitment is still one of the pillars of our functioning. Discover all the ways you can get involved!

Be a member of the school Board

Shanghai French School is managed by a Board composed of parent volunteers. This governance structure places the interests of students and families at the heart of its mission while ensuring the school’s stability and long-term sustainability.

The 8 volunteer parent members of the Board are elected by the Annual General Assembly of Parents, held each spring. They are responsible for the school’s development strategy, the supervision of its management, and its legal representation. Most recently, the Board has defined the new Strategic Plan (2025–2029), which sets the school’s vision for the coming years. Each year, during the General Assembly, parents can apply for any Board positions that become available.

Board members serve on a voluntary basis and cannot, under any circumstances, receive financial compensation for their work. They sign an ethics charter that sets the rules for the Board’s proper functioning. Members meet monthly in specialized committees (Human Resources, Finance, Pedagogy, Construction, Communication) and in plenary sessions, once a month, where key decisions regarding the school’s management and development are voted on.

Statutes of the
Parent’s association

Be a parents’ representative

At LFS, parents play an active role in the school’s pedagogical governance through elected representatives :

  • The School Council (Conseil d’Établissement) brings together 12 elected parents with school leadership, staff, and student representatives at least three times a year. This body makes key decisions on the school project, calendar, and internal regulations, ensuring the smooth running of the school.
  • The Primary and Secondary Councils (Conseil d’École for kindergarten and elementary, Conseil du Second Degré for secondary) focus more specifically on educational matters at each level. They meet regularly with the respective principals and teaching teams, making recommendations to improve daily functioning.

Throughout the year, parent representatives from all councils work closely with the pedagogical and administrative leadership, and remain in regular contact with the Board of Directors to ensure that parents’ voices are heard and addressed.

Become a Parent Liaison (Primary)

Parents Liaison are volunteer parents who help strengthen the connection between families and the school. They contribute to creating a climate of trust and fostering a sense of community within the class and the school. Their mission is to welcome new families, encourage communication between parents in the same class or year group, and share information between families, elected parent representatives, and the school. They do not intervene in teaching matters or administrative decisions. Their role is complementary, focused on listening, providing support, and sharing useful information for everyday school life.

Be parents’ delegates (middle and high school)

In middle school and high school, more than fifty parent representatives (two per class) facilitate better communication between parents and teachers for each class. They attend class councils at the end of each term and are members of the class WeChat group.

Be a member of committees (for transportation, school lunch, class trips, ASC)

All volunteer parents are welcome to join the specialized commissions, which generally meet twice a year.
The Canteen and Bus commissions, shared with the DSS under the Eurocampus framework, are often held on the same day – sometimes giving parents the chance to try the canteen. The ASC commission, created in 2024, gathers parents’ feedback on the range of extracurricular activities and registration process. Finally, the Trips commission meets on demand (6 to 8 times a year) to review school trip projects in detail and provide recommendations. These commissions do not have decision-making power but play an essential consultative role.

Be a Volunteer Parent: For School Lunch

At LFS, you have the opportunity to play an active role in school life and contribute to the well-being of our children.
You assist in supervising the lunchtime meals and midday recess for primary school students. In collaboration with our Vie Scolaire team, you ensure a pleasant, calm, and well-organized mealtime experience, promoting the children’s well-being and fostering a friendly atmosphere.

Be a Volunteer Parent: For Sports and Cultural Activities (ASC)

Parent volunteers: invaluable support for our extracurricular sports and cultural activities (ASC), which are open to all age groups, from kindergarten to high school seniors.
These activities mainly take place on Wednesdays and Fridays between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for elementary school students, lasting one to two hours. Throughout the week after 3:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. for secondary school students, as well as on Saturdays.

As a parent volunteer, you support teachers in organizing these activities while accompanying students, particularly during swimming lessons.

You also have the opportunity to share your talents in creative, cultural, or athletic fields, offering children unique and enriching experiences. These contributions are an excellent opportunity to pass on your expertise while sparking students’ curiosity and enthusiasm.

Be a member of the activities planning committee (BDA)

The Events Committee (Bureau des Animations) is made up of a team of volunteer parents who dedicate their time to organizing “recreational” projects for all LFS students and families. They are behind the festive events that bring the LFS community together: parent welcome activities, celebrations throughout the year, flea markets, raffles, Halloween activities, Christmas parties, International Days, movie nights, student treats (such as Christmas breakfasts or galette des rois), and school fairs.

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