Children at school
In order for the child to attend nursery, primary or secondary school, the temporary worker must apply for admission to the school committee in the region where he or she lives. The immigrant must fill out the required form and attach, in all cases, the original and sworn translation of the child's birth certificate indicating their sex and parentage, the names of the parents (as a rule, any official document attesting the date of birth of the child), the Quebec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ), as well as the work visa (not necessary if the child is enrolled in an English-language private school that is not subsidized by the government). Each administrative region in Quebec has a school committee that is the starting point for enrolling your children. Access the list for the Montreal region.
In Canada and Quebec, it is common for parents to be involved in their children's school lives. Not just monitor the children's studies, but get involved in school activities. Many immigrant families see school as a way of seeking social integration, as their children will meet other children, and consequently, the students' parents will get to know each other. Just like in Brazil, in the province of Quebec there are private and public schools. In public school, your family will be obliged to enroll your children in a French-language school, unless you can prove that your mother tongue is English or that your children studied in an English-language school. There are few exceptions, and it is a good idea to consult the School Committee website to find out more about this.
What is an OPP?
The acronym OPP means in Portuguese an organization for the participation of parents and guardians, that is, a group formed by volunteers, chosen among mothers, fathers or guardians of the school's students, and who work in a coordinated manner with the school management. . All parents can participate in OPP meetings and activities. Each school has an OPP, which is linked to the Quebec Federation of Parents' Committees.