Parents’ Participation Guide Buenos Aires
Parents are responsible for the purchase of all essential school items, including uniforms and textbooks, for their children. Public school parents will pay something towards school meals and snacks, as well as transportation; in private schools, meals and transportation are often factored into the tuition. Also keep in mind expenses related to extracurricular activities and field trips to parks and museums, and ask about opportunities to volunteer or chaperon.
Parents are invited to conference with teachers several times during the school year to review their child’s progress. On the whole, Argentines respect the authority of the teacher and do not involve themselves excessively in school matters. Still, at the many bilingual and international schools in the area, teachers and principals are accommodating to the concerns of expat parents and will do all they can to assure that your child is fitting in to the class.
Parents can also assist their children with after-school activities like choir, orchestra, theater, student radio/newspaper, and sports. Be sure to enquire at your child’s school is you are interested in volunteering your time and energy. Every year students devote themselves to an art exhibit that parents will be invited to attend. You may also be invited to watch your child perform in the school pageants that commemorate the ‘fiestas patrias’, or patriotic Argentine holidays such as Revolution Day and Flag Day; they’re a fun opportunity for you to learn a bit more about the country’s fascinating history for yourself!