TOUGH SUBJECTS TACKLED AT P.E.I. HOME AND SCHOOL AGM

April’s annual general meeting of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation saw attendance soar thanks to strong interest in expert-led workshop topics and keynote speaker Carl Burke. Members heard about the horrors of sextortion, the pros and cons of AI in the classroom, gaming and gambling addictions by youth, and positive behaviour enforcement strategies programs…

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Each generation looks at the next with suspicion

Lazy, rude, demanding, self-obsessed, disrespectful. Each generation looks at the next with suspicion, convinced something has gone wrong. But are today’s youth worse than those who came before, or is this just the latest round of an age-old complaint? Consider this scathing critique: “I see no hope for the future of our people if they…

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P.E.I. Home and School presents on online harm

Tackling the Digital Influence on Youth is the focus for P.E.I.’s Home and School Federation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, April 12 at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. Keynote speaker, Carl H. Burke R.N., who dedicated his career to Health PEI for 32 years, lost his 17-year-old son Harry to sextortion in April 2023. Mr.…

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Model healthy screen habits at home

After a hasty but positive implementation of restrictions on cell phone usage in schools this September, the Department of Education and Early Years this January released new guidelines for promoting healthy screen time habits for children. These guidelines offer useful recommendations for limiting sedentary activities such as watching TV or playing video games while encouraging…

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Communication needed to protect school children

Schools have a duty of care to protect children and prevent harm, acting swiftly when a child is at risk. Parents should advocate for transparency and strong child protection policies in their children’s schools. Awareness and communication regarding these protocols are crucial for ensuring that schools prioritize student safety above all else. Here are four…

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Extra Mile Award Nominations due Jan. 17

PEI Home and School Federation newsletter, January 2025 🍎  2025 Extra Mile Awards for Teachers/Staff Local Home and School Associations can consider nominating a school teacher/staff person for going the “extra mile” for students. The Federation is accepting nominations until Jan. 17, 2025. Find criteria and application at:  https://peihsf.ca/extra-mile-award/   🍎  Resolutions impact change The…

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School bus safety a driving issue

Are the wheels on the bus broken?  Maybe not the wheels but school bus safety remains a driving issue with accidents in 2021 and 2015 highlighting the Home and School Federation’s longstanding concerns and the need for action. We are fortunate that these are the only major incidents thus far as Prince Edward Island has…

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Nominate a deserving school staff member for an Extra Mile Award

Home and School News, December 2024 🍎 Extra Mile AwardThe PEI Home and School Federation presents awards of recognition to deserving individuals who work and volunteer for the benefit of children and youth in PEI’s school communities. Nominate a deserving school staff individual for recognition by Jan. 17, 2025. Find details at: https://peihsf.ca/awards/ 🍎 How to…

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Extra credit a disingenuous practice. Ask more questions about grading at Nov. 22 parent-teacher interviews

Author John Brunner found two kinds of fools. One says, ‘This is old, and therefore good.’ The traditional grading system involves teachers collecting assignments, tests, and projects, calculating averages, and converting percentages into letter grades. This old method fails to provide a comprehensive picture of a student’s understanding and skills. The other fool says, ‘This…

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Focusing on education’s impact: Essential factors that drive student achievement

As parents and educators, we’re always looking for ways to help students succeed. But with so many factors at play, it can be hard to know where to focus our efforts. Fortunately, decades of research by education expert John Hattie offer some clear guidance on what makes the biggest difference in student achievement. Hattie’s groundbreaking…

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