Delegates, guests attend 70 AGM
Representatives from local home and school associations across P.E.I. gathered in Charlottetown on April 15 to celebrate the federation’s milestone 70th Annual General Meeting. Thirty-six schools were represented, with 90 delegates and guests in attendance.
Guests included: The Honorable Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor, Honourable Natalie Jameson, Minister of Education and Early Years, and Norbert Carpenter, Director of the Public Schools Branch.
In addition, nine past presidents who attended the 70th annual meeting’s luncheon, Marion Murphy, Marjorie Stevenson-Dawson, Georgina Allen, Ken Williams, Wendy MacDonald, Bill Whelan, Tom Wilkinson, Lisa MacDougall, and Heather Mullen were acknowledged for their work in advocating for students’ education during their terms in office.
During the regular business of the federation, which included the election of a new board, resolutions were debated and voted on.
Passed resolutions concerned accessible and universal after-school programming for grades K-6 and streamlining school board elections and municipal elections. These are available for review on the federation’s website.
Resolutions that pass are forwarded to the government for a response and become federation policy. Responses are posted on the federation’s website at www.peihsf.ca/AGM when received, and members will learn about the progress of actions on the resolutions at next year’s annual meeting. In addition, the board uses policy statements when speaking on behalf of the federation.
Equity for students in P.E.I.’s education system was the focus of round table discussions. Delegates and guests participated in small group discussions with education and health resources to talk about diversity with Debbie Langston and Andrea Garland, student well-being with Elizabeth Kennedy and Tina Cardiff, and home and school successes/challenges with John Munro, Sylvie De Sousa, Erin Veale, and Katie MacLennan. The conversation summary notes will be circulated to the membership and posted on the federation’s website.
Erin Veale, President of the Ellerslie Home and School Association, was awarded the 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Nominations for the School Bus Driver of the Year Award are being accepted from local homes and schools across the province until May 5. If a bus driver in a school community deserves special recognition, contact a local home and school president. Visit https://peihsf.ca/awards/ for details and a nomination form.
The 2023-2024 school year calendar is available for viewing at: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-early-years/2023-2024-school-calendar. The first school day will be September 7.
As many local home and schools are busy planning school-year-end activities like socials and B.B.Q.s, members are reminded that continuity from one year to the next is important and are encouraged to elect an executive for the 2023-2024 school year before this school year is out. The federation office can provide assistance with how best to do this.
Thank you to the outgoing board members for their service to the federation, and welcome to the newly elected board members. As we go through this transition phase, we ask for some grace with the new roles and responsibilities. All board members are committed to the best possible education and safety for our children.
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Dionne Tuplin, president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, lives in Tyne Valley area, with her husband and four children, who attend Ellerslie Elementary School, Hernewood Intermediate and Westisle Composite High School. A Home and School column appears in The Guardian during the school year on the first Friday of the month. For questions about this column or to find out more about the work of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, contact peihsf@gov.pe.ca or 902-620-3186/1-800-916-0664.