Details announced for 67th annual event. Resolutions passed give P.E.I. Home and School Federation direction to take in terms of advocacy on education, health, and safety topics as related to student learning and well-being.

The theme of the 67th Annual Meeting & Convention is Healthy Bodies = Healthy Minds. You are invited to attend the AGM on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel!  

Everyone is invited to attend the AGM on Saturday, April 18, at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. Parents, educators and students are welcome.

The registration package was mailed in February to Home and School presidents. Delegates are asked to register by Friday, April 3.

The P.E.I. Home and School Federation bases most of its yearly plans and strategic directions on the resolution process from its annual general meeting. Local home and school associations across the province bring forward resolutions that are debated and supported at the local level to the provincial meeting.

Resolutions give the federation direction to take in terms of advocacy on education, health, and safety topics as related to student learning and well-being. Approved resolutions are forwarded to designated decision-making bodies such as the department of education and lifelong learning and public schools branch, requesting a response.

Presidents and co-chairs are asked to discuss proposed 2020 resolutions with your local home and school community by bringing these forward to the March meetings. Discuss and vote on each one. Select your voting delegates and pass the resolution voting results on to those individuals so they will vote on behalf of your local home and school at the AGM.  You will find 2020 proposed resolutions online at: https://peihsf.ca/agm  

Each year at the Annual Meeting & Convention, a Home and School volunteer is recognized for volunteer efforts in their local school with the Steve McQuaid Volunteer of the Year. Life Membership is considered annually, but recognition will not necessarily be made every year. Home and Schools are to review award criteria and submit nominations by March 13. Access nomination information online at: https://peihsf.ca/agm 

P.E.I. Home and School Federation continues to advocate for matters of concern raised by our membership such as school food and elected school board trustees. Representatives from the federation have been invited to make a presentation to the Legislative Standing Committee on Education and Economic Growth regarding our 2018 resolution asking government to return to  an elected school board trustee representation. We would like to see the designated decision-making authority on educational matters be made by an elected board, one for each family of schools and not a centralized administration. Our board continues to work with the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning and the Public Schools Branch on these and other initiatives. 

Good ideas are worth sharing! Local Home and Schools are submitting annual reports that outline what is happening at the local school level. Gulf Shore recognized its teachers and staff showing appreciation for their kindness and dedication to children’s education. An online platform, signupgenius.com, was used to find volunteers to do certain tasks. Parents/guardians signed up online to provide a sweet treat and/or healthy snack during the week. Other home and schools can also check out this tool. 

Contact the Federation office at: 620-3186 / 1-800-916-0664 / peihsf@edu.pe.ca if you have questions about the content of this column.

—————————-

Cory Thomas, president of P.E.I. Home and School Federation, lives in Summerside with his wife and two children, who both attend Elm Street Elementary School. His column appears in The Guardian during the school year on the first on the Thursday of the month. He welcomes comments from readers and information from the column. He can be reached at 902-620-3186.