Central Queens Elementary School to host

Home and School members from across the Island

The Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation is an umbrella organization comprised of the membership of 55 local home and school associations and parent councils. Home and School is often referred to as the “voice of parents.”  But it’s important to remember that local home and school associations count not only parents and guardians in their membership, but also teachers, staff and administrators. 

Anyone with a child in school, or who works in a school, is automatically a member of the local home and school and of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation. The federation formed on January 29, 1953, with over 100 delegates from local home and schools coming together to discuss what is best for the children of Prince Edward Island, at the Prince of Wales College (now Holland College) in Charlottetown. The focus remains the same today: bringing parents and educators together for conversations on providing the best possible education for all students in P.E.I.

The federation’s semi-annual meeting will be held on Oct. 23 , 5:45 – 8:00 p.m. at Central Queens Elementary School in Hunter River. This is an opportunity to discuss current issues and opportunities, share resources and ideas, and build connections within the school community on P.E.I. 

The meeting’s world cafe format will provide a space for facilitated, open discussion on various topics of importance to Home and School. It is hoped one of the outcomes will be links between individuals and groups at the event (information and resource sharing, and possibly next steps for collaborating to address common areas of interest). Registration is by donation of a resource and/or food bank item. Register names of people who will attend from your school with the federation office by e-mail to: peihsf@edu.pe.ca  or call: 620-3186 / 1-800-916-0664 or online at:  https://peihsf.ca/2018-semi-annual .

The Canadian Center for Substance Use and Addiction has just launched a new resource: "Talking Pot with Youth: A Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies."  More information can be found here: http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/topics/Marijuana/Cannabis-Communication-Guide/Pages/default.aspx  Drug Free Kids Canada is offering free information on how to talk with your child about drugs which can be ordered online at:  https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/   Speak with your home and school about organizing an information session on how to talk to kids about the use of cannabis. Professionals are available to present information and answer questions. Call the federation for suggestions.

Parent Leadership Grants are available this year for local Home and Schools to host an event that engages parents. There is one submission deadline this year on October 15^Th.  You will find the 2018-2019 Parent Leadership Grant application and guidelines on our website at:  https://peihsf.ca/content/parent-leadership-grant-application-guidelines-2018-2019

The next meeting of the Public Schools Branch board of directors is scheduled on Nov. 6 at a location to be determined. For more information on information on the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, contact the office at  peihsf@edu.pe.ca  / 620-3186 / 1-800-916-0664.

Cory Thomas, president of the 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 Thursday of the month. He welcomes comments from readers and information for the column. He can e reached at peihsf@edu.pe.ca or 902-620-3186.