Home and School Federation holding annual meeting April 15

There are only eight days until the P.E.I. Home and School Federation’s historic annual meeting! The AGM will be held April 15, at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.  For 70 years, the federation has supported local home and school associations in its work toward an equitable and quality education system across Prince Edward Island. This year’s theme is Knowledge, Collaboration & Success for the Next Generation. There is still time to register.

Education plays a crucial role in determining a child’s life chances, and a better education means better health, higher earnings, and longer life. Making education equitable means ensuring everyone has access to the resources, opportunities, power, and responsibility they need to reach their full potential. It also means making changes so that unfair differences may be understood and addressed. 

The federation receives direction for its work from resolutions brought forward by local associations. When resolutions that are relevant to learning for all students are passed at the annual general meeting, they become policy that is acted on together. A thorough discussion and voting on resolutions is always a central feature of the meeting. The three resolutions submitted this year include requests to align the new school trustee elections with municipal elections, to invest in a structured reading literacy program, and to create accessible and universal after-school programming for K-6. Find resolutions online at: peihsf.ca/agm

The round table conversations will focus on addressing equity in schools. Delegates will sit at small group sessions with education and health resources to talk about diversity (Debbie Langston, Andrea Garland), student well-being student well-being (Elizabeth Kennedy, Sarah Fletcher and Tina Cardiff, well-being team family support workers) and Home and School successes/challenges (Erin Veale/Katie MacLennan and Sylvie De Sousa/John Munro).

Each school’s association is asked to send delegates to this milestone meeting. All are welcome with each association designating five as their voting delegates. Ensure your school is represented. In addition, the P.E.I. Lt-Gov., Antoinette Perry, education minister or deputy, federation past presidents, and other guests are invited to attend the president’s luncheon.

There is still time to register online at https://peihsf.ca/agm/ or call 902-620-3186.

The School Bus Driver Award recognizes school bus drivers on Prince Edward Island for their service in keeping students safe as they travel on the school buses daily. Anyone who knows of a deserving school bus driver who goes above and beyond his or her duty should consider putting in a nomination. The criteria are at (https://peihsf.ca/awards). The nomination deadline is May 5.

 National Volunteer Week (April 16-22) is a time to celebrate and thank Canada’s 24 million volunteers. Volunteers help out in their communities and abroad, and it’s important to recognize these individuals’ hard work and dedication. The NVW theme Volunteering Weaves us Together speaks to strengthening communities by sharing time, talent, and energy to support one another. Celebrate P.E.I.’s volunteers’ collective impact, kindness, generosity, and commitment to helping this island community. More is at: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=477.