May News: Nominate a School Bus Driver… Science Fair Specialty Awards…Motion 18 -Tracking school absences…

May 2026 NEWSLETTER

🍎 School Bus Driver Award
Reminder:  Home and Schools can nominate a school bus driver for recognition in keeping our children safe as they travel to and from school. Submission date: Friday, May 8, 2026. More at: https://peihsf.ca/school-bus-driver-of-the-year-award/

🍎 Science Fair 2026 Specialty Awards
The PEI Home and School Federation’s Science Fair Specialty Awards were presented to:
Landon Seamon, Gr 9, East Wiltshire (Bio-Shield), and Jaidyn McKinnon, Gr 12, Colonel Gray (Hidden Hazards: Microplastics in Feminine Hygiene Products)

🍎 Home and School News Column
President Tom Deelstra’s Monthly Home and School columns will be published in The Guardian newspaper and online at https://peihsf.ca/news/.

🍎 Motion 18 – Tracking school absences due to bullying.
The Legislative Assembly of PEI passed a motion on April 22, 2026, to track school absences due to bullying. Invite your MLA to speak at a Home & School Meeting. More at: Tracking school absences due to bullying.

🍎 Family Violence Prevention Week
The Premier’s Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention (PAC) encourages municipalities and community organizations to play an active role in Family Violence Prevention Week, May 11-17, 2026: “Supporting Intergenerational Resilience in Our Communities.” Information is online at: https://www.stopfamilyviolence.pe.ca/I-Need-Help

🍎 PSB Trustees’ Updates
Charlottetown Family of Schools Zone 5:  As May begins, we reflect on the excitement of celebrating our dedicated Home & School Associations across P.E.I. during the 73rd AGM & Spring Conference, “Stop Bullying. Start Belonging.” Congratulations and gratitude to everyone who made the event informative and inspiring. The ideas shared will strengthen our schools and communities. We’re happy to support any student events planned for June that foster learning and fun. Minutes from our April 9 Public School Board meeting are available on the Board of Trustees | Public Schools Branch.   Kind regards, Andrew (amacfarlane@edu.pe.ca) & Gaylene (gcarragher@edu.pe.ca)

Bluefield Family of Schools, Zone 4:  As always, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the PEI Home and School Federation’s Annual General Meeting on April 18. I found the resolution discussions very interesting, and I learned more about the challenges that Home and School members face during an information-sharing workshop in the afternoon. Looking forward to chatting with Home and School members in my zone soon! Karen (kclare@edu.pe.ca)

Westisle Family of Schools, Zone 1:  As the 2025-2026 school year nears its end, I encourage all students and staff to maintain a good balance among study, rest, and physical activity. Westisle will be one of 6 PEI schools in the new Community Use of Schools pilot program beginning in 2026. I hope this will be a successful initiative and eventually be offered year-round at all Island schools.  At the PEI Home and School Federation’s AGM on April 18, I expressed concern to Minister Croucher about the cancellation of the Imagination Library, which provides free monthly books to kids under 5. I was pleased to learn of the government’s decision on April 21 to reinstate this program. Special congratulations to Penny Newcombe, Ellerslie Elementary, who was recognized at the PEI Home and School Federation’s AGM on April 18, as “Home and School Volunteer of the Year”, thanking her for all her efforts and contributions. Please feel free to contact me at andrewavery@edu.pe.ca

🍎 PEI School Food Program Inc. Members of the public can donate to the PEI School Food Program and receive a charitable receipt.  Go to: https://ordering.peischoolfood.ca/donation .
See Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GTgNnd2Qk/