New school year begins Sept. 7

The Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation (PEIHSF) hopes students, teachers and parents had a great summer and are enjoying this final weekend before school starts on Sept. 7.

As everyone gears up for what we anticipate to be a memorable school year, please remember, be aware and be cautious of our students who may be walking, cycling, riding the bus or in family vehicles on their way to school.

Please slow down and follow all school bus guidelines.

Parents do not have to purchase school supplies for students from kindergarten to grade 9 this year.

It is wonderful that there will be consistency and equity in K-9 classrooms as children will have the same standard of supplies and we know that they will be well equipped for the year ahead.

Parents are reminded that students will still need to bring their own indoor shoes, backpacks, lunch bags, and where applicable; calculators and headphones.

The P.E.I. School Food Program is back in session for the 2022-2023 school year. Meal ordering begins Sept. 3 for Sept. 12-23. Visit the website at https://www.peischoolfood.ca/ to learn about the new menu, order food and more.

Meet-the-teacher-nights are planned for parents to meet your child’s teacher at the beginning of the school year. This is a great time to chat, ask questions and put a face to your child’s educator. Please visit your school’s website or visit the Public School Branch’s website at https://psb.edu.pe.ca/  for upcoming dates.

School Board Elections are quickly approaching. Consider running as a trustee candidate. This is a mail-in ballot only election. Voters must request their voting ballot, complete and return their ballot to Elections P.E.I. by Oct. 21. Go to Elections PEI’s website  to learn more.

Home and School Association presidents will receive the annual September start up package by post-mail. Presidents and treasurers are encouraged to fill out and submit the contact information as quickly as possible and membership fee form by Nov. 1.

The federation will appoint four directors on the PEIHSF board to fill vacancies for Bluefield, Charlottetown Rural, Kinkora and Montague. If interested, fill out the board application at www.peihsf.ca/board.

The Semi-Annual Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 6 – 8 pm at Central Queens Elementary School in Hunter River. The theme is “Just Listen.”

The federation is aware of ongoing wellness concerns within Island schools and among Island families, many of these topics were raised at the April 2022 Annual General Meeting by principals, teachers, and parents.

Concerns include mental health and wellness, coping with anxiety, coping with tragedy and grief in our school communities, increasing distraction among students and parents, reliance on and addiction to screens at home and in the classroom, and substance exposure and/or use at home and in the community.

This is a first step in moving forward. Mark your calendars and we hope to see you there.

–  30  –

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.