Parental involvement requested
CHARLOTTETOWN – The Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation (PEIHSF) is urging more parental involvement and collaboration with educators as the new school year begins.
Local home and school associations play a vital role in connecting parents, guardians, school staff, and students. Participation extends beyond attending meetings or volunteering at events. We encourage everyone to help build a supportive school community. Check your child’s school newsletter or website for details about the first meeting.
The PEIHSF urges local home and school leaders to meet with school administrators early in the year to align goals and address challenges faced by Island families. While fundraising remains part of Home and School activities, the Federation emphasizes that the primary focus should be on enriching education, not simply filling funding gaps.
The provincial Federation advocates for local associations, ensuring that the ministry of education hears our collective voice on education matters. Past discussions with the ministry have included policies on screen use in schools, the challenges of inclusive education, and concerns about classroom temperature and humidity.
The Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation (PEIHSF) supports the provincial Department of Education and Lifelong Learning’s latest directive, No. MD 2024-06, on Responsible Use of Communication and Information Technology. This policy limits cellphone use in classrooms while allowing their use in Grades 7-12 for educational purposes, with exceptions for special education or medical needs. Parents can support this new directive by ensuring their children understand the changes regarding bringing phones to school, modelling good digital citizenship within the family and encouraging breaks from devices, especially during family meals.
The Federation also wants to thank Natalie Jameson, the minister of education for the increased supports and additional instructional and educational assistant positions new this year at Island schools.
The federal ministry of health also ought to be commended on further restricting nicotine flavoured pouches targeted at young people across the country.
Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft inclusive education action plan that can be found at https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/publications/inclusive_education_action_plan_en.pdf and submit comments to educationpolicy@gov.pe.ca by September 30.
Key dates for the upcoming year include the Federation’s Semi-Annual Meeting on October 21 at Central Queens Elementary School in Hunter River and Volunteer Training Workshops on November 4 at Ellerslie Elementary School and November 5 at Eliot River Elementary School. Registration information is available on the federation’s website at www.peihsf.ca.
Local association treasurers are urged to submit membership fees promptly, and presidents should update executive member contact information with the provincial board.
Collaboration between parents and educators is essential to enhancing every student’s well-being. For more information, contact the PEIHSF office at 902-620-3186, 1-800-916-0664, or visit www.peihsf.ca.
David Schult, vice-president of the PEI Home and School Federation, lives in Charlottetown with his wife and two children, who attend UPEI and Colonel Gray Senior High School.
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