P.E.I. Home and School Federation strengthens, supports local associations
The federation will continue to do its work of bringing people together around the common vision of an excellent education system, with the education and wellbeing of each Island child at the centre.
At the local level, we work to strengthen local home and school associations and support their work in their schools and communities. June is an excellent time for locals to hold elections and to prepare work for the Fall.
The federation is available to provide leadership training, facilitate meetings, and to help bring people together around common goals and visions.
On a larger scale, we attend annual meetings with representatives from the four maritime provinces as the Atlantic Caucus of Home and School Associations. Our Executive Director and two members of the board attended a recent Atlantic Caucus meeting on May 27th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Our work within this organization can influence priorities at a national level. The discussion this year focused on the education, health, safety and well-being of students.
In recognition of the excellent work of students, the PEI Home and School Federation awards two specialty prizes in the Provincial Heritage Fair: This year’s winners included: Lucy Bernard, a Grade 5 student at Athena Consolidated School project for her project “The History of Barnyard Organics and Benjamin MacIsaac, Grade 8 student at Hernewood Intermediate School who highlighted a family member in his project titled “B. MacIsaac – Sapper in World War I.” Congratulations to Lucy, Benjamin and all Provincial Heritage Fair student participants!
The federation’s School Crossing Guard and School Bus Driver Awards will be presented in June to recognize individuals for keeping children safe when walking and travelling on the bus to and from school throughout the school year.
The 65th Annual Meeting and Convention minutes, find wording for approved resolutions, roundtable and report theme summaries are completed and posted on the Federation’s website at: https://peihsf.ca/agm
Learning in an outdoor classroom is becoming a part of public school system. Somerset Elementary in Kinkora is focused on opening its first-ever outdoor classroom in the fall. Grade 3/4 teacher Sharon Anderson at the school is the visionary behind the new learning space. Our neighbouring provinces are also bringing the kids outdoor. In Churchbridge, SK a teacher who is passionate about her students in the Agriculture in the Classroom program on land donated to the school by a local farmer. Read more at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMuSCcxzDGE&feature=youtu.be
The research is clear that children who don't read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress and that loss has a cumulative, long-term effect. Online articles are plentiful and can provide resources and articles about summer reading and along with helpful tips on how to avoid summer learning loss.
Also, discover great activities to encourage kids to learn, read, and have fun in the summer. Check out Topics A-Z: Summer Reading and http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/summer
Contact the federation office at: 620-3186 / 1-800-916-0664 / peihsf@edu.pe.ca if you have questions about the content of this column. Home and schools may request a copy of the Handbook “How to run an effective meeting” or access it online at: https://peihsf.ca/wp-content/uploads/files/2015%20%20Handbook%20Revised%20Aug%202015_1.pdf
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Cory Thomas, president of 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 on the Thursday of the month. He welcomes comments from readers and information from the column. He can be reached at 902-620-3186.