Promoting High Standards of Education
The PEI Home and School Federation’s 73rd annual AGM on April 18th brought together members of local Home and School associations across the Island. This year’s timely topic “Stop Bulllying. Start Belonging.” offered participants the opportunity to consider the five faces of bullying, as dramatically presented by the main speaker Alain Pelletier. This year’s AGM also had deep dive workshops from Cpl. Robert Yashuk from the RCMP Child Exploitation Unit in PEI, a further conversation on the Five Faces of Bullying, and one for local Home and Schools to connect on topics of food, finances, fundamentals, and more.
Every year, a portion of the AGM is spent on the business agenda of the Home and School Federation. This part of the day is fascinating (or engaging), as the finances, president’s report, board member nominations, and proposed resolutions are presented for the members’ consideration. You might wonder what a resolution is. A resolution is a call for action. It is a way of identifying a gap and recommending an improvement that will help resolve a situation. When local Home and School associations see an issue and want to suggest a change that would benefit students in PEI’s education system, they can write a resolution.
This year, three resolutions were approved, and one was defeated. The approved resolutions become the policy of the PEIHSF. They are sent to various destinations, are used in follow-up meetings with officials, such as the education minister, and any written responses are shared at subsequent meetings and online. The approved resolutions call for integrating playground equipment into the provincial capital and operating budgets, repealing section 43 of the Criminal Code, and removing any legal defense that permits the use of corporal punishment against children, and urging the government to follow the Minister’s Directive and hire a provincial teacher-librarian leader. Each resolution is so important, and our local Home and School associations have much to be proud of in recognizing these gaps and proposing these changes. I look forward to discussing each of these resolutions with the appropriate authorities. If you want to review any of the approved resolutions of the Federation, please visit our website.
A key theme throughout the day was the recognition that the solutions to the challenges facing our children today are going to take the concerted efforts of everyone – the parents, teachers, government leaders, trustees, community members, like-minded organizations, and the students themselves. If we work together, I truly believe that we can create the conditions that promote the total well-being of all children and the highest standards of education for each child in the province.
Awards
A particular highlight of the AGM was the luncheon, where the attendees were able to celebrate Penny Newcombe, who was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding contributions to Ellerslie Elementary. Our next award deadline is coming soon. The Federation is calling for nominations for the School Bus Driver Award. Home and Schools can nominate a school bus driver for recognition in keeping our children safe as they travel to and from school. The submission deadline is Friday, May 8th. More information can be found on our website: https://peihsf.ca/school-bus-driver-of-the-year-award/
As the school year begins to wind down, we encourage local Home and Schools to ensure their new executives are in place for the new school year. The PEIHSF can assist locals with this planning or any other questions that your association might have. Please email peihsf@gov.pe.ca or call 902-620-3186.
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Tom Deelstra, president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, lives in Stratford with his wife and four children, who attend Charlottetown Rural, Birchwood Intermediate, and Stratford Elementary.