Resources available for at-home learning
With the arrival of 2022, many parents and caregivers face questions about their student’s education and health. They are not alone. The P.E.I. Home and School Federation board met over the holidays to discuss the common questions and concerns we are hearing and sent a summary to the Chief Public Health Office, Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning and the Public Schools Branch director. Parents and caregivers need more information to assess their child/youth individually and determine the risk for in-person learning.
There are options for ways to seek answers and support from your school community in the coming weeks. Start by reaching out directly to your student’s classroom/homeroom teacher with questions about online learning, including the process for obtaining Chrome books, access to technology, and slow internet concerns. If the teacher does not have the answers you seek, they will help redirect you to someone who can assist within the school system. As well, principals/administrators will be in school offices to help address concerns from parents, caretakers, and students.
Recognizing and addressing youth anxiety is critical. When you feel your child requires wellness supports, contact the student well-being team assigned to your family of schools. To connect with other parents or caregivers, reach out to a local Home and School at https://peihsf.ca/schools/ or contact the Federation at peihsf@edu.pe.ca.
Find information about talking to children/youth about COVID-19, mental health, and coping strategies at https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/COVID-19. For information on P.E.I.’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children, including vaccine facts, immunization data, and booking an appointment, visit the government website at https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/covid-19-vaccines-for-children.
Resolutions are due in the federation office on Jan. 31. Sign up for a free resolution writing workshop. What is a resolution? Resolutions are statements of action developed around issues that will affect change. Home and Schools use resolutions to request changes in the school system – for all students’ benefit. Begin with parents and teachers discussing P.E.I.’s education system and gaps at a local Home and School in-person or virtual meeting. Resolution topics cover education issues related to curriculum, report cards, school calendar, student learning, wellness, and safety in island schools. Check the Federation’s website at https://peihsf.ca/agm/ to view resolutions and use the fillable resolution form.
The Federation will hold two one-hour virtual resolution workshops for Home and School volunteers, parents and teachers, on Monday, Jan. 10, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sign up by contacting Shirley at: peihsf@edu.pe.ca or 902-620-3186/1-800-916-0664. President, Heather Mullen will lead this workshop. More at: https://peihsf.ca/news/
The Department of Education and Lifelong Learning is creating a joint task force with the transportation and justice departments to address further measures that will inform and prevent the driving public from passing school buses and putting students at risk. The Federation is pleased with this action and will contribute to the work of this group.
Nominate a teacher, educational assistant, principal, administrative assistant, or custodian for the P.E.I. Home and School Federation’s 2022 Extra Mile Award program. The submission deadline is Jan. 21. Find more information at: https://peihsf.ca/extramile.
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P.E.I. Home and School Guardian column, January 2022
Heather Mullen, president of P.E.I. Home and School Federation, lives in Lot 38, Canavoy with her husband and two children, who attend Mount Stewart Consolidated School and Colonel Gray High School. Her column appears in The Guardian during the school year on the first Friday of the month. She welcomes comments from readers and information from the column and can be reached at 902-620-3186.