The P.E.I. Home and School Federation is quite excited about 2020, in particular about the news that school food projects will be launched in several Prince Edward Island schools.
Two delivery models will be tested in the new year to determine how the provincial program will operate. They will be evaluated over the coming months to determine the best way to expand the program.
One model will be tested at Kinkora Regional High School where staff members have been hired to prepare and distribute healthy meals to KRHS students, as well as at its feeder schools, which are Amherst Cove Consolidated and Somerset Consolidated Schools.
The second model will involve working with existing vendors to prepare and deliver healthy meals to students at Montague Regional High School, West Kent Elementary School and École Pierre-Chiasson.
Such projects start with an idea from local home and schools. This concept began as a result of a resolution passed at the federation’s annual general meeting in 2015.
The federation reminds parents that resolutions are the single most important tool that home and schools can use to influence decision makers in government and school boards.
Consider resolutions that will impact positive changes for all students in P.E.I.’s education system. Talk about educational issues raised this year that could be turned into recommendations to improve the system for students’ total well-being in health, safety and learning success from K-12. Do this by adding resolutions to the January Home and School meeting’s agenda in every school right across the Island. Ask a school principal/teacher to assist with background information on an important issue.
Members in Home and School associations are asked to submit resolutions to the federation office by Jan. 31. Call the federation office for assistance.
Resolutions will be reviewed and approved by a provincial committee. These will be discussed at the annual general meeting in April and, if passed, they are delivered to the minister of education and early childhood development, the public schools branch and other destinations with a request for appropriate action.
Guidelines on how to write and present a resolution, as well as examples of previously passed resolutions, are available at: peihsf.ca/making_resolutions or phone the federation office 1-800-916-0664/902-620-3186. All resolutions must be received in the federation office by Jan. 31.
Nominate a school staff person (teacher, education/admin assistant, custodian) for the P.E.I. Home and School Federation’s Extra Mile Award. The submission deadline is Jan. 17. More details are at peihsf.ca/extramile.
National Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, Feb. 10-14, provides the opportunity for Home and Schools communities to recognize the hard work of teachers and school staff. Form a special committee to plan something special to say thanks.
Presidents of Home and School Associations are asked to submit an annual one- to two-page report detailing each Home and School Association's activities for this school year. Reports will be included in the federation’s 2019-2020 Annual Book of Reports. For assistance, contact 902-620-3186, 1-800-916-0664 or peihsf@edu.pe.ca. The submission deadline is Feb. 28.
The PEIHSF has resolved to help parents become more involved in student learning. Join in the educational conversations through local Home and School Associations. When information is received from the federation, add it to the Home and School agenda for discussion at local meetings. Current topics include P.E.I. government returning to elected school board governance model, school food, student/staff wellness issues, youth vaping and bullying.
Cory Thomas, president of the 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 Friday of the month. He welcomes comments from readers and information for the column. He can be reached at peihsf.ca or 902-620-3186.
