Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation: Taking Action

Taking Action

Taking Action The PEI Home and School Federation supports equal opportunity for all students in the education system on PEI and promotes this by considering resolutions at our Annual General Meeting. A resolution is a written statement that when adopted becomes the basis for policies and actions taken by the Federation.
A resolution can be submitted by a member of
1) a local home and school association or
2) the provincial Board of Directors.

Resolutions that are passed are forwarded to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and other destinations where decision-makers in government can make changes for the benefit of all Island students.

All resolutions must be received in the PEIHSF office by January 30, prior to the Annual General Meeting held in April. So please discuss this with your local association members and consider submitting a resolution this year. Our resource How to Write and Present a Resolution will help guide you through the process of deciding if you should submit a resolution, how to write one, what criteria you must follow, and where to get help.

Letter to Minister McIsaac regarding looking for efficiencies in teh education system

The Atlanic Caucus of Home and School/School Councils met in October 2011. An on-going area of concern focused on our respective government’s priorities on education and specifically in the provision of curriculum essentials for our students. After much discussion it was decided to call upon government and school officials to look at department and board spending in each Atlantic province. We are challenging and encouraging our departments of education officials to search for efficiencies in the system and redirect these funds into the classroom.
See Federation’s letter .........See Minister's response

Resolutions Passed in 2011

Resolutions 2011

See Responses to 2011 Resolutions:

Eastern School District / ESD Occupational Health & Safety Policy
Western School Board / WSB Occupational Health & Safety Policy
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

Resolutions Passed in 2010:

Request For Clear Procedures that Encourage Parent
Communication and Involvement in School Life

Air Quality Testing in Schools

See Responses to 2010 Resolutions:

Minister of Education & Early Childhood Development
Eastern School District
Western School Board

In April 2010, the Federation provided a discussion paper for
Local Associations to discuss pros and cons of one English
language school board.
See Discussion Paper - English Language School Boards Prince Edward Island

Resolutions Passed in 2009

See Responses to 2009 Resolutions:
Premier - Establishing One English Language School Board
Minister of Education
Minister of Health's - Hand Washing
Minister of Health's - Ban on Flavoured Tobacco Products
Western School Board
Eastern School District

In October 2009, the Federation approved a motion concerning
Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment.
See Letter to Minister of Education / Minister's Response

Resolutions Passed in 2008

In August 2008, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
responded to Federation resolutions. See Minister’s Response.

Letter to Minister Currie regarding Eastern School Board of Trustees

At the November 25, 2010 meeting of the Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation, board members discussed, at length, the Eastern School Board of Trustees’ recent November 17, 2010 public meeting and their current decision to cancel meetings over the next month.
See Federation's letter

__________

Requests for Input - Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development

New Senior High School Model

The Senior High School Model (SHSM) Committee, established by the Department of Education, has produced a discussion paper containing proposals to introduce new opportunities / modes of curriculum delivery for high school students. In April 2008, the PEI Home and School Federation was invited to review this document and provide feedback to Clayton Coe with the Department of Education. Home and School Association Presidents/Co-Chairs were asked to discuss this information with their Home and School members and forward any comments to the provincial office.
Click here for the Full SHSM Paper and the Federation’s response.

Instructional Staffing Model

The Instructional Staffing Model for elementary / secondary levels implemented five years ago is undergoing a review with Gar Andrew as the Review Coordinator. Parents, through the PEI Home and School Federation, were invited to make a written submission to provide their thoughts on the components of the model and areas of priority for improvement. In April 2008, Presidents / Co-Chairs were asked to please discuss this information with your Home and School members and forward any comments to the provincial office. Please view the existing Instructional Staffing Model and the
Federation’s response.

Provincial Standing Committee on Social
Development - Energy Drinks

Parents and Educators Need to be Aware of the Health Risks of Consuming Energy Drinks, Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation, March 20, 2009

The Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation thanks the provincial “Standing Committee on Social Development,” for the opportunity to forward our concerns and ideas on the sale of “energy drinks”. The Federation’s position is that “energy drinks” represent an unacceptable threat to learning and to the health of Island children.
See Federation’s response

Eastern School District Rezoning Process

The PEI Home and School Federation receives response from the newly appointed trusee, Patsy MacLean regarding board-wide rezoning.
See ESD letter from Official Trustee, March 23, 2011

The PEI Home and School Federation strongly urges the Board of School Trustees to begin the process of rezoning the Eastern School District (ESD) as recommended in the School Organization Plan released on January 7, 2009.
See Federation's Letter, October 14/10

ESD Public Consultation - School Organizational Plan/School Closures Presentation by the PEI Home and School Federation, April 21, 2009

I would first like to thank the Eastern School District for the opportunity to speak at this public consultation meeting. The PEI Home and School Federation is a network of local associations at 52 schools in the Eastern School District and Western School Board. Nine of the 11 schools considered for closure are members of the PEI Home and School Federation. See Federation's response

“School Lockdown Response Plan”, Letter to ESD April 29, 2009

The PEI Home and School Federation is pleased that the Eastern School District has drafted a policy titled “School Lockdown Response Plan”. In mid November the Federation requested information from the school board around the communications plan to parents and their children regarding school lockdowns. We received a sample letter to parents, including a backgrounder page that includes a section on Parent Involvement. In that section, it reads that “Parents should be aware of what their child is expected to do in a lockdown and how they can communicate with the child and the school.” The Federation agrees, but we have heard from parents who feel that the communication is not timely or sufficient. For example, the backgrounder details the lockdown procedures if a child is in a classroom, but what if he/she is in the library, cafeteria, gym or outdoors?
See Federation's letter
See Eastern School District response May 20/09

Minister's Directive on Senior High School
Graduations requirement - For consultation

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is proposing to revise the senior high school graduation requirements to include a pilot project that would see the number of periods increase from 4 to 5 a day, the number of credits required for graduation increase from 20 to 25 and the number of instruction hours per course decrease from 110 to 92.5 hours. The Federation is asking parents for input by October 21/09. Email your response to: peihsf@edu.pe.ca
See Senior High School Graduation Requirements document