With the global pandemic of COVID-19 in P.E.I., we need to support each other now more than ever.
Islanders must continue to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus as directed by chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison, who has recommended that schools remain closed until at least May 11. This will be re-evaluated as the date approaches.
During this period, students can access online learning opportunities provided by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning. Parents and students are asked to refer to the Public Schools Branch website at edu.princeedwardislanpubld.ca/psb/.
There are lots of ways to have fun with home learning. Ask children about their ideas for learning at home and work with them. Learn about math and chemistry through baking, botany through gardening, outer space using a mobile app, etc.
Children work in a scheduled setting when in school, so recreate something similar at home. Create a schedule for kids so there is still structure in the home and with learning. Recess and downtime are important, too. It’s important to stay physically active so go for walks around your home. Schedule downtime for personal reading. Get creative with crafts. Nobody knows your kids better than you do. Take the time to give each child what they need.
On March 26, the Public Schools Branch student services division launched a Facebook page that provides educational information to parents and caregivers in an organized fashion. Posts will be from professional groups within student services and are meant to be a support to families. Check it out – @psbstudentservices.
Support for families is available from Island education authorities at the Public Schools Branch and the CSLF. Call 902 368-5155 or email [email protected]. Families can leave a message, and support workers will respond. The line was designed primarily to assist families of students who are experiencing food insecurity. Their plans include delivering lunches to students who normally would have had a lunch made available to them at school. This is expected to begin in the near future.
The following student services are available: Atlantic provinces special education authority (APSEA) services; autism services; community access facilitator; counselling services; English additional language/French additional language (EAL/FAL) services; hearing education auditory resources (HEAR) services; inclusive education services; psychology services; speech language services.
The P.E.I. Home and School Federation’s annual meeting and convention, scheduled for April 18, is postponed until later this year because of the health emergency. More details will follow.
A former board member, Pamela Sorensen, died March 22. She served on the federation as board secretary and family life committee chairwoman, 1985-1988. One of her daughters, Joanna Stewart and family, live in Summerside. Joanna also served on the board, 2013-2015 and as parent engagement program chairwoman. Sympathies are extended to the family.
One final note, for everyone’s benefit, behave in a way that, when you look back, you can be proud of the actions you took during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bring calm to your family during this time of uncertainty and do what Morrison is telling all of us to do: "Practise social/physical distancing, wash hands frequently, isolate and when symptoms arise, call 811".
Stay home. Let’s all do the right thing!
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.
