NEWSLETTER
September 2002 Volume 8, Number 1
A Message from the President
The beginning of a school year is always exhilarating. It is a promising time when our children enter new classes, grades and schools. It is also the month when we welcome new staff members and families into our school community.
I hope you have all had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to moving forward on school council issues and being involved in the 2002-2003 school year.
Your parental role is growing more important each year. Research clearly demonstrates that positive parental involvement in education has an overwhelming impact. Students who are supported at home by parents who set the expectations for a good work ethic in homework and assignments produce greater achievement results.
Parents who are actively involved in their children's education and school acquire a better understanding of the complexities of the education system. They develop a real sense of accomplishment, have more confidence in the school, and are eager to contribute to the atmosphere and life of the school.
I believe that parents and guardians from all walks of life, all ethnicity's and backgrounds, families and communities have a strong common bond--a passion and desire to do the best for their children, to do all they can to ensure their children obtain the best possible education. Positive parental involvement has a vital role to play in achieving this desire and goal.
I am reminded of the words of Dr. Ross Elliott- keynote speaker at our AGM in Corner Brook on April 26-28:
"One of the most important things a school council can do is to help parents become involved with the school council and to volunteer with the school but most importantly encourage them to help their children outside of the classroom.
By far the most effective way is for parents to help their children to learn at home as well as in school. It can bring attitudes about education to cause students to move forward. Parental influence on education doesn't relate as much to the level of education that parent possess as it does to the VALUE the parent places on education."
The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils has set goals that it will continue to strive towards throughout the year. If we can be of any assistance to you or your school council please do not hesitate to contact us.
Denise
Executive Member Resigns
Effective September 1, 2002, Ed Oldford has resigned for personal reasons as the 2nd Vice President of the NLFSC. We are saddened to see him leave and we will miss his valuable input. We wish Ed every success in the future.
Shoot for the Moon.
Even if you miss, you’ll land
Among the Stars.
Les Brown
Minister’s Responses to Resolutions Passed at the NLFSC 2002 AGM
Resolution #1
Be it resolved that the NLFSC encourage School Councils to work in a co-operative manner with their respective School Boards to move forward the development of Food and Nutrition policies for schools to improve access to nutritious food for students in schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Minister’s Response:
I was pleased to see Resolution #1 endorses the effort to move forward with the development of food and nutrition policies. Your resolution is also in line with the strategic directions of the draft Provincial Nutrition Policy, which has been developed by the Department of Health and Community Services with input from several government departments, including Education. Your efforts would also complement those of the Kids Eat Smart Foundation in providing nutritious lunches for students, as well as the School Milk Foundation, which provides milk and nutritional education to students.
Resolution #2
Be It Resolved: That the NLFSC lobby the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to allocate through the school boards, sufficient funds, earmarked to operate school councils as authorized.
Minister’s Response:
With respect to Resolution #2, I note the Schools Act, 1997 states the role of school councils is to advise the local school board on matters related to the school which the council serves. The Act does not make provision for school councils to raise money, hold money or use that money for council business. As stated in the Act, the purpose of school councils is to approve and monitor fundraising activities for the school. Your resolution therefore seems to the intended purpose of school councils with respect to finances. In addition, with 326 schools operating in Newfoundland and Labrador, this resolution also raises significant financial implications for a school system which is already dealing with persistent demands for limited funding.
Resolution #3
Be It Resolved: That the NLFSC lobby the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador not to reduce any teacher allocations for the next three years and to include in core programs, additional allocation units for music and physical education as per recommendations of the Williams report.
Minister’s Response:
As you know, the teacher allocation formulae currently in use were recommended by the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom in 2000. These formulae for small, mid-size and larger schools take several factors into account, including student enrolment and program requirements. The Department of Education uses these formulae as guidelines when determining teacher allocations to district school boards–although we have not followed them to the letter, opting instead to leave more units in the system than the formulae require.
Since the allocation formulae were introduced, student enrolment in Newfoundland and Labrador has dropped by more than 7,000 students. It is expected to drop by another 3,000 in 2002-03. Nevertheless, 218 teaching units which were slated for removal from the education system have been retained at a cost to government of $24 million. Our commitment to retaining these units cost $11 million in 2001-02 and, with the provisions negotiated under the NLTA’s new collective agreement, it will cost $13 million in the 2002-2003 school year.
It would be imprudent, however, for me to commit to maintaining these allocations for the next three years–as proposed in your Resolution #3–knowing as I do that budget allocations to the Department of education can vary from year to year. Meanwhile, it is important to acknowledge that our pupil-teacher ratio currently stands at 13.4 to 1; the most favourable pupil-teacher ratio in the country.
Resolution #4
Be It Resolved: The Federation of School Councils provide workshops for parents involved in Home and School Associations and School Councils.
Minister’s Response:
I note Resolution #4 advocates the provision of workshops for parents involved in school councils and home and school
associations, although there is no source of funding identified to undertake such workshops. Meanwhile, as you know, the department has published the Handbook for School Councils–Working Together for Educational Excellence, which provides a wealth of information to assist school council members in the performance of their duties.
Keeping in Contact
Throughout the summer, NLFSC continued making contact with members, parents and education partners. President Denise Pike represented the NLFSC at the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association’s Annual General Meeting on July 3 in St. John’s. Congratulations to their new president, Vi Parsons. Denise also attended the Canadian School Board Association’s Congress 2002, July 4-6 in St. John’s.
In addition to NLFSC, Denise represented CHSF president, Pat Waters, at the Canadian Teachers Federation AGM on July 11 &12 in St. John’s.
During the summer Denise was also busy with the planning committee for the “Learning to Like Learning Forum”; working on a School Council training module for the Education Newfoundland Website; and doing media interviews regarding school fees
A Note from History
From the NLFSC Archives
The ground work of the Steering Committee to look at a province wide home and school association was completed during the 1978-79 school year. The organizational meeting for a Newfoundland Branch of the Canadian Federation was held in Gander on Saturday, April 28, 1979. According to information circulated at the time there were seventy-five to eighty and possibly more local Home and School or Parent-Teacher Associations in the province.
The proposal states that: “A provincial federation is basically a small organization created by and for the local associations in a province. Its purpose is to assist local associations in bringing their concerns and input on educational matters to the provincial educational decision-making process. ...It works together with the partners in a child’s education to bring about the best education environment in which the child can grow. As well, it assists in bringing an objective, informed parental viewpoint to our educational system.
...Such an organization would be a non-sectarian, non-political group of concerned parents and teachers solely interested in the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual welfare of the children of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Creating Peaceful Schools:
A Forum on School Bullying
Update by Sandra Humphries
Education Consultant, Student Support Services, Department of Education
The Department of Education sponsored a Provincial Forum on School Bullying in the Spring of 2002. Approximately 120 individuals attended the forum; of which over half were educators from across the province. All school districts were represented.
Education representatives consisted of Directors, Assistant Directors, Program Specialists, Administrators, Educational Psychologists, Guidance Counsellors, Special Education Teachers, Classroom Teachers and individuals from the Department of Education. The remaining participants were from various other organizations or groups including NLTA, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils (NLFSC), RCMP, RNC, other government departments (Justice, Health & Community Services, Human Resources & Employment, and Youth Services & Post Secondary Education), and various community agencies, including representatives from the Provincial and Regional Coordinating Committees of the Violence Prevention Initiative. Twelve participants were students (Junior & Senior High).
Based on the key actions identified at the forum and feedback received from the Safe & Caring Schools Advisory Group, the Division of Student Support Services has developed a Creating Peaceful Schools Provincial Action Plan. To assist school districts with collaborative planning at the regional level, follow-up sessions are scheduled for the Fall in two different locations (West Coast and East Coast).
For further information regarding these events contact Sandra Humphries at 729 - 3008 or sandrahumphries@mail.gov.nf.ca
Launch of Anti-Bullying Public Awareness Campaign
Canada News-Wire, Ottawa, May 23, 2002
The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today participated in the launch of a multi-year, multi-media anti-bullying public education campaign. The initiative, involving pro-social television spots, has been created by the concerned Children’s Advertisers (CCA), and is being supported under the Government of Canada’s National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. The first component of the public education initiative, Walk Away, addresses the issue of bullying, stressing the importance of mobilizing bystanders in a bullying situation. The initiative also includes lesson plans and practical in-home strategies for educators and parents that will be delivered by an interactive program that brings discussion into classrooms and living rooms.
For further information visit www.canada.justice.gc.ca
Learning Curves: Education in Atlantic Canada–Is It Making the Grade?
This fall, CBC is launching a groundbreaking current affairs project in Atlantic Canada. It is a major journalistic look at the state of education in the region, with comparisons to systems and approaches in other parts of the country. Designed to advance public understanding and debate on education issues, both regionally and nationally, this high impact, original journalism initiative will feature in depth programming on CBC Radio, Television and New Media. A critical component of this programming is public input.
CBC wants to hear what the issues are from all members of the community. Please give them your thoughts, story ideas, comments and suggestions. Keep watching ... CBC will be holding community events in the province to discuss and debate education issues that are important to your communities.
Call CBC toll free at 1 888 368 1234 or contact them through their web site: www.cbc.ca/learningcurves
Nurturing Your Child’s Desire to Learn
Every child is born with a healthy measure of internal motivation to learn. Children’s enthusiasm flourishes when they realize that school learning explains the world and equips them to deal with it successfully. Unfortunately, however, school learning seems irrelevant to most kids today. Most kids can’t even explain what skill they’re learning, let alone its usefulness outside the classroom.
Once you know what your child is studying, you can help her connect it to everyday experiences. If your daughter is studying the earth and the solar system, watch a sunset together. Ask her where the sun is going. If your son is studying the westward movement of European Americans, tell him about a local native group’s request for rights on their land.
Show a 5th or 6th grader how proportions are used to compute baseball batting averages, or how you have to add and divide fractions to double or halve a recipe. “You need to learn how to add and subtract to balance your checkbook,” won’t mean much to a 2nd grader. Such well-meaning but abstract statements are more likely to elicit groans rather than to pique interest.
Another way to bring school learning alive and lend it personal meaning is to enrich your child’s experiences, such as by taking her to museums, aquariums, farms, and historic sites. (Virtual visits to a website count, too.)
Try expanding first on a subject that already grabs your child’s interests. With the pilot light already on, you’ll be sure to get an enthusiastic response.
From Motivated Minds, Copyright 2001 by Deobrah Stipek, PhD. And Kathy Seal. Reprinted by arrangement with Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Thank you NLTA for printing this newsletter!
Twas the Night Before School Starts
from Ron Yorgason
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T'was the night before school starts
And all through the place,
Not a smile was seen
On any kid's face.
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Oh, must I go through it?!
How can I go on?
I want to escape
Run off to Saigon! |
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Our bags were all stuffed
With our notebooks brand new,
And rulers and pencils
With erasers to chew.
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Nine months is too long
To suffer through school
The classes so rough
And teachers who're cruel. |
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Mournfully we
All crawled into bed,
Knowing too well
That the 'good life' was dead.
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"Come Donald! Come Conner!
Come Henry VanStation!
Come up to the board,
Do your multiplication!" |
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Then mom came in whistling
And kissed us goodnight,
With a bright cheery voice
That didn't seem right.
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"And Julie, stop talking!
And Jimmy, wake up!
And Mary, right now,
Don't do your makeup!" |
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The night dragged on slowly
I just couldn't sleep,
For fear that my math teacher
Would be a real creep.
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Teachers ever are hounding
They just never quit.
You do something wrong,
They go into a fit. |
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Or maybe a bully
Would give me a shove,
Or even more evil things
Than I could think of.
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And so every year
About this same time,
I lie in bed sleepless
And just moan and whine. |
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When from in the next room
There arose such a clamber,
My mom yelled, "I'm FREE!"
"I'm free 'till next summer!"
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Until morning comes,
And I hear my mom say,
"Good luck with your school!
And have a nice day!" |
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This must be a plot
By conspiring moms,
Who just want a break
To experience 'calm.'
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It’s Time to Think about your First School Council Meeting!
How do you encourage parents/new parents to get involved?
Why not set up a display table at “Meet the Teacher Night” and put up a sign at the front door. Wear name tags and introduce yourself to parents as they arrive. Pass out information about your first meeting at this time.
Invite people personally to come to the first meeting.
Call you neighbours or friends who have children in the same school, invite them, and ask them to do the same.
Advertise the first meeting well through the school and in the local media.
Parents, We Want You Involved
You know that working and raising a family limits the time you have to be involved in your child’s education. These time constraints can lead some people to ask, “Can I really make a difference?” The answer is an unequivocal “yes”. You can help your child succeed by providing a home that encourages learning and nurtures your child’s development. Outside of the home you can help your child succeed by working with the school and other community groups that can have an impact on your child’s school.
As children approach their teen years, many parents find it difficult to remain involved. Changes in attitudes and roles allow for more independence and the development of a sense of identity among teens. Research shows that parent involvement begins to decline at the onset of the pre-teen years–but that doesn’t mean children wouldn’t still benefit from it.
Decades of research show that regardless of age or grade level, when parents are involved, students have increased motivation, better self-esteem, and better school attendance, which contributes to higher grades, test scores, graduation rates, and enrollment rates in post-secondary education. Parent involvement in a child’s education is also related to lower rates of suspension, decreased use of drugs and alcohol, and fewer instance of violent behaviour.
Copyright 2002 National PTA, Chicago, IL. Reprinted with permission.
Running Efficient Meetings
The last place anyone wants to be is at a boring and unproductive meeting. With all the competition for our time, a well-planned and efficiently-run meeting is truly appreciated by busy parents and teachers.
Some tips for an efficient meeting:
- Be consistent in scheduling the day of the meeting, its start time and end time. Busy members quickly lose track of, and interest in, meetings that aren’t scheduled for a specific day in the month.
- Develop the agenda with specific topics to be discussed and distribute it several days prior to the meeting.
- Have everything you need ready before the meeting. Have committee chairs submit copies of their written reports prior to the meeting, so participants can collect them on arrival. (How many of us are guilty of dashing to the school photocopier at the last minute before the meeting starts?)
- At the Meeting:
- Start on time, and don’t pause for latecomers.
- Stick to the agenda
- Keep the group on topic, provide everyone a chance to participate in discussion, and summarize the decisions reached.
- Restart the meeting immediately after the break.
- End on time. Avoid extending the meeting.
- Following the meeting, send the minutes out promptly clearly stating the decisions made, actions to be taken, the person(s) responsible for taking action, and the date of the next meeting.
Adapted from BCCPAC Newsletter, Sept 1998
What Does the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils Do?
The Federation:
- sends our packages of information on topics and issues which we think will help you to make your school the best it can possibly be.
- co-ordinates your Annual General Meeting
- trys to help with any problems you may have
- has a provincial office that is there for your use. Call or visit whenever you wish.
- sends out our newsletter five times a year.
- prepares briefs with your input, on current educational issues to make your views known to government.
You don’t belong to this Federation it belongs to You.
Join NLFSC and make your views count!
Where can your school council or PTA add its voice to others for positive change for students?
Where can your council or PTA get information and support on parent involvement and leadership in schools?
Where can you find a representative provincial organization prepared to listen, share information and take your views forward?
NLFSC offers all of this and more. Join now! A Membership form is enclosed with this Cuffer.
Basic Self-Esteem Needs of Youth
Bonding–acceptance, to be included
Identity-to be unique, noticed, special
Love-self-love is not possible without love from others
Meaning-a reason for being
Change-variety, positive change
Competence-to be able and successful
Safety-physical and psychological
From the greater Victoria School District-“Violence Prevention Manual”.
Unity
I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child's mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher;
the tools she used were books and music and art;
One was a parent with a guiding hand and a gentle loving heart.
And when at last their work was done
They were pround of what they had wrought
For the things they had worked into the child
Could never be sold or bought.
And each agreed she would have failed
If she had worked alone
For behind the parent stood the school,
and behind the teacher stood the home.
by Ray A. Lingenfelter, Elementary Principal. From the web site www.canteach.ca
Food and Nutrition Policies
Did you Know That:
- 59% of schools do not have food and nutrition policies and guidelines.
- The highest levels of non-nutritious food offerings are at schools without policies or guidelines.
- Only 46% of the food offerings in school cafeterias are considered nutritious.
From Coalition for School Nutrition Survey, May 2001.
Timelines/Events 2002-2003
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September |
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Renewal of Membership Dues
1st Cuffer mail out
International Literacy Day
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October |
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National Family Week
Canada Career Week
World Teacher’s Day
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November |
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Call for Nominations for Bd of Directors
CHSF Mid-Term Meeting
2nd Cuffer mail out
Canadian Children’s Book Week
Universal Children’s Day
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December |
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Order Teacher/Staff Appreciation Supplies
International Human Rights Day
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January |
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3rd Cuffer mail out
Family Literacy Day
National Non-Smoking Week
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February |
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Pre-conference/AGM package mail out
National Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Heritage Week
World Music Day
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March |
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Nominees for Board of Directors
4th Cuffer mail out
National Nutrition Month
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
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April |
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Pre-AGM Council Meetings
Canada Book Day
National Volunteer Week
Stay Alert-Stay Safe Month
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May |
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AGM and Election of Officers
5th Cuffer mail out
Information Technology Week
National Fitness Month
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June |
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CHSF Annual Meeting
National Aboriginal Day
World Environment Day |
Resources
Book on Life of Founder
Home and School began on December 18, 1895 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. The organizer was Mrs. Mabel Hubbard Bell, wife of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Ann Bishundayl, the QFHSA Office Assistant , has completed her book on Mabel Hubbard Bell and it is available for sale to home and schoolers for $10.00 Canadian. The regular price is $14.98 US. For more information or to order copies of the book, please contact: Protea Publishing Company, USA. Email: kaolink@msn.com. Website: www.proteapublishing.com
Back to School Tips
Everything you’ll need to help your kids start school off on the right foot–plus some pointers for parents too!
- Back to school checklist
- Ideas to beat lunch box boredom
- Lend a hand in the classroom without stepping on toes
- Tips to ease first day jitters
- Online homework helpers
- Tips for building a relationship with your child’s teacher
For more on these topics, visit the web site of Today’s Parent at www.todaysparent.com
Helping Your Child Succeed
A special section of National PTA’s web site is devoted to How To Help Your Child Succeed. It includes 10 tips, as well as numerous resources and articles describing how parents and families can become actively involved in their child’s education and their child’s life.
Government of Canada
This site contains a wealth of learning resources made available by the Government of Canada. Visit the web site at www.CultureCanada.gc.ca and click on learning resources.
Upcoming Events
Verbal Abuse Prevention Week
Verbal Abuse Prevention Week is held annually in Prince Edward Island. The Department of Education of PEI looks at the first full week of October as the Prevention Week. The dates this year are October 6-12, 2002. Check out their web site at: www.walkfortalk.org
National Family Week
National Family Week is October 7-13, 2002. The theme and focus this year will be on school-age children and on promoting community partnerships to meet the needs of families with school-age children. More information is available at www.familyservicecanada.org
Canadian Young Historians National Awards (CYHNA) 2003
The CYHNA will be accepting submissions for 2003. Each participating school may submit up to four pre-selected essays (maximum 1500 words) by full time high school students (aged 19 and under). The topic for the essay is: “What event in the history of Canada do you think was the most significant for Canada today and why.” The “Declaration of Interest Form” must be submitted by February 17, 2003. The form can be downloaded at www.CanEducation.ca
In order to directly receive follow-up information, please provide an appropriate name and email address to: Fendi Wood (fendiwood@mac.com) copies to cybled@sympatico.ca or fax to Cynthia Bled at (613) 749-8651.
The Cuffer is a benefit of membership in the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils. Annual membership dues are based on school enrolment.
The views expressed or implied in this publication are not necessarily official positions of the Federation. The mention of any program, organization, resource, product, person, place, or school does not constitute an endorsement by the NLFSC.
Editor: Hazel Hickey.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils
Box 23140, St. John's, NL A1B 4J9 Tel: 1-877-739-4830 Fax: 834-7301
Email: nlfsc@stemnet.ca Website: http://www.nlfsc.ca/
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