It’s time to shift the discussion towards creating welcoming, positive, inclusive school communities, writes Tom Deelstra. Photo by Nicole Sullivan /Cape Breton PostArticle contentAt the Home and School Federation, we believe in giving good ideas a platform to reach larger audiences. This is the one of the focus areas of our semi-annual on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gulf Shore Consolidated School. With an overarching focus on creating and sustaining a positive school culture, we have intentionally set aside a significant portion of this evening for sharing and networking between local Home and School associations. Prepared topics include fostering healthy school communities, breakfast programs, and fundraising.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentWhy are we making this a priority this year? One major factor is that working at the federation level means we get a birdseye view of what is happening in home and school associations across the province. From Alberton to Souris, Gulf Shore to Belfast, we see the inspiring efforts of parents and educators working together to improve educational outcomes for students.Article contentArticle contentSharing these ideas at our semi-annual gives you the opportunity to hear about what is working well and to dream about what could be implemented in your school. We also know that networking sessions create bonds across school communities and even spark new ideas that could be tried in the future.Article contentArticle contentHealthy environmentsArticle contentSchool culture influences all aspects of the school environment. Healthy families, supported school staff and strong home and school associations help increase positive school environments. Three local home and school associations have been preparing topics based on strong, positive practices that have been implemented. While the Federation is not naive to challenges that exist in our schools, we think it’s time to shift the discussion towards creating welcoming, positive, inclusive school communities. So please come ready to listen and ready to share. Let this evening be the start of an ongoing conversation!Article contentArticle contentWe will also walk through the results of the latest Compass survey at the semi-annual meeting. The major aim of the Compass project is to help support healthy students by providing the healthiest school environments possible for Canadian secondary school students. To accomplish this, Compass measures a wide variety of youth health behaviours as students progress through high school, and measures the school environment during this time.Article contentArticle contentEvery school that participated receives a school health profile that highlights potential health issues and how schools can take action to address them. If interested, you can ask your administration about your school’s results.Article contentArticle contentLong-term solutionsArticle contentOverall Compass results help government, public health officials, parents and home and schools to identify areas of concern and emerging trends in youth health. Together we can work towards long-term solutions through programs and policies that will make a positive difference for students in schools.
TOM DEELSTRA: Creating and sustaining a positive P.E.I. school culture
