PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada

In Canada, public schools are governed by school boards. There are three school board offices in Prince Edward Island:

• Western School Board
• La Commission scolaire de langue française
• Eastern School District

PEI Public Education School Levels

• Kindergarten (pre-school)
• Elementary school (grades 1 - 6)
• Intermediate school (also called junior high) (grades 7 - 9)
• High school (grades 10 - 12)

It is important to remember that, because of the length of time it takes to learn a new language, older students are not always able to graduate by the age of eighteen (18) or nineteen (19). Much depends on each student's level of English or French at the time of arrival in Canada. Students require 20 credits to graduate from high school.

School Zoning

Which school your child attends is determined by where you live. Students attending the school zoned for their living area have secured transportation to and from school.

If your home is close to the school (walking distance), your child may not be assigned a school bus.

New immigrant students go through following steps to get registered in the school system:

Initial Intake at the PEI ANC / Immigrant Student Liaison (ISL) Program

The first step of the registration process is for parents of school age students to provide important documents and information to the ISL team at the PEI ANC. Photocopies of these documents will be taken and kept on file so that the ISL team can further help with registration and act as an advocate for immigrant students in the school system. Please ensure that you keep your original documents.

Information collected includes:

• Proof of child's age - a birth certificate or passport
• Proof of address - apartment lease or rental agreement with your name and address
• Proof of child's immigration status - Record of Landing document or confirmation of permanent residence
• Immunization record - proof that your child has been immunized in your home country. In PEI, the Department of Public Health administers some immunizations according to a provincial age/grade schedule. These records will be shared with Public Health to ensure that your child is being immunized correctly.
• Records of previous education or past transcripts. These records will be kept on file at the PEI ANC, the Department of Education, and at your child's school.

English Assessment

Every new immigrant student is required to have an English Language Assessment at the Department of Education's EAL / FAL Reception Center (English as an Additional Language / French as an Additional Language). This is to determine how much additional English support your child will need once they enter the school system. The ISL team will assist you by making an appointment for the English assessment and provide you with an interpreter, if requested.

Results

Once the language assessment is done, the EAL Assessment Specialist will make recommendations for EAL support based on your child's language ability. Students may be recommended for EAL tutoring and/or work with an EAL Itinerant Teacher, in coordination with other regular content classes. In some instances where students already have quite strong English, they will be recommended for regular content classes only (no EAL support).

Grade and School Placement

When students register for school, their grade placement is determined by different factors: their age, the grade they completed in their country of origin, their English level, etc. This decision is made by the school. Your child will be placed in the school they are zoned for which is determined by where you live.

Registration

Once your child's school is determined, your child will be registered in a timely fashion. At the registration, a member of the ISL program, an interpreter (if needed), a representative from the Department of Education's EAL Centre and a school administrator will all be present and a school tour will be given to the family.

Orientation

All parents and students will be invited to a School System Orientation Session, interpreted into the families' first language. This orientation will address pertinent information on the Prince Edward Island School System.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

All newcomer students are assessed at the EAL Reception Center to determine the English language support they need.

Specially trained teachers (Itinerant Teachers) assist students in meeting curricular goals of their English program. Students are monitored throughout the year to determine their progress and to assess any need for support.

French Language Study

If French is the language of preference for your child, there are several options:

• Core French starting in grade 4
• French Immersion Program starting in grade 1
• French Immersion Program starting in grade 7 (also called "late immersion")

School policies are rules and regulations set in place to ensure adequate behaviour of students and school staff to the benefit of everyone involved.
Here are some sample policies in Prince Edward Island schools:

Caring Places to Learn Policy

This policy is designed to ensure schools provide a healthy, safe and supportive working and learning environment for every student and school staff member. The policy guides the way people in schools treat each other, directing that students and staff demonstrate regard, concern, and respect for the unique differences and worth of every individual.

This policy includes a "hands off" rule - if a student does not make physical contact with another student, there can be no confusion over the intent.

There is zero tolerance for any behaviour involving abuse, violence, discrimination, bullying, sexual abuse, threats, trespassing and possession of weapons.

Books are borrowed from school and should be returned in acceptable condition.	All cell phones and video devices are prohibited from use in schools at all times. MP3 players are restricted as well.	Students are not permitted to possess, sell or be under the influence of any illegal substances on school property or at school-sponsored events (alcohol, drugs). Smoking is not allowed on school property. For all violations, parents will be notified.	Students are responsible to the bus driver for their behavior to ensure safety.

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is necessary in order to increase your children's opportunity for learning and meet the evaluation requirements. Parents should call the school, or send a note, if their child will not be attending classes.

Disciplinary Procedures

Disciplinary procedures will depend on the severity and frequency of the offence. They can include warnings, noon or after school detention, parent contact, extra school work, interviews, suspensions from extra-curricular activities or suspension from school.

Extra-Curricular Policy

• Parent consent forms must be completed prior to any extra-curricular activities. No signature means no participation.
• Applicable fees must be paid.
• Students follow the general rules of conduct.
• If a child is dismissed or suspended from school as a result of a disciplinary procedure, the dissmissal or suspension will include extra-curricular activities.

Some Things to Keep in Mind:

Homework	Parent/Teacher Interviews	Appropriate Clothing	Dress Well for Cold Weather
Students, with parental support, are responsible for completion of homework. Contact your child's teacher if you notice she or he is struggling with it.	Two formal parent/teacher interviews are held each year. Your participation is strongly recommended. A parent may schedule an interview with a teacher at any time. PEI ANC will provide an interpreter for parent/teacher interviews, if necessary.	Students clothing cannot depict messages which are profane or promote illegal/immoral activity. Students should wear clothing that is appropriate for a school setting. Personal hygiene is strongly recommended out of respect for themselves and others. Students shall not use scented products, either in school or on the busses. Students are required to wear gym clothes and sneakers for Physical Education (gym) class.	Make sure children are dressed for the weather. For example students should wear hats and boots in the winter time.

What to do if your child is unhappy?

Children may feel anxious about all the changes taking place in their lives. This can affect the way they think and feel.

School staff and the ISL program staff can help you if your child has problems. You should contact the teacher or ISL staff if your child:

• Is unhappy at school
• Needs more help with English
• Doesn't understand the school work
• Finds the work too difficult or too easy
• Is having problems with other children

Because some children in Canada have severe peanut allergies, it is a policy in all schools that students must not bring any food containing peanuts or peanut products for snacks or lunches.

Eating at School

Breakfast Program - A nutritious breakfast is available at most schools to each student at no cost. Students who would like to participate should be in school about 1 hour before classes start.

Lunch - Elementary children are not permitted to leave the school grounds unless otherwise indicated by the parent. Children must bring lunch from home or buy their lunch according to schedule. Lunch is eaten in the classroom. There is also a snack time for elementary students.

In Junior High and High schools there is a cafeteria where students can eat the lunch they bring from home or buy it. Students are allowed to go out if they wish to but cannot loiter in the classroom, washroom or hallways during lunch.

Personal Belongings

Elementary students must keep indoor shoes at school that they can wear upon arriving to class. They will be provided with a compartment where they can store their outdoor shoes, jackets, lunch box, etc.

For Junior High and High School lockers will be assigned to each student. Lockers are intended for safe storage of clothing and books. Keep the lock combination secret and the locker locked.