QFHSA - Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations

08/31/2026

Have your say on Canada’s official languages

Cross-Canada consultations on the future of Canada’s official languages are now taking place, and Quebec’s English-speaking communities need to be part of the conversation.

For families in Quebec’s English-language education system, official languages policies can have a direct impact on education, community services, opportunities for young people and the vitality of our communities.

This is an opportunity for parents, Home & School associations, community organizations and individuals to share their experiences, ideas and priorities.

Your voice can help shape the priorities that guide government action and support official-language communities across Canada.

Take the survey and make your voice heard:
https://pch.survey-sondage.ca

Note: We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Canadian Heritage, whose funding helps sustain many of our programs and services at QFHSA.

08/27/2026

Please see below for the latest newsletter from English Parents' Committee Association (EPCA Quebec).

This will be particularly of interest to any associations holding an AGA soon. The agendas are to be produced by the present or outgoing GB chairman and the principals and must include an item for the voting or renewal of the PPO. Parents at the AGAs do not vote on the establishing or renewal of a H&S but, the president of the H&S could request a place on the agenda to report on the its activities, past, present and future.

Dear Parents,

As summer begins to wind down and we prepare for another school year, I want to welcome families back and extend a special welcome to those joining our school communities for the first time. Although the first bell hasn’t rung yet, this is an important time for parents to get informed, get organized, and think about how they may want to become involved in the year ahead. This month’s newsletter is designed to help you do exactly that.

We’re starting with school AGAs, one of the first opportunities of the year for parents to learn more about their school and the different ways they can participate. If you’re new to parent involvement, we also explain what parent volunteering can look like and why you don’t need years of experience or endless amounts of free time to make a meaningful contribution.

At the same time, involvement needs to be sustainable. Many of us begin the school year with the best intentions and quickly find ourselves juggling work, family, school emails, meetings, and volunteer commitments. We’re sharing some practical advice on avoiding volunteer fatigue and finding the right level of involvement for you.

We’re also very excited to introduce EPCA’s new website. It was redesigned to make information and resources easier for parents to find, and we’ll walk you through how to navigate it and make the most of what’s available.

On the practical side, we have included a reminder about school tax registration for families outside Montreal, as well as important information about fees charged to parents. With back-to-school expenses adding up quickly, parents should understand what schools can charge for, what should be provided free of charge, and what questions they can ask when reviewing school fee lists.

A new school year always brings a lot of information at once. Our goal at EPCA is to help make that information clearer and to ensure parents across Quebec have the tools they need to understand the system, participate in it, and advocate for their children.

Enjoy these last days of summer. I wish all families a smooth and positive start to the 2026–2027 school year.

Katherine Korakakis
President, English Parents’ Committee Association

Website
https://epcaquebec.org/newsletter-vol-51/

PDF
https://epcaquebec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/email-rhonda-as-sender-mailchimp-confimration.pdf

08/27/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton, whose generosity and commitment to literacy touched millions of children around the world.

Inspired by her father’s own struggles with reading and writing, Dolly founded the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in 1995 with a simple belief: every child should have the opportunity to grow up with books. Since expanding to Canada in 2006, the program has provided high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children at no cost to their families.

This year, the program celebrated 20 years in Canada and more than 5 million books mailed to children across the country. Globally, more than 300 million books have been gifted to children, helping families build a love of reading from an early age.

Dolly’s legacy reminds us that a book can be so much more than a story—it can open a door to imagination, learning and possibility.

Thank you, Dolly, for putting books into the hands of so many children and showing the world the power of generosity.
-
Nous sommes profondément attristés par le décès de Dolly Parton, dont la générosité et l’engagement envers la littératie ont touché des millions d’enfants à travers le monde.

Inspirée par les difficultés de son père à lire et à écrire, Dolly a fondé la Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library en 1995, portée par une conviction simple : chaque enfant devrait avoir la possibilité de grandir entouré de livres. Depuis son arrivée au Canada en 2006, le programme offre des livres de qualité, adaptés à l’âge des enfants inscrits, sans frais pour les familles.

Cette année, le programme a célébré 20 ans au Canada et plus de 5 millions de livres envoyés à des enfants partout au pays. À l’échelle mondiale, plus de 300 millions de livres ont été offerts à des enfants, contribuant à développer le goût de la lecture dès le plus jeune âge.

L’héritage de Dolly nous rappelle qu’un livre peut être bien plus qu’une histoire : il peut ouvrir la porte à l’imagination, à l’apprentissage et à de nouvelles possibilités.

Merci, Dolly, d’avoir mis des livres entre les mains de tant d’enfants et d’avoir montré au monde le pouvoir de la générosité.

08/19/2026

Back-to-School Tip: Reset Your Child’s Sleep Routine

The new school year is just around the corner! Now is a good time to help your child get back into healthy sleep habits.

- Ease into an earlier bedtime. If summer bedtimes have drifted later, gradually move bedtime earlier in the days leading up to the first day of school.

- Keep bedtime routines consistent. A predictable routine helps children wind down. Try a bath or shower, reading together, then lights out at around the same time each night.

- Put screens away before bed. Encourage your child to stop using phones, tablets, computers and other screens before bedtime. A quiet, calm environment can also make it easier to fall asleep.
- Keep a regular schedule. Consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, including on weekends, can help support healthy sleep habits.
- Why does it matter? Getting enough sleep supports children’s health, well-being and ability to learn and function at school.

For more information and age-specific sleep recommendations, visit Caring for Kids from the Canadian Paediatric Society .

Looking for something specific to teens? Check out this link: https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/healthy-living/teens_and_sleep

08/18/2026

Back-to-School Tip: Get Involved in Your Child’s School

A new school year is a great time to get connected with your child’s school community, especially if your child is starting at a new school.

Research shows that family engagement in education can have a positive impact on children’s learning, achievement and well-being. But being involved doesn’t mean you have to take on a huge commitment!

- Get to know your child’s school. Attend an information evening, introduce yourself to teachers and learn about what’s happening in your school community.

- Join your Home & School Association (H&S). It’s a great way to meet other parents, share ideas and have a voice in your school community.

- Help when you can and how you can. You don’t have to volunteer for everything! Maybe you can help at one event, share a skill, contribute an idea or lend a hand when your schedule allows. Every contribution makes a difference.

- Stay connected. Talk with your child about their school experience, celebrate their successes and let them know that their education matters to you.

Being involved isn’t about doing it all. It’s about being part of your child’s school community in a way that works for your family.

Look for information on your school's H&S association on their website or on Facebook/Instagram (many H&Ss have accounts).

08/13/2026

Throwback Thursday.

This was sent to us last year via our beloved Maryln Bronwrigg, who got it from a friend's mother.

Great to see how a H&S supported Cookshire Elementary School back in the day. But I'm pretty sure today's students are very happy that H&S stopped covering cod liver oil doses!

Which of the services/events in the list do you find the most interesting?

07/11/2026

Different colours are more visible in pools than others. And it isn’t the same as in lakes or oceans. Stay safe and be aware.

07/02/2026

Beechwood Home & School Memberships are NOW OPEN!

Join an incredible community of parents dedicated to supporting our school and enriching the Beechwood experience for every student.

Become a member today! 👇
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/beechwood-home-and-school-qfhsa-membership--20262027

06/29/2026

What's the weirdest thing you ever found in a lost & found box?

It could be from this year, from last year, not even from a school lost & found box. Just the weirdest...

(And not a lost & found box, but someone donated a "Diseases of the Testicles" textbook to our elementary used book sale. We removed it from the tables, but that was definitely weird.)