Home-Based Education

Hello Home based familes:

I hope you are enjoying the much needed rain, it has been wonderful. 

Summative reports and periodic logs: 

I am enjoying reading the summative reports that are coming in. I appreciate that educators are using either the summatve forms provided or by PSSD or SHEB or creating their own word document. It makes it easier for me to print so thank you for taking the time to do that. I enjoy the seeing the pictures you send but I won’t print all them, its just too much paper to go into the cumualtive files. I attached the summative form to this email and last week I had sent out next year’s registartion forms. For families that are new to Home based education, you are required to re-register each school year. The direct deposit form only needs to be sent if you are not currently getting your funding by direct deposit or if your banking information has changed. You may send you registrations forms for next school year at any time as long as its prior to September 15, 2024

Grade 10-12 online courses with Sask DLC : If you are a HBE student in grades 10-12 and would like to take a course(s) with Sask DLC next school year youwill register through me not directly with the Sask DLC. I will send you the PSSD course approval form and then do the the registartion for you.  You may also transfer over to the Sask DLC and out of the PSSD, at that point you will register directly with them and cut out the middle person , ie me. There are lots of interesting course offerings on the Sask DLC website if this of interest  to you. 

Home school Kids Market: June 15th 11-4pm at the Rittenger’s Acreage. 

Some PSSD HBE familes are organizing a Kids’ market, it looks like fun if you are interested. There will be crafts, baking, face painting, curriculum swap and more!  

To register contact: lorraine.fitzgerald@spiritsd.ca

Hello HBE familes :

I am sending you the information for 2 free workshops.

1) a U of S agricultural event, Spotlight on AgBio for the grades 10-12 students to participate in:

2) a music workshop day for the grades 7-12 called Resonate(see below) In the past years we have had HBE students attend this event and they have always enjoyed it. Check these events out and sign up if you are interested. Please sign up for both or either workshop if you are interested. 

Have a wonderful Easter, Lorraine 

Resonate for Grades 7 – 12:

Wednesday, May 1: Beaver Creek Salvation Army Camp 

Friday, May 3: Heritage Common, Hepburn

We are thrilled to announce Resonate Conference returning in 2024 at two different venues to make Resonate more accessible to schools across the Division. Resonate Conference is open to all classrooms and students in Grades 7-12. Students will work with professional guest artists in sessions that are framed around the themes of the Grade 7, 8 and 9 Arts Education music strand (Place, Social Issues, Taking Action) and guided by the strategic plan.

Session activities tentatively include Musical Theatre/Acapella, Drumming, Music and Mental Health, Song writing/Jamming, Music Production and more. Each session will provide students and teachers with accessible activities, materials and concepts that can be continued in classrooms and communities. No previous music experience necessary. 

Please note: Space is limited to 120 students per venue so sign up early to avoid missing out.

• Register for the May 1 event at Beaver Creek: Enroll in Beaver Creek Camp – Resonate Music Conference ILO 2023/24 (instructure.com)
• Register for May 3 event at Hepburn: Enroll in Hepburn Heritage Common – Resonate Music Conference ILO 2023/24 (instructure.com)

Hello Homebased families:

Welcome to March: 

I hope your educational  pursuits are going along as planned as we are more then half way through the year. Remember that by June 15th your summative report and Periodic log for the school year are due. I have attached the templates that you are welcome to use. If you wish to add some pictures of samples of work that is great but I will not print all of them to add to the cumulative folder. 

I have attached a few items that are mainly relevant to the grade 10-12 students,

1) The SIEC (Saskatoon Industry Education Council) March activites has numerous free opportunites for career planning and exploration coming up in March and April. The opportunities range from touring the STARS ambulance prpgram with a focus on Emergency Services or there is a Construction focused event and Law Enforcement event. To register for any of these free events please contact the number listed on the poster. https://www.facebook.com/saskatooniec

2) The 2nd attachment is regarding a scholarship offered by Rosthern & District Chamber of Commerce for $500 for Grade 12 pursuing post-secondary. The deadline is soon. 

3) The 3rd attachment is the PSSD parent and student newsletter with advice on how to apply for various post-secondary programs in Saskatchewan and Alberta from nursing to agricultural studies and much more.https://pssd-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/personal/lf402_spiritsd_ca/Documents/Desktop/grade%2010-12%20pathwyas%20info/PSSD%20CAREER%20PARENT%20AND%20STUDENT%20NEWSLETTER%20March%202024%20(1).docx?d=w95dc0f079d424f3c836b0ba1ce7c53ff&csf=1&web=1&e=vcunzU 

Sorry there is so much Grade 12 information this time but it is a busy time of year as we make plans for next year. 

Hello HBE families:

It may not look like it, but Christmas break is just around the corner. I am looking forward to the holiday with family and friends and hopefully some snow.

I have a few items of note for you mainly about facility use. These items may not be relevant to you unless you want to use the Warman Home Centre Communiplex or are interested in Skating times.

      Skating

• Starting next week PSSD HBE has booked skating at the WHCC (formerly the Legends Centre) at 701 Centennial Blvd, Warman. The facility is very busy so finding a consistent time was tricky. The best time to provide consistency for HBE families is Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9am-11am. This is also “family skating “time so other families may be there. Since your child is a registered PSSD student they will not be required to pay the skating fee or the parents/teacher that is there to supervise them. If you wish to include non-registered PSSD students e.g. children under 5, there is a charge of $4.25 to skate. There will be no charge for Home based students but please stop at the front desk and let them know you are with the PSSD HBE as they like to track their usage numbers.

Please note: This is skating time, not shinny or hockey time so sticks and boots are not allowed on the ice.

• Skating rules:
• CSA-approved helmet must be worn
• Select activities that are appropriate to the skill level of the students.  Use of “crack-the whip” type of games prohibited.
•   Provide ice space for beginning skaters separate from accomplished skaters until beginners master basic skills.
•   Make students aware of the need for extra caution and control on the ice including common procedures such as skating in the same direction during a free skate.
• As with all the HBE activities that are booked through Prairie Spirit School Division, home-based parents are expected to be in attendance, supervising their own children and following the policies.  
• Please connect with me if you are unclear about the policies or have any questions about the information. 

Gym time at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC)

I had a positive discussion with the WHCC facility recreation & Community Events Supervisors this week. There has been some concern about following the facilities rules during gym times. Thank you to those of you that are following and respecting the opportunity to use this facility.

The two main concerns are:

1. Supervision and participation:    Students that are not registered with the PSSD may not participate in the HBE gym time. The PSSD school division has a shared use agreement in place with the City of Warman for use of the WHCC for PSSD students, that is why we are allowed to use it at no cost. Parents are required to actively supervise their registered HBE children while at the facilities.

•  Proper use of sports equipment. Moving forward we will have only have access to the WHCC nets for game play (volleyball, badminton, hockey, b-ball) as well as the floor hockey sticks and soft pucks but not the other WHCC owned equipment. We are allowed to bring our own basketballs, volleyballs, skipping ropes or other approved sports equipment for use in the gym.

Please stop at the front desk and let the receptionist know that you are registered with Prairie Spirit School Division Home based education.  

The WHCC sets the facilities rules, and it is an expectation that they be followed.

Rules and regulations:

Parents are required to actively supervise their registered children while at the facilities.

indoor shoes are required.

no food or glass bottles

 no smoking, vaping or use of profanity or abusive language there is zero tolerance for threats, inappropriate and violent behaviour.

I hope that you enjoy the skating and gym times, and I will try and pop over to the WHCC and the MAP to say hello before the holiday break.

Thank you,

 Lorraine Fitzgerald, HBE facilitator

Good Afternoon HBE families,

I wanted to share a couple of educational resource sites with parents and students. 

All PSSD students have access to the Prairie Spirit School Division Website. The PSSD website has numerous learning resources available that may be of interest.   Kahn academy is just one of the resources that offers lessons in most subject areas. I have attached the PSSD link here for you under the student tab.  Students will need their PSSD username and password to sign in. If you do not know what your user name and password is please email me the student’s name and I will get it from the PSSD technology helpdesk. Students also have access to Office 365 by signing in. 

https://www.spiritsd.ca/students/

Another good information and resource site is called Homeschool.today,  Here is the link to that site. 

I hope your school year is going well; it is hard to believe we are already in the third month of the school year!

Take care, Lorraine Fitzgerald   HBE facilitator

please click here for the SIEC newletter;