Home-Based Education

Hello Home Based Education Families:

We are already 6 weeks into the school year and I hope your school year has been off to a great start.

Reminders:

The “Confirmation of Enrollment” letters were all sent out by mail this week. If you do not receive a letter by October 18th  let me know as I may need to update your mailing address and resend it. 

The MAP and the Warman Comminplex would like you to show your letter of confirmation upon entrance to the gym times we have booked there.

Gym times : 

Starting  Sept 20th–May 30th,2025 : Students that are registered with PSSD homebased education have gym times available on:

 Fridays : 1-3pm at the Martensville Athletic Pavillion, except: Oct 11,Nov 8, Jan31, May 9th

Tuesdays:  1-3 pm : Warman Home Centre Communiplex (Legends) except: April 15th 

Rules and regulations:

The gym times are for registered PSSD HBE students, children under 5 may not participate. There is a under 5 area set up at the MAP for a fee. 

Please check in at the front desk upon arrival and identify yourself as a PSSD home based student, show your letter of confirmation. (hint: put a picture of it on your phone, that may help to remember it) 

 Gym times are not available on non-school days. 

Parents are required to supervise their registered HBE students while at the MAP

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 at the MAP

Please leave the gym as you found it , clean and equipment put away. 

Others reminders: 

If you go to the Saskatoon Zoo please remember that PSSD students are required to pay the entrance fee. 

Janet Jeffries was an amazing help for the month of September but is now back in her retirement phase so do not send her any emails. 

Grade 10-12 events: There are numerous free courses or bootcamps being offered through the Saskatoon Industry Education Council such as an Autobody Bootcamp, culinary classes, welding and many more. They have registration deadlines so check it out soon if you are interested. 

https://saskatooniec.ca

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Weekend and let me know if you have any HBE questions or concerns. 

Kimberly Cooper : HBE learning support teacher

Lorraine Fitzgerald : HBE Facilitator   email: lorraine.fitzgerald@spiritsd.ca

Hello Home Based Education Grade 9 students:

Grade 10-12 Pathways : As you know when you enter grade 10 there is the option to start collecting credits towards a grade 12 diploma. There are a few ways to go about this so I have attached a “pathways to graduation” chart, that briefly outlines some of the  options. If you look this over and then want to have a further discussion with me regarding the options for grade 10-12 please email me seperately at lorraine.fitzgerald@spiritsd.ca  and we can set up a phone call or an in-person meeting.

Possibly pathways for grade 10-12

Sask DLC: 

Next year ,when you are in grade 10 , and if you are interested in taking credit courses with the  Sask DLC (Sask online school) that is available to all home based students. 

If you are a student in Grade 10-12 and are interested in a credit course with the SK DLC please connect with the HBE facilitator for an application form. You may access 2 courses/year at no cost as an HBE enrolled student with PSSD . If you take more than 2 courses with the DLC there will be a cost associated with the 3&4th courses that will be deducated from your annual funding. You may take more than 4 courses at no addition charge. 

https://www.saskdlc.ca

GED update:  There has been changes made to the current GED program that is offered through Sask Polytechnic.It is now called the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC). This is a high school equivalency program that you may take at the age of 18th. 

Please check with Sask Polytechnic or the Ministry of Education for updates. 

https://saskpolytech.ca

Driver Education: The other big event for many grade 9’s is driver’s education. When you are 15 you can take your driver’s education course. The school divison provides this for all students. 

Here are the basic rules/procedures around driver education.

• Home-based students are included in the numbers for their closest geographical school for driver education training. So when they want to register for driver education, they should contact their closest K-12 or high school to inquire when the next class is offered.  Let the school know you want to be on their list. (do this in the fall) 
• Go to SGI and get a customer # and complete the driver application form to give to the local school. 
• Email the HBE facilitator to let them know you enrolled and they will send you your PSSD login information and password to access the PSSD website.
• Practice login into to the PSSD website so you are ready for the in class work. 
• Most of the courses happen in the fall and then are not repeated again until next year. So if they are not of age when the course happens in the fall at their closest school, they wait a year. (This is the same process for the kids who attend those schools.)

If you have any questions about any of the above please email me at:   lorraine.fitzgerald@spiritsd.ca

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