Dear parents,
Happy New Year to you and your family. As we step into 2026, I wish you health, steadiness, and moments of joy, especially as we navigate a school year that continues to ask a lot of our children, our educators, and parents.
Prepare now for the school-to-CEGEP transition
Whether your child is moving into secondary school or preparing for CEGEP, the best time to start is now. If your child has an IEP or specific supports, note what is working today so those supports are clearly carried forward. A few simple ways to begin:
- Talk about routines and independence: managing deadlines, organizing materials, the reality of increased autonomy at CEGEP, communicating with teachers, and asking for help early.
- Check in on learning habits: not just grades, but sleep, stress, motivation, and time management.
- If your child has an IEP, a plan, or specific needs: document what works now and what supports must continue so you are ready for the next setting.
Explore pathways: programs, prerequisites, open houses, and admission timelines.
EPCA has provided additional information on the transition to CEGEP in this newsletter. We will also continue sharing tools and reliable information to help families feel prepared, not overwhelmed, by these transitions.
Bill 1: EPCA will be presenting a brief
EPCA will be presenting a brief on Bill 1 at the National Assembly on February 4 at 4:00 p.m. We want to ensure parents’ perspectives, and the implications for the English-speaking community, are clearly on the record.
New province-wide civility rules in schools
Quebec has introduced new civility rules requiring students to address staff formally and use formal language. My first reaction was mixed; I understand the intent of setting a tone of respect, and parents have said it can be a good starting point. But it is not a miracle solution to violence or serious behavioural crises. Wording changes are not going to help when a student becomes dysregulated.
I support the objective, but this cannot become a substitute for real support in classrooms. Civility is not just words; it depends on conditions: relationships, consistency, and real support in the classroom.
Wishing you a smooth start to the year,
Katherine Korakakis
President, English Parents’ Committee Association
