Dear Parents, 

Happy New Year! 

I hope your family enjoyed the break and that your new year has gotten off to a good start. Schools are gearing up again quickly and so much is already happening both in schools and in the educational system in Quebec. 

At the high school level, the 2nd semester is coming to an end and mid-terms are upon us. We present in this newsletter some tips to reduce exam-related anxiety. Report cards will soon be out and Parent / Teacher meetings will be available soon. However, there are always opportunities to speak to your teachers and school administration, even if there are not formal meetings being held. 

EPCA has recently stood up its new Board of Directors as a result of democratic elections flowing from the local school and school board levels. We are very excited to have many new Directors join us and are equally thrilled with those who have come back for another year to move forward many exciting and important initiatives. 

The Quebec government has also installed a new Student Ombudsman whose role is to support students and parents in the complaints process. More information can be found in the newsletter. 

Finally, we are excited to share the results of our recent survey on special needs students. We hope you find all of this information very useful! 

Take good care everyone and have a great month!

Montreal, January 26, 2023 – The English Parents’ Committee Association (EPCA) welcomes the Minister of Education's intention to improve the school network with a particular focus on educational success and is eager to learn more about the methods that will be used to carry out these priorities. EPCA would like to remind everyone that parents are an integral component of student success and that they play an important role and must not be forgotten. 

“EPCA places a high priority in promoting parent participation with their children in the educational system in Quebec and in the governing bodies. I would like to extend an invitation to the Minister to consider these concerns while formulating the strategies that will be implemented in the upcoming months. Parents are essential members of the educational community and express a desire to play a more proactive role,” said Katherine Korakakis, President of the EPCA.

The goal to make educational programs available to students in secondary schools across the province is something the EPCA applauds. It is crucial to guarantee that all pupils, especially those with special needs or those who come from underprivileged families, get access to these inspiring initiatives to ensure that this policy is helpful to all.

Furthermore, EPCA understands that the government is trying to mitigate the consequences of the labour shortage on student success, particularly in the classroom; however, we must be mindful of the ultimate objective of student success and not prioritize institutions and filled positions over the ability to meet the needs of all students.

“Although written French is important, it is not the only subject that the ministry should be focused on addressing. The pandemic impacted all students and all academic areas, and we need a solid catch-up plan,” said Katherine Korakakis, President of the EPCA.

6 Exam Anxiety Coping Strategies for High School Students

High school students encounter a variety of different sorts of exams, ranging from midterms and finals to CEGEP admission exams and ministry exams. They may perceive the stakes to be bigger, which might increase their anxiety. These suggestions may assist to alleviate your teen's exam anxiety.

1. Pay attention to your teen's anxieties about testing and the future

Many high school examinations can predict what your child will do after high school. These assessments can be extremely difficult for teenagers who have learning and mental disabilities and are concerned about their future.

Discuss your teen's feelings openly and listen to their worries. Try to be soothing while remaining realistic. "We can assist you in ensuring that you are prepared for this test. And don't be concerned about how you do on it. There are several possibilities available to you after high school, and we will help with you to locate the finest ones."

2. Assist in balancing their schedule so that they are not pressed for time

It's one thing to not devote enough time to exam preparation. It's one thing not to have enough time. Being hurried might exacerbate anxiety. Allow enough time in your child's schedule for them to comfortably prepare.

Examine your child's class and activity schedule. Then discuss the amount of time required for studying. You can think about reducing your child's activities if it would allow him or her ample time to study. Explain how maintaining a sense of balance might help to ease stress.

3. Assist them in avoiding stressful cramming

Last-minute exam cramming is likely to cause anxiety. Part of the difficulty might be organizational and time management concerns.

One method to avoid this is to assist children in creating a monthly schedule of tests. Then, assist them in developing a weekly review program for each test or quiz. Each week, review the exam calendar and make a study plan for the following week. Having a routine and sticking to it might help children feel more in control.

4. Avoid surprises by providing exam information in advance

When they don't know what to anticipate from the test, some high school students grow worried. Is it a multiple-choice or a short answer question? Is that something they struggle with?

Suggest that your child learn about the kind of questions that will be on the test or exam. Knowing what to expect might help children prepare and feel more confident. Children who struggle with handwriting, for example, may be concerned that their science examination will require them to name a diagram. They could feel less anxious if they could rehearse ahead of time.

5. Confirm that they understand their test accommodations

Knowing that their unique requirements are being met might help lessen exam anxiety. When children have an IEP that includes testing accommodations, make sure they understand what the accommodations are and why they will be beneficial. (Kids can also request accommodations for CEGEP admission examinations.)

You may also remind your youngsters that if the instructor or substitute forgets about the accommodations, they should advocate for themselves and remind them.

6. Explain to your teen that setbacks are normal and expected

Even with solid study habits, some students with learning and cognitive disabilities may perform poorly on examinations. Because they are terrified of failure, they may begin to dread tests and feel concerned about them.

Try to overcome that anxiety by developing an action plan in the aftermath of a poor test grade.

"I know you worked hard for that math test," say to your adolescent. You now know what you worked so hard and tried your best and what that it didn't work out so well. Should we gather your IEP team? We can discuss what would work better for you the next time."

Dear Parents, 

The first report cards for this school year have been distributed and it is now time for Parent Teacher Interviews. 

EPCA has developed a number of tools to help you with your first in-person meeting with your children’s teachers in over two years! While this may be an intimidating time for both you and your child, it is a great opportunity to learn more about what they are doing every day at school and should be seen as a key moment to get involved in their educational journey. 

In other exciting news, EPCA will hold its Annual General Assembly on December 3^rd.  This is the start of our new year and the time when we elect the new Executive, approve important documents, and set the stage for our activities for the next 12 months. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Directors from the various Parents’ Committees across Quebec who worked so hard this past year to give our parent community many needed resources and a voice. Though there have been many challenges, we have made great strides in many areas and I’m looking forward to continuing the hard work next year. 

I encourage you to sign up for our newsletter on our website (epcaquebec.org) and to follow EPCA on Facebook for the most recent news, events, and other important information. According to research, students whose families are involved in school perform better. 

Happy Parent Teacher interviews! 

Katherine Korakakis

This handout provides parents with the relevant information regarding the report card and Ministry exams for the 2022-2023 school year.

What should you say to your child's teacher in an email? Email can be an excellent way to communicate and highlight crucial issues. The most effective emails are usually brief and focused on facts rather than emotions.

Take a look at these two example email to a teacher. You can use it as a template to create your own.

Email Template #1

Dear Ms. / Mr. ____,

Hi, my name is _____________. I am ______________'s parent. I am emailing today because I am concerned with the grade on _____________'s last assignment. If you could please explain more about the assignment and how ______________ earned their grade, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

Your name __________________

Email Template #2

Dear Ms. / Mr. ____,

I hope all is well. My name is ______________, and I am ____________’s parent, and I am looking forward to the parent teacher meeting that is coming up on_________________. In preparation for the meeting and because I know we do not have much time, I wanted to send you ahead of time the questions I am going to ask you that evening for __________. I know that ___________ is having a hard time and I want to know what you are seeing in class and how I can better support my child at home. These are the following 3 questions I am going to ask during our time together.

1)
2)
3)

Thank you very much and I look forward to our meeting.

Your name _____________________

Speaking with the teacher can help you understand what's going on and how you can help. You may speak during a parent-teacher meeting. You can also arrange another time to talk, either in person, by phone, or by email.

But how can you voice your concerns? Be direct and specific while speaking with the teacher. Pose questions and follow-ups. The goal is to figure out what's going on and what can be done to help. With parent-teacher meetings coming up, here is a list of questions you can ask.

Speaking with the teacher can help you understand what's going on and how you can help. You may speak during a parent-teacher meeting. You can also arrange another time to talk, either in person, by phone, or by email.

But how can you voice your concerns? Be direct and specific while speaking with the teacher. Pose questions and follow-ups. The goal is to figure out what's going on and what can be done to help. With parent-teacher meetings coming up, here is a list of questions you can ask.

Is your youngster struggling with math? Speaking with the teacher can help you understand what's going on and how you can help. You may speak during a parent-teacher meeting. You can also arrange another time to talk, either in person, by phone, or by email.

But how can you voice your concerns? Be direct and specific while speaking with the teacher. Pose questions and follow-ups. The goal is to figure out what's going on and what can be done to help. With parent-teacher meetings coming up, here is a list of questions you can ask.

Dear parents,
 
The new academic year has well and truly begun, and Governing Boards ought to have already been formed at every school. Congratulations to all the parent members who were recently elected or re-elected. 

As the entity responsible for making decisions at a school, the Governing Board (GB) is an important component of Parent Governance and the educational ecosystem. Are you aware of the many opportunities and obligations that come with having a GB? The more we understand our responsibilities and authority, the more effective and engaged we can be as volunteers. And as parents, the more you can understand how to hold your school and the GB accountable for the educational decisions that affect your child. You can consult our guide manual here.   

Another important event happening currently is that IEP’s are being written for your children. EPCA has written a couple of blog posts to help guide you as you make the most of your child’s IEP meeting, including how to prepare to have conversations about your child’s IEP. 

Finally, the first progress reports have just come out for this academic year. This is an important milestone in your child(ren)’s academic journey this year and an important time to reflect with them – and their teachers if necessary – on how things are going. Don’t feel overwhelmed… there are many supports available if required! 

Information on all of the above can be found in this edition of the newsletter as well as on our website at epcaquebec.org and our partner site at parents.quebec. 

Have a wonderful start to Fall!