As a child's first teacher, a parent or guardian plays the most important role in a child's development. When children start school, the school relies heavily on the continued support and participation of parents and guardians. Resources available on this site are meant to inform you about your child's experience at school, to assist you in your support of your child's learning and to provide information regarding the many ways parents can be involved.
Parent/Guardian Concern Protocol, Policy III-A-4
The Strait Regional Centre for Education recognizes and supports the rights of parents/guardians to advocate on behalf of their children within the public school system. The Strait Regional Centre for Education endorses the resolution of parent/guardian concerns in a respectful, conciliatory and efficient manner at the school and regional levels.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a progressive mediation process and framework for addressing parent/guardian concerns related to their child's school program, with a focus on school-based solutions.
Access a copy of the policy via the following link:
Parent/Guardian Concern Protocol, Policy III-A-4
Access a copy of the supporting procedures (including information on requesting a review of, and appealing, a decision) via the following link:
Parent/Guardian Concern Protocol Procedures, PRO III-A-4
SRCE Parent Navigator Continues to Help Families and Students Succeed
Diane MacDonald, Parent Navigator, SchoolsPlus, Inverness County
dianel.macdonald@srce.ca; 902-258-7372
The Parent Navigator position in the SRCE has been in place since the Fall of 2018. This position was included as part of the new inclusive education supports to ensure students have the help they need to be more successful in school that were announced by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development on May 8, 2018.
The personal and direct support to families provided by our Parent Navigator is helping them to navigate the education system and learn and understand what programs and services are available from our community partners and at school, and how to access these supports. The Parent Navigator works exclusively with parents and families in a collaborative way within the school system. As a result, the position is significantly supporting our students’ success in and out of the classroom. “The support I provide is individualized and depends on the respective family’s needs,” said Diane MacDonald. “The support ranges from helping them access medical and mental health services as well as financial supports; connecting them with parenting programs; attending School Program Planning meetings and school meetings to provide attendance and behavioural support, all the while encouraging parents to be self-advocates.”
In addition, Ms. MacDonald has organized presentations for parents, in cooperation with community partners, related to cannabis legalization and the healthy use of social media. Currently, she is working towards establishing parent peer support groups and parent libraries that will include resources on various topics such as anxiety, parenting skills, behavior and autism, to name a few. Referrals to the Parent Navigator may be made through school administration, SchoolsPlus, and teachers. Currently, schools with access to the Parent Navigator include Pleasant Bay School, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy, Inverness Education Centre/Academy, Whycocomagh Education Centre, Bayview Education Centre and Dalbrae Academy.
Although registration for the Pre-primary Program and Grade Primary was held the week of January 25 to 29, 2021, families may register children at any time. For more information, please refer to the following links:
Grade Primary Pre-Registration in English and French Immersion for the 2021-2022 School Year
Pre-primary Program Pre-Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year
Familes wishing to register children in Grades 1 to 12 for the 2021-2022 school year, please note:
A School Advisory Council (SAC) is a legally recognized body comprising of the principal and representatives of parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, students and community members who work together in an advisory capacity to increase the quality of education being provided by the school. For more information, contact your school principal or the Director of Programs and Student Services at 902-625-7083 or 1-800-650-4448.
Many schools in our region also have school support groups, such as Home and School and Parent-Teacher. These groups provide a valuable link among the school, the family and the community. Please contact your child's school principal for further information.
SchoolsPlus Programs, Services and Supports Available to all Students
In the SRCE, we have been very fortunate that all students and families in all schools have had access to services provided by our SchoolsPlus staff since 2014. The first SchoolsPlus Program started in Guysborough in 2008/2009 with the Program expanding to other regions over time. SchoolsPlus staff support students’ achievement, well-being and overall success in and out of school.
The vision of SchoolsPlus is to provide increased access for students and their families to the support services of various community and non-profit agencies as well as government departments by using local schools as focal access points. The students and families receive the services in their local school communities, which is very helpful as the school serves as the center for service delivery. The programs may be delivered during the day, after school, during March Break and in the summer. These support services are tailored to meet specific needs and may include access to professionals in the fields of social work, healthcare, mental health, the Department of Justice, addiction services, Family Resource Centres; and Youth Health Centres.
SRCE SchoolsPlus staff are helping our children, youth and families connect to a range of programs by working and collaborating with school staff and multiple partners and service providers. This model is very much a collaborative one with all partners working closely together to support our students and families. The community partnerships are an integral component of the success of the SchoolsPlus programs in the Strait Region. In the SRCE, there are four SchoolsPlus hub sites. Each of these hub sites offer a range of different programs, services and supports based on the particular needs of the students and families. Examples of some of the programs offered by SchoolsPlus staff focus on recreation, health relationships, violence awareness and prevention, anger management and restorative practices, personal health and fitness.
SchoolsPlus teams in the SRCE may be contacted by email:
SchoolsPlus Mental Health Clinicians continue to:
For Intake Service for the NSHA, please call 1-855-922-1212 (toll-free).
For Intake Service for the IWK, please call 1-902-464-4110.
For more information, please refer to the following resources:
SchoolsPlus Expansion Highlighted on World Mental Health Day
Access an information article by The Port Hawkesbury Reporter at SchoolsPlus Program Gets Rave Reviews Locally.
Students, parents, teachers, support staff, principals, and Regional Centres share responsibility for creating a school-wide approach to maintaining a positive and inclusive school climate where all students are supported to develop healthy relationships, make good choices, and achieve success in their learning.
All members of Nova Scotia’s school communities have a role to play in the awareness and prevention of unacceptable behaviour.
The provincial school code of conduct policy applies to all public schools and Regional Centres in the Province of Nova Scotia. All students and school members in Nova Scotia are required to follow this provincial school code of conduct policy, which is governed by the Education Act.
The Strait Regional Centre for Education recognizes the value of curriculum-based events, field trips, tours and sports trips and encourages schools to consider these experiences as an important part of enriching student learning and instruction. For more information, please refer to Student Travel Policy IV-B-6 and supporting procedures, PRO IV-B-6.
Form J Amended (as contained in Student Travel Procedures PRO IV-B-6)
The Strait Regional Centre for Education determines the appropriate placement of its students for attendance purposes in order to plan programs, organize transportation services, and generally manage the school system. The Strait Regional Centre for Education acknowledges that, under certain circumstances, it is sometimes in the best interest of students to transfer to a school other than their local school. For more information, please refer to Transfer of Students within the Region Policy IV-E-7 and supporting procedures, PRO IV-E-7. This policy and supporting procedures apply to the transfer of a student from the school that serves his/her geographical area to another school within the jurisdiction of the Strait Regional Centre for Education.
Transfer of Students Within the Region Application Request Form-PRO-IV-E-7
Volunteerism has a positive impact on the school environment. In accordance with SRCE procedures and provincial requirements on Volunteers in the School, a Child Abuse Register Check and Vulnerable Sector Check (formerly a Criminal Record Check) are a mandatory requirement of the screening process. You are encouraged to contact your school principal if you are interested in volunteering your services.
For more information, please refer to the Volunteers in the School Policy VI-C-1 and supporting procedures, PRO VI-C-1.
Child Abuse Register Request for Search (Form A)
Child Abuse Registry Check - please complete the form A and attach a copy of your NS Driver's license or a copy of your NS Health Card. Then return these for processing to the Child Abuse Regisry, Department of Community Services (address is on the form)
Vulnerable Sector Check (formerly Criminal Records Check)
Criminal Records Check - Candidates need to request a Level 3 with a Vulnerable Sector check. Effective November 1st, 2013, the forms are currently available at your local RCMP detachment. They will process the check and provide you a report. Please forward the original copy of the report to the Human Resources Department.
