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1. Introduction

During the Circle of Light First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Conference held in 2009,parents expressed their desire to become more involved and supportive of their children’seducation,butthattheyneededtoolstodoso.Student success depends on several factors in the home environment including the level ofparentalcommitment, involvementandguidanceintheirchild’sscholasticactivities,aswellasparenting style. A significant amount of research has also shown that there is a positivecorrelationbetweenparentalinvolvementandstudentsuccess.Forthesereasons,andtomeettheneedsofparentsinmembercommunities,theFNECdecidedto organize a conference on parental and community involvement. Held at theManoir Saint-SauveuronNovember24and25,2016,theI’MINVOLVED!Conferencewasthefirstoneofitskindandattractedoversixtyparticipants.

The FNEC team welcomes the participants. From left to right: Mira Levasseur-Moreau (Governance and School Administration Director) Sean Coghlan-Tolley (Student Success Counsellor), Martin Bertrand (ICT Pedagogical Counsellor), Treena Metallic (Research and Development Analyst), Dorothée Picard (SIS Technician-Trainer), Gino Lesage (Special Education Counsellor) and Eve Lapointe (Parental and Community Involvement Counsellor). 2. ConferenceObjectives

AspartoftheFirstNationseducationgovernanceproject,twelvestandardswereestablishedinthe area of parental and community involvement; one of which states that the necessaryprovisionsshouldbemadetosupportthedevelopmentofparentingskillsrelatedtoeducatingchildren.TheobjectivesoftheI’MINVOLVEDConferencewereinlinewiththisstandard.Themainobjectivesoftheconferencewereto:

• Giveparentsavarietyofwaystosupportandencouragetheirchild’slearning;

• Identify the issues and challenges parents face, and gather their suggestions to guidetheFNEC’sworkonparentalandcommunityinvolvement;

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• Draw attention to the importance of developing, maintaining, and strengthening tiesbetweenhome,school,andcommunity;

• CreateaparentsnetworkandadirectlineofcommunicationwiththeFNECthroughthedevelopmentofadatabase;

• Encourageparentstovaluestudentsuccessandvolunteeringatschool;

Results of the evaluation form filled out by conference participants show that the objectiveswereachieved,andthatparticipantsreturnedtotheircommunitywiththeimpressionthattheyhavelearnedthingstheycanputintopractice.

Participantsdecorateatreewithphotosandthenamesofthechildrenforwhomtheyareattendingtheconference.

3. SummaryofPresentations

Parental involvement in school activities plays a pivotal role in student success andperseverance, and conference presentations were selected with this theme in mind.Presentations and workshops were given in French or in English with simultaneousinterpretationservicesofferedtoparticipants.

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SixTypesofParentalInvolvementEpstein’ssixtypesofparental involvementandthevariouswaystheycanbeput intopracticewereexplainedinthispresentation.Parentsweregivensimplethingstheycoulddotobecomemoreinvolvedintheirchild’seducation.The role of parents who have children with special needs, as well as their rights andresponsibilities were also explained in this presentation. Various approaches to parentalinvolvement in the context of a child with disabilities were also considered along with thedifferenceparentscanmakeinfosteringtheirchild’ssuccessanddevelopment.

GinoLesageandEveLapointepresentSixTypesofParentalInvolvement.RobotDemonstrationThe FNEC decided to invest in a robot kit available on loan to member community schools.Participantswereabletoseehowrobotscanbeaneffectivelearningtool,anddiscoveredwhatstudentsatanylevelcandowiththem.

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TechiesatSchool–TheSMARTBoard

Forsometimenow,theFNEChasbeensupportingitsmembercommunitiesintechnopedagogybyhelpingthemequiptheirclassroomswithinteractivewhiteboards,andbyprovidingtrainingcoursesonthistoolthathasbecomeaclassroomessential.Participantswereshowedhowtheinteractivewhiteboardcanplayapivotalroleindeveloping21stcenturyskills.TheParent-TeacherRelationship:TipstoMakeitWork!This presentation gave parents insight on how to create the best possible relationship withteachers by knowing when the teacher should be contacted, how the teacher should beapproached, what the best course of action is, and the winning attitude needed to worktogetherforthewell-beingofthechild.

SylvieBastien-DosspresentsTheParent-TeacherRelationship:TipstoMakeitWork!ImproveOrthographandMathCompetencieswithDybusterHomeworktimeisoftenadifficultmomentinthedayforbothchildrenandparents.Learningtospellanddomathrequiresa lotofrepetition,andstandardmethodsdonotalwaysworkwellwitheverychild.

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Dybusterofferstwo independenttrainingsoftwareprograms:oneforspellingandanotherformathematics. This presentation gave participants the opportunity to see the advantages tousingthissoftware.CANOParentsPage–AWebPortalforParentsParentsPageisaWebportalthatgivesparentsaccesstotheirchild’sschoolrecords includingreportcards,homeworkassignments, theschoolcalendar,etc. It isalsoacommunicationtoolthat someschoolsare starting touseandpromoteamongparents.Thispresentationenabledparents to discover what can be found on the Parents Page, and how to receive a parentalaccesscode.

DorothéePicardexplainstheCANOParentsPage.TheABCsofStudentMotivationThispresentationshedsomelightontheexpectationsofparentsinrelationtotheirchild’slevelofmotivationandtheroletheyhavetoplay.Itisprovenbeyondadoubtthatparentswhoareequipped,involvedandwhobetontheirchildren,willencouragetheiracademicsuccessThe presenter used the alphabet to what he calls the “capital letters” of success which areMotivation, Involvement, Strategies, and Effort. Lowercase characters were presented asconcretestrategiestoequipandsupportchildrenintheireffortstoincreasetheirmotivation.

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ToolsinYourPocket:PositiveParentingTheaimof thispresentationwas tohelpparticipantsnavigate throughavarietyofchallengessuchastempertantrums,siblingrivalry,gettingoutthedoorinthemorning,settingrulesandmore. Positive parenting methods were shared that will have an impact on the family andextendedmembersofthecommunity.VitalInteractionbetweenSchoolandCommunity:Kiuna’sExperienceKiunaInstitutionistheonlypostsecondary institutiondedicatedtoFirstNations inQuebec.Tofulfill the communities’ aspirationsof providing a quality college education that respects FirstNations history, values and traditions, Kiuna’s educational project is rooted in First Nationsculture,developingastrongFirstNationsidentity,andacquiringacademicandsocialskillsthatareessentialtobeinganactiveandresponsiblecitizen.To consolidate learning and enrich the curriculum for students, Kiuna regularly calls on thecommunities to take part in educational activities as part of cultural programming thatshowcases their knowledge, know-how and people skills. Participants discovered how thecommunities aredirectly involved in fulfillingKiuna’smission to shape thenext generationofleaders.KidsandTechnology:UnderstandingtheAdvantagesandChallengesforEducationandHomeworkThis presentation addressed the issue of kids and technology. Why is technology needed ineducation? What role can technology play in homework? What are the real advantages tohavingtechnology intheclassroom?Whataresomekeychallengesthat inevitablyaccompanyitsarrival?Howcanparentsdealwiththesechallenges?Whatapproachshouldbeusedtodealwithupcomingchallenges?Whataresomesuccessstoriesthatcanbelookedtoforinspiration?What traps should be avoided? Twenty-five recommendations on kids and technology werepresentedtoparentsenablingthemtolearnmoreabouttechnology…andtheirchildren.

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ThierryKarsentipresentsKidsandTechnology:UnderstandingtheAdvantagesandChallengesforEducationandHomework.CatalystsforParentalandCommunityInvolvementParticipants were asked to reflect on how they can become agents of change in theircommunity.Thegoalofthisworkshopwastoidentifyparents’expectationstowardsschoolandthe FNEC, and the primary challenges they face in relation to the various types of parentalinvolvement.StandardsinParentalandCommunityInvolvementParticipants attending this presentation had the opportunity to discover the standards inparentalandcommunityinvolvementdevelopedaspartofthe“SupportingStrongFirstNationEducationGovernance”project.Theunderlyingobjectivesaretostructureparentalinvolvementandmake it a priority for FNEC-member communities. Participants also became familiarwithwhattheFNECanditsmembercommunitiesaredoingtomeettheseobjectives

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Nehirosikw,FirstTeachersofTheirChildren!Thegoalofthispresentationwastofosterandbringaboutthecommitmentofparticipantstothe perseverance and success of their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Thepresentation focused on the importance of the role of parents and extended family inencouraging student perseverance and academic success, and their future success in life.Subjects such as parent-child bonding, child development and self-esteem were examined.Issuesincludingschoolreadiness,theimportanceofAboriginalidentityandcultureasfactorsforperseveranceandsuccesswerealsoaddressed.WelcometoKindergartenTMTheWelcometoKindergartenTMprogrampresentationprovidedasnapshotoftheexcitement,challengesandgreatrewardsofworkinginpartnership.Participantslearnedaboutthebenefitsof having the Welcome to KindergartenTM program in communities and schools to assisteducators and families in bridging the gap between home and school for preschoolers. Theprogramprovidesfamilieswithinvaluableeducationalresourcesandstrategiestohelppreparetheirchildrenforkindergarten.

EarlynSharpe(centre)explainstheactivitiesintheWelcometoKindergartenTMkit.

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Croqu’Plaisir–HealthyEatingforEarlyChildhoodThis presentation gave participants a summary of a few training modules on nutrition forchildrendevelopedbyExtenso,theCentrederéférenceennutritiondel’UniversitédeMontréal,inconjunctionwithearlychildhoodorganizations inQuebec.Thegoalofthisworkshopwastoraise awareness among parents of young children, inform them and talk to them about thefundamentalsofhealthyeatinginearlychildhood,thedevelopmentoftaste,watchingforsignsofhungerandfullnesstoknowwhattoservechildrentoensuretheyhaveahealthydiet.RecipeforReadingWeall know that reading is adetermining factor in the successofevery student.Participantslearnedsometipsandgotideasonhowtoimprovechildren’sreadingskills.Thisworkshopalsogaveparticipantstheopportunitytodiscoveravarietyofbooksforchildrenofallages.MakeDisciplineasSimpleasChild’sPlayWithEducoeur'smethodofdiscipline,parents learnedhowtopassdowntheirvalues to theirchildren, make efficient demands without repeating themselves, raising their voice orthreatening their child, and help their children behave and empower them throughresponsibilities.ConflictResolution:FortheYoungandnotsoYoung!Bullyingiscauseforconcernandeveryoneinthecommunityhasaroletoplayinpreventinganddealingwithviolenceandbullying. Thispresentationgaveparentstheopportunitytobecomefamiliarwithwaystohelptheirchildrenresolvetheirconflictspeacefullysothattheydonotendupinviolentconfrontationorbullying.Parentsalsolearnedhowtosupporttheirchildreniftheyare involved in these kinds of situations, and gained a better understanding of their role inpreventingbullyingandcyberbullying.

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Manawancommunitymemberspresenttheirparentalandcommunityinvolvementstructure.4. NextSteps

Thelevelofparticipationamongparentsintheconferenceshowsthattheinterestandtheneedforparentalandcommunityinvolvementexistinthecommunities.Tosupportparentsandthecommunitiesintheirefforts,theFNECisplanningonconductingthefollowingactivitiesthatwillencourageparentalandcommunityinvolvementthroughouttheyear:

• Basedontheresultsofthesurveyonparentalandcommunityinvolvementcompletedby conference participants, the FNEC’s parental and community involvementcounsellorswillconductvariousactivitiestoencouragethecommunitiestopursuetheireffortsintheareaofparentalinvolvement(e.g.creatingparentscommittees);

• Initiatives will be put in place to help parents become agents of change in their

community;

• Aparentsnetworkwillbedevelopedandmaintained;

• Amonthly newsletterwill be created for the parents network containing suggestionsandideasonhowparentscanbecomemoreinvolvedintheirchild’seducation;

• Anotherconferenceonparentalandcommunityinvolvementwillbeorganized.

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The FNEC firmly maintains its commitment to developing its expertise in parental andcommunityinvolvementandtransferringthebenefitsdirectlytothecommunities.Theultimategoal is to make parental involvement a community priority. Reaching this objective canassuredlybeachievedbyvaluingtheroleofparentsintheirchildren’seducation,volunteering,avarietyoflearningmethods,andFirstNationsstudentsuccess.

ChildrenarealwayswelcomeatFNECevents!

MiraLevasseur-MoreauandPatsyBastiencongratulateoneofthewinnersofagiftbasketcontaininggamesandbooks

forthewholefamily!

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