Learning With Liz
Welcome back to school! We hope you’ve enjoyed a fun and restful summer. It’s hard to believe that another July and August have sped by, and September is already here! We wish every student the very best for the 2026–2027 academic year, and we look forward to supporting our amazing families as they continue doing wonderful things for their school communities.
As we transition into the new school year, September is the perfect time to make good HSA housekeeping a priority. With the beginning of the year comes new memberships, so it’s important to stay organized and on time with membership fee collection. Be sure to include a complete list of members, including each member’s full name and address. As new members join throughout the year, your membership list must also be updated and submitted to OFHSA along with the appropriate membership fees.
Did you know?
The OFHSA website and database contain a wealth of information for parents, and it’s all free and available to use! You’ll find resources covering our policies and bylaws, executive roles, best practices for HSAs, and much more.
This month, we’re highlighting the Starting the New Year document, a step-by-step guide designed to help you collect your local HSA membership information and submit it to the office online.
It highlights important information for September, including how to remain in good standing as an HSA, how to handle membership fees, and, notably, the September 30, 2026 deadline for forms. Simple, easy-to-follow instructions for submitting your documents are included, so you’ll have everything you need to get it done without the stress!
We at OFHSA are grateful to have you with us. Here’s to a fantastic back-to-school season and a wonderful 2026–2027 school year!
Liz Kotsamanes, OCT
1st Vice President, OFHSA BOD
What’s New at OFHSA
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! OFHSA has been working on updated information, resources and supports to help Associations begin the year with confidence.
Important September Reminders
- Association membership and insurance fees are due September 30, 2026.
- Insurance certificates can only be processed once your Association’s fees have been received.
- Please submit your updated executive and contact information for the new school year.
- Watch for upcoming OFHSA training opportunities, webinars and new member resources.
Do You Have Zeffy? You Should!
Zeffy is an online platform available to OFHSA Associations for collecting payments and managing activities such as:
- Membership and Association fees
- Event registrations and ticket sales
- Fundraising campaigns
- Online donations
- Automated receipts and payment tracking
Contact the OFHSA office info@ofhsa.ca if you need help getting started or confirming that your campaigns are set up correctly.
Make School Lunches Easier with LunchUp
OFHSA Associations can also choose to use LunchUp, an online school lunch ordering and fundraising platform. LunchUp can help simplify lunch programs by managing online orders, payments and reporting in one convenient place.
Using LunchUp is optional, and each Association can decide whether the platform is a good fit for its school community.
Learn more about the LunchUp x OFHSA partnership → www.lunchup.ca/ofhsa
Please review the latest OFHSA mailing for additional updates, important dates and resources to share with your Association. We look forward to supporting our members throughout the coming year!
Message from the Minister