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NLIS 4
September 14, 2006
(Education)
 

Minister launches Safe and Caring Schools Policy

Education Minister Joan Burke was at Stephenville Elementary School today to officially launch government�s Safe and Caring Schools Policy.

"We are extremely excited to launch our new Safe and Caring School Policy, the latest in a series of departmental initiatives aimed at ensuring all schools are safe, secure learning environments," said Minister Burke. "This policy document is the result of many months of hard work by departmental staff, in cooperation with the NLTA, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils, our school boards and other agencies and organizations. It was through this dedicated partnership that we are moving forward today with this important step in our Safe and Caring Schools Initiative."

The purpose of the policy is to guide school communities in their efforts to ensure safe, respectful learning communities. It provides the framework for district and school level policies to establish and enhance peaceful schools. The policy guides the schools in the creation of safe school teams, and clearly defines the roles of school districts, school communities, teachers and administrators.

Minister Burke was joined by Kevin Foley, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association. "Teaching and learning must take place in a respectful, safe, and caring environment," said Mr. Foley. "We are pleased to have been part of this collaborative partnership that resulted in the development of the Safe and Caring Schools Policy."

One important aspect of the new policy is the Code of Conduct, which applies to all members of the school community and clearly outlines the Department of Education�s expectations. These include, for example, learning environments free from aggression, activities that promote health and well-being, and respect for the diversity of all people.

The Safe and Caring Schools Initiative is the result of a partnership between the Department of Education and the Violence Prevention Initiative. The Violence Prevention Initiative - Taking Action Against Violence - is a six year $7.2 million investment by government to reduce violence in Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the key goals of the initiative is to create lasting cross departmental and community partnerships to combat violence.

"Violence in any form is simply unacceptable. All children deserve to learn and grow in peaceful schools and communities. And we all have a responsibility � boards, parents, teachers, staff and students � to ensure our classrooms are places of learning, not places of bullying or harassment in any form," said the minister.

The Safe and Caring Schools Policy is being sent to every school in the province. It is also available on the Department of Education web site at www.gov.nl.ca/edu.

Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications, (709) 729-0048, 689-2624

BACKGROUNDER

The Safe and Caring Schools Policy is the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by the Department of Education, the NLTA and school boards to promote safe schools province-wide. Other initiatives include:

Safe and healthy student initiatives such as breakfast and lunch programs;

School-wide discipline and classroom management through programs such as Cooperative Discipline � this is an international program that outlines an approach to discipline and classroom management that insists students share responsibility for their behaviour and helps them develop a sense of worth that leads to achievement;

Implementation of Focus on Bullying: A Prevention Program for Elementary School Communities and Focus on Harassment and Intimidation: Responding to Bullying in Secondary School Communities;

The resource Choices for Positive Youth Relationships is available to all schools offering grades 9-12. It provides advice on how to be aware of and respond to dating violence;

Curriculum development, including Students Rights and Responsibilities which is designed to educate students to their rights and responsibilities with respect to their interactions with others. It has been tailored for delivery at all levels of the K-12 system;

Hiring of six behavourial support specialists for the school boards;

Professional training events for teachers such as Positive Behaviour Supports, held in March and August. Positive Behaviour Supports is based on the premise that an environment can be created where expectations are clearly stated, taught to students, modeled by teachers and consistently reinforced. This approach maintains the focus on the positive. Students with extreme behavioural problems are dealt with from a more positive than punitive perspective.

Safe and Caring Schools Advisory Committee:

Valerie Anderson Student Support Services, Education
Darlene Styles Student Support Services, Education
Joan Casey Program Development, Education (retired)
Steve Brooks Eastern School District (formerly Vista)
Mary Devereaux Eastern School District
John Pardy Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Mona Wall Violence Prevention Initiative � Women�s Policy Office
Hazel Hickey Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils
Brenda Smith Student Support Services, Education
Rob Fildes Adolescent Mental Health
Connie Snow Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Cal Cole Community Mobilization Program
Wayne Nesbitt Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Education
Michelle Sutherland Community Mental Health, Janeway Child Health Centre
Rene Wicks Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association

2006 09 14                                             11:05 a.m.


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