Promoting Safe and Caring Learning Environments

Minister Marks Pink Shirt Day; Announces Safe and Caring Awards

As part of annual Pink Shirt Day celebrations, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, and the Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs and MHA for Mount Pearl North, joined students and staff at Morris Academy in Mount Pearl today (Wednesday, February 26) to highlight the school’s bullying prevention programming. Minister Jackman also took the opportunity to announce a total of $19,500 in Safe and Caring Special Project Awards to 39 schools throughout the province.

“Students and staff at Morris Academy have adopted the ‘I Care’ program, which promotes the development of respectful, caring attitudes that extend beyond the school environment. All students deserve to feel safe, protected, and accepted – both inside and outside of school – and Pink Shirt Day helps draw attention to ways in which we can all take a stand against bullying, harassment, intimidation and disrespectful behaviour of all kinds.”
- Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education

Minister Jackman also noted that the 2013 Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Awards, valued at $500 each, have been awarded to schools in recognition of their creative efforts to promote their schools as safe and caring places to learn. The funding is used for a wide range of activities to promote inclusion and respect, such as drama, musical and multi-media productions, visual art projects or awareness days.

A complete list of Safe and Caring Schools Project Award winners can be viewed in the backgrounder below.

“I am proud to participate in this important event here in Mount Pearl. The leadership being shown by the staff and students of Morris Academy in their ‘I Care’ program is to be commended. This program goes a long way in building a safer environment for students at this school, and it sets a great example for other schools in our community and across the province.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs and MHA Mount Pearl North

The Provincial Government recently announced the introduction of a revised Safe and Caring Schools Policy (2013), which is part of the over-arching Violence Prevention Initiative. The new policy guides school-based protocols and practices to combat all forms of bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour. It is further designed to provide students with the ability to recognize, and avoid, activities which can put them in harm’s way. Today’s event coincided with Violence Awareness Week in schools, and builds on activities which have taken place in February as part of Violence Awareness Month.

“The Provincial Government is committed to increasing awareness and education about violence through strategic priorities, such as the Violence Prevention Initiative, so that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can live, work and learn in violence-free communities.”
– The Honourable Joan Shea, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• As part of Violence Awareness Week in schools, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, joined students and staff at Morris Academy in Mount Pearl today (Wednesday, February 26) to celebrate Pink Shirt Day.
• Minister Jackman took the opportunity to announce a total of $19,500 in Safe and Caring Special Project Awards to 39 schools in the province.
• The awards, valued at $500 each, recognize creative efforts to promote and maintain safe, respectful and positive school environments.
• A revised provincial Safe and Caring Schools Policy was announced in December 2013. For more on the Provincial Government’s safe and caring initiatives visit: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/safeandcaring/index.html.

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BACKGROUNDER
Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Awards (2013)

2014 02 26                                     2:45 p.m.