Education and Early Childhood Development
Executive Council
February 24, 2016

Promoting Safe and Caring Learning Environments

Pink Shirt Day Encourages Everyone to Practice Kindness

February 24 is Pink Shirt Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. Taking place during Violence Awareness Week in schools, the goal of this day is to raise awareness around all forms of bullying and how they can be prevented. To help support and establish safe and caring learning environments for all students, the Provincial Government is providing $18,000 to 36 schools as part of the Safe and Caring Special Project Awards.

“Bullying is an issue that we must address together as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We have all seen the impact of bullying and it is our responsibility to take the meaning of Pink Shirt Day and make it a part of our everyday lives. Learning environments must be inclusive and free of bullying. I would like to congratulate this year’s winners of the Safe and Caring Special Project Awards who have demonstrated how their schools are working together to support inclusion, stop bullying and prevent violence.”
- The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

The ‎Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Awards recognize the efforts of schools in establishing and maintaining safe, caring and inclusive learning environments, promoting effective actions to create positive school climates, and sustaining safe and caring communities. A list of the award recipients is available in the backgrounder below.

“Violence is never acceptable and it can happen anywhere, at home or at school. Encouraging education and understanding to our youth through Pink Shirt Day is an important part of our efforts to stop violence from happening in our schools. Bullying can have significant psychological, academic, and social implications for children and youth. Our government is committed to creating violence-free environments for students to learn and be active.”
- The Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Pink Shirt Day coincides with Violence Awareness Week in schools, and builds on activities which have taken place in February as part of Violence Prevention Month. To support the long-term goals of reducing violence throughout the province, the Provincial Government supports a number of initiatives including Violence Awareness Week and Pink Shirt Day, the Safe and Caring Schools Policy and the awareness campaigns Respect Women, Prevention of Violence Against Older Persons, Purple Ribbon, and the Cybersafe Girl Initiative.

QUICK FACTS

• February 24 is Pink Shirt Day in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• As part of its Safe and Caring Schools initiative, the Provincial Government is providing $18,000 in Safe and Care Special Project Awards to 36 schools in the province.
• The awards, valued at $500, recognize creative efforts to promote and maintain safe, respectful and positive school environments.
• Pink Shirt Day is celebrated each year during Violence Awareness Week in schools. The theme of Violence Awareness Week is “Find your Voice, Not Violence.”
• For more information on safe and caring schools visit www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/safeandcaring/index.html.

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca

Lynn Robinson Media Relations Manager Women’s Policy Office 709-729-1795 lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Awards

There are 36 schools that have been selected for the Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Awards. A total of $18,000 ($500 each) is being provided to support the efforts of the schools in the promotion of safe and caring initiatives.

The Special Project Awards aim to promote awareness of the Safe and Caring Schools Policy and to support the school districts and schools with its implementation. Specifically, the goals are to:

• Increase awareness of, and support for, effective approaches to establishing and maintaining safe and caring learning environments;
• Strengthen partnerships and promote effective actions to create positive school climates; and
• To support and help sustain safe and caring communities.

The winners of this year’s Special Project Awards are:

Labrador Region

• J.R. Smallwood Middle School – Positive Behavior Supports Respect Check Reward System
• Northern Lights Academy, Nipituak – Celebrate Who You Are
• Northern Lights Academy – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2

Western Region

• Templeton Collegiate – Celebration Tradition
• Stephenville High School Gender Sexuality Alliance – Gay-Straight Alliance Awareness Activities
• Stephenville Primary School – Positive Behavioural Supports Mascots
• Lourdes Elementary – Book Nook
• Corner Brook High School – Standout 2 pride Alliance Youth Conference
• LaGallais Memorial – Class Dojo Supporting Positive Behavioural Supports
• Burgeo Academy – Action Auction/Shiny Times Token Store Positive Behavioural Supports
• Belanger Memorial – Christmas Activity Break
• Viking Trail Academy – Positive Behavioural Supports Implementation
• St. James High (Port aux Basques/Grandy’s River Collegiate - Burnt Islands) – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2

Central Region

• John Watkins Academy – After School Interest Groups
• Hillview Academy – Holistic Wellness Day
• Sprucewood Academy – Matrix
• Pearson Academy – Pearson Alive
• Memorial Academy – Bee Bucks Program
• Leading Tickles Primary – PBIS Year End Celebration
• Exploits Valley Intermediate – Students Teaching Students Using PBIS
• Avoca Collegiate – Fantastic Four Mural Project
• Dorset Collegiate – Dorset Collegiate Wellness Café
• Indian River High – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2
• Lewisporte Collegiate – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2

Eastern Region

• MacDonald Drive Junior High – Drama Club – “The Boy With the Feather Boa”
• Southwest Arm Academy – Mental Health Awareness Day
• Sacred Heart Academy – Be Who You Are (Teaching Tolerance)
• Donald C. Jamieson Academy – Roar-ee the Jaguar Teaches the 3R’s: Respect Self, Respect Others and Respect Learning Environment
• Frank Roberts Junior High – Positive Stairway Messages
• Larkhall Academy – Let’s Go Logo
• Holy Family Elementary – Holy Family Spirit Group
• Perlwin Elementary – Matrix Musings
• Gonzaga High School – Teacher/Student Mental Health Coalition
• Christ the King School – Promoting Positive Youth Choices
• Waterford Valley High – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2
• Carbonear Collegiate – Gay-Straight Alliance Standout 2

Conseil Scolaire Francophone

• Recipient school still to be determined.

2016 02 24                             10:35 a.m.