Education and Early Childhood Development
May 12, 2016
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development:
St. James Regional High School Wins 2016 Inclusive Education Award
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to congratulate St. James Regional High School in Port aux Basques, on receiving this year's Inclusive Education Award.
Inclusive education is a philosophy that serves as the foundation for everything we do in education. It considers the diversity of every learner and helps guide decision making regarding curriculum, instructional methodology and physical environment.
Students come to our schools with various experiences, abilities, family situations, interests, learning styles and cultural backgrounds. Each student needs to feel that they belong, are valued, and can contribute.
Through Budget 2016, our government committed $118.8 million to support inclusive education in schools throughout the province, including an additional 27 teachers to provide support for inclusive learning.
Mr. Speaker, the Inclusive Education Award, presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, is awarded annually to a K-12 school in Newfoundland and Labrador that has shown an exceptional spirit in creating a school that is welcoming and inclusive for students with an intellectual disability.
St. James Regional High School was presented this award for their dedicated and committed effort to ensuring that every student is a valued and important member of the school community, and that all students receive a high quality education, in a caring and inclusive environment.
Students at the school are provided many opportunities to promote inclusion including a Best Buddies program which promotes friendship and acceptance by pairing students with intellectual disabilities and student mentors; Mental Health Matters, which focuses on ways to remove the stigma associated with mental illness, as well as maintaining a strong support system for LGBTQ students through its Gender Sexuality Alliance.
St. James Regional High School has worked very hard to ensure that all students feel welcome, safe and accepted. I invite my colleagues in this House to join me in congratulating St. James Regional High for their outstanding achievements.
Thank you.
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2016 05 12 2:00 p.m.