Students Recognized for Leadership in Promoting Safe and Caring Schools

A total of 15 students from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have been awarded a Safe and Caring Schools Graduating Student Award, which includes a $500 post-secondary tuition voucher, for their efforts to promote safe and caring school environments.

“Addressing violence, harassment and intimidation among students, through our Safe and Caring Schools initiative, is a major priority for this government,” said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, who was at Gander Collegiate today to make the announcement. “Students have become leaders in our collective efforts to eradicate bullying, from planning and participating in anti-bullying activities, to initiating and supporting gay-straight alliances. I want to commend these students, their teachers, their parents, and their school communities for helping to promote learning environments where everyone is treated with respect.”

Gander Collegiate Student Council President Abby Moss, who is a member of her school’s Beyond the Hurt program and several other volunteer organizations, was among the award recipients.

“I am pleased to be here today to see the work of Abby Moss being recognized, along with the other students across the province who are standing up to bullying in our school communities,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MHA for Gander. “It is these students who are leading by example and working to change and shape attitudes towards bullying and harassment by promoting respect, tolerance and equal treatment for all students. I commend these efforts here at Gander Collegiate and across Newfoundland and Labrador.”

A list of award recipients from across the province can be viewed in the backgrounder below.

The Safe and Caring Schools Graduating Student Awards program was established in 2006 to recognize the leadership of youth in undertaking projects and activities aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of others in their school communities – and to help students realize they can make a positive difference in the lives of others. In addition, earlier this year, 43 schools received a $500 Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Award for their efforts to establish safe and caring learning environments. A total of $29,000 was allocated to the two programs this year.

For more information on the Safe and Caring Schools initiative, visit: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/safeandcaring/index.html.

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BACKGROUNDER
Safe and Caring Schools Graduating Student Awards (2012-13)

2013 05 31            1:05 p.m.