Health & Wellness: A Whole-School Approach meeting our - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Health & Wellness: A Whole-School Approach meeting our communitys needs Martin Poirier & Linda Forde, WCHS Our Context Located in downtown Calgary One of oldest schools in province 2200 students 900 IB 200
Martin Poirier & Linda Forde, WCHS
Located in downtown Calgary One of oldest schools in province 2200 students 900 IB 200 French IB 300 FI 800+ L1 non-English 300 ELL coded students ~ 230 students with Individual Program Plans
Student surveys Self-reporting Medical diagnoses Provincial & national stats: marked anxiety/stress
School Physical maturation Achieving (school, sports, extracurricular…) Family stressors Peer / social stressors (e.g., belonging, social media) Self-esteem and sexuality Trauma / violence Psychological distress Medical illness Substance abuse Grief / loss
Personalization Flexible Learning Environments Educator Roles & PD Meaningful Relationships Home & Community Involvement Rigorous, Relevant Curriculum Welcoming, Caring, Respectful, Safe Schools
1-on-1 3-year planning Gr 10 class visits Gr 12 class visits & 1-on-1 Post-Secondary prep & planning Parent info evenings for P-S transitions Provide opportunities with external agencies (e.g. Boys & Girls Club, JA) Tutorial Offerings OTT: Study Space, Daily AM & PM, Peer Tutors
Courses offered OTT: Band, Choral, Advanced Acting, International Politics, Comp. Gov’t, etc. Students informed about course
CBe-Learn CT Centre Chinook Learning ADLC
Trauma-Informed Practice training Alberta Health Services workshops/presentations Point Person & Staff training about NSSI ASIST Trained Staff Common PD Day with Feeder JHs
Classroom Teachers Indigenous Success Coach NEST Program for At-risk Students LLs dedicated to specific programmes IB, ELL, FI Dedicated Counsellor for ELLs, Indigenous Students, & NEST Healthy Relationships Program Extracurricular activities Dedicated Counsellors & Assistant Principals by cohort
Opportunities for Parent connection & involvement: Meet the Teacher Parent Council Parent Volunteering Sports Team Support Celebrate Western
Local Corporate Community relationships: BMO CIBC Hotel Arts Culinary Apprentice U of C Lab Experience Junior Achievement Program Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra KPMG (Martin Family Initiative) U of C (NAPI Leadership Program)
Drop-In Centre Fountains of Mission Retirement Home Interfaith Food Bank Canadian Cancer Society Canadian Blood Services Terry Fox Foundation Brenda Strafford Women’s Shelter
Formative Assessment (Focus of PD) Sister school relationships: Spain, Denmark, & France Various Trip Opportunities: Model UN trips - Montreal & New York Band trip to California Spanish Language Students to Spain International Exchange with Stovring, Denmark International Exchange with Yokohama, Japan Hiking/Hosteling trip - Kananaskis & Banff
Student needs:
Educational Guidance/Planning: current & future Emotional Support General Well- being:
Stress/anxiety management Nutrition Physical fitness Self-image Belonging Interpersonal relationships
0.5 Psychologist
Increased counselling time by 0.5 FTE Staff Wellness Committee Student Wellness Club Student MH & Wellness Awareness Group Gender Neutral Bathrooms Yoga courses Summer Math Camp
Math 15 Course Yoga classes & Anxiety workshops during exams Mental Health PD Sessions Depression Screening Day Interactive activities - student clubs:
Speak-out on Mental Illness Pride Week by Spectrum Club Safe Space Program (Spectrum Club)
Regular sessions in collaboration with AHS for parents: Coping with Stress Motivating the Unmotivated Nancy Mannix , the Palix Foundation (TIP) Fitness Centre for students and staff Quiet Study Room Lunch Program
Oct 4 : Meditation Oct 11: Cooking healthy food Oct 18: Workshop on Stress Nov 1: Coloring and painting Nov 8: Yoga Nov 22: Drawing activity Nov 29: Laughing Meditation Dec 6: Workshop on Eating Disorders Dec 20: Workshop on Perfectionism & Procrastination Jan 10: Test-Anxiety workshop
Chances for students to be heard, such as: Student Surveys Anonymous submission form for suggestions/concerns Therapy dog during exams Exam de-stress treats Sticky-note showcase
Everyone is welcome Educate about LGBTQ+ topics and identities Pride Week Activities Conference and dance for other GSA/Spectrum Clubs
Violence prevention program Group & Individual counselling Goals: Find alternatives to conflict/abuse Develop & maintain healthy relationships Develop healthy self-esteem & efficacy Develop empathy for others
Accountability Pillar Results: Safe and Caring School: (gr 10 students rating Western Canada as a safe and caring School) 2014: 87.4 % 2017: 92.2 % Gr 12 Exit Survey: Question 1: I work through setbacks and challenges in my learning. (Agree and Strongly Agree) 2014: 87.5% 2017: 94.2% Question 2: I am comfortable learning about things that don't have a single right answer. 2014: 74.4% 2017: 82.9%
High School Completion within 3 years: 2014: 85.4% (May 2014, Act Pillar report, p. 2) 2016: 87.7% (May 2016, Act Pillar Report, p.2) Science 30 Diploma Results @ Western Canada:
Year Exam average Acceptable Excellence
Jan 2015
100% 31.3% Jan 2017 71.5% 100% 46.7%
Young Minds: Stress, anxiety plaguing Canadian youth; Global News, 2013 & 2016 Teen Stress: New national survey finds nearly half of teenagers stressed out; Global News, 2015 TedMed: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime; Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris Dr. Bruce Perry, The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, & Born for Love Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Hold onto Your Kids, & Making Sense of Anxiety & The Science of Emotion training; Calgary, April 2017 AHS: albertafamilywellness.org & The Palix Foundation CAMH , Becoming Trauma Informed, edited by Nancy Poole & Lorraine Greaves BC TIP Guide, 2013
Martin Poirier, Principal mapoirier@cbe.ab.ca Linda Forde, Counsellor/LL Student Services lmforde@cbe.ab.ca