Current research clearly identifies the importance of mental health to learning, as well as to students’ social and emotional development. Students who experience positive mental health are resilient and better able to learn, achieve success and build healthy relationships. (Source: Working Together to Support Mental Health in Alberta Schools, page 4.)
You will have the opportunity to explore numerous topics that support Positive Mental Health, from Trauma-informed classrooms, to universal strategies for dealing with student anxiety, depression, etc. You will also have time to examine the Supporting High School Completion: A Tool Kit For Success, a resource that offers a process to support schools in working with youth at risk of not completing high school.
Over the course of the day, you will have numerous opportunities to network and collaborate with other schools, while creating a draft plan/approach to take back to your schools. You will have time to engage, through the use of protocols, in focused, substantive, and in-depth conversations about the topic of students and mental health, keeping conversations focused on goals, solutions, and results. You will also be encouraged, to both solicit and provide feedback in a manner that promotes reflective learning.
This learning opportunity supports the following tenets of Moving Forward with High School Redesign: Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe Learning Environment; Home and Community Involvement; and Meaningful Relationships.
You will come away from this day with an enhanced understanding of your role and be better prepared to effectively and appropriately support student mental health.
OVERVIEW OF THE DAY
9:00- 11:00 - Supporting Positive Mental Health - Trauma-informed Classrooms - Stephanie McConnell
Traumatic experiences can happen to anyone. These events involve actual or perceived threats to the safety and wellbeing of a child or someone close to them. These frightening events change the way our students see the world and themselves. They can have a serious impact on a child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. With this knowledge caregivers and professionals can create hope and healing by promoting their students wellbeing in trauma informed classrooms.
In this course, you will:
- Learn what trauma is and how it impacts a child/youths development
- Explore how a student’s trauma has impacts on you as we discuss vicarious trauma
- See how the role of attachment can act as a buffer for children/youth in creating resiliency
- Build a list of strategies that promote a whole school approach to support students
11:00 - 12:00 - Supporting High School Completion: A Tool Kit for Success - Michele Jones
12:00 -12:45 - Lunch
12:45 - 1:30 - Supporting Positive Mental Health - Universal Strategies for Dealing with Student Anxiety, Depression, etc. - Michele Jones
1:30 - 3:30 - Facilitated Conversation and Collaboration - Louise Osland
Target Audience
Administrators and High School Completion Team Members, Inclusive Learning Teachers, District Leaders, Student Services and Guidance Staff at schools involved in MFWHSR. Should space be available, registration may be opened up to a larger audience.