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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Change is in the AirMy childhood memories of autumn are cloaked in blankets of yellow, orange and red hues and sensations of the crisp morning air. As a long time educator, September has always symbolized fresh starts. More than any other autumn I can recall, this one has been marked by change, personally and professionally: I moved to Edmonton after 10 years working for the Government of the Northwest Territories. I walked my daughter to her first day of grade one in a new school and new community. And I took over the role of Executive Director and set off to build on the valuable work of Dr. Marni Pearce renewing the strategic direction of the Society for Safe and Caring Schools & Communities.

Changes to the Education Act describing a “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” are very significant for the work of the Society and our many partners in school boards, schools and communities. The shift to a proactive approach is such an important step forward.

We all want our children to feel welcome, cared for, respected and safe in their learning environments. Bullying has no place in our children’s lives. This is not just a school problem, it’s a societal problem and impacts all of us. Understanding the harmfulness of bullying is a driving force for change. But the key question is: What can we do about it? Research is clear that zero tolerance approaches and punitive measures do not solve the underlying problem. Mounting research is showing that when bullying is addressed as a relationship problem, child and youth outcomes improve. We know the solutions are not in a single program and that ‘one sized fits all’ just doesn’t work. This is complex. Working in silos is not the answer either. As champions for child and youth well-being, we have an opportunity today, grounded in a foundation of new legislation and informed by evidence, to build on years of good work and an abundance of expertise here in Alberta towards a collective goal of happy, healthy and safe children and youth in every community across Alberta.

– Susan Hopkins, Ed.D, Executive Director

THE SOCIETY FOR SAFE AND CARING SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES

NEWS BULLETINOctober 2014

telephone: 780.822.1500email: office@safeandcaring.caweb: www.safeandcaring.camail: 11010 142 St., Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1

www.facebook.com/SafeAndCaring

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools & Communities

@SafeAndCaring Safe and Caring is a centre that fosters effective networks and partnerships to improve the quality of life for all of Alberta’s children.

COMING EVENTS• September 25-27 / ATA Beginning Teachers Conference (Edmonton)Catch our presentations and find our booth during the resource fair!

• October 2-4 / ATA Beginning Teachers Conference (Calgary)Catch our presentation and find our booth during the resource fair!

• October 15-17 / Edmonton Police Service “Safety in Schools” School Resource Office (SRO) ConferencePresentation on youth mental health and addictions

• November 17-18 / Leadership Essentials for AdministratorsPresentation on What’s New in the Education Act

• November 22 / 3rd Annual Gay-Straight Alliance ConferenceIn partnership with the iSMSS at the University of Alberta

• November 24 / The Alberta Safe & Caring Schools Forum: Policy to Practice – Creating Safe SpacesIn partnership with the Canadian Safe Schools Network and ATA

Visit www.safeandcaring.ca/special-events to view more upcoming events!

Deadline

October 24, 2014ART OF CARING CONTEST

Safe and Caring invites Alberta kids & youth to show us what safe and caring

means to them through art.

Grades K-12

Learn more: www.safeandcaring.ca/art-caring-contest

Deadline

November 3, 2014The HEROES Award

recognizes those committed to creating safe, caring, healthy and inclusive

schools and communities.

Nominate your HERO today!Learn more:

www.safeandcaring.ca/heroes-safe-caring-world-award

Save the Date!

November 19, 20148th Annual

CREATING SAFE SPACES WAFFLE BREAKFASTWe are hosting our 8th Annual Creating Safe Spaces Waffle Breakfast

fundraiser and we’d like to invite you to get involved!

Learn more or purchase tickets: www.safeandcaring.ca/creating-safe-spaces-breakfast

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools & Communities puts great emphasis on the needs, safety and priorities of the youth that it represents. Recently, I was hired on as their very first Youth Engagement Coordinator, as a step towards bringing youth and their needs right into the heart of the organization.

I was born in the Congo and have lived what many consider to be a ‘challenging life.’ The struggles, strengths and experiences from my journey provide me with wonderful tools needed to speak out and act on behalf of at-risk youth in Alberta.

Safe and Caring is an organization that champions child and youth health and well-being. I am eager to connect to the diverse communities in our province and share a little bit of my story, along with the stories of other wonderful young Albertans. We have a lot of exciting things planned for our emerging youth partnership, including youth-driven events, resources and initiatives.

We set up a Twitter account called @CaringYouth dedicated to sharing info and starting conversations about building safe and caring communities from a youth perspective. Stay tuned: lots of great articles, events and discussions are coming! Until next time!

– Dada Alice Mwemera, Youth Engagement Coordinator

CHAMPIONS OF A SAFE AND CARING WORLD: Dr. Christina Rinaldi

YOUTH PARTNERSHIPS: Introducing Dada Alice Mwemera

FURTHER READINGSelected Publications• Offrey, L. & Rinaldi, C. M. (2014).

Parent-child communication and adolescents’ problem-solving strategies in hypothetical bullying situations. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth.

• Nosworthy, N., & Rinaldi, C. (2013). A review of school board cyberbullying policies in Alberta. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 58(4), 509-525.

• Beran, T., Rinaldi, C., Bickham, D. S., & Rich, M. (2012). Evidence for the Need to Support Adolescents Dealing with Harassment and Cyber-Harassment: Prevalence, Progression, and Impact. School Psychology International, 33, 562-576.

• Leenaars, L. S., & Rinaldi, C. M. (2010). Male and female university students’ experiences of indirect aggression. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 25(1), 131-148.

•Rinaldi, C. M., Kates, A. D., & Welton, C. (2008). Understanding students’ interactions: Why varied social tasks matter? Journal of Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 13(2), 127-140.

Books• Rathus, S. A., & Rinaldi, C. M.

(2009). Childhood and adolescence: Voyages in child development. First Canadian Edition. Toronto, ON: Thomson-Wadsworth.

“All students and children deserve the right and opportunity to grow up in safe and caring environments, to reach their full potential.”

– Dr. Christina Rinaldi

Dr. Christina Rinaldi is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta. In addition to being a registered psychologist and respected researcher in the area of child and adolescent social emotional development, she is also a valued member of Safe and Caring’s Board of Directors.

What we at Safe and Caring love about Dr. Rinaldi is her commitment to research-to-practice – to taking her own and others’ research findings and using them to inform real-world educational policy and initiatives.

Dr. Rinaldi believes that there is tremendous opportunity in Alberta for thoughtful conversations about how to better use evidence-based knowledge to promote healthy relationships in all areas of children’s lives. School boards, parents, policy makers and community leaders are all looking for ways to better meet the requirements of the new Education Act, while trying to navigate the changing societal needs that have emerged in light of new digital technologies. Now is the time to collaborate and coordinate our efforts. Dr. Rinaldi suggests that we identify key stakeholders and decision-makers and come to the same table to agree on a common language and set a shared vision. We want our children to experience the same model of healthy relationships across contexts, to learn appropriate behaviour at home as they would in schools or at soccer practice.

Of primary importance, “the focus right now is: How to promote healthy relationships across systems, across the various supports for children – including teachers, coaches, community leaders, parents and peers.”

– Meaghan Trewin, MA Communications Coordinator

WHAT’S NEWIn the Education Act?

Alberta’s new Education Act passed in the Legislature on December 10, 2012, and is expected to come into effect in time for the 2015/2016 school year.

Under the existing School Act, school boards must provide a safe and caring environment. The Education Act takes this a step further, providing a frame of reference for students, parents and boards to work together to create a “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging.”

This shift towards a more proactive approach has a strong foundation in research and places an emphasis on creating and maintaining schools and classrooms that are welcoming and caring, where students feel they belong. Students learn best when they feel safe – emotionally, psychologically and physically.

The Education Act addresses and defines bullying, distinguishing it from other forms of conflict like teasing, rude or mean behaviour, and directs school boards to develop student codes of conduct that focus on building welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Punishment and ‘one size fits all’ policies are not effective at attaining long term change. Rather than listing inappropriate behaviours and fixed punishments, a shift towards ‘differentiated discipline’ – similar to ‘differentiated instruction’ – requires boards to address behaviour issues responsively and take into account the needs not only of students impacted by inappropriate behaviour, but also of those who engage in it.

The Education Act also recognizes that others have an important part to play in building safe and caring learning environments. Students have a responsibility to positively contribute to their school community, and to “refrain from, report and not tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour directed toward others in the school,” even when it occurs outside school grounds or hours. Parents have the responsibility to engage in and foster positive relationships within their child’s school community.

With these changes on the horizon, how ready are you? Your students? Your school? Your school board?

Safe and Caring, in partnership with Alberta Education, the Alberta School Boards Association and the Alberta Teachers’ Association, is creating a variety of resources to support teachers, school boards, students and parents as they navigate these new expectations.

– Caroline Missal, MEd Project Manager

MYTH VERSUS

FACT MYTH:

FACT:

Bullying, like teasing, is harmless and a normal part of growing up.

Bullying causes serious harm. Children who are bullied suffer more headaches, stomach aches, depression and anxiety. All children involved in bullying are at greater risk for suicide, and are more likely to perform badly in school. Children who bully are more likely to use drugs and alcohol and engage in criminal activity.

MYTH:

FACT:

Bullying only affects a small percentage of Canadian children.

12% of girls and 18% of boys report engaging in bullying behaviour at least twice in recent months. 15% of girls and 18% of boys report being bullied at least twice within the same time period. At some point, the majority of children will be involved in bullying, either as aggressors or victims.

MYTH:

FACT:

Bullying is a natural part of childhood that children will outgrow.

Without intervention, youth who bully may continue to bully as they mature. Bullying can evolve into sophisticated forms of verbal, social, homophobic and sexually- or racially-based aggression.

MYTH:

FACT:

Teaching kids to fight back is an effective strategy for stopping bullying.

Bullying is a relationship problem. Encouraging children to fight back can make bullying more prolonged and aggressive.

MYTH:

FACT:

We are doing enough to protect Canadian youth from bullying.

According to a recent World Health Organization survey, Canada ranked 9th, 10th and 15th highest out of 35 countries on the number of children who had recently been bullied at school.

Source: PrevNET. “Facts & Solutions: Knowledge is Power – Focusing on Evidence-Based Research.” http://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/facts-and-solutions.

Suicide is shrouded in silence, yet claims more than 500 lives in Alberta each year.

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools & Communities partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton, The Support Network and other collaborative partners to organize Lift the Silence Suicide Awareness Week from September 8-12, 2014. The goal of Lift the Silence was to start conversations about suicide and the impact it has on our lives, reduce the stigma of talking about it and explore ways we can all work together to prevent it.

The week of events included a media launch, resource fair, survivor panel presentation and discussion at Safe and Caring, a film screening, cycle event, coffee shop conversation and a youth-directed theatre production. Safe and Caring was thrilled to co-host ‘Through a Queer Lens,’ a panel and public discussion at the Pride Centre of Edmonton on the risks associated with sexual minority children and youth.

The strong collaborative effort of the Lift the Silence Steering Committee and partners ensured that greater numbers of people were reached through the awareness campaign and able to take away practical information, resources and sensitive skills to reduce the risk of suicide in their own communities. It is our hope that this will translate into ongoing opportunities for young people to engage in conversations about mental health issues and access help when needed, and for everyone to develop a greater understanding that we all have the opportunity to help create a safe and caring community for all children.

– David Rust, Director of Community Partnerships

OUT AND ABOUT: Recapping Lift the Silence