On August 20, 2020, we emailed the following update to our parents and guardians to communicate the mental health supports available to our students – a vital element in the school re-entry process.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Wellness and well-being of students, staff and school communities is a priority of PWPSD's relaunch. In our sixth and final update to families, we are providing supports to help prepare students for school re-entry in September.
The most important thing to remember right now is that your children will be returning to the familiar, welcoming environment of their school, to teachers and staff who care for their well-being. We provide a range of supports and services to address students' physical, social and mental well-being. Our staff regularly attend sessions and complete further education to better support student mental health and wellness.
We focus on a well-rounded approach of positive behaviour supports, including:
- Meaningful connections
- Routine, stability and flexible learning environment
- Predictability and consistency
- Foundational wellness practices for all students
We will follow three principles in our school re-entry process:
- Collaboration: Student engagement, school and division collaboration, parent engagement, and collaboration with outside service providers.
- Assessment: Identify where students are in their mental health and well-being. Provide continual check-ins for ongoing monitoring. Outline a clear process to ensure early identification for those in need of further support.
- PWPSD's Student First Framework for Learning: A document that guides staff in providing increasing levels of support to students – from promotion to prevention, to early identification, intervention and specialized services.
Resources to use when talking to your child about school re-entry:
- Supporting your child's mental health as they return to school during COVID-19
- Talking to Kids about COVID-19
- Returning to normal after COVID-19
- Alberta Education: Positive Behaviour Supports
- Alberta Education: Trauma Informed Practices
- Métis Nation of Alberta COVID-19 Mental Health Information
- Alberta Community and Social Services
- Supporting Learning at Home
- Resilience – Tipping the Balance Toward Good Health
- Brains: Journey to Resilience
- Help in Tough Times
Parents who wish to continue with remote learning should contact PWPSD Central Office at (780) 532-8133 by August 24.