HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HAPPY HEALTHY STUDENTS CAN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL

BY TREVOR JULIAN, DEPUTY HEAD OF SCHOOL

(L-R) Mr. Dale Roth, Mrs. Christie Smith, Mr. Trevor Julian, Ms. Elaine Chotowetz, Mr. Larry Clark, Ms. Shannon Taggart (Missing: Mr. Zubair Kassam)

Our students strive hard to learn and to reach their full potential. Our faculty and staff push themselves to deliver excellent learning opportunities that enable our students to surpass their own expectations.

In this high-performance environment, we want to become even more proactive and intentional about our approach to health and wellness.

Last summer, a small team of faculty attended a Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) Change Accelerator workshop. We developed the framework to ensure health and wellness would be a priority for STS. Then in the fall of 2019, we received input from staff and faculty to identify four elements that have now become the focus of our health and wellness initiatives.

With participation across Divisions and employee groups, committees came together to do research and develop the following priorities:

Faculty participating in health and wellness working groups.

IMPROVING STUDENT CAPACITY FOR MANAGING THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Committee Chairs: Mr. Zubair Kassam and Ms. Elaine Chotowetz

We want to infuse health and wellness into all aspects of our school life, and promote students’ capability to recognize if they’re having challenges, and to find ways to put themselves in the best place of possibility each day. This is about encouraging individuals to build and sustain good habits, from sleep and diet, to healthy relationships, to knowing how to manage stress and seek help when it gets to be too much. DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL SPACES

Committee Chairs: Mr. Dale Roth and Mrs. Christie Smith

We recognize that school must provide spaces to support the health and wellness of our students. The new Elementary School wing is a great example of flexible space to support students and now we will focus attention on spaces for our Middle and Senior Schools.

We will look at collaborative, flexible workspaces, and more ways to connect to nature, with the objectives of reducing anxiety, promoting relaxation, and encouraging mindfulness.

We’ll also explore opportunities to repurpose the previous Elementary School, to create a hub for the Student Services team to help students reach their academic potential and optimal mental health and wellbeing. PERSONALIZATION AND INDIVIDUALIZATION FOR STUDENTS

Committee Chair: Mr. Trevor Julian

Education is not ‘one size fits all’. For each student to have an optimal experience at STS, we must understand and support their individual learning needs.

This involves setting goals for each student and supporting them to master learning outcomes. We can make better use of technology to help students demonstrate their knowledge in different ways. And our scheduling can be adapted to allow flexibility for self-pacing, online courses, and for students to take courses at different grade levels.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Committee Chairs: Ms. Shannon Taggart and Mr. Larry Clark

We want to help take care of everyone in the building – and we know our faculty and staff need to come from a place of health and wellness to deliver an excellent education.

It’s important to take a comprehensive approach to supporting our teams. Our focus is to build or enhance opportunities for employee engagement, morale and retention, and to reduce stress and decrease absenteeism.

We will work with faculty and staff to have the language and tools to work with each other and their students in healthy ways.

The committees prioritized strategies to focus on going forward, to grow our ability to support our community. Some ideas will take shape quickly in 2020-2021 and others will feed into the school’s strategic planning process, to guide STS over the next several years.

When members of our community are healthy and happy, they can achieve amazing things. We want to talk about it, and we want to tackle the hard questions. Our school will continue to remove barriers and create places that encourage each person to do their very best.

SUPPORTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

It was quite an atypical year, to say the least! STS worked hard to encourage student engagement and reduce feelings of isolation during several months of RAPID (Remote Alternate Program Instructional Delivery), due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From themed days like crazy hat day and bring-a-stuffed-animal-toZoom, to our own version of the newscast ‘Some Good News’, students had opportunities to connect and have a good laugh.

Elementary (K-6):

Ms. Chapman, our Elementary School Librarian, hosted read alouds about social and emotional skills and mindful breathing practices. She also curated collections of books for families to pick-up and read together, and recommended Library Padlet with links for easy access to resources.

Music, Art, PE, and French teachers offered students optional live classes and videos to encourage movement and creative outlets throughout their school days.

The Pref ects made a weekly video for Elementary School students with a fun challenge, for example sending messages to recognize International Nurses Day.

Specialist teachers and Learning Strategists provided 1:1 support for school work and extra social connections.

When members of our community are healthy and happy, they can achieve amazing things.

Middle School (7-9):

More than 80 inspirational messages were sent to the Heartland Senior Residence, to show our care and concern during physical distancing.

Diversity Week activities included language lessons, dance lessons, and a photo challenge.

Optional essay contests attracted many entries.

The Middle School Principal, Learning Strategist, and School Counsellor hosted regular online lunchtime get togethers.

Student clubs continued, including groups who enjoy board games, books and creative writing.

Bi-w eekly student surveys and teacher meetings by grade helped inform continuous improvement during RAPID.

Senior School (10-12):

Online school musical auditions attracted many students.

The Diversity Committee organized a great Diversity Week with guest speakers and other activities.

Weekly Spartan Talks series connected alumni to students and parents.

Weekly Prefect production of STSSGN (Some Good News) engaged students of all ages!

W eekly advisory (1 hour in MS/SS) helped build community with teachers, including cooking lessons, playing Pictionary, and filming pencil passing through Zoom.

OE Club w orked with students to build engagement.

The Senior School Pr incipal, Learning Strategist and School Counsellor coordinated outreach to students and families.

Bi-weekly student surveys and teacher meetings by grade helped inform continuous improvement during RAPID.