October is a month when we reflect on all the things we give thanks for in our lives. Classroom and school routines are well established and students and staff are developing relationships that promote student achievement and well-being through the creation of positive, safe and inclusive learning environments. It is also a month when Student Success Plans are developed and work is well underway to support goals and strategies identified to improve student achievement in math and literacy and well-being through the creation of positive, safe and inclusive learning environments, the pillars of the SRCE System Improvement Plan.

As part of our goal to strengthen positive, safe and inclusive environments, I was pleased to see the many school and regional celebrations marking Mi’kmaq History Month. This year’s theme is L’nui’sultinej – Let’s Speak Mi’kmaw. As part of the celebrations at East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy, a group of 25 students, under the direction of the their First Nations Success Teacher, Buffy MacNeil, recorded a version of the Mi’kmaq Honor Song that will be played as part of the school’s daily routine/announcements along with O Canada. Access this link to learn more from Grade 6 student, Danika Lafford-Desmond, when she was interviewed by Jeff Douglas of CBC Mainstreet. Congratulations to all involved.

This year, we were very happy to welcome new riders aboard our buses, our pre-primary children. As of September 2019, busing was available to all pre-primary children eligible to receive bus service. School Bus Safety Awareness Week was celebrated in October and SRCE staff, with help from Buster the Bus, delivered the annual bus safety program to our pre-primary children and Grades P to 6 students. I would like to thank SRCE bus drivers and transportation staff as well as our provincial transportation partners who work very hard to help us ensure that our children and youth travel safely to school.

October also brings opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. There are many teams, clubs, committees and volunteer opportunities for students at each of our schools. Participation in these activities not only helps students with their personal development, but also is very beneficial to our school communities. I encourage students to become involved in activities you enjoy and those that you think may be of interest to you.

As always, I encourage you to keep an eye for some of our school and regional celebrations in print, on our website (www.srce.ca) and via the SRCE twitter (@SRCE_NS).

Sincerely,

Paul Landry Regional Executive Director

Paul Landry Regional Executive Director

of Education

304 Pitt Street, Unit 2 Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2T9;

www.srce.ca; srce@srce.ca; 902-625-2191/

1-800-650-4448 (P) 902-625-2281 (F)

Follow us on Twitter @SRCE_NS

Regional Executive Director’s Report

to School Communities in the Strait Region

October 2019

Contents

Mi’kmaq History Month 1

Orange Shirt Day 2

SchoolsPlus Programs 2

Parent Navigator Continues to

Help Families and Students

Succeed 3

New Provincial Policy Will Support

Inclusive Education 3

School Bus Safety Program 4

Congratulations to Liam

Van de Sande, SAJS 4

Vaping Tip Sheet for Families and

Education Campaign

for Students 5

Free Menstrual Products Available

in SRCE Schools 5

Volunteers Support Student

Learning and Success 5

Strait to Excellence Awards 5

Enrolment 2019-2020 6

SRCE Students Attend WE Day

Atlantic 2019 6

Who Do I Contact With

Questions or Concerns? 6

Upcoming Dates/Events Friday, November 8, 2019 Regional In-service Day – No Classes Monday, November 11, 2019 Remembrance Day Holiday Observed – No School Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Administration/Evaluation Day at Grades P to 8 ONLY (no classes Gr. P-8) / Regular Classes Gr. 9 to 12) Thursday, November 28, 2019 In-service Day at All Schools (In-service in a.m. / Parent-Teacher in p.m. – no classes P-12)

Follow us on Twitter @SRCE_NS

Each October, and throughout the year, school communities focus on the history, culture and achievements of the Mi’kmaq community. This is also a time for each of us to reflect on our own understanding of the contributions and traditions of the Mi’kmaq community. I invite you to learn more by accessing the website story SRCE Celebrates Mi'kmaq History Month 2019: L’nui’sultinej – Let’s Speak Mi’kmaw

Mi’kmaq History Month

2

Orange Shirt Day in SRCE

Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters is held nationally on September 30 of each year. In the spirt of reconciliation and hope,

the SRCE invited students, staff, parents/guardians, volunteers and community partners to participate in Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30, 2019, by wearing orange. On Orange Shirt Day, we honour the residential school survivors, remember those who were lost and recognize the impact of Canada’s residential school system on Indigenous people. This day is an opportunity for all of us to come together, engage in meaningful discussion on all aspects of residential schools and reinforce that Every Child Matters.

In the SRCE, we have been very fortunate that all students and families in all schools have had access to services provided by our SchoolsPlus staff since 2014. The first SchoolsPlus Program started in Guysborough in 2008/2009 with the Program expanding to other regions over time. The vision of SchoolsPlus is to provide increased access for students and their families to the support services of various community and non-profit agencies as well as government departments by using local schools as focal access points. The students and families receive the services in their local school communities, which is very helpful as the school serves as the center for service delivery. The programs may be delivered during the day, after school, during March Break and in the summer. These support services are tailored to meet specific needs and may include access to professionals in the fields of social work, healthcare, mental health, the Department of Justice, addiction services, Family Resource Centres; and Youth Health Centres. SRCE SchoolsPlus staff are helping our children, youth and families connect to a range of programs by working and collaborating with school staff and multiple partners and service providers. This model is very much a collaborative one with all partners working closely together to support our students and families. The community partnerships are an integral component of the success of the SchoolsPlus programs in the Strait Region. In the SRCE, there are four SchoolsPlus hub sites. Each of these hub sites offer a range of different programs, services and supports based on the particular needs of the students and families. I extend sincere thanks to our SchoolsPlus staff for the important work they do to support our students’ achievement, well-being and overall success in and out of school. The impact of their work is truly making a real and meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families. For more information, please refer to the following resources: SchoolsPlus in Nova Scotia SchoolsPlus Expansion Highlighted on World Mental Health Day Access an information article by The Port Hawkesbury Reporter at SchoolsPlus Program Gets Rave Reviews Locally.

SRCE SchoolsPlus staff lead Felix Marchand Education Centre students in a number of

activities that highlight the important role that physical activity plays in supporting both our

physical and mental health.

SchoolsPlus Programs, Services and Supports Available to all Students in all SRCE Schools

3 Parent Navigator Continues to Help Families and Students Succeed

The Parent Navigator position in the SRCE has been in place for about a year now. This position was included as part of the new inclusive education supports to ensure students have the help they need to be more successful in school that were announced by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development on May 8, 2018. The personal and direct support to families provided by our Parent Navigator is helping them to navigate the education system and learn and understand what programs and services are available from our community partners and at school, and how to access these supports. The Parent Navigator works exclusively with parents and families in a collaborative way within the school system. As a result, the position is significantly supporting our students’ success in and out of the classroom. “The support I provide is individualized and depends on the respective family’s needs,” said Diane Stewart. “The support ranges from helping them access medical and mental health services as well as financial supports; connecting them with parenting programs; attending School Program Planning meetings and school meetings to provide attendance and behavioural support, all the while encouraging parents to be self-advocates.”

Effective this school year, the Incredible Years Pre-School Program is being delivered at Inverness Education Centre/Academy by Ms. Stewart in partnership with the Family Place Resource Centre and Leeside Transition House. This is a free 10-week program for parents/guardians of children who are 3 to 6 years of age. The program addresses a variety of topics to strengthen parenting skills and develop new strategies for managing difficult behaviours. The Program is delivered in the evening and childcare is provided while parents/guardians attend this very valuable session. An expansion of this Program to other schools is being considered for the spring of 2020. In addition, Ms. Stewart has organized presentations for parents, in cooperation with community partners, related to cannabis legalization and the healthy use of social media. Currently, she is working towards establishing parent peer support groups and parent libraries that will include resources on various topics such as anxiety, parenting skills, behavior and autism, to name a few.

Diane Stewart, Parent Navigator SchoolsPlus, Inverness County

Referrals to the Parent Navigator may be made through school administration, SchoolsPlus, and teachers. Currently, schools with access to the Parent Navigator include Pleasant Bay School, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy, Inverness Education Centre/Academy, Whycocomagh Education Centre, Bayview Education Centre and Dalbrae Academy.

New Provincial Policy Will Support Inclusive Education for Students

On September 6, 2019, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development announced its first Inclusive Education Policy that will support inclusive education for students. The Inclusive Education Policy was created in response to a recommendation from the Commission on Inclusive Education and will come into full effect in September 2020. The policy provides guidelines on education and student supports, and describes what all partners in education will be working toward. It also sets up the next stages of work, including development of new guidelines for standards in schools and classrooms, an autism strategy and development of a student support worker program for African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw students. This policy will support the work of the SRCE in improving student achievement, success and fostering student well-being through the creation of positive, safe and inclusive learning environments for all students in all schools. In addition, the Policy supports the implementation of the SRCE System Improvement Plan and Educational Business Plans for our region. A copy of the provincial news release may be accessed at: New Provincial Policy Will Support Inclusive Education for Students A copy of the Inclusive Education Policy may be accessed at: Inclusive Education Policy

4 School Bus Safety Program in the SRCE

The Strait Regional Centre for Education’s Transportation staff deliver the annual school bus safety program to pre-primary children and Grade Primary to Six students. The program teaches many aspects of bus safety including how to behave while on the bus, walking to and from the bus stop and how to get off and move safely away from the bus, to name a few. We are very fortunate to have our Buster the Bus support this important safety program. Buster shares bus safety messages with students in a very interactive and fun manner. For more information, please refer to the brochure, School Bus Safety: A Guide for Students and Parents/Guardians.

Liam’s (center) attended the Communities in Bloom Symposium held in Yarmouth in September where again his award was recognized and celebrated.

Congratulations to Liam Van de Sande,

Grade 6 Student, St. Andrew Junior School

Congratulations to Grade 6 St. Andrew Junior School student Liam Van de Sande who was selected as the 2019 Scotts Canada Youth Gardener Award winner. This award recognizes a student who demonstrates leadership in environmental awareness and uses gardening to improve their school environment, or community. Liam was recognized for his leadership role in and around the school to help keep it welcoming and green. The school’s foyer is now a welcoming and warm area due to his hard work, and Liam’s enthusiasm and passion for gardening is evident in the many gardening areas at the school. Liam also participates in many green initiatives including recycling, cleaning and organizing to keep the school looking the best that it can. Congratulations, Liam!

Buster the Bus Visits SRCE Schools

Liam sits proudly next to the gardening area in the main foyer of the St. Andrew Junior School.

In September 2019, a tip sheet for parents focused on talking with your teen about vaping was shared by email to all families in the SRCE. A copy may be accessed at: Vaping Tip Sheet for Parents - Talking With Your Teen About Vaping. We are hearing more and more about the alarming rise in vaping among youth. Medical professionals have issued warnings about the harm caused by breathing in vaping chemicals, the long-term health effects are still unknown and that vaping can lead to addiction. In an effort to deepen understandings of issues around vaping and to continue the important conversations on the harmful effects of the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Zach Churchill, is inviting student leaders to take action and develop an education campaign to reach out to other students about vaping. A campaign designed by students, for students. Campaigns could include a focus on the marketing strategy targeted at youth and/or students could work together to understand why students are vaping and come up with creative ways to address vaping among their peers. Details of the campaign have been sent to schools for circulation to student councils. The deadline to submit campaign ideas is Friday, December 20, 2019. The Minister will provide $500 per high school student council for their submissions to support the development of an approach or a campaign.

Vaping Tip Sheet for Families and Education Campaign for Students

5

Free Menstrual Products Available in SRCE

Schools

For your information, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development announced on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, that public school students across the province will now have access to free menstrual products when they need them. The Strait Regional Centre for Education is pleased to further support student well-being through this initiative, and is providing free menstrual products in all schools with Grades 4 to 12 students. These products are available in all female and all-gender washrooms.

Volunteers Play an Important Part in

Supporting Student Learning and Success

The Strait Regional Centre for Education values the important contributions and participation of volunteers in schools and recognizes that volunteers have a positive impact on student learning and school environments.

The Strait Regional Centre for Education encourages the active participation of parents/guardians and members of the community to volunteer in schools to enhance programs and services for students.

I would like to sincerely thank the many volunteers who assist in our school communities. You play an integral role in making our schools better places for our children and youth to learn, play, achieve and succeed. Thank you to each and every one of you who give freely of your time and talents to serve on committees, help with breakfast programs and extra-curricular activities, and support student learning.

To learn more about requirements for becoming an approved volunteer in the SRCE, please contact your school principal and access the following policies and supporting procedures:

Extracurricular Activity Supervision Policy

Volunteers in the School, Policy VI-C-1

Volunteers in the School Procedures, PRO VI-C-1

As I have said on many occasions, one of the many strengths we have in the SRCE is our highly qualified and dedicated staff who work hard to support our students and school communities. I encourage you to recognize and celebrate deserving staff by nominating them for a 2019-2020 Strait to Excellence Award. Employees or groups

of employees, parent/guardians, School Advisory Council members and students may nominate employees by submitting a Nomination Form by Monday, December 2, 2019. The Strait to Excellence Award is a formal recognition to recognize employees who hold a position with the SRCE and who demonstrate excellence in the workplace.

The Strait to Excellence Award will recognize Strait Regional Centre for Education employees for their outstanding contributions and commitment in one or more of the following areas:

student achievement

commitment to students

cultural proficiency

staff success

school performance

health and/or safety of students and co-workers

excellence in the workplace

integration of technology Learn more about the nomination process at Invitation to Submit Nominations for Strait to Excellence Awards 2019-2020

6 Enrolment 2019-2020

Who Do I Contact With Questions or Concerns?

1. Start with your child’s teacher.

2. Follow up with the school principal, if

required.

3. For general inquiries, please contact the

SRCE where we will be happy to connect

you with the right member of staff: 902-

625-2191; srce@srce.ca

4. Student discipline and/or behavior, please

contact Brian van den Heuvel at 902-625-

7065 or brian.vandenheuvel@srce.ca.

5. All other matters/media inquiries, please

contact Deanna Gillis at 902-625-7093 or

deanna.gillis@srce.ca.

As of September 30, 2019, student enrolment in the Strait Regional Centre for Education is 5,952. Please see the following breakdown of student enrolment by school:

School

Grades

Enrolment Sept. 30/19

Antigonish Education Centre P-4 525

Bayview Education Centre P-8 271

Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy

P-12 315

Chedabucto Education Centre/ Guysborough Academy

P-12 262

Dalbrae Academy 9-12 231

Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional High School 9-12 748

East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy P-12 372

East Richmond Education Centre P-8 245

Fanning Education Centre/Canso Academy P-12 162

Felix Marchand Education Centre P-4 44

H.M. MacDonald Elementary School P-6 95

Inverness Education Centre/Academy P-12 235

Pleasant Bay School P-6 9

Richmond Education Centre/Academy 5-12 365

St. Andrew Junior School 5-8 561

St. Andrews Consolidated School P-6 263

St. Mary’s Education Centre/Academy P-12 237

SAERC 9-12 341

Tamarac Education Centre P-8 520

Whycocomagh Education Centre P-8 151

Total: 5,952

Did You Know?

There are 321 children attending the Pre-primary Program at the 14 locations in the SRCE.

In the SRCE, busing is available to all pre-primary children eligible to receive bus service.

Nova Scotia’s Before and After Program is now offered at six schools sites.

Learn more at Information on Pre-primary Programs in the SRCE..

SRCE Students and Staff Participate

in WE Day Atlantic 2019 Event

On Wednesday, October 16, 2019, about 200 SRCE Grades 6 to 12 students, staff and chaperones joined thousands of others at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax for an exciting, International and educational event, WE Day Atlantic. Founded by brothers Marc and Craig Kielburger, WE Day is an initiative of WE Movement. It is a movement which empowers young global citizens through the WE Day event, and promotes youth to take action right here at home in order to create positive change in the world. The initiative enables schools to empower youth to make the world a better place locally and globally, and inspires them to take part in socially conscious acts that foster positive change. You cannot purchase a ticket to WE Day, students earn it through service. As such, each of our schools has committed to WE Act, a year-long educational initiative during which students are undertaking at least one local and one global goal that helps to promote positive change. Learn more about some of the ways students in the Strait Region are making meaningful differences in their home communities and around the world, and shifting the focus from 'me’ to ‘we’ at SRCE Students and Staff to Participate in WE Day Atlantic 2019 Event