Peaceful Schools With Character

Our "Culture of Peace" Initiative at Huron


 



Huron Heights Secondary School is a proud member of




A couple of years ago a group of staff, students and parents asked the question: How can we better support our staff and respond to student needs to improve student behaviour and achievement? In order to address the question, we decided to focus our attention on three areas: school culture, curriculum integration & youth leadership. We enlisted the support from our Board, community partnerships and Peaceful Schools International. PSI is a Canadian charitable organization that:

· facilitates networking among peaceful schools
· acts as a clearinghouse for innovative ideas and programs
· encourages student-centered conflict resolution strategies
· reduces violence and punitive discipline measures
· supports at-risk students
· promotes an understanding and appreciation of diversity

We selected this organization because their goals fit nicely with the type of work we wanted to do in our school. So far we have implemented the following activities with staff, student and parent support and involvement:
1) School Climate/Culture
- Character Education Training
- Needs Assessment (Safe Schools Survey and Student Empowerment Survey)
- School Beautification (International School Peace Garden)
- Dress Code
- School-Wide Discipline Policy involving all staff, students and parents
- Breakfast Club for Alternative Education students

2) Curriculum Integration
- Instructional Intelligence professional development and Action Research
- Tribes training for staff
- Bullying/Peer Harassment Prevention Education for staff and students
- Peer-led Prevention Education in conflict resolution
- 2 Social Workers working in the Alternative Education Program
- Open Doors program for Alternative Education students in grade 9
- Reconnecting Youth program for Alternative Education students in grade 10/11
- Anti-Racism Literacy/Visual Art Contest school-wide participation

3) Youth Development/Leadership
- Peer Mediators
- Outreach Counselling
- Anger Management Counselling
- Social Skills Training
- Equity Training
- Gender-Specific Violence Prevention Training
- Substance Use/Misuse Prevention Peer Facilitators (Healthy Active Living)
- Bullying/Harassment Prevention Peer Facilitators (S.T.A.R)
- student-led Peaceful Schools of Character group (P.E.A.C.E)

Huron Heights School Community Partnerships
1)Canadian Mental Health Association
2)York Region Health Services
3)Town of Newmarket
4)York Region Outreach Counselling & Women’s Support Network
5)York Region YMCA Employment and Community Services
6)York Region Breakfast For Learning
7)Newmarket – Family Life Services

Although we know our journey has only begun we thought it was the right time to apply for membership status with Peaceful Schools International (PSI). Thank you to staff, students and parents in helping to ensure that character education and culture of peace initiatives are embedded in our school culture. As a result, our work has been recognized by PSI and we are now a ‘member school’. This will enable us to receive greater access to the PSI professional development opportunities identified above, as we continue our work.

Congratulations to everyone and a gracious thank you for helping us to continue to improve student behaviour and achievement in our school.