Heather Latter
Student across the district took part in a variety of activities during Education Week last week, but most important was the focus on mental health.
“What we tried to do this year was link Mental Health Week and Education Week together because the two issues very much reinforce one another,” said Casey Slack, superintendent of education for the Rainy River District School Board.
“While we’re trying to celebrate existing educational programs, things that are really exciting and inspirational to kids, when we focus on mental health, we’re trying to reduce the stigma around mental health and to put a positive emphasis on mental health itself,” he noted.
Slack said it’s something the schools have been focusing on for the past few years.
Education Week is an annual event celebrated by school boards and schools across the province to recognize student achievement and teaching excellence.
The theme this year was “Achieving Excellence: Moving Forward in Math.”
But in addition to that focus, RRDSB schools also celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week with activities to highlight the importance of mental health awareness for students, their families, and staff.
“Schools took on various initiatives,” noted Slack, citing school-wide activities at some schools to demonstrate “bouncing back together.”
They also practised relaxation techniques, bucket filling, and creating a “what I do to feel good” wall.
Some schools undertook yoga instruction while others participated in a daily health and well-being walk/run, Slack added.
A mental health and wellness forum at Fort Frances High School was held, with tables staffed by community partners from various organizations, such as the United Native Friendship Centre, Firefly, Kenora-Rainy River Child and Family Services, and the Northwestern Health Unit.
“They were going over things like positive body image to healthy coping strategies,” Slack noted.
He added a few schools were involved in the making of stress relief balls while others implemented graffiti walls to write positive messages.
And many schools used uplifting music throughout the day.
“Just trying to have some fun and put a positive spin on not only mental health but positive mental health,” Slack stressed.
“[It’s] very much based on what we’ve been trying to do on our strength-based programming, blending motivational strategies to students,” he explained.
In addition, several schools viewed “Change the View” video contest winners which will be released during the week by Children’s Mental Health Ontario.
Three entries were submitted by Fort High students.
“It’s exciting that on their own accord, they got together and created this—a message on social media,” Slack remarked.
And with a recent reinvestment in the library, Slack said a percentage of books are dedicated to mental health and positive mental health.
“So the whole notion of resiliency, positivity, health, feeling good, overall well-being,” he noted.
“Those were common themes in the books and they have been distributed throughout the schools.
“It’s been a great week,” Slack added.
