Student Support Advisory Meeting

November 20, 2001

The meeting included updates on parent involvement in ISSP, and the Safe and Caring Schools Initiative.

ISSP:

Seats have been set aside at the two day interagency training sessions for parents across the province. One half day information sessions have been held for parents in western, central and eastern regions. Two videos are being produced. Parents have been surveyed and parents sit on committees. An evaluation of the program is underway.

Safe and Caring Schools:

The Department of Education is working on a “Safe and Caring Schools” initiative for Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department’s action plan is:

• to have an education representative on the Provincial Coordinating Committee of the Provincial Violence Prevention Initiative;
• to work collaboratively with the NLTA in planning and implementing various Safe and Caring Schools Initiatives;
• to assist school districts with safe and caring schools initiatives;
• to establish a Safe and Caring Schools Provincial Advisory Group;
• to work in partnership with the three other Atlantic Provinces in developing an APEF Teacher Resource and Inservice Package to assist teachers in addressing behaviour concerns
• to develop and distribute various resource documents through the Student Support Services Division of the Department of Education
• to develop a Safe and Caring Schools Website with links to other web sties and related government documents
• to assist school districts in addressing any identified needs from the Provincial Violence Prevention School Survey
• to support school districts presently pursuing or interested in pursuing the “Cooperative Discipline” Program

  “Cooperative Discipline” is a program endorsed by the Department. A representative from each school district attending a training session in the summer of 2001 and can now act as a resource person within their district. The Department does not mean to suggest that schools abandon or disregard other worthwhile programs, however support for the implementation of “Cooperative Discipline” is available to those schools that wish to avail of it.

NLFSC was represented at the meeting by Denise Pike, President.