Let’s Celebrate HWDSB during Education Week and Mental Health Week!
Schools are vital to the well-being of students, as we saw during the disruptions of the pandemic.
We celebrate the link between learning and well-being as we recognize Education Week and Mental Health Awareness Week (May 2-6, 2022).
We are excited to Celebrate HWDSB this week, with open houses, new initiatives, special events and new resources that focus on Positive Culture and Well-being, Student Learning and Achievement and School Renewal.
As we recover and reconnect, it is important to note that wellness matters for staff as well as students. We know that many adults are facing significant challenges.
For example, the pandemic has increased stress for children and youth – and this has challenged the caregivers who support them. In response, we continue to invite caregivers to explore Emotion Coaching, a communication strategy that can quickly calm the brain.
This week, we are also celebrating the love of learning. We are launching an initiative called Storytime Trails which you will soon see in our community; we are celebrating new schools that opened to little fanfare during the pandemic; and we are recognizing amazing work to support student well-being and inclusion, such as Prom Project.
Sincerely,
John
Interim Director of Education
Mental Health Week Events
| Event | Description | Date | Registration Link |
| Exploring Empathy: A Canadian Conversation
|
Join the CMHA in kicking off Mental Health Week with a virtual conversation exploring empathy. Join award-winning humanitarian and CMHA volunteer, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Mental Health Speaker & Founder of #SickNotWeak Michael Landsberg, Clinical Traumatologist, Kayla Breelove Carter, for an hour of thoughtful conversation on how to bring empathy to life. This presentation is for all students. | Monday, May 2 from 12-1 p.m. | Click here to register |
| How to support a friend when you are concerned about their mental well-being | Join Jill Dennison from the Canadian Mental Health Association and a guest with lived experience (TAMI) as they discuss How to support a friend when you are concerned about their mental well-being (with a focus on empathy and validation). This presentation is for grades 6-12 students. | Wednesday, May 4 at 9 a.m. | Click here to register |
| Ways to Wellness and Fun | Jill Dennison from the Canadian Mental Health Association will present fun activities that will promote an understanding of mental health and well-being. This presentation is for grades 6-12 students. | Friday, May 6 at 1:15 p.m. | Click here to register |
| What is Anxiety? | Join Jill Dennison from the Canadian Mental Health Association and a guest with lived experience (TAMI) as they discuss What is Anxiety? (Including a focus on coping strategies). This presentation is for grades 6-12 students. | Monday, May 9 at 1 p.m. | Click here to register |
Resources:
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students (May 2022)
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers (May 2022)
- We Help Update – Spring 2022
- Video: Learn more about Emotion Coaching at HWDSB
Updated on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.