Healthy Schools focus of Students Leading Students Conference

“Planting Seeds for the Healthy Schools of Tomorrow” is the theme of Rainbow District School Board’s Students Leading Students Conference, which kicks off on Earth Day. A key component of the Student Success Initiative, the conference is being organized and presented by the Board’s Student Senate made up of representatives from all Rainbow secondary schools. The conference will take place Tuesday, April 22nd and Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at Cambrian College’s Student Centre on Barrydowne Road.

“The purpose of this student-led initiative is to foster dialogue, empower students and nurture leadership skills around education for sustainable development and school improvement planning,” says Jean Hanson, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “We want students to gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and behaviours essential to building a sustainable society from social, environmental and economic perspectives. When students are capable, connected and contributing, they want to make a difference to the world in which they live.”
 
Hanson says that students play an important role in ensuring their school is inclusive and responsive to student needs. “When we enable students to be heard, we engage them in building healthy school environments where all young people feel like they belong,” she says. “A key component of the Ministry of Education’s Student Success Initiative is to give students a voice on how to improve their school so all young people have an opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve success.”

On the first day of the conference, two students from each secondary school will identify challenges facing schools and offer solutions. Some of the students will be part of a panel on the second day of the conference. They will share an experience that has had an impact on their high school years. The purpose of the panel discussion is to give all students insight into issues of importance to young people so they can learn from each other.
 
On the second day of the conference, eight more students from each secondary school will join the core group from the first day. A teacher representative from each school will also attend. Students will hear renowned inspirational speaker Sunjay Nath. They will also participate in workshops, roundtable discussions and team building exercises on a number of topics – effective communication, community involvement, healthy living and environmental awareness.

Director Hanson commended Rainbow District School Board’s Student Senate for organizing and presenting this year’s Students Leading Students Conference. Chaired by Student Trustee Andrew Pawluch of Lockerby Composite School, the Student Senate provides a regular forum for students to come together to network and share ideas.

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Media Contact:
Jean Hanson, Director of Education,
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7215.