Sherwood Park, AB. — Staff and students throughout Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) are planning a variety of activities to promote kindness and healthy relationships in honour of this year’s Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, taking place November 14-18.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is an annual event celebrated in schools provincewide to boost awareness among students, staff, families and community members about bullying and how to prevent incidents of it in schools. Within EIPS, students and staff are spending the week learning strategies to foster healthy relationships, discourage intolerances and communicate through conflict.

“Inclusion is a key priority for the Division,” says Trina Boymook, the Board Chair of EIPS. “Maintaining positive learning and working environments for students and staff alike is non-negotiable. Everyone should feel welcomed, respected and safe as they navigate their educational journey and be free to explore their own potential, while fostering healthy relationships.”

Throughout the week, various activities are planned at schools divisionwide, including morning announcements, presentations, lesson plans, art projects, read alouds and activities—themed around healthy relationships, empathy building, conflict-resolution, inclusion, deeds of kindness, cyberbullying and much more. Many schools are also celebrating Odd Socks Day to highlight how every person is unique. Additionally, all EIPS schools have ongoing projects and initiatives in place focused on building healthy relationships such as the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings, Random Acts of Kindness, Bucket Fillers, Leader in Me and various community-service programs.

“The more we weave compassion into our teaching, the more we see kindness reflected in students,” says Marcus Reed, the Director of Specialized Supports at EIPS. “Building a foundation of respect and caring within the school environment allows students to be proactive with conflict and understand how to empathize with another’s perspective.”

In addition to individual school activities, EIPS schools, staff and students are encouraged to show their support for Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week by posting positive, inclusive and respectful messages on various social media platforms using the hashtags #EIPSBAPW, #BullyingAwarenessWeek and #ItTakesOne.

Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,460 students in 43 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.

RELATED INFORMATION:
Bullying – Find Supports
Bullying Awareness Week
Odd Socks Day

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For more information contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902