Reaching minds. Touching hearts. - Rainbow District School Board

Maintain safe schools
Algonquin Public School
thanks community
A special ceremony was held at
Algonquin Road Public School on
November 12, 2004 to thank the
community for its support one year
after the fire that occurred at the school.
During the ceremony, Greater Sudbury
Fire Services applauded staff and
students for their exemplary behaviour
when the fire alarm sounded. Local
members of parliament commended
the quick action of teachers, staff
and Greater Sudbury Fire Services for
ensuring the safety of students first and
foremost.
Focus on character
education
Character education encourages
students to become positive and
productive members in a global society.
It also instills in students skills that
are essential for learning and life. A
number of character education programs
continued in Rainbow Schools during
the 2004-2005 school year, including
the Community Builders Program,
Values, Influences and Peers, World
Class Schools and Thrive (Lions Quest).
These initiatives complement the Board’s
Discipline Policy which promotes
responsibility, respect, civility and
academic excellence in a safe learning
and teaching environment.
Discipline Policy
The Discipline Policy was updated in a
new format with a focus on character
traits that build good citizens –
leadership, courtesy, care, responsibility,
trust, respect, safety, dignity, honesty
and fairness. The policy was included
in the newsletter to parents/guardians
and students distributed the first week
of school.
Empowered Student
Partnerships
The Greater Sudbury Police Service
continued to introduce the Empowered
Student Partnerships (ESP) program
in Rainbow Schools. Students identify
concerns in their school and initiate
projects to address those concerns.
By taking action, students work in
partnership with the community to
promote a safe school environment
all year long.
Security cameras
The Ministry of Education provided up
to $4,000 per school for the installation
of video surveillance
cameras. Security
systems will be
installed in 29
elementary schools.
Most secondary
schools have
sophisticated
video surveillance
systems in place.
Launch of Risk Watch
A comprehensive injury prevention
program for children from JK to Grade 8
was piloted at four Rainbow Schools.
Called Risk Watch, the program gives
children and their families the skills
and knowledge they need to create safer
homes and communities. A Risk Watch
seminar was held in the fall of 2004
to introduce the program in the pilot
schools: Algonquin Road Public School,
Long Lake Public School, Redwood
Acres Public School and Pinecrest
Public School. The Greater Sudbury
Safe Communities Coalition includes
representatives from the Greater Sudbury
Fire Service, St. John’s Ambulance,
the Sudbury & District Health Unit,
Great West Life and Rainbow District
School Board.
Reaching minds. Touching hearts. 19 www.rainbowschools.ca