Our secondary schools have always been inclusive simply by virtue of open access. Also, we have always ensured that staff and students are able to thrive in a safe, equitable and inclusive learning environment. This has been nurtured with the advent of Safe Schools and Progressive Discipline legislation. To wit, CtK's implementation of restorative justice practices in the classroom and in the way our administration deals with conflict has added an extra layer of security and equity for students.
Our board has been mired in the news with respect to the Equity and Inclusive Education Policy. Below are excerpts from our board website speaking to the action steps in this regard.
On May 3, 2011, the Halton Catholic District School Board passed its new Equity and Inclusive Education Policy (#II-45) . In compliance with the Ministry of Education’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, this policy provides a comprehensive framework that ensures equity and inclusive practices in all aspects of Board and school operations, including: Board policies, programs, procedures and practices, leadership, school/community relationships, religious accommodation, school climate and prevention of discrimination and harassment, professional learning, accountability and transparency; while remaining entirely consistent with Catholic teaching.
As a Catholic school system that teaches the respect, dignity and love of all people, our Board is committed to providing safe, equitable and inclusive school environments. Our schools encourage acceptance and understanding of all students through initiatives intended to provide supports to any student who may feel marginalized or isolated for any reason. Ultimately, it remains our priority to ensure safe and inclusive environments for everyone in all of our Catholic school communities.
Within the parameters established by this policy, the following action steps will be put in place to ensure that every student is free from harassment, violence, or malice in speech or in action:
•By Your SIDE (Safety, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity) Secondary School Student Focus Groups
•Student Senate and Student Trustee dialogue
•SIDE Spaces programs
•Establishing Networks with Catholic School Boards and Community Agencies to determine best practices in creating equity, inclusivity and safety in schools
Below is the Ontario's Equity and Inclusivity Education Strategy which precipitated boards across the province to take substantial action.
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/april2009/EquityEducationStrategy.pdf
Parents will receive an email which will include comments from the Ontario Catholic Trustees Association and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario in the following days.
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to your comments.
On Thursday, we had our first By Your SIDE discussion at CtK. It was very successful! The meeting was led using restorative justice practices, including the circle discussion format, which our students have become familiar with. I was excited to see how much our students had to contribute to this topic, and was happy to see how much they want to help their peers and create positive change within our community. Taking part in this discussion put the equity and inclusion issues our board has been having into perspective. It is about the students, and making sure that they feel loved and welcome at school. As a student, it was refreshing to see that others have had similar experiences. We aren't as different as we think. This group is going do wonderful work within our community in terms of ensuring that every student is accepted, regardless of what makes them stand out among their peers.
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