HPEDSB launches ‘Words Matter’ campaign

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has launched a year-long ‘Words Matter’ campaign in its schools to help nurture safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments.

The Words Matter campaign addresses nuances of language that can instil harm, bias and discrimination. It notes that by having open dialogue and education about the power of words, the aim is to create a culture of mindful communication. This campaign will involve not just students and staff but also parents and caregivers, emphasizing the crucial role that families play in promoting respectful interactions.

Parents and caregivers can get involved by attending a virtual workshop about the impact of language on children and others in communities and to discover tools to support children to use words that uplift and empower.

The online Words Matter Parent and Caregiver Virtual Workshop is set for Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. Access to the virtual workshop will be provided by each school.

As part of the Words Matter Campaign, the board’s schools have committed to the following actions:
– Active intervention: Empowering everyone in our community to speak up against harmful language.
– Staff training: Providing ongoing professional development for staff to address harmful and discriminatory language effectively.
– Parent/Caregiver engagement: Facilitating important conversations with families about the significance of this issue.
– Words Matter Day: Organizing a special day where all classrooms engage in discussions about the impact of harmful language and strategies for addressing it.

In addition to the Words Matter campaign, each school will prepare and provide its own school-based survey for students in Grades 4 through 12 . This short online survey is to be available to students at three different points in the school year (pre, mid and post campaign). The survey will be voluntary and is to be anonymous.

Survey results are to be used in several ways:
– Support the HPEDSB priority of promoting well-being and safe environments
– Support the work of schools and School Climate Teams
provide valuable information for Student Achievement Plan goals
– Help schools understand their school needs and encourage them to explore new and effective ways of involving their students, staff and school community

School climate is a way of describing feelings around safety, belonging and how welcoming schools are. By gaining a greater understanding of how students are feeling through the survey, HPEDSB will work toward the following goals:
– Increasing the number of students, families and staff who feel safe, have a greater sense of belonging and feel their schools are a welcoming place.
– Supporting schools in working with their School Climate Teams, consisting of at least one student, parent, teacher, non-teaching staff member, community partner and administrator, to assist in monitoring, reviewing and improving the school climate.

Anonymized survey results will be shared with students, school councils, school climate teams and school staff to monitor progress and celebrate successes.