The 2020–2021 school year included a focus on a mentally healthy return to school for all students, including their re-engagement back into the classroom. Educators continued to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning space for all. Creating a sense of belonging and a mentally healthy return to school following a period of remote learning, focusing on mobilizing support for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, continues throughout the year.
Student counsellors welcomed a return to school and a face-to-face provision of service. Our continued partnership with FIREFLY also allowed for counselling services to be provided virtually for those students continuing in remote learning and/or those requesting mental health support virtually.
The Board has continued to use the TIERed system for supporting student mental health and well-being. The multi-tiered system helps to ensure universal support: good for ALL services are provided at TIER One; prevention, necessary for some at TIER Two; and intervention, essential for a few at TIER Three.
For the second consecutive summer, school boards across the province received funding to provide mental health support throughout July and August. These funds were used by the Board to retain three of our student counsellors to provide mental health support to students, participate in hiring and orientation of new staff, and for resource development.
The KPDSB and NAN mental health champion model remains a priority to support educator capacity and share best practices related to mental health and well-being.
Professional development specific to resources created by School Mental Health Ontario for supporting student mental health and well-being were targeted to ensure implementation of resources directly in the classroom. Specific focus included the implementation of the SMHO Virtual Field Trips.
