Introducing the SCI WELLNESS WARRIORS!
Over the past two school years, Stayner Collegiate Institute has had a dedicated group of individuals that have come together to form a team devoted to promoting and supporting positive Mental Health & Wellness in our school community. Our team is comprised of students, teachers, administrators and community partners and we call ourselves "The Wellness Warriors".
During this tenure, the Wellness Warriors have been busy planning, organizing and implementing a number of great activities and events for our school community aimed at promoting and supporting positive Mental Health & Wellness. Some of the great initiatives spearheaded by the Wellness Warriors are as follows:
- Psychoeducational Small Group Session on Addiction for all Grade 10 students (2017-present)
Small Group sessions for all Grade 10 students with a focus on Addiction, led by a certified Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor.
- Healthy Relationships and Dating Violence Workshop Presentations for all Grade 11 Students (2017-present)
Classroom sessions presented by a representative from Huronia Transition Homes for all Grade 11 students centered around educating students on the differences between Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships.
- Digital Abuse Workshop Presentations for all Grade 11 Students (2017-present)
Classroom sessions presented by a representative from Huronia Transition Homes for all Grade 11 students centered around exploring and understanding the consequences of Digital Abuse.
- safeTALK Training for all Grades 11 and 12 students that wish to participate (2017-present)
A half-day alertness training that prepares anyone 15 years and older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper.
- Be Well Project (Tentative)
The Be Well Community Collective is comprised of a variety of community partners and it was assembled to try to address a gap in services for youth in the area. The goal of the Be Well Project is to connect youth and their families with local services. A youth health screening tool has been developed and is already in use with 23 physicians in our area. The students at SCI will be the first school piloting this project.
- Can You Feel It? Stress Workshop for all Grades 7 & 8 Students (Tentative)
With direction from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, a Health Nurse or Classroom Teacher delivers this program which has been created to help students build the necessary life skills to manage and cope with the stress in their everyday lives. This program addresses such topics as: What is stress? How do we recognize it? and How do we cope with it?
- YMCA Gambling, Gaming & Addiction Workshop for all Grades 7 & 8 Students (Tentative)
Classroom sessions with a presenter from the YMCA whereby students will discuss and explore how technology has changed the gambling market and blurred the lines between gaming and gambling. Students will also explore the risks associated with online gaming and gambling and discuss strategies to make safe and healthy decisions around this topic.
In addition to all of the aforementioned projects, the Wellness Warriors are also proud to support the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at our school and we assist students in the planning and delivery of activities during Mental Health Awareness Week in May each year.
As evidenced by our team's vision statement: Promoting mental health and well-being for all at Stayner Collegiate Institute, this issue will always be a priority. We hope the information provided has demonstrated the commitment of Stayner Collegiate and the Wellness Warriors, in both supporting and promoting positive mental health and well-being in our school community.