Every school within Prairie South School Division has focused on connecting and re-connecting with students this year because of pandemic issues, with many developing creative ideas to support those areas.
“As we have learned, for professionals in the trauma response field, humans are hardwired to connect, and before we can focus on learning, we need to focus on connection,” Amanda Olson, superintendent of learning, said during the June 7 PSSD board meeting.
“Our connection to others is one of the most important factors when it comes to our mental health (and) wellness. Students who have a connection to a caring adult, and feel genuinely understood, have higher self-esteem and higher success rates in school and life.”
To better gauge student well-being, the division conducted its annual OurSCHOOL survey this spring to base its goals and targets for next year. All PSSD students in grades 4 to 12 — 2,079 youths —participated in the survey.
Olson presented the survey results during the board meeting.
Anxiety
Students continue to experience various emotions attending school during a pandemic, including anxiety and anxious feelings, she continued. All staff have worked to support students and families with transitioning back to school or online learning and connect families with external support when required. Other staff have also trained in Mental Health First Aid.
Also, the division continues to focus on the Five Pillars of Everyday Resilience by Dr. Robyn Hanley-Dafoe.
Health-care providers, clinicians and researchers have pointed out that the feelings of anxiety that emerged during the pandemic will resolve for some youths once routines return, Olson said, while other students could face new or worsening anxiety now or in the future.
The survey data shows 35.3 per cent of students in grades 4 to 6 have experienced moderate to high levels of anxiety, compared to 32.6 per cent last year and 23.7 per cent two years ago.
Meanwhile, 30.7 per cent of students in grades 7 to 12 have moderate to high levels of anxiety, compared to 29.7 per cent last year and 26.3 per cent two years ago.
Belonging
The division asked students about the positive sense of belonging they felt in their schools and whether they felt accepted, respected, included, supported and valued by their peers.
For students in grades 4 to 6, 68 per cent felt a positive sense of belonging. Last year that number was 69.7 per cent and two years ago, it was 73.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, in grades 7 to 12, 61.3 per cent felt they belonged, compared to 61.2 per cent last year and 65.2 per cent two years ago.
Relationships
The survey asked students whether they had positive relationships with their teachers, including fair and supportive interactions, quality instruction, and non-academic support, Olson said.
The data showed in grades 4 to 6, 81.7 per cent felt they had good relationships with their teachers. Last year and the year before that number was 83 per cent.
Meanwhile, for students in grades 7 to 12, 73.2 per cent had positive interactions with teachers, compared to 74.7 per cent last year and 75.8 per cent two years ago.
“I would have thought the numbers would be higher because of the work with connection and re-connection,” Olson remarked.
Connection/re-connection strategies
Schools have used several strategies this year to connect and re-connect with students, she said.
For example:
- Schools phoned every student/family in September to welcome them back
- One school has dedicated every Friday to mental health activities in the gym, followed by healthy snacks
- Schools held fall fairs and welcome back events
- One school created mixed kindergarten to Grade 12 groups that met bi-weekly for fun activities
- Many schools brought back extracurricular activities
“There are so many wonderful things happening in our schools with these two outcomes,” Olson said.
Vaping
The survey showed that five per cent of students — or 374 youths — have vaped at least once in the last month, a decrease of one per cent from last year’s survey. Furthermore, 11 per cent have vaped nicotine and three per cent have vaped marijuana.
Suggestions
Olson suggested that schools continue to use the survey to target student well-being, that the division continues with a strategic focus on wellness and that it removes the question about vaping and replaces it with a question about connection.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 6.
