As part of annual Pink Shirt Day celebrations, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Honourable Brian Warr, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, joined students and staff at Elwood Elementary in Deer Lake today to speak out against bullying and promote kindness in schools and communities. This year’s theme is ‘Lift each other up’.
Pink Shirt Day aims to reduce bullying by celebrating diversity in all its forms and supporting workplaces, communities and schools to be safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive of all people.
To help establish safe and caring learning environments for all students, the Provincial Government provides $12,500 annually shared among 35 schools for the Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Award. Schools are recognized for their efforts in achieving safe, caring and inclusive learning environments, promoting positive school climates, and sustaining safe and inclusive communities. A list of award recipients for 2020 is provided in the backgrounder below.
The Provincial Government, through the implementation of the Education Action Plan, is committed to building an educational community that fosters safe, caring and inclusive learning environments for all students.
Quotes
“The vision of the Provincial Government is for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to live, learn and work in a society where bullying is not accepted. The enthusiasm of our students throughout the province to pomote a safe, caring and inclusive community free from bullying is inspiring. I congratulate all students, staff and families for their kind efforts today, and throughout the entire school year.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Every student deserves the right to a safe, caring and inclusive school environment. I thank all students, teachers and staff who work tirelessly to increase the safety of our schools. Bullying is never acceptable. On Pink Shirt Day, and every day, I urge everyone to practice kindness and treat others with respect.”
Honourable Brian Warr
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
“District staff throughout the province strive to ensure our schools are inviting, safe spaces and our students value kindness and respect in their many relationships. While our efforts occur throughout the entire school year, Pink Shirt Day offers us the opportunity to highlight amazingly kind, positive, and productive initiatives underway in our schools to promote the importance of empathy and understanding by all. A sincere thank you to our many educational partners and to our schools and students for their continued efforts to lift each other up.”
Tony Stack
CEO/Director of Education, Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
“A school should always be a place where students and school staff feel fulfilled and accepted as they are. I encourage all students and staff to wear pink to remember that bullying has no place in our schools and our communities. Let’s celebrate that school is a safe and inclusive place for everyone. Congratulations to l’ENVOL for their efforts in promotig a positive behaviour within their school.”
Kim Christianson
Director of Education, Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Learn more
Education Action Plan
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @EDU_GovNL
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Media contacts
Jeremy Reynolds
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
JeremyReynolds@gov.nl.ca
Tina Coffey
Education and Early Childhood Development
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca
Cheryl Gullage
Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
709-758-0032, 697-5856
cherylgullage@nlesd.ca
Eveline Ross-Phaneuf
Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et- Labrador
709-722-6324
communications@csfp.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Safe and Caring Awards 2020 Recipients
Eastern Region:
- Mount Pearl Senior High
- St. Kevin’s Junior High
- Baltimore School
- Dunne Memorial Academy
- Gonzaga High Schol
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Catherine’s Academy
- Acreman Elementary
- Carbonear Collegiate
Central Region:
- St. Paul’s Intermediate
- New World Island Academy
- Fogo Island Central Academy
- Exploits Valley Intermediate
- St. Joseph’s Elementary
- Memorial Academy
- Holy Name of Mary Academy
- John Burke High School
- Matthew Elementary
Western Region:
- Elwood Regional High
- Hampden Academy
- Our Lady of the Cape
- Piccadilly Central High
- Stephenville Elementary
- Pasadena Academy
- Viking Trail Academy
- Grandy’s River Collegiate
- Templeton Academy
- Corner Brook Regional High
- St. Michael’s Elementary
Labrador Region:
- Menihek High School
- Henry Gordon Academy
- Amos Comenius Memorial School
- Lake Melville School
Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de TNL (CSFP):
- Centre éducatif l’ENVOL