Ontario Recognizes Safe and Accepting School in Brampton-Springdale

Province Celebrating Schools that Create Positive Environments

NEWS                                                                                                 May 25, 2015

Ontario is recognizing the students, teachers, principals, parents/guardians and other community members at Conestoga Public School for working together to foster a positive school environment that supports student achievement and well-being.

Each member of Conestoga Public School’s Safe and Accepting Schools Team is receiving a Premier’s Award for Accepting Schools. The annual award recognizes teams across the province that demonstrated leadership and innovation to promote and maintain a safe and accepting school environment last year.

Conestoga Public School’s team received the award for innovative work in creating a safe, inclusive and accepting school environment.

Team members include:

• Laiba Kahlon – student
• Carol Fox – parent
• Linda Sturgeon – teacher
• Alison Liddell – teacher
• Christina Smyth – non-teaching staff member
• ShakeelaAzmat – community partner
• Cathy Butcher – principal
• Tara Day-Orzechowski – vice principal

Supporting safe and accepting school environments is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUOTES

“I’m very proud of the work of Conestoga Public School’s Safe and Accepting Schools Team to promote a positive school environment for students here in Brampton.It is the efforts of such dedicated teams that help to make this such a wonderful community.”

— Harinder Malhi, MPP for Brampton-Springdale

“Congratulations to all of the recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Accepting Schools for creating positive and inclusive school environments. We know how important safe and accepting environments are to help students reach their full potential.”

— Liz Sandals, Minister of Education

QUICK FACTS

• Every school in Ontario is required to have a Safe and Accepting Schools Team.
• Since 2004, the government has invested more than$490 million to support school boards and communities to create safe and inclusive schools by funding programs such as bullying prevention and intervention programs as well as adding staff to schools including child and youth workers, social workers and psychologists.In 2015-16, Ontario will invest an additional projected$65 million to create safe and inclusive schools.
• Promoting well-being is a key goal of Ontario’s renewed vision for education.

LEARN MORE

• Find out more about the Premier’s Awards for Accepting Schools.
• Learn more about Ontario’s safe and accepting schools.
• Read about the Accepting Schools Act, 2012.

MPP’s contact info

Office of Harinder Malhi, MPP

Brampton-Springdale

(905) 495-8030

http://harindermalhi.onmpp.ca/