Safe and Caring Schools

 

Resources

Alberta Education has developed a number of resources related to safe and caring schools.

Bullying Fact Sheets (2007)

As part of Alberta's Strategy for the Prevention of Bullying, Children's Services and Education have developed four fact sheets, with tips on how to recognize bullying behaviour and how to stop it. Fact sheets are available in English and French.

The Heart of the Matter: Character and Citizenship Education in Alberta Schools (2005)

This 275-page resource provides an overview of character and citizenship education and offers a sample framework for building and sustaining a culture of character. It also provides information and sample strategies for choosing an approach, assessing outcomes, fostering a positive school culture, infusing character and citizenship education across subject areas, choosing resources, linking with extracurricular activities, and involving parents and community. It also includes chapters on preventing bullying, creating a safe and caring school culture, choosing resources, and integrating character and citizenship education into co-curricular and extracurricular activities. The book ends with an extensive appendix, which provides a variety of useful information. (Grades K-12)

Working Together for Safe and Caring Schools, Grades 7-12: Resource Manual for Students, Staff and Parents (2003)

This resource was developed, in collaboration with the Calgary Board of Education, by students and teachers working together to create safe and caring schools. The purpose of the resource is to empower and involve students in effecting change in their school environments and to help them take a leadership role in promoting safe and caring schools through a range of student-designed activities and initiatives.

Supporting the Social Dimension: Resource Guide for Teachers, Grades 7-12 (2002)

This resource provides support for the teaching and learning of social skills and behaviours across Alberta Education's programs of study. It includes guidelines, objectives and strategies designed to assist secondary school teachers with enhancing the social competency skills of students in five focus areas: personal growth and goal setting, health and well-being, appearance and manner, ethical behaviour, and accountability. The objectives and strategies may be used across grades, subjects and student populations. The practical suggestions may be readily implemented by most classroom teachers and students.

Guidelines for Using Timeout in Schools (2002)

There are many ways to promote safe and caring schools and encourage responsible and respectful behaviour in students. The use of timeout procedures is well documented in the professional literature and, when implemented correctly, has proven to be an effective method of reducing a wide variety of disruptive behaviours in children. Timeout lies within a continuum of behavioural interventions and should only be used when less restrictive interventions have not been successful.

Supporting Safe, Secure and Caring Schools in Alberta (1999)

Part of the Safe and Caring Schools Initiative, this user-friendly resource is designed to help school staff and community members develop and implement effective policies and comprehensive programs to promote a safe and caring school or school district. Sections include information on:

  • legislation governing schools
  • policy development
  • violence prevention
  • intervention - crisis response and follow-up
  • communications and follow-up reports
  • support organizations and agencies
  • staff development and teaching resources.