Culturally Responsive
As part of our efforts to ensure we provide Safe & Caring learning environments for all students and staff, a Culturally Responsive module has been created as a professional development component for Horizon staff. The goal of this module is to challenge accepted paradigms about race and shift school culture towards accepting and celebrating individual differences. This module was developed by Horizon staff with help from the Saskatchewan Professional Development Unit and in partnership with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC). The module includes information from the SHRC's Citizenship Education – an important initiative that will support the development of students' citizenship knowledge, skills and practice through curriculum-aligned resource materials at every grade level from Grades 1 to 12. The Culturally Responsive module can be found below:
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy March 11.pdf
Holocaust Symposium
On May
5, 2015, Horizon School Division held it's first-ever Holocaust Symposium at William Derby School. This
event was made possible through the work of Horizon teacher, Mr. Larry Mikulchik, the support of the Board of Education, partnership
with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and sponsorship from the Azrieli
Foundation. This symposium was the first of its kind and brought together several hundred
students and nearly 50 teachers representing schools across Horizon (as well as
Horizon Board trustees, senior leadership and guests). This has become an annual event, open to all grade 11 students each year. The event features
presentations on topics such as Holocaust history, anti-Semitism and Jewish
culture. The highlight of these events has been the opportunity to hear directly from
Holocaust survivors as they share their compelling stories with Horizon students and
staff.
VTRA
When a situation arises involving a threat
to student, staff or community safety, Horizon School Division staff and
community partners employ a process called Violence Threat Risk Assessment
(VTRA). VTRA involves school staff & administrators, police officers and
other related partners (community mental health, social services, etc.) applying
a multidisciplinary process to determine if a threat-maker poses a legitimate
risk to a target or targets they have threatened. VTRA Teams also assess
students who have a history of violence with concern for further and/or more
serious violence potential.
Training for VTRA is conducted through the
Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response (CCTATR). To date,
many Horizon staff members including teachers, principals, support staff,
senior leadership and others have received Level I and/or Level II VTRA training.
Links:
Treaty Essential Learnings
