Saskatoon Catholic Board of Education

Community of Safe, Positive Schools
Recognition Award

Historical Background:

During the 1995-1996 school year, the Catholic Board of Education approved a broadly-based consultative process conducted by the Catholic Schools Principals’ Association. This process involved staff members, parents, students and community agencies in a dialogue on issues related to safe, positive schools. As a result of this process the Principals’ Association undertook a number of initiatives in an effort to ensure that Catholic Schools are safe, positive places where teachers can teach and students can learn free from intimidation and fear.

Community of Safe, Positive Schools Award

This membership award recognizes Saskatoon Catholic Schools committed to creating and maintaining safe, positive learning environments where parents, students and staff work together in a spirit of acceptance and concern for all students and where behavioural expectations that are clearly communicated, consistently enforced and fairly applied.

School Eligibility

Self evaluation is at the heart of membership in the Community of Safe, Positive Schools; leadership, participation and curricula are the corner stones. The school code of conduct is the foundation upon which to build a safe, positive school. Membership is open to all Saskatoon Catholic Schools and recognition is given to schools meeting membership criteria. The following criteria can assist in determining your current status and provide direction for future development:

Safe, Positive School Leadership Team

A principal supported, staff driven leadership team committed to the notion that schools need to be places where teachers can teach and students can learn free from intimidation and fear.

A School Code of Conduct

A school code of conduct and democratic classroom practices are essential precursors to implementing a school-wide plan for social skills instruction. A school code of conduct reflects the values and vision of the school division and sets clear goals for behaviour and mirrors expectations for the wider school-community

Positive Discipline Practices

At the school and classroom level, discipline practices reflect the school code of conduct. Positive discipline practices address the need for students to be responsible for their behaviour and at the same time recognize that students need to be taught the necessary skills to become self-disciplined learners able to make responsible choices. A school-wide commitment to the belief that all students have the potential to become responsible students invites student participation into the discipline process and places the teacher in the critical position of developing democratic classroom practices that teach students to make responsible behavioural choices. Students cannot learn responsibility without being given opportunities to make choices and to learn from their mistakes.

Social Skills Curriculum

To succeed in school children must have the confidence to participate and the ability to focus their attention and work independently. They need the ability to channel their aggression, to accept direction and be motivated to achieve. Social skills are necessary to succeed in school and are the tools that allow individuals to build and maintain positive relationships enabling them to understand, empathize with, accept and respect others.

Service Learning

Service learning is a teaching learning methodology that provides students with opportunities to use newly acquired skills and knowledge in organized service experiences that meet actual school and community needs. Service-learning reflects the belief that education must be linked to social responsibility and that the most effective learning is active and connected to experience in a meaningful way.

Partnership with Parents

Parental involvement is a key to creating a safe, positive school community and to a large extent can be viewed as a measure of the effectiveness of a school’s effort in creating a peaceful school environment

Professional Development and Staff Training

Professional development opportunities, in service and staff support are necessary for teachers to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for the implementation of positive discipline practices and a social skills curriculum.