Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division is focusing on well-being of staff, students and families while schools remain closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news release, Holy Family said it knows that humans are wired for connection. Being connected is part of being well, therefore Holy Family is making moves to support staff, students, and families so that they feel connected and focused on their own well-being.
Using work from Dr. Jody Carrington and Dr. Jean Clinton, Holy Family has implemented several layers of well-being focused activities that have been amped up during COVID-19 and school closure due to the anxiety and worry the current state of the world has brought on.
Staff from all Holy Family schools are participating in a Well-Being at Work Challenge. This challenge has staff taking a 15-minute break during their workday to focus on physical and mental well-being by moving. This friendly competition has prizes weekly; St. Olivier School in Radville has been the leader so far.
Holy Family school counsellors are providing supports online to families and students on topics like mindfulness, stress busters, being grateful, flexible thinking, and tools to combat anxiety. They are also providing fun challenges in the areas of growth mindset, self-love, gratitude, positivity and friendship.
Counsellors also continue to support students and families in need, through technology, either in private or group sessions. They offer supportive strategies for dealing with trauma, anxiety, grief, and other concerns. Holy Family counsellors also have started a website of resources that are accessible to all.
This website offers supports to students, staff and parents in the areas of self-care, self-regulation, and anxiety, as well as providing information and links to local community resources.
Holy Family schools are keeping connections with students and families in various and creative ways. We had had online school gospel assemblies, social media videos, parades and specific one-on-one connections where staff reach out and connect with a student and family in the way that they need – sometimes that is reading a book to them and having a visit from the other side of their window at home.
