Northern Lights Public Schools launched the It Starts with Hope project during Mental Health Week 2021.
“The events of the past year have highlighted the important role that mental health plays in all of our lives,” said Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “Engaging our students in conversations and activities that focus on hope is an important part of the commitment we have made to improving student mental health and wellness.”
In January 2021, Imperial Oil announced that it would be providing $40,000 to NLPS to support the It Starts with Hope project and improve food security.
“We are grateful to Imperial Oil not only for the financial support they are providing, but for recognizing the importance of investing in student mental health and the impact that can have in our schools and our communities,” said Hrynyk.
The It Starts with Hope project includes three initiatives:
- Stories of Hope - Visitors to our Engage NLPS site can share their ideas to spread hope in our communities as well as their Stories of Hope. This can be something they have done to grow hope in their life, a story about a hope hero, or how hope has impacted them. Get creative and share your story as a video, podcast, poem, song, or art! Everyone is welcome to participate!
- Signs of Hope - In partnership with Imperial Oil and Thinkwerx, NLPS gave away 400 lawn signs featuring messages of hope for people to display.
Everyone was also encouraged to share signs of hope during Mental Health Health Week - making signa, decorating windows, chalking sidewalks, etc. - Messages of Hope - How far can we spread hope? Students at participating NLPS schools received postcards they used to write messages of hope. Recipients are encouraged to take a photo of the postcard and share it on social media with the hashtag #NLPSHopes to see how far our message can reach and spread them even farther.