Division Priority One: NLPS Will Improve Mental Health and Wellness in Students
Our Priority
Northern Lights Public Schools is committed to creating an environment of knowledgeable and supported staff members as they strive to improve the mental health and wellness of all students. This priority was established by the board after extensive consultations with students, parents and staff.
Our Definition
Mental Health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can learn/work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their school/community. - Based on the definition from the World Health Organization
Our Evidence of Improvement
Northern Lights students and parents complete a yearly survey that seeks to understand the mental health and wellness of students in relation to our definition. The survey is administered in the spring of each year. Results are reviewed by school administration each year, and then further analyzed as teams at an administrative council meeting in the spring each year. Additionally, student responses to the Assurance Survey questions related to the Safe and Caring School measures are used to measure growth over time.
Our Actions
| For All Universal Supports for All Students |
For Some |
For Few |
| Welcoming Schools - create opportunities to enhance school practices for all students | Video Bank - create short videos depicting use of classroom strategies to support mental well-being | Mental Health Screening, Identification and Referral - enhance processes of screening for concerns and connecting with/ referring to therapist services |
Menu of Supports - develop and deliver a menu of capacity-building training sessions for staff |
Community Helpers Program - provide middle and high school students with the skills and knowledge to support their peers' mental health and well-being |
Student Support Plans - increase capacity to develop and monitor student support and safety plans |
|
Student Advocacy Counsellors - enhance and support counsellors as they work with all students |
Parental Engagement - provide opportunities and training for parents to support building mental health capacity of their children |
Student Advocacy Counsellors - enhance and support counsellors as they work with indicated students |
|
Positive Behaviour and Intervention Support implement/ improve school-wide student management frameworks |
Positive Behaviour and Intervention Support implement/ improve school-wide student management frameworks | Positive Behaviour and Intervention Support - implement/ improve school-wide student management frameworks |
| Agency Collaboration - work with community agencies to support integrated mental health services for students | Agency Collaboration - work with community agencies to support integrated mental health services for students | Agency Collaboration - work with community agencies to support integrated mental health services for identified students |
|
Mental Health and Wellness of NLPS Staff - foster and support the mental health and wellness of staff |
Student Advocacy Counsellors - enhance and support counsellors as they work with targeted students |
Our School Plans
As part of their improvement plans, each school in Northern Lights is implementing universal, targeted and individualized strategies to enhance support for students. These strategies align with division actions and are designed to meet the unique demographics and needs of each school.
Our Resources
NLPS currently utilizes the following in-house supports for students: Student Advocacy Counsellors, Student Services Team Coordinators, Director of Inclusive Education, Learning Consultants, and School Staff. We rely on external funding sources for the following: Successful Families, Successful Kids / Mental Health Capacity Building Team, Community Helpers Program and support from Community Agencies.
Positive Behavior Support Planning for Schools
In 2023-2024 we will continue to move forward with the implementation of Positive Behaviour and Intervention Supports (PBIS) in our schools. Working with Tom Hierck, we will focus on universal work with all schools’ teams, while also planning targeted supports for three schools, along with individualized support with one specific school.
This builds upon work done in 2022-2023 to create a division-wide understanding of PBIS and develop plans for each school. Each school was required to attend 2 full days of professional development led by Tom Hierck focussed on reviewing essential elements of a positive learning environment and the key components of an effective behaviour matrix. School teams reviewed past positive behaviour interventions and planned for a whole school staff professional development day, where they facilitated discussions around a behaviour matrix and reviewed pertinent data related to addressing student needs. Following the whole school PD day, school teams were brought back together for another session with Tom Hierck, reviewing the work with their whole school groups and planning the next steps in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year.
Pathways of Hope-NLPS/PCN-Mental Health in Schools Pilot (approved spring 2023)
The Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) and Bonnyville/Cold Lake Primary Care
Network (PCN) approved pilot is to ensure children receive quality mental health services and support across all stages and levels of care. A comprehensive and coordinated approach is the best way to promote positive mental health and a collaborative model allows for the creation of economies of scale to meet the growing mental health needs within our community.
This pilot will support access to education, promotion and action (intervention) of mental
health and wellness for students from NLPS. Additionally, it will work to identify children with unmet needs and assist secure access to family mental health services in a timely manner.
Our main objective with this pilot is to support child and student social, emotional, behavioural and mental health. The program will optimize access and build the capacity of mental health resources for youth and students within the community. By eliminating barriers and expanding the full continuum of prevention, treatment and mental health services, as well as prioritizing the integration of these services into settings where young people and their families can access them. The partnership with the PCN aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Increased access to appropriate mental health resources
- Higher level of mental health services that are currently not available in the
community or school - Therapeutic interventions within the school and community
- Navigation supports
- Individualized services
- Education and awareness
- Build Capacity of access and resources
- Mental health action
- Clearly accessible points of access (ease of entry into services)
Targets for Improvement
NLPS Student Mental Health and Wellness Survey Kindergarten to Grade 2
| Survey Catergories | 2022 March Results | 2023 March Results | 2024 Targets |
| Student Potential: students feel encouraged to do their best | 96.8% agreed | 97.3% agreed | 97.5% |
| Normal Stress of Everyday Life: students feel safe at school | 89.9% agreed | 90.6% agreed | 92% |
| Ability to Contribute to Daily Activities: students feel safe talking to a grownup | 88.1% agreed | 94.4% agreed | 95% |
| Ability to Learn/Work: students feel loved and enjoy their school community | 93.6% agreed | 90.8% agreed | 94.0% |
NLPS Student Mental Health and Wellness Survey Grades 3-12
| Survey Catergories | 2022 March Results | 2023 March Results | 2024 Targets |
| Student Potential: students have the ability to understand and manage their feelings and are hopeful about the future |
77.7% agreed or strongly agreed |
71.3% agreed or strongly agreed |
81.5% |
| Normal Stress of Everyday Life: students need assistance to cope with and manage their fears and anxieties | 68.03% rarely required assistance |
64.2% rarely required assistance |
73.5% |
| Ability to Contribute to Daily Activities: students can connect with a peer or adult to assist with managing problems |
75.05% agreed or strongly agreed |
76.6% agreed or strongly agreed |
80.5% |
| Ability to Learn/Work: students feel they belong, are engaged, and can work to the best of their ability | 70.33% agreed or strongly agreed |
73.4% agreed or strongly agreed |
75.5% |
Safe and Caring Schools Assurance Survey - Student Responses
| Grade Groups | May 2021 Results | May 2022 Results | May 2023 Results | May 2024 Targets |
| Students Grade 4-12 | 83.2% agree | 79.8% agree | Not yet available |
87.8% |