Safe & Caring Schools
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:
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). The event has featured 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.
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