You Have the Power!

Hello everyone. I am excited to let you all know that we have just finished two days of filming with Jasmine Richards and Cody for her first music/video "You Have the Power", to be launched very soon. Over the weekend we have seen the first two "rough cuts" and we are very pleased with many elements in this inspiring anti-bullying production. As you know, this effort has been entirely student led and I know that both Jasmine and her producer, Robert Johnston are very happy with the committment, participation and enthusiasm demonstrated by our students. They all have truly inspired me! There will be a little more work to do yet, as everyone is striving to have the best video possible. This upcoming Friday,we will look forward to the Halton "Inside and Out" Conference, where Jasmine will speak and perform her new song. Our GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) will attend with staff members, Jason Schaffer and Caitlin Grieve. This will be a great day of learning and networking together with hundreds of other Halton intermediate and secondary students. This past Friday our staff engaged in a full day of professional learning, which was prepared, planned and led by our Safe School Action Team. In the morning, all of our staff participated in  Restorative Justice Training with Art Lockhart and Art Biffis, followed by workshops in the afternoon that highlighted: our Ridge Respect Website; further learning with board and ministry folks with our ELL Project, in collaboration with White Oaks; students and staff of our GSA presented; program leaders in our board shared curriculum connections incorporating First Nations, Metis and Inuit studies; our public health nurse and our community police liaison officer presented a Drug Education and Awareness session and additional leaders from our board presented a session on how to reach out to our ELL students and newcomers with the assistance of our Settlement Workers. At lunch, while the Jasmine Richards Project was being filmed, our staff had the opportunity to support our students, by taking it to "the street" for their version of a "dance mob." As students, cheered our staff on, from the second floor balcony, all of us had a great time showing off our "moves", whether they be ones "like Jagger" or otherwise! I am sure that this film clip will make a surprise appearance when we least expect it! Special thanks to the following SSAT folks for taking the lead last Friday: Linda Wiles, Kris Reeve, Lisa Omeri, Paul Beck, Kathryn Patterson, Caitlin Grieve, Jason Schaffer, Tamara Phillips, Danny Devine, Elaine Fung, Sara Severin, Celien Steeves, Fozia Rehman, Nicholle Russell, Bruce Hasenbacher, Vinita Maharaj, David Allan, Monique Gazan, Kevin McConvey and Samuel Lehner. I also would like to thank Karm Sangha Boslund, Kerry Sagar, Luisa Botelho, Sherry Saevil and Gillian Hall for leading our afternoon sessions. Your participation in this day ensured that we were all able to take some great learning away with us in support of all of our students, as we continue to sustain a safe, inclusive and positive learning environment at our school.