Counsellor's Corner

Pink Shirt Day started in 2007 in Canada as an anti-bullying initiative. The movement began in the small town of Cambridge, Nova Scotia, when two high school students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, took a stand against bullying.

A Grade 9 student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. In response, Shepherd and Price decided to take action. They bought 50 pink shirts and distributed them to their peers to wear the next day, encouraging others to stand in solidarity with the student. The act sent a powerful message of support and rejection of bullying behavior.

This simple yet impactful gesture quickly gained attention and evolved into an annual event. Today, Pink Shirt Day is observed in many countries around the world, promoting kindness, respect, and inclusion, while raising awareness about the harm caused by bullying. It is held on the last Wednesday of February with participants wearing pink to symbolize their commitment to creating safe and supportive environments for everyone. Pink Shirt Day will be on Wednesday, February 26.

It is Random Acts of Kindness Week from February 9-15. This is one of my favourite videos to share with students. It's called the Kindness Boomerang. It shows how small acts of kindness can build meaningful connections through positive, shared moments with others. This "boomerang effect" suggests that when you put kindness out into the world, it has a way of returning to you, often in unexpected ways. Kindness is powerful. This will always be a focus for us here at FTV.

Alberta Health Services offers free mental health resources and virtual mental health education sessions for parents and caregivers who support children and youth. There are also sessions for adults looking to support their own wellness.

With students being online more and more, it’s important that parents/guardians are informed. Saffron has put together some great resources.

The local Family Resource Network is a partnership between Strathcona County's Family and Community Services, Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The FRN offers free programs and services for families with children and youth ages 0-18 years, including:

• Programs to support healthy child development
• Reliable parenting information
• Connection to other local resources

Family and Community Services offers Counselling and Solutions Navigation support. FCS offers walk-in, virtual, and over the phone counselling using a pay what you can afford model. You will be connected to the next available counsellor. The Solutions Navigation team will listen and help you figure out solutions to challenges in your life. Navigation is free to access.

To access these services, call 780-464-4044 or visit them on the second floor of the Community Centre at 401 Festival Lane. Use the following links for more information.

We are continuing to focus on bringing co-regulation strategies into our classrooms. Building these patterned, repetitive, and rhythmic activities into our day helps to steady the bottom part of our brain, allowing our cortex to be activated, which makes learning easier! Here are two new co-regulation strategies this month.

Kids Help Phone-1-800-668-6868 or Text CONNECT to 686868

Community Resources-211 or Text INFO to 211

Mental Health Helpline-1-877-303-2642

Crisis Text Line- Text CONNECT to 741741

Health Link-811

Income Support-Alberta Support Centre 1-877-644-9992 or 24 Hour Support 1-866-644-5135

Family Violence-Find Support-Call or Text 780-310-1818

Talk Suicide Canada-Call or Text 988