Page 12 - CARING and SAFE SCHOOLS in ONTARIO
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The goal of a caring and safe school strategy is to encourage school practices that model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours so that learning and teaching can take place in a safe and caring environment. (Mather, 2001)
Participating in and contributing to a safe, respectful and positive learning environment is both the right and responsibility of children and youth, their parents/caregivers, school personnel and all community members. Schools, acting in partnership with their communities, can create and maintain these environments that foster a sense of belonging, enhance the joy of learning, honour diversity and promote respectful, responsible and caring relationships. (Positive Learning Environments in Schools, 2000, p. 2)
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2 Promoting Positive Behaviour Through a Caring and
Safe School Culture
Guiding Principles
he focus on ensuring a caring and safe school culture is based on the belief that all students deserve a learning environment in which they are safe – and feel safe – and in which they feel welcomed, respected,
and inspired to meet high expectations for learning (Safe Schools Action Team, 2008, p. 8). This belief informs the guiding principles that are the basis for government and ministry initiatives on caring and safe schools . The principles are as follows:
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