RENFREW COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
RCDSB Jumps on Board Ministry of Education Pilot Program to Combat Vaping in Schools

On May 15, 2024, the Ministry of Education announced plans to pilot its new anti-vaping initiative with 6 school boards across Ontario. Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) jumped at the chance to participate in the program before it is launched province-wide, providing our students and community with an opportunity to help improve their well-being.

Thousands of Canadian teens are hooked on vaping - an addiction so dangerously discreet that the adults who care for them can feel out of the loop or unaware. This Spring and Summer, the program aims to prove that a caring adult doesn't have to be a vaping expert. With a little evidence-based knowledge and a lot of heart, anyone can make a difference.

This terrific opportunity is made possible thanks to a partnership between the Lung Health Foundation and the Ontario Ministry of Education. The Quash' pilot program includes a learning series entitled Halt the Haze.' Participating districts are provided with promotional material to inform students that judgment-free vaping quit support is finally here. Staff, parents, and guardians are important partners in the program.

All RCDSB staff have been invited to participate in a webinar next week, May 23, 2024. Parents and guardians will soon be invited to an online session, on June 12, 2024.

At the end of August, an empowering webinar "Building a Vape-Free September" strategically scheduled in the lead-up to the start of school will help educators and school staff refresh their knowledge about vaping and plan for supportive, empowering conversations with their students.

The RCDSB will be promoting the initiative on digital signs, social media, websites, email, and at Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) meetings. Schools are encouraged to share the information on their in-school monitors, newsletters, and posters in staff resource areas and more.

"Student achievement and well-being is the core work of a school board. A program backed by The Lung Health Foundation that takes a caring and non-judgmental approach is an advantage to RCDSB students, their families, and our staff. We are so pleased to be included in this pilot." said Chair of the Board of Trustees, Susan Humphries.

"Addictions are manifestations of well-being needs that as a District we strive to meet. This partnership between the Ministry of Education and The Lung Health Foundation gives us tools to do that work so we can also focus on educating and engaging students for an ever-changing world," added Director of Education, Kristen Niemi.

School Boards participating in the pilot program in addition to RCDSB are Near North District, Simcoe County District, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District, Toronto Catholic District, and St. Clair Catholic District.