In the second full year of implementation of Student Support Rooms, Red Deer Public Schools is seeing a meaningful difference, ensuring all students have the best opportunities to learn.
Introduced in the fall of 2023, 18 Student Support Rooms were established across the Division's elementary and middle schools.
"These rooms provide a safe and supportive environment where students can regulate emotions, manage challenging behaviours, and connect with a caring adult in a private, dignified setting," said Nicola Golby, Associate Superintendent of Student Services. "Each room is staffed with a certified teacher who works closely with students to assess their needs and help them return to the classroom ready to learn."
During the 2023-2024 school year, each Student Support Room saw between 3,000-4,500 visits, underscoring the significant role they play in supporting students across the Division.
"Student Support Rooms have created a safe space for students to regulate and refocus, which in turn has led to calmer classrooms, hallways, and office spaces," said Nicola. "Schools have embraced these rooms as an essential part of their environment, providing students with the tools and support they need to thrive. We're thrilled to see the positive ripple effects across our Division, and look forward to continuing to utilize these spaces to ensure all students are set up for success in their learning journey."
In addition to the Student Support Rooms, Red Deer Public has a Behaviour Support Team, which includes a registered psychiatric nurse, a teacher with additional training in supporting mental health and behaviour, and a clinical supervisor. Their role as a team is to visit schools throughout the Division, develop mental health strategies for students, and support teachers.
During the 2023-2024 school year, the Behaviour Support Team completed 414 school visits. So far this year, they have completed 98 school visits.
"The expertise and availability of the Division Behaviour Support Team combined with the implementation of trained professional staff in Student Support Rooms has been key to helping us better support students," said Nicola. "Having a psychiatric nurse on staff has provided a tie to psychiatry services and support with the medical community. This has been incredibly valuable in the approach to ensure students get wrap-around support so that they can be at their best to learn in the classroom."
Looking ahead, the Behaviour Team, as well as the Student Support Room teachers, will work to equip classrooms with small toolkits for students who need to regulate, so they have the option to stay in the classroom, as well as equip teachers with the knowledge and skills of how to support students during those times.
