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By rdnewsNOW Staff

3,000-4,500 VISITS IN YEAR ONE

Red Deer Public Schools rolls out Student Support Rooms for second year

Dec 3, 2024 | 2:46 PM

The Red Deer Public Schools Division (RDPSD) is implementing Student Support Rooms for its second year after seeing meaningful success with their use last year.

RDPSD says it established 18 Student Support Rooms across the division in the fall of 2023.

“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 somewhere between 3,000-4,500 visits.

“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 Golby. “Schools have embraced these rooms as an essential part of their environment, providing students with the tools and support they need to thrive.”

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In addition to these support rooms, RDPSD also 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 is to visit schools throughout the division and develop mental health strategies for students, and support teachers.

During the 2023-2024 school year, the team completed 414 school visits. So far this year, it has 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,” Golby commented. “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, officials with RDPSD say the Behaviour Team and Student Support Room teachers will work to equip classrooms with small toolkits for students who need to regulate, giving them the option to remain in the classroom, and equip teachers with the knowledge and skills of how to support students in those moments.