The Renfrew County District School Board is jumping at the chance for a program from the Lung Health Foundation.
Our local public schools will be part of the Foundation’s “Quash” pilot program, and it’s Halt the Haze learning series, tackling vaping addictions and improving student 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.
The RCDSB will be provided with promotional material to inform students that judgment-free vaping quit support is available, and both staff and students will be invited to online training sessions starting this Thursday.
Those sessions will lead up to a “Building a Vape-Free September” webinar, which 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 meetings. Schools are encouraged to share the information on their in-school monitors, newsletters, posters in staff resource areas, and more.
“Student achievement and well-being are 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 the 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.
(written by Kasey Egan)