“Some important elements of good mental wellness include positive self-esteem, strong cultural identity and connectedness in the presence of a harmonious physical, emotional, mental and spiritual framework. (Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health)”
Chestermere High School is pleased to be acknowledging its rich diverse school culture by having a ‘Celebration of Cultural Diversity’ week. The theme is ‘We are One voice: We are Many Voices’ at Chestermere School. This weekly event is facilitated jointly by CCIS in partnership with Stepping Stones to Mental Health and the staff and students at Chestermere High School. It will be held on March24th – March 28th.
“feelings of ethnic pride go up, mental health tends to increase as well,” said psychologist Jelani Mandara, associate professor at Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy – “That suggests that efforts to enhance youngsters’ sense of ethnic pride at home, in the classroom and in mental health settings are not just appropriate but important to their mental health.”( ” A key to ….Teen Mental Health; November 30th , 2009 by Wendy Leopald)
This event aims to celebrate everyone’s sense of belonging in the school community, and to be proactive in developing mental health through fostering and encourage a positive self esteem and a positive sense of self identity among all individuals. We would like to encourage all staff to work along with students on a co- curricular project that would focus on an aspect of cultural diversity. Classes will have an opportunity to engage in a class project and then display these throughout the week at lunch time. These projects could then be displayed once more at the culminating assembly on Friday March 28th . We would like to encourage active participation and sharing by the whole school community to ensure a school wide engagement of the rich diverse elements of the school’s community.
We are looking forward to making this a successful and annual event for the school. We are Alberta Our Diversity is Our Strength at Chestermere School and in our community. If you would like to participate and share with the school in this unique event to strengthen the sense of positive healthy contributing members of the school community and the community of Chestermere, please contact Ric Morales- CCIS 403-290-5130 or email- diversity2@ccis-calgary.ab.ca
Respectfully,
Ricardo Morales Jodi Neetz
Coordinator Cultural Diversity Coordinator Stepping Stones Project
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society RockyView School Division
