The Southeast Cornerstone School Division will be meeting with the 39 School Community Councils to go over the results of the 40 Developmental Assets Survey, and discuss how best to address the needs of students in the school division.
The Southeast Cornerstone School Division will be meeting with the 39 School Community Councils to go over the results of the 40 Developmental Assets Survey, and discuss how best to address the needs of students in the school division.
Three meetings have been set in November to discuss the survey results with School Community Councils, starting on Monday, Nov. 1 at the Weyburn Comprehensive School, followed by Tuesday, Nov. 2 at Moosomin, and Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Estevan. All meetings start at 7 p.m.
The results come from surveys answered by over 5,000 students in Grades 4-12 in early February 2010, around the level of supports they have at their disposal. Having experienced a large percentage of the 40 developmental assets is highly related to the decisions that youth make, and the behaviours they exhibit.
The greater the number of assets in their lives, the fewer risk-taking behaviours students participate in and the greater number of thriving behaviours they demonstrate. Conversely, the lower the number of assets relate to an increase in risk behaviours and a decrease in thriving behaviours. The lower number of developmental assets youth have experienced, the more likely they are to engage in high-risk behaviours.
Along with Southeast Cornerstone and the School Community Councils, others taking part in the meetings include the Sun Country Health Region, Southeast Intersectorial Committee and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division. Holy Family has schools in both Weyburn and Estevan, and Sun Country and RIC have both studied the aggregate and community-level data, and will present those results and engage community, parents and staff in asset building.
Networking between the School Community Councils will be developed and resources will be provided so each SCC can best address the results from their particular school.
The development of community action plans to advocate for an asset-rich community and increasing the number of developmental assets is the ultimate combined goal of all the groups.
Communities are acknowledged to be diverse and unique, each with their own strengths, history, needs and vision. The residents of those communities are in the best position to understand local issues and create solutions respecting community knowledge, wisdom and direction.
