Program Highlight – Mental Health and Addictions
~submitted by Nicole Theissen
The facts speak for themselves: 70% of 17 year olds binge drink on weekends in Saskatchewan. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25 year olds, and alcohol and/or drugs are a factor in 55% of those crashes. 60% of illicit drug users in Canada are between the ages of 15 & 24. Illicit oxycodone use has increased by 850% in the past 10 years.***
This is scary stuff; stuff that most young people and their parents and caregivers just don’t like to think about. However, not acknowledging the statistics is an even scarier thought, and one that Nutana Collegiate was not willing to ignore. Which brings my position into the picture. My role as the Mental Health & Addictions counselor at the school is to provide education to students and their families about addiction, mental health, drugs, alcohol, recovery and community resources. I can meet with students for individual counseling sessions by referral or walk in, do referrals for detox and treatment programming, and my office is stocked full of current resources on drugs, alcohol and mental health. Classroom presentations and discussions are one of my favorite things to do, so you will very likely see me in a classroom at some point during your school year. Nutana Collegiate is the only high school in the city that has access to an addictions counselor on site; being proactive this way truly contributes to the success of the students at Nutana. I am very proud to be a part of such a caring school community.
You can find me in the ISLS office on Mondays and Tuesdays between 8:30 and 3:30, and on Thursdays between 9:00 and 1:30. We are also lucky to have Todd Chivers from Mental Health & Addictions Services available for appointments as well, on Wednesdays between 10:30 and 2:30.
***Statistics taken from materials in the Prevention & Promotion Toolkit, prepared by the Ministry of Health, February 2014
Greenhouse project at Nutana brings together students, staff and community.
Things are green and growing at Nutana Collegiate! A new greenhouse initiative at the school is bringing together community volunteers, Nutana staff and students in growing seedlings that will be sold to the wider community. We encourage the community to watch for opportunities to come and purchase the results of our hard work in the upcoming weeks…we’ll have lots of wonderful things like basil, lettuces and many other goodies!
Coordinator of the ISLS program at Nutana, Phyllis Fowler shares her excitement and thanks to all who have contributed:
It is so amazing! On Friday we moved our bedding plants to the newly erected greenhouse that sits proudly at the back of the garage. I want to express my deep appreciation to the many hands that have made this possible.- Thanks to the staff who, last June, headed over to City Park to dismantle and get the move over to Nutana started.
- Thanks to all the staff in the fall who said ‘Let’s do it,’
- Thanks to Ron and his Woods class for building the plant tables at the end of Q2 and for assisting Dave this week.
- Thanks to Kim Chamagne for the work he did to modify the stands and add the lights.
- Thanks to the team in our ISLS office for accommodating the many changes we needed to make to find a home for the plant stands and caring for the plants.
- Thanks to Karen for nurturing one of our lettuce bowls.
- Thanks to Sarah, Lisa and Jackie and the STEP students for being part of each of the planting and transplanting work bees.
- Thanks to Allen and his students for assisting with the first planting session.
- Thanks to Cam and the maintenance staff for all the support that they have given.
- Thanks to the staff who have made a regular habit of coming in and checking out the plants and have shown such interest in this project.
- Thanks to Early’s who contributed $500 to help cover the cost of necessary supplies and have been so helpful.
- Thanks to Shirley LeClaire and Alice Hamilton who are volunteering many hours to work with staff and students and to share their passion and expertise.
- Thanks to Mike and Bernard LeClaire and Paul Jacoby for helping Dave put the plastic on the greenhouse.
- Huge thanks to Dave who was key, from start to finish, in making the greenhouse a reality.
I feel so honoured to work with such an amazing team who made it possible for students to have this learning experience.
Sincerely
Phyllis Fowler
Program Highlight – Student Services at Nutana
Student Services consist of three people ; Danny Yee, Judy McLellan and Carrie Fahl.
Judy and I act as secondary counsellors and Carie our administrative secretary. The Student Services office provides a variety of support services to our Nutana population in the following areas:
-school registration and records
-Academic program information, preliminary assessment and planning
-post-secondary and career counselling
-referrals to ISL team and to outside agencies in the community
-counselling to students ranging in a number of areas
-supporting the teachers in classroom presentations
The majority of our time is spent working with students dealing with a variety of issues. As our student population is diverse and continually changing we find student services can be challenging but equally rewarding. We are fortunate to work with the ISL team and a supportive school staff.
~submitted by Danny Yee
Program Highlight – STEP Program
I am writing from the STEP program in the portable classroom behind Nutana Collegiate. We are a classroom where students come to learn and engage in meaningful fun! We also spend time thinking about how to make learning feel valuable for the students. I find articles like the one I am posting here interesting because it shows how teachers are influenced by social factors. Check it out: http://www.refinery29.com/2015/02/81989/girls-get-higher-grades-if-teacher-doesn-t-know-their-sex-study
Treating students with dignity and respect is something that I think all teachers at Nutana strive for each day, and we must continue to challenge our own stereotypes in order to break down the barriers in education.”
Sarah Loewen
Program Profile: Millie’s Early Learning Centre
Millie’s is the daycare at Nutana. We offer free childcare for high school students under 22 years old.
My name is Joy and I’m the director of Millie’s. You can call me at (306) 683-8354 or Facebook message me at Millie’s Early Learning Centre.
Your child will be in such good hands at Millie’s! All staff are trained in Early Childhood Education. We offer home made baby food, meals and snacks, daily art and sensory activities and tons of support for whatever your little one wants to learn about that day.
We also take care of you! We offer snacks throughout the day, extra time for homework and other school related needs and lots of opportunities to meet other student parents. Sometimes we have theme days like “Western Day” or “Carnival Day”, and we celebrate Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving with special dinners for friends and family.
If you’re interested in finding out more about us, come down to the daycare (we’re in the basement near the back door), or give me a call. We look forward to meeting you :0). Remember even if you don’t need daycare, make sure you remember us in case a friend is struggling to get to school because they don’t have good childcare :0)
Nutana at Gardenscape
Thanks to Paul Jacoby, local artist who donated some of his artwork for our silent auction. Visit us at the Nutana booth at Gardenscape and place you bid for one of these lovely pieces.
Going to Gardenscape in Saskatoon? We invite you to visit the Nutana Collegiate booth and peruse our amazing selection of donated artwork and other items for sale or for bidding on in our silent auction. Items include artwork by renowned local artist, Paul Jacoby. Also, students have been hard at work making items such as clocks and dog dishes. All proceeds from sales and silent auction items support student programming at Nutana.
Gardenscape runs March 27 – 29 at Praireland Park Exhibition in Saskatoon. Find the Nutana Booth in Hall D close to the Prairie Berry Cafe.
Program Profile – Nurse Practitioner, Karen Hart
Hi my name is Karen Hart.
I am the Nurse Practitioner at Nutana. I am generally here in the building whenever the school is open. Come see me if you have any health concerns or questions. I can help with lots of things like ear infections, bladder infections, sexually transmitted infections etc., etc., and can give you a prescription if you need one. I can perform full physicals and send off all sorts of lab tests. You can make an appointment or drop in and if I am not busy I may be able to see you right then.
If you have questions that you would prefer to ask anonymously then please slip them into the envelope on my door and I will answer them on this page. If you are asking, then probably others are too.
You can email me also at Karen.hart@saskatoonhealthregion.ca (I know it’s a long one!).
I look forward to meeting you.
Program Profile: Jacoby Centre
Hello student parents!
The Jacoby Centre, located in room 2102 is a centre for students who either have a little one or are expecting. Lajya and Haleh are here every day and you are welcome to stop in at any time. We are here to support you in completing your education, being an effective parent, and living a happy and healthy life.
We have plenty of activities weekly including crafts and parenting topics, and lunch is provided every Wednesday and Friday.
Come by and hang out, get to know other parents, or just to say hello!
Lajya Rattan
Director, Jacoby Centre
c: 306.381.8379
e: jacoby.centre@gmail.com
Welcome to our Blog
Hello!
This is online space for the ISLS Team at Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon SK! For more information, feel free to email us at: nutanacollegiateISLS@gmail.com
cheres,
Sydney Bell
Community Developer
ISLS at Nutana 