Schools Plus

Schools Plus is a provincial program designed to improve delivery of programs and services for children, youth and families in Nova Scotia. The program is now being piloted on the South Shore and in three other school boards.

The goal of the program is to deliver government and other services to be delivered to families comfortable, welcoming locations that they are probably already familiar with - their local school. Each Schools Plus location has an advisory committee including representatives from several different areas of government whose jobs it is to identify gaps in services and resources and come up with solutions.

On the South Shore, the program got underway in August, 2008, and involved Aspotogan Elementary School, Chester District Elementary School, Gold River-Western Shore Elementary School, New Ross Consolidated School, Chester Area Middle School and Forest Heights Community School.

The provincial departments of Community Services, Education, Health and Justice sit on the South Shore Schools Plus advisory committee, working collaboratively to support the Schools Plus program and the youth, families, schools and communities it serves.

More information about South Shore School Plus is available on its website.

Recent events

Kids and Drugs

Recently the closing celebration for Kids and Drugs was held to recognize the students who completed the program with the Chester RCMP.

A number of area parents completed the five - week course, a collaborative effort of South Shore Schools Plus, RCMP, Addiction Services, and RCH student support, Acadia First Nation. Presenters were Scott Priske, Addictions Services; Cst. Susan Foote, Chester RCMP; April Hiltz, RCH student support; and Shirley Burris, South Shore Schools Plus.

A cake was provided by Cst. Susan Foote, Chester RCMP to celebrate the recent closing celebration of Kids and Drugs.

On April 10, Chester Area GSA, from Forest Heights Community School, together with staff advisor Raymond Johnson, hosted a conference attended by GSA groups from around the province. Initially planned to host from the South Shore Regional School Board and Tri-County, the guest list expanded as groups from around the province, including HRM and Amherst requested seats.

Sponsored by South Shore Schools Plus, and supported by Chester Municipality Recreation, South Shore Labour Council, Tim Horton’s, Falcon Records, St. James Anglican Church Youth Outreach Committee, Mahone Bay, IBEW Local 625 Mainland Nova Scotia, Flag Canada, Eagle Canada, Nova Scotia Commission on Aids, Options and Opportunities students, Teachers of FHCS, Moms and Dads, William Nycum and Associates., Municipality of the District of Lunenburg: Community Recycling, Mr Brian Reed, FHCS Creative Soul, Ms Stephanie Caldwell and her Dance class, Mike Cook and Blake Bignal "Natural Faction", and the many students of FHCS. Chester area GSA wishes to express gratitude to: The Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services; Mr Scott Brison, MP - Kings Hants; Ms Kelly Regan, MLA - Bedford-Birch Cove.

There were youth led workshops throughout the day, focusing on health issues, image, and awareness issues, and media. In workshops, youth from around the province developed a vision, examined what has gone well, what barriers exist, and what work needs to be done. An action committee was formed, which will work at a summer retreat to develop direction for the coming year.

Raymond Johnson led an adult education workshop focused on reviewing past history and developing positive healthy strong image. Adults taking the adult education workshop then attended the youth workshops able to participate through that lens. Adult attendees included GSA leaders, teachers, clergy, Minister of Community Services, Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse, parents and friends.

Health Harvest at FHCS

Recently, all high school students at Forest Heights Community School took an active part in discussions about their health needs as students, and in the investigation and development of onsite health services for their school. Sponsored by South Shore Schools Plus, and facilitated by Tim Merry, the event yielded information that will be analyzed by Shirley Burris, Schools Plus, Clare Fancy, who serves students with health needs at SSRSB, staff and students of the Forest Heights Health Committee. Together with partners, they will use the data to work toward effective onsite health supports at their school.

Invited adults, such as Tara Moore, Provincial Schools Plus Coordinator, Dwayne Provo, Health Promotion, and representatives from Chester area MLA Denise Petersen- Rafuse office, listened effectively, and supported the efforts of youth. Christina Williams, Health, announced the possibility of placing a nurse practitioner at the school for a portion of time. Sexual Health Centre services will also be onsite half day every two weeks. Students were pleased to hear these announcements.