The sun shone brightly on Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) during the 2023-2024 school year thanks to a grant provided by Alberta Education’s Mental Health in Schools Pilot program. This grant enabled EICS to develop a unique, universal approach to providing holistic care for students and staff, enabling them to empower their own health and foster positive mental health in themselves and others.  

In this approach, called Here Comes the Sun (HCTS), partnerships were formed between parish priests, Indigenous knowledge keepers, the division’s Inclusive Learning Services EICS Circles team, and Steven Csorba from the health-focused People Empowering People program. All worked together to create a division-wide initiative that is focused on spiritual, physical, and psychological well-being that is adaptable to students in all grades.   

This initiative is a shining example of Community Safety and Well-being in Strathcona County, with partners working together to build connection and support mental health in the school community.     

In fact, the theme of HCTS is connection and relationship. The symbol of the cross emphasizes those ideas through forming relationships with Jesus, each other, and movement.  

In the fall of 2023, a kick-off HCTS Youth Retreat was held for student leadership and staff leads from every EICS school – including health champions, chaplains, and Indigenous leads – to learn about the integral role faith plays in mental health; about the history, beauty, and significance of Indigenous ways of knowing with well-being; and how social, physical, and spiritual health gel into a cohesive whole.   

Students and staff then took this knowledge back to their schools to share with their peers and integrate it into their school communities through various initiatives and activities including dedicated Faith and Wellness Days in the spring – all of which were student planned and led. These days encouraged exploration of individual mental health through prayer, art, dance, music, environmental stewardship, nutrition, games, cultural activities, collaborative experiences, and more. Using the People Empowering People model of caring for their spiritual, cultural, and physical health, students and staff learned the importance of striking a balance in all three to help their overall well-being.  

“Systemic wellness is a key priority for EICS, and this approach to holistic wellness has been a blessing to weave our faith with Indigenous perspectives and People Empowering People best practices,” said EICS Director of Student and Staff Formation Jody Seymour. “Our schools have made a lot of great traction through encouraging holistic well-being, and it has been nothing short of pure joy for me to visit our schools and witness the profound impact this initiative has made.”  

The EICS staff leaders who were trained in the People Empowering People model and helped to lead and implement the various wellness activities all commented on the benefits of collaboration with their peers throughout the division as well as the impact of student leadership. Thanks to the universal strategies provided by HCTS, staff and students now have a common language, understanding, and approach to well-being.  

Each Friday, St. Luke Catholic School in South Cooking Lake hosted Breath Work and Mindful Movement Days with a parent volunteer who led students through breathing techniques, mindful movement, simple yoga poses, and relaxation exercises. “These sessions are designed to help students integrate mindfulness and relaxation practices into their daily lives, promoting overall wellness and mental clarity,” explained school Principal Cathy Hinger.  

This and other regular activities have allowed students to develop skills that help them cope with challenges and maintain that positive outlook, she explained. “As a result, students are more engaged and motivated, while staff members feel supported and encouraged in their roles. The overall school community has experienced a greater sense of unity and well-being, leading to a more positive school culture,” she said.  

At Holy Spirit Catholic School in Sherwood Park, Assistant Principal Jacqueline Comartin noted that “Here Comes the Sun has given our school community a common language when addressing the whole health of staff and students. It is the realization that wellness is a journey we do together, and no one is alone.”  

It has helped Holy Spirit to view programs it already offers through a different lens of well-being: “Programs like our Musical Theatre Jr. help students to develop and nurture their God-given gifts of performing and singing. This has helped them to develop their confidence because they need to work hard to memorize lines and lyrics in order to be successful as a team,” Comartin said.  

At St. Luke, Principal Hinger has noticed the positive effects HCTS has had for students and staff. “Across the school, staff have noticed that students are more regulated and are more aware of how to cope with difficult situations. They are learning how to ask for help when they cannot solve issues on their own,” she said. “The staff have worked on building and maintaining a positive school culture together. As we become more aware of our own mental health, we seem to be able to assist colleagues with theirs.”  

Although the grant that funded HCTS was specifically for the 2023-2024 school year, the benefits of HCTS will continue into the future as schools become more empowered to integrate spiritual, psychological, and physical well-being initiatives into their communities in alignment with our Division Education Assurance Plan’s four key pillars of Faith Integration, Learners and Learning, Systemic Wellness, and Community Engagement.  

Contact Elk Island Catholic Schools for more information on Here Comes The Sun.