Safe Schools

Zorra Highland Park Public School

2026-2027 Safe and Inclusive School Plan

Our school is committed to providing all students with a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment free from bullying and harassment that promotes respect, acceptance, and empathy.

Staff, students, parents and caregivers, and community partners will work together as a team to help make our school safe and welcoming for everyone.

The Safe and Inclusive School Plan highlights some of the key actions that our school community will put in place as part of our bullying prevention and intervention efforts.

Key Priorities and Goals

This year we are focused on cultivating a school-wide culture of empathy where all students demonstrate understanding, respect, and support for others, particularly those with diverse learning needs, identities, and social experiences.   

We are doing this because we find a lot of judgement is happening in classrooms and on the school yard and students lack awareness of the impact of their words and actions on others.

Key Actions or Strategies

• Explicit teaching of empathy through tiered instruction (perspective-taking, recognizing emotions, inclusive language and actions)
• School-Wide culture shift through consistent adult modeling and response (interrupt judgemental language, name behaviours, restorative conversations about harm)
• Student voice in building empathy (leadership team – lead campaigns on inclusion, empathy, create announcements)
• Communicate with parents to ensure consistency at home and at school (Friday Blasts)

Community and Home Connections

1. Model Empathy Out Loud (Parents can narrate their own thinking): “That person seemed upset—I wonder if they had a tough day.”, “I felt frustrated, but I tried to think about their perspective.”

2. Use Media as a Teaching Tool (While watching TV or reading): “Why do you think that character made that choice?”, “Was there another way they could have handled that?”

3. Normalize Differences: Talk positively about diversity in abilities, cultures, interests, and learning styles

Reinforce: “Different doesn’t mean wrong—it means we can learn from each other”

4. Practice “Pause and Think” (Teach children a simple habit): Pause → Think → Respond (instead of reacting)

5. Celebrate Kindness and Repair: “I noticed how you checked in with your friend—that showed a lot of care.”, “It took courage to apologize—that helps rebuild trust.”

At school, we are intentionally teaching students to understand differences, speak respectfully, and repair relationships when harm occurs. Families play a key role in reinforcing these skills at home. These prompts and strategies are small ways to build big empathy together.

Check out https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/parents/safe-schools-families-and-caregivers.aspx to learn more about conflict resolution, bullying prevention, and restorative practices.