Safe and Caring Environment


	Safe and Caring Environment
	ACT 2000

ACT 2000, Anti-racism and Cross-cultural Training towards 2000 and beyond, is a youth leadership development training program developed by Regina Public Schools.

To empower students to deal with personal incidents of discrimination and to be supportive to peers experiencing similar situations;
To improve teacher effectiveness in anti-racism and cross-cultural education and to implement guidelines for dealing with incidents of discrimination;
To share information and curricula to assist schools in the development of school climates which reflect cross-cultural understanding and equity; and
To facilitate the implementation of the Human Rights Equity Policy with a focus on incidents of discrimination

Student training involves an intense three-day retreat. Students are placed into small family units. Each family participates in a number of activities designed to build trust and communication among its members.

Students listen to a number of speakers who have faced and overcome discrimination. Family units are called on to present visions of a racism-free world.

On the final day, students complete an ACT 2000 action plan to take back and implement in their individual schools. Students return to their schools with a strong commitment to work toward making a difference in their school and in their community having gained competencies in empathy, acceptance, personal knowledge, communication and being non-judgmental.

Teacher-leaders receive a two-day orientation to the program that uses similar concepts.

ACT 2000 activities vary from school to school. In 1999-2000, ACT 2000 teacher and student-leader activities revolved around initiatives to highlight and raise awareness about the following:

Louis Riel Day	November 16

Black History Month	February

National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination	March 21

National Aboriginal Day	June 21

ACT 2000 students at McDermid Elementary School educated fellow students about Métis culture on Louis Riel Day.

Students at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate created and performed a play about a student refugee who learns self-pride after encountering a bully. The students performed the play for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Grade 8 students from six elementary schools joined Balfour Collegiate students for an afternoon of anti-discrimination themed projects that included a cultural quiz, making friendship bracelets and participating in anti-discrimination themed drama.

Speakers from within and from outside the School Division have provided Regina public school students with true life presentations that expose discrimination and promote tolerance. Topics have included living with a disability, surviving the holocaust, being a member of a minority and dealing with a bully.

More than 120 students from 15 Regina public elementary and high schools marched from Martin Collegiate to Scott collegiate to draw public attention to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Each year public school students compete and are recognized in the Regina Multicultural Council Public Speaking Competition. This event is held in conjunction with the International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

For more information on ACT 2000, please contact the Regina Board of Education.