DSBN Recognizes Mental Health Week with Mindset Matters Student Leadership Conference in Niagara Falls

On Thursday, May 9, over 100 DSBN elementary and secondary school students will come together to support the mental health and well-being of students at the Mindset Matters conference. The participating schools have been working on developing mental health plans over the course of three sessions held during the 2018-19 school year. Thursday’s conference will be the fourth session in the series and focus on including student voice in the plan.

DSBN Student Achievement Leader Susie Palumbo says student voice is critical to this process of building healthier, more equitable schools. “Students have unique insights into what they and their peers are experiencing on a daily basis,” says Palumbo. “At the conference, students will have an opportunity to network with one another and share strategies that have been successful in their own schools.”

The day will begin with a session from leadership speaker Fahd Alhattab. Fahd will be speaking about the five levels of leadership students can master to maximize their potential. Fahd will share his personal journey of student leadership, from his time as Grade 8 class president, to high school co-president, and as president of the Carleton University Students' Union. 

From there, students will participate in activities to learn about each school’s mental health and wellness journey and to further develop their plans. “School teams will also have the opportunity to begin planning for next year with the benefit of our students’ leadership,” adds Palumbo.

Event Details:

Location: Club Italia, 2525 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls

Time: 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Alhattab is scheduled to speak at 8:30 a.m.