Mental Health, Well-being and Engagement
WRDSB wants to ensure that all students and staff are able to learn and work in environments that engage them and support their mental health and well-being.
We know that mental wellness is a condition for learning. The WRDSB engages in multiple strategies in support of students’ mental health and well-being. This includes increasing the capacity of administrators, educators and staff in topic areas such as:
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Mental health literacy
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Mentally healthy classrooms
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Student social emotional learning, mental health literacy and well-being
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Safe Schools
We have strong community partnerships with our mental health organizations and continue to seek new opportunities to foster equitable access to services for all of our students. In addition to providing student wellness support in schools, support for students through Social Workers and additional school-based resources, when appropriate and necessary, we connect students and families with local resources.
We are committed to ensuring that students’ voices are prioritized in conversations about student mental health and well-being. We want all WRDSB students to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion at school, particularly those who are historically marginalized, as we know this will support their overall academic success and well-being. These supports include:
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Attendance support
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Black graduation coach
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Community engagement tables
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Community partnerships to support student mental health and well-being
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Free period products in all schools
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Partnerships in support of student nutrition
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Professional learning sessions related to resources from School Mental Health Ontario
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School-based groups (e.g. Affinity Groups, GSAs, Student well-being teams)
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School mental health clinicians led learning opportunities for staff to develop mental health literacy
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Social workers with an Indigenous focus
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System Navigators
Throughout the school year, WRDSB supported Student Roundtable discussions to engage students on issues important to student achievement and well-being. It is an opportunity to centre student agency and voice, as well as bridge connections between staff and students, and foster student leadership.
Students from secondary schools across WRDSB gathered to participate in the annual Student Wellness Conference. The event brought together students, staff, and community partners for a day focused on mental health and well-being. The topics explored during the conference included test anxiety; navigating life’s curveballs; self-esteem and healthy relationships; dealing with change and loss; and knitting and crocheting for wellness. The conference is designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools to not only support their own mental wellness, but also share this information with other students at their schools.
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As part of our ongoing efforts to support WRDSB families and caregivers, our psychology staff offered a number of Lunch and Learn sessions. These webinars aim to equip parents, families and caregivers with useful tips and information to assist them in supporting their children.
Throughout the year, WRDSB provides opportunities for staff to engage in employee wellness information sessions. Resources are shared monthly to staff to support education and awareness about well-being in the workplace, building resiliency, safety and promoting work-life balance. Additionally, training and resources have been provided to system leaders and school administrators to provide a leader learning network for service and school leaders. Mental Health and well-being supports are also available to staff through the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Student engagement in school learning promotes healthy community communities. WRDSB continues to give back through various initiatives that support a safe, healthy, welcoming, and inclusive Waterloo Region.
Preston High School students raised more than $18,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society as part of the Inside Ride event, a high-energy indoor cycling challenge. As well, WRDSB raised nearly $40,000 in support of Nutrition for Learning, which partners with WRDSB to provide universally accessible school food programs during the school day. Waterloo Education Foundation Inc. was pleased to donate $50,000 to support local community partnerships and programs that support students in Waterloo Region. The donations directly benefited: Food4Kids Waterloo Region; May Court Club of Kitchener-Waterloo; Nutrition for Learning; and WEFI Winter Wear.
We are proud of the many ways WRDSB students are supporting their communities. Students at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School created Fabled Fashion, a school-based store offering clothing for students to access for free, which promotes sustainability, inclusivity, self-expression and community. Student Trustee Feiyang Luo created a book drive to help inmates access the world through books. He partnered with fellow students and founded Bright Pages, a youth-led non-profit dedicated to enhancing education accessibility and supporting rehabilitation and reintegration.
WRDSB students and staff are committed to promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. Eastwood Collegiate Institute hosted its second annual “UNSDG Expo,” in collaboration with the Outdoor and Environmental Education Department. Secondary students, including Grade 9 geography classes and members of eco clubs, were invited to learn about how they can have an impact on our local community and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Several WRDSB schools participated in the EcoSchools program in the 2024-25 school year, supporting teachers and students with addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals through environmental action. WRDSB schools have been participating in EcoSchools since 2008, and we’ve grown to 19 certified schools in 2025, supported by the Sustainability Steering Team.
Five Kitchener-based secondary schools were awarded $1,200 each to support their eco clubs student-led initiatives through the City of Kitchener Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. This program is aimed at helping Kitchener youth ages 15 to 24 design, produce and govern urgent climate solutions in their cities. WRDSB has been recognized with the Roots and Shoots Award by Sustainable Waterloo Region for our collaboration in bringing microforests to 22 schools across our board. These microforests create new outdoor educational spaces and learning opportunities for students and educators. One of the participating schools, Groh Public School, planted a new micro-forest in the school’s yard. The hope is the forest will encourage students to learn and play outside. Students and staff across WRDSB are taking action to be good stewards for the natural environment and communities around us.
Read more about how we’re supporting Mental Health, Well-being and Engagement:
