E.S.P - Empowered Student Partnerships
Loretto College E.S.P Projects
"Compassion is Always in Fashion" - Anti-female bullying project
&
"Be True to You" - Positive vs. Negative addictions
The Empowered Student Partnerships(E.S.P) program is a youth driven, student led partnership with the Toronto Police Service. The program is unique in Canada and challenges secondary school students across Toronto to take initiative and promote safer schools in the community. The primary focus of the E.S.P program is to empower students to plan, organize and execute a year long safe school initiative.
Loretto College has been registered with the E.S.P program since September 2003. The E.S.P committee is made up of six students and one staff advisor. Two student representatives attend monthly meetings with Toronto Police staff to organize events and promote activities. We are happy to announce that Monique Silva has been elected Student Chair for the E.S.P Student steering committee. Students are encouraged to take the initiative in planning school wide activities and take action in developing strategies that will help resolve any issues or concerns that are specific to Loretto College School.
A Survey regarding school safety was issued to the entire student student body at the beginning of the school year. The survey was designed to collect information from the students about issues that they felt needed to be addressed. The results of the survey revealed that overall the students of Loretto feel safe in their learning environment. Last year the students felt that female aggression and bullying was the issue of concern. Loretto College continues the Compassion is Always in Fashion -anti female bullying project. The main goal of our program is to work with the elementary school community to foster and inspire a compassionate environment for future students. By reaching out into the community the students hope to develop a rapport through mentorship and educate elementary school girls on their initiative in reducing female bullying and aggression. Therefore, we want to inspire our little sisters, cousins, neighbours and friends to stop female bullying which is polluting our elementary schools and will later effect our high schools. This year the students are addressing the issue on Positive vs Negative addictions by being True to Yourself and not giving into peer pressure.
Loretto College hosts an inner city Peace Walk against Female Bullying
on November 10, 2005 2:30 Sharp!
The Esp student committee will present our "Compassion is Always in Fashion"-
anti female bullying assembly at Loretto College to all grade 9 students and
intermediate female students from a few of our feeder elementary schools. Bishop
Morocco/Thomas Merton Secondary School will also join Loretto in presenting
their school initiative on bullying. Afternoon of Nov, 10/05 Approximately 350-400
students from Loretto College and intermediate elementary female students will
walk in solidarity against an issue that is effecting our schools city wide
on a daily basis. For the past two years Loretto College's ESP student committee
has visited elementary schools to present our Compassion project against female
bullying. They have educated younger students on the effects and consequences
of female aggression and that now is the time to take a stand. Female bullying
begins in elementary and needs to stop in elementary. The ESP Committee won
the Bell Canada Award for Most Inspirational Program in May of 2004/05. The
Toronto Catholic school board has also recognized the project by presenting
Loretto's ESP committee with an award on Monday October 24, 2005. At 2:30 sharp
the following inner city schools will walk in their own school community to
create awareness and educate people on an issue that is truly becoming a problem
today. St. Mary of the Angels Stella Maris St Nicholas of Bari St. Anthony St.
Clare Holy Rosary Our Lady of Lourdes D'arcy McGee St. Paul
Bell Canada Most Inspirational Program Awarded to
Loretto College
"Compassion is Always in Fashion"
Anti-Female bullying Project
As the ESP Staff Advisor, I've had the pleasure of working with many dedicated
students on our Compassion project. They consistently demonstrated great enthusiasm
and participation in developing strategies on various activities to help increase
awareness and reduce female bullying/aggression throughout neighbouring elementary
schools. The students on the Loretto College ESP committee had a vision and
made it their mission to visit neighbouring elementary school communities. Their
goal was to inspire and foster a compassionate environment by educating and
providing young girls with information and resources on female aggression. Their
message overall was that we need to start educating our little sisters, cousins,
friends and neighbours to stop female bullying which is polluting our elementary
schools and will later effect our highschools. The student committee conveyed
their message through a variety of avenues. From February 27 to May 5, 2004
the students presented the "Compassion is Always in Fashion' assembly at St.
Paul, Stella Maris, St. Nicholas of Bari and St. Mary of the Angels elementary
school. The students were provided information as well as the effects and consequences
of female aggression. They were encouraged to take the pledge against bullying
on the family.ca website. One of the highlights of the assembly was Loretto's
"Give Peace a Dance" project. Some of our grade 9 and 10 students choreographed
a dance showing aggression among two female students who come together to intimidate,
taunt and try to prove who is better or more popular. The dance was made of
of latin flamenco mixed in with hip hop. The girls had the younger students
wanting to get up and dance with them! The committee also dedicated their time
during fundraising events such as Pancake Tuesday and "Loretto Idol" which was
a great success. Our guest judges included Constables Nancy Mclean and Rondi
Craig. The student body showed their support by coming out to these events and
cheering for their favourite "Loretto Idol". Our community CIBC and TD bank
also made a donation to Loretto College's ESP project. It meant a lot to the
students knowing that their community stands behind their year-long initiative
in promoting safer schools. Through all this support the ESP committee was able
to invite a compassionate and energetic speaker named Chioma. Her powerful words
and story captured the hearts of Loretto students. Chioma's charisma and confidence
shined during her presentation. Chioma also lead a workshop with 25 students.
During this time the students were able to communicate and express themselves
in a smaller more intimate setting. We truly believe our project has been very
effective through the response of staff and students not only at Loretto College
but also at the elementary schools. Principals and staff at the elementary schools
have said that it is about time the issue on female bullying is being addressed.
The message will definitely inspire younger students to follow the positive
role-modeling presented by Loretto College. The assembly itself has been so
successful that some of our elementary schools needed to be put on a waiting
list for next year! The ESP student committee were always ready and willing
to share new ideas to ensure the success of the "Compassion is Always in Fashion"-anti-female
bullying project. Their hard work and dedication was recognized on May 12, 2004.
Loretto College won the Bell Canada ESP Award for MOST INSPIRATIONAL program
for the year 2004/05. The school received $1,000.00 towards their ESP project
for the upcoming year. The 14th Police division awarded Loretto College a certificate
for Top school in their division. The ESP Committee would like to Thank the
following people for all their help and support in making our project a success.
Our Principal Ms. Kawun for believing and supporting us all the way. The Toronto
Police service Ms. Lopreato for her help during our visits to the elementary
schools. Students on the "Give Peace a Dance Project" Sara Ferreira, Ashley
Alonso, Shanice Cyrus, Alexandra Linhares, Kimberley Olivieira, Monica Oliveira,
Nicole Furtado, Stephanie Maito, Katelyn Campachiaro, Melissa Samms, Emilia
Carvalho. Alise Silva - Skits Lisa Da Silva - Poems Vanessa dos Santos - Photography/Video
Avalon Stanley, Vania Borges, Jasmin Pietruczuk - Art/Display
The ESP Committee Melissa Martins Monique Silva Elizabeth Serra Jessica Picanco
Celeste Colley Mrs. Onilla
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