Topics for High Schools
Ometz school workshops are a powerful tool to help children and teens navigate their preschool, elementary and high school years. We also offer workshops for teachers, school personnel and parents. Professionals facilitate a variety of workshops with the goal of students and adults alike becoming more social, empathic, and safe. Whenever necessary, due to public health guidelines, meetings will be held virtually instead of in the classroom.
Managing stress and anxiety
R.I.D.E.S. the Wave is a classroom-based stress management program for students, developed by experts in school mental health. Sessions cover developmentally appropriate information related to stress and provide concrete strategies to help with stress management.
Transitions: starting high school
This program covers common concerns such as developing new relationships with peers and teachers, navigating an ever-changing schedule, study and organizational skills, dealing with less guidelines and guidance concerning homework and projects, managing stress and being exposed to risky behaviours.
Puberty/sexuality
Students will engage in age-appropriate discussions, ranging from emotional, physical and social changes in the younger high school students, to safe sex education, reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of establishing healthy relationships in the more senior years.
Alcohol, smoking, vaping and drug awareness
Through this program, students will better understand substance use/abuse and the signs of risky situations. Strategies to “keep safe” will be highlighted taking into consideration peer and media influence. Recent research on the effects of these substances on the developing teenage brain will be reviewed.
Conflicts and their resolution
Students will learn the concept of “relational aggression” and its effects on healthy, inclusive friendships. Using real life stories, videos and literature, students will become more sensitive to the power of words and body language in hurting others. The role of the “bystander” will be discussed as a strategy for reducing conflicts.
Body image and self-esteem
This program helps students to be more aware of their changing body image and the influences of their peers, the internet, and the media on the image they have of themselves. Also, these influences will be discussed in relation to their evolving self-esteem and identity. Strategies to cope with these pressures will be discussed.
Introduction to mindfulness
This introduction to mindfulness will offer students an opportunity to use self-regulation skills in times of stress and anxiety. Students will learn to be more “present” and will build capacity for compassion for self and others as well as refine concentration skills and self-discipline.
Internet safety
Positive and negative effects of internet use will be discussed. Internet safety and privacy will be reviewed, and cyber bullying will be highlighted for the role it plays in creating unhealthy relationships and threatening friendships.
Study skills
Students will learn skill building techniques including creating study/project plans, organizing workplaces for optimal concentration, working in groups, and establishing routines for homework. Research on multitasking and the importance of sleep will be discussed. Coping with stress will be included.
Loss and bereavement
Students and staff may be impacted in a variety of ways when faced with illness and/or death. These sessions will assist those in your school community who are having difficulty coping and will help them with strategies for healing and recovery.
Transitions: leaving high school
Leaving high school can be filled with mixed emotions about graduation, school applications and changes in relationships. These topics will be covered while leaving an opportunity for students to discuss their concerns.
Healthy Relationships
Healthy Relationships aims to help students understand the differences between healthy and unhealthy friendships and romantic relationships. Emotional safety in relationships is emphasized. Students are given scenarios to navigate and reflection questions to answer to help increase education and awareness at developmentally appropriate ages.
Consent and Boundaries
These workshops are designed for children of all ages in the school system to learn more about consent at all developmentally appropriate stages. For the younger grades, our consent and boundaries workshops help introduce bodily autonomy, choice, and saying no. For older grades, our workshops include information on sexual assault, unhealthy relationships, and how to understand when someone is giving consent.