News Release
3/21/2019
RICHMOND HILL - High school students interested in a future health and wellness career spent the day at a senior living residence developing empathy for the importance of seniors’ dining experiences to their well-being.
Grade 11 students from Bayview S.S. learned about menu offerings, assistive devices, service plans and food preparation techniques from team members at Sunrise Senior Living in Richmond Hill. The students were asked for feedback on additional ways to enhance the dining experience for residents with memory loss or a physical impairment.
“I really enjoyed learning the design thinking process, getting to think deeply and then share. I think I will be able to use this process in the future,” said Insiya Samji, student at Bayview S.S.
Organized with Sunrise of Richmond Hill, this event is one of several the Board is offering this year in collaboration with community organizations to support innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship training for Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students.
“Events like this one provide our students with really rich experiential learning, collaborating and connecting with professionals in fields of interest to them. They have an opportunity to think critically about important issues, learn more about careers in healthcare, and deepen their skills and knowledge,” said Mirella Sanwalka, Principal, Student Success, York Region District School Board.
“It was wonderful to welcome local students to our Sunrise community so they could see first-hand the compassionate, high-quality care our team members provide. We focus on serving residents with memory loss a dining experience that helps promote safety and dignity, as well as their enjoyment of a meal prepared to personal tastes,” said Andrea Doufexis, Executive Director for Sunrise of Richmond Hill. “We appreciate the students’ feedback and hope they continue down the path of choosing a career in healthcare. It’s so personally rewarding.”
Specialist High Skills Major programs let students experience a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities while working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. YRDSB has 33 secondary schools offering over 100 separate programs that represent different sectors of the economy, including arts and culture, business, and health and wellness.
York Region District School Board is the third largest school district in Ontario with over 124,000 students in 177 elementary schools and 33 secondary schools. York Region students consistently perform above average in provincial testing and the Board is one of the top achievers in Ontario. For more information about York Region District School Board, please visit the Board website and follow @YRDSB on Twitter.
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*Note to Editors: Photographs available upon request.