College approach

Whole school approaches are varied. They are defined and put into practice according to each school’s
unique situation and the broader education system of which the school is a part. WSAs are customized to the
education environment and constantly evolve to meet the learning environment’s needs. Regardless of varia-
tions in settings, WSAs are always deliberated, planned, documented and built on effective practices. WSAs
may be launched through an action plan of relatively short duration – such as a year – but, ideally, are imple-
mented and maintained for a much longer period.
A WSA includes all school staff, students and community partners, and links with all aspects of school life.
Equally important, a WSA’s goal is that “everyone in the school or learning environment feels safe and
welcome, no matter their ability, disability, language, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity,
gender expression or age” (MoE-Alberta, 2017). WSAs have been used to promote education in many areas
including, but not limited to, global citizenship, human rights, inclusion, tolerance environment, social justice,
sustainability, and health (UNESCO, 2017d, p. 33). A WSA is, th