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Healthy Schools Matter NAME, R.N., B.Sc.N. Public Health Nurse, Region of Halton Public Health Service to Halton Elementary Schools At the Region of Halton we are changing the way we do our work to better service schools. A little bit of history… 2 What is a “Healthy School”? Healthy School approach = best practice • Holistic approach – School administration, teachers, parents, students and community agencies working together. • Goal – To create an environment that will have a positive impact on a child’s health and learning and enhance the health of the whole school community. 3 Congratulations! Your school has been chosen as a “Healthy School”! 4 Benefits • Enhance the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the whole school community. • Strengthen a school’s capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working. • Complements school improvement plans, the Healthy Schools Recognition Program, safety and wellbeing committees, and Eco-school programs. What does this all mean? 5 Evidence provided by the Living Schools Initiative showed us that children in the pilot schools had: • Increased physical activity levels • Healthier eating behaviours • Increased student attendance, attentiveness and alertness • Reduced behaviour issues • Increased sense of belonging & safety • Significant improvement in EQAO test scores The Healthy School approach is based on the Living School Initiative. 6 Next Steps • Form a School Health Committee – parents, students and teachers – may be part of an existing committee • Utilize data available regarding your school and community • Focus on a health issue • Implement a comprehensive plan 7 How much time will it take? • This depends on the identified needs of your school and the plan you develop with your healthy school public health nurse (PHN) • The PHN will be available to provide concentrated time and support, greater access and linking to community resources, programs and services. 8 “Healthy learners are better learners” (Health Canada, 2002) Questions? 9 Resources for a Healthy School • www.ontario.ca/healthyschools • www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/ (provincial framework) • www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/healthyschools.html • www.livingschool.ca/ • www.safehealthyschools.org/ • www.ctf-fce.ca/e/publications/health%5Flearning/ • www.opha.on.ca/resources/topics/h.shtml#schools 10