Creating Healthy Schools and Kids ~a shared responsibility~

A webinar by People for Education and OpheaFebruary 15, 2012; 7:00 – 8:00pm

This webinar was made possible through funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Spark Advocacy grants.

Agenda: Ready…Set…Go!

Ready!• Why the focus on healthy schools and kids?

Set!• An assessment tool you can use• Idea exchange: what’s working provincially and

locally?

Go!• Engaging the whole school community • Strategies and supports

Ready! Why focus on healthy schools and kids?

Health and education are interdependent: healthy students are better learners

Did you know?

This is the first generation of kids that may not live as long as their parents. ~HSFO 2009~

Only 32% of children and youth get the recommended 60 minutes physical activity every day

6 - 19 year olds in Canada spend an average of 8.6 hours per day in sedentary pursuits

One out of every four Canadian children is overweight or obese

Less than 50% of kids are getting the minimum number of servings per day of vegetables and fruit

By graduation, the average student will have spent 15,000 hours watching TV and only 500 hours in Health and Physical Education programs

Physical Activity Levels

Active Play and Leisure

Active Transportation

Sedentary Behavior

Physical Education

Family Physical Activity

Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card

D-

D

C

F

D

C

Why are schools a great place to improve kids’ health?

Health and education success are intertwined: schools cannot achieve their primary mission of education if students are not healthy. -Storey, 2009

95% of Ontario children and youth attend public schools

Students spend an average of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 12 to 14 years in school

Kids take H&PE classes every year until grade 8 and for one year in high school

Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Curriculum

The revised H&PE curriculum is based on the vision that the knowledge and skills acquired in the program will benefit students throughout their lives, helping them thrive in an ever changing world.

Why Healthy Schools?

According to the Ministry of Education:

• H&PE programs are most effective when delivered in healthy schools and when students’ learning is supported by school staff, families and communities.

• Research shows that a healthy school environment supports student success. Students, teachers and the larger community benefit when children and youth learn in a healthy school.

Why Healthy Schools?

The healthy schools approach is embedded in two key findings:

Healthy children are better prepared to learn. Schools have a significant influence on the health

and well-being of children and youth.

By providing and promoting opportunities for enhancing students’ social, emotional and physical health:

Healthy behaviours will be established that will last a lifetime.

Achievement levels will improve.

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Foundations for a Healthy School

• High Quality Instruction and Programs• A Healthy Physical Environment• A Supportive Social Environment• Community Partnerships

Set!

Online Tool

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The Healthy Schools Process

• Establish a Healthy School Community Team

• Assess Your Environment• Plan and Act• Celebrate

The Idea Exchange

Let’s Talk!

• What is your school doing now to promote health?

• What steps has your school taken to create healthier schools and kids?

Go! Tips, strategies and supports to create healthier schools and kids

Healthy School Community Partners

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Lead by example. Participate in healthy activities at home as a family.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Talk about the importance of H&PE and healthy school activities with your child, teachers, principal, and school council.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Get together with others and assess your school’s strengths and priorities, and make a plan.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Partner with public health, recreation and others.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

What are we really saying?

Encourage and support youth engagement.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Support and be actively involved with the healthy schools activities at your child ’s school e.g., school community events.

Parents Engaged in Healthy Schools

Spread the word! Communicate the importance of creating healthy schools and kids!

Ontario Ministry of Education

Healthy Schools Recognition Program

• Promotes and celebrates healthy practices in schools.

• To accept the challenge, the school principal, school council chair and a student representative (if applicable) must identify at least one activity – in addition to any current activities – to undertake to make their schools healthier places to learn.

www.ontario.ca/healthyschools

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Key Government Strategies and Policies

• 2010 Health and Physical Education Curriculum• Healthy School Strategy• Daily Physical Activity (DPA)• School Food and Beverage Policy• Safe Schools• The School Effectiveness Framework• Student Well-Being Research Framework• Roots of Violence• Full day learning for 4 - and 5 - year olds• After-School Strategy• Ontario Public Health Standards

Ophea Programs and Services

• Provide high quality support• Address curriculum expectations; are school

based and/or community-based• Are developed and tested by experts in the field

and are consistent with current research and best practices

• Are continuously evaluated to ensure they meet ongoing client and sector needs

• Many are available in English and French• Reach educators, public health professionals

and sport and recreation/community leaders

Ophea.net: Healthy Schools & Communities

Presentation Title | Date

For more information…

The Ontario Ministry of Educationhttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/foundations.html

Children’s fitness tax credit informationwww.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness (federal) or

www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/catc/faq.html (provincial)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/adolescenthealth/pdf/

parent_engagement_factsheet.pdf

Active Healthy Kids Canadawww.activehealthykids.ca Ontario Chronic Disease

Prevention Alliancewww.ocdpa.on.ca

ParticipACTIONwww.participaction.com

Ontario Healthy Schools Coalitionwww.ontariohealthyschools.caHeart and Stroke Foundation

www.heartandstroke.ca

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People for Education - www.peopleforeducation.cawww.facebook.com/peopleforeducation

twitter.com/anniekidder

Ophea - www.ophea.net www.facebook.com/opheacanada

twitter.com/opheacanadawww.youtube.com/opheacanada

About People for Education

People for Education is an independent charitable organization working to support public education in Ontario's English, Catholic and French schools.  We believe that public education has the capacity to transform and enrich children's lives, and is the foundation of a civil society.

We work to build support for public education by: • providing clear, accessible information about the public

education system to parents and citizens• conducting research and policy analysis on education issues• engaging people to become actively involved in education

issues in their own community• connecting parents, educators, community groups, policy-

makers and researchers across Ontario

About Ophea

Ophea is led by the vision that all children and youth in Ontario value, participate in, and make a lifelong

commitment to healthy active living.

Ophea is:•a provincial not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting Ontario schools and communities through quality program supports, partnerships, and advocacy •supportive of Health and Physical Education (H&PE) as a foundational component of healthy schools and communities

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