Healthy Schools
Presentation to the
HKPR District Health Unit Board of Health
September 18, 2014
Presented by Karen Pettinella
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health
Comprehensive School Health
A Healthy School . . .
 Promotes physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the whole
school community
 Constantly strengthens its capacity as a healthy setting for living,
learning and working
World Health Organization
 Lead in Global School Health Initiative
 Countries involved include:
 43 European countries
 Australia
 United States
 Canada
Healthy Schools
 Ontario’s Comprehensive School Health initiative
 Established in 2000
 Ontario Ministry of Education – working together to make
schools healthier places for students to learn and grow
 Supported by health units throughout Ontario
What are the benefits of becoming
a Healthy School?
 Health and education are closely linked
 Healthy students are better learners
 A Healthy School approach improves:
 Health
 Wellness and
 Educational outcomes
Benefits for the Student
 Help them reach their full potential
 Improve learning, academic performance and success
 Link them to community services
 Help them develop:
 Confidence
 Self-esteem
 Resiliency skills
So that they are more likely to be physically and emotionally
healthy for life
 Learned healthy behaviours likely to continue in adulthood
Benefits for the School Staff
 A healthy school environment leads to:
 Improved learning environments
 Strengthens positive teacher-student bonds
 Improved job satisfaction
 Staff who participate in health promotion activities are more
likely to model positive health messages on a daily basis
 Teachers can teach more effectively when their students are
healthier
Benefits for the
Family / Parent / Guardian
 Become more involved with their children, helping them
apply and integrate the new health information they are
learning
 Opportunities created to get more involved in the school
community
 Learn about keeping their children and their families healthy
 Learn about community resources and services
Benefits for the School Community
 Build strong partnerships and communication networks
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while working together to address school needs
Access to more community resources and services
Priorities can be established
Instructional and administrative time can be maximized
Improves relationships among students, staff and parents
The Healthy Schools Approach
 Is ongoing, with participation and collaboration from the
entire school community including:
 Students
 Parents
 School staff
 Community partners
 Identifies strengths and focuses on health issues specific to the
needs and concerns of the school community
 Is based on the Foundations for a Healthy School – a
framework for ensuring that the school’s planning processes
are comprehensive
Foundations for a Healthy School
The four Foundations for a Healthy School include:
 High quality instruction and programs
 A healthy physical environment
 A supportive social environment
 Community partnerships
The Healthy School Process
Commit to the Healthy School process
Celebrate your success!
Plan for next year
Form a Healthy School Committee
- Include students, parents, school
staff and community partners
Identify school strengths and needs
Review and Evaluate
Carry out the Action Plan
Celebrate strengths and identify a
priority topic issue from
survey results
Develop an Action Plan using the
Foundations for a Healthy School
CDIP Staff Commitment
Schools and Youth Team of Public Health Professionals (PHP)
 Began promoting + supporting Healthy Schools in 2011
 Presently working with and/or in contact with 32 schools
throughout HKPR region and within 3 school boards
 12 schools are committed to HS process
 20 schools are potential Healthy Schools
 7/12 Healthy Schools have surveyed their students, parents
and school staff to identify strengths and needs
Survey Results
 Common school strengths identified include:
 Sports/clubs
 Friends/students
 School staff
 Top issues identified include:
 Anxiety / Stress
 Lack of outdoor shade
 Loneliness (boys)
 Bullying
 Difficulty getting along with others
Challenges Identified by CDIP Team
 Getting buy-in from schools
 Being able to move forward
 Working within the school’s time lines
 School readiness
 Finding a school champion
 Lack of student engagement by school staff
Our Schools and Youth Team are committed to supporting
existing Healthy Schools in our region and are ready to assist
potential schools who choose to become healthier school
communities
For more information about Healthy Schools, please contact
Janet Leadbeater – Healthy Schools Lead
Port Hope HKPRDHU office
905-885-9100 ext. 1244
jleadbeater@hkpr.on.ca