Volume 2, Issue 1
Nova Central School District &
Central Health
September 2007
Healthy StudentsHealthy Schools Central
Cause a Commotion Again in September!
For the second year in a
row, schools across the
province will be invited to
join in the “Living Healthy
Commotions”, now set for
Friday, September 28th,
2007.
their plans. There were
many great activities that
occurred. Schools held
games and competitions,
provided snacks, had kickoff breakfasts and special
walks.
Kids Eat Smart Club 2
Nova Central
School District
Nova Central
School District
Last year’s commotion had a
great response. In
conjunction with others
across the province, NCSD
schools raised a commotion
on September 29th, as part
of the province-wide
celebration of healthy living.
Almost all schools
registered and they
received funds to support
Inside:
Central Health
School Milk
Foundation
Resource
2
Active Schools
Project Update
3
Work plan and
HS HS Team
4
Kitchen Equipment
4
For school feedback go to pg. 2
Final Transition Year for School
Cafeterias and Canteens
School Food Guidelines were
released by the Province in June of
2006. These guidelines are required
to be fully implemented by schools
across NL by September 2008.
It is now the final transition year
for schools to make changes to
the foods they serve and sell.
The purpose of the Guidelines is
to ensure that “the healthy choice
is the easy choice” for students.
Criteria for school food programs
As well, Nova Central School District
are established based on three
now has a Nutrition and Healthy
categories:
Eating Policy in place, that supports
1. Serve Most
the school food guidelines and
healthy eating practices for schools. 2. Serve Moderately
3.
Foods not included.
The transition period can enable schools to
introduce new options and make more healthy
choices available. If you want to discuss
changes, would like a review of your canteen
list or would like a presentation or display for
school events, contact your School Health
Promotion Liaison Consultant.
Find the checklist on
page 3 and assess
your school’s
progress…..
‘Commotion’ cont’d from page 1.
Feedback from some of our
schools on Commotions 2006
included the following:
of Education and Health and
Community Services. Schools can
receive funds to help with
activities for the day.
l
LEWISPORTE ACADEMY
“Everyone was involved. It created a
lot of excitement and energy in the
school. It was a great opportunity to
showcase classes that enjoy new
QDPA activities.”
MILLCREST ACADEMY
“The commotion was a super day…..got
children excited about the healthy
living day. We walked to breakfast,
shared school-wide QDPA and had a
fruit-tasting afternoon with studentgenerated displays.”
JM OLDS COLLEGIATE
“We served breakfast to the entire
school and the kids enjoyed it. Our
healthy living class coordinated the
day and it gave them a responsibility
that they enjoyed. “
Greenwood
Academy
breakfast and raised $5000 for our Kids
Eat Smart Club. Good participation by the
community…..parent volunteers, RCMP,
Public Health Nurse….”
JOHN WATKINS ACADEMY
“It enhanced school spirit! It seemed that
students were all ‘onboard’ with the idea of
a healthy and active school. The students
enjoyed the activities and the healthy
snacks. “
DORSET COLLEGIATE
“Great participation and great school spirit.
Everyone enjoyed the activities and the
healthy snacks.”
WILLIAM MERCER ACADEMY
“The whole K-8 school took part….lots
of enthusiasm. Students/staff love
these activities.”
Baie Verte Academy
Indian River
Academy
NEW WORLD ISLAND ACADEMY
“High participation on the part of
students and staff…..combined our
commotions day with a walk for
Living Healthy Commotions 2007 is
again sponsored by the Departments
To register, or to get ideas for
commotions activities , check out
www.livinghealthyschools.com or
call the School Health Promotion
Liaison Consultant. Registration
packages and promotional materials
will also be sent to schools.
The School Milk Foundation,
assisted by a
Provincial Wellness
Grant, has developed
a great new Healthy
Eating Active Living
Resource Kit for
Grades 7-12. It has
a Power Point Presentation,
pop-up displays, food models,
flash cards, DVDs, a user
manual and much more.
Kits will soon be available to
teachers through NCSD’s Instructional Materials Centre
(IMC) and for school nurses
through the Central Health
Resource Library at JPMH.
www.schoolmilk.nf.ca
Kids Eat Smart Fruit & Veggies First! a Smash Hit
The Kids Eat Smart Foundation,
through a provincial wellness grant
and fundraising efforts, introduced a
FRUIT AND VEGGIES FIRST!
Project with their KES Clubs last
year, in schools across the province.
Schools with breakfast or snack
programs received additional funding
to provide fruits and vegetables as
part of their menu. Schools found
Page 2
many ways to
participate
including
adding fresh
produce to
their
breakfasts, offering fruit and
veggie snacks on a weekly basis,
or introducing classroom
promotions and taste -tests to
encourage students to consume
more fruits and vegetables.
Great news! The program will
continue again this year. For more
info, email Daphne Ledrew at
dledrew@kidseatsmart.ca
A thumbs up is also in line for KES.
It has just won an award from the
Canadian Medical Association for its
health promotion efforts.
For this and other KES
news, check out
www.kidseatsmart.ca
Cont’d from P. 1: Check Your School’s Progress……..
? Beverages available in your school include water, milk, 100%
juices
? Pop and energy or sport drinks are no longer available
? Deep-fried foods have been eliminated (included those that are pre-fried)
? Healthy choices such as yogurt, fruit, granola bars, cheese and crackers,
etc. are now being sold or served
? The majority of snack and menu items fit either the ‘serve most’ or ‘serve
moderately’ categories
? Less healthy snacks are priced higher than healthier snacks (penalty pricing)
? Parents have been informed about the current and planned changes
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR SCHOOL’S HEALTHY EATING RESOURCE
MANUAL, THE SCHOOL FOOD GUIDELINES AND IN THE GRAIN CRITERIA.
Active Schools - Central Heads into
its Fourth Year
Thanks to the commitment and support of
NCSD, the Central Region Active Living
Committee and Central Health, we are
heading in to our fourth year of having
‘Active’ Schools in our district.
Some of the
items being
sent to
schools
Jerry Knee is back in his role as
Coordinator and will continue to support
schools throughout the district in a variety
of ways to deliver QDPA. He has
prepared kick-off packages that will go
out to schools in early September (in time
for Commotions Day). Other things
recommendations are received. Copies of
planned for this year include an Active
the evaluation will be made available to
Schools training day for up to fifty new
participating schools.
teachers in the district, and the training of
high school students in select schools as
Thanks to those teachers who completed
QDPA leaders.
Dr. Antony Card of MUN is finalizing his
Evaluation Report, which will be ready by
September. A review of ways to improve
the program will take place once any
Volume 2, Issue 1
surveys as part of the evaluation and
congratulations to those who won our
prize draw….Dana Pittman (Canadian
Tire gift certificate) and Kathryn Lee (Ted
Stuckless print).
QDPA has really helped to get kids more
active and alert during the school day, and to
make them more aware of the importance of
eating healthy and being more physically
active. It is also a big boost to school spirit!
Most schools are now scheduling QDPA as a
regular part of their school day.
Jerry Knee can be reached at the school
board office at 256-2547 or by email
JerryKnee@ncsd.ca.
Page 3
Your Healthy Students
Healthy Schools Team…..
Planning for new Activities
Underway for HS HS Central
Heather Hillier,
School
Health Promotion Liaison Consultant
Jerry Knee, Active Schools
Coordinator
Bernard Baker, Itinerant
Physical Education Teacher
Jill Wheaton,
Regional
Nutritionist
Heather, Jerry and Bernard can be
reached at the NCSD head office.
Jill can be reached through Central
Health at 651-6335 or by email:
JillWheaton@gov.nl.ca
There will also be an Integrated
Education-Health HS HS Committee
that will meet over 2007-2008.
Planning is well underway for the new school year for Healthy Students
Healthy Schools. Through the support of both departments, NCSD and
Central Health there will be lots happening in our district this year, in
addition to our Active Schools Project. All of the activities are intended to
encourage health-promoting schools and support
healthy lifestyles.
A few things in the works are:
♦ A second front-line caterers’ session
♦ Two-day high school student retreat
♦ Information session for school staff who manage
canteens
♦ Nutrition Month Fruit & Veggie Promotion for kindergarten students
♦ Development and distribution of communications materials
♦ Workshops for Quality School Health Teams
♦ Hand washing & sanitization pilot project (four schools)
Funds Allocated to Address Kitchen
Equipment Priorities
In it’s most recent budget, the Government of NL allocated $750,000 to assist school
districts to upgrade kitchen equipment and working space. This came about after particular
needs were identified through the Healthy Students-Healthy Schools Initiative, and the
implementation of School Food Guidelines. Each district has now established priorities for
use of the funds and has submitted a request to the Department of Education. Once NCSD receives confirmation
of the amount of funds approved for upgrades in this district, work will proceed. Priorities have been established
based on schools with hot lunch programs, student populations, the removal of deep-fryers, and menus. Items such
as stoves & ovens, sinks and refrigerators are being considered. Once those priorities (including urgent items) are
addressed, a further assessment of those schools with canteens will be conducted.
It is anticipated that over the next two years, we will see considerable improvements in the food preparation areas
of many of our schools. For more information, contact Heather Hillier.
IMC Resources
Be sure to check out the Instructional
Materials Centre (IMC) this Fall. We
have been busy adding new resources at
the Centre, to support physical activity
and the Physical Education and
Nutrition/Healthy Eating curriculums.
Equipment, DVDs, activities, books and
much more will be available for loan to
teachers. Contact BLuff@ncsd.ca
The Alliance
for the
Control of
Tobacco
[ACT] will
soon be
distributing
outdoor ‘smoke free school
grounds’ signs to all schools.
For more info contact Kevin
Coady at
KevinCoady@actnf.com
HS HS C O N T A C T :
Heather Hillier
School Health Promotion
Liaison Consultant
Nova Central School District
203 Elizabeth Drive
Gander, NL A1V 1H6
(709) 256-2547; Fax: 651-3044
HHillier@ncsd.ca