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Schools & Child Care

The School Health Program

 

The School Health program promotes optimal health, developmental potential and learning among school-aged children and youth in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. Our team of public health nurses and dietitians work in close collaboration with local school boards, school staff and administrators, students, families, and community partners to make school communities a healthy place for all. We work with schools using a Comprehensive School Health-Healthy Schools process and share resources, tips and ideas to support your school’s health-related goals. Our approach is evidence-based and aligns closely with the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School. 

 

 

A healthy school is one where everyone - school administrators, teachers, parents, students and community agencies, all work together to create an environment that will have a positive impact on a student’s health, learning and well-being.

Using a comprehensive Healthy School approach helps school communities come together to create a positive environment where students can realize their full potential as learners. The benefits include:

  • Increased mental well-being and staff well-being
  • Increased resilience, self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour
  • Increased vegetable and fruit consumption
  • Decreased tobacco and substance use
  • Grounding in and appreciation of one’s environment
  • Improved cultural safety in learning environments
  • A greater sense of belonging, engagement and deeper connection to the school community; decreased bullying
  • Increased internalized values such as responsibility and empathy
  • Fewer school absences and improved academic success

For more information, refer to:

Comprehensive School Health (CSH) is an internationally recognized, evidence-based approach for building healthy school communities. It is widely acknowledged that healthy students are better prepared to learn, and that education is a key determinant of health and well-being. CSH helps to improve educational outcomes and enables schools to create healthy school environments that promote well-being and create long-lasting, sustainable change. 

We recommend using the Ontario Foundations for a Healthy School (a companion resource to the K-12 school effectiveness framework) to address a range of health topic(s) and apply a comprehensive approach, through strategies in each of the following key areas:

  • Curriculum, teaching and learning
  • School and classroom leadership
  • Student engagement
  • Healthy physical and social environments
  • Home, school and community partnerships

Schools offer a wide range of opportunities for students to learn, practice and promote positive and healthy behaviours. The creation of Healthy School environments is heavily influenced by school and classroom leadership.

 

We offer:

  • In-person Outreach visits to learn about your school’s unique needs and priorities.
  • Information and presentations related to Healthy Schools best practice.
  • Current data, evidence, and public health recommendations.
  • Participation on Healthy Schools teams or well-being committees.
  • Support to develop and implement school action plans, policies or guidelines.
  • Professional development sessions and/or consultations with educators to support lesson plan development and delivery of health curriculum.
  • Support for student-led activities to address health and well-being.
  • Partnership in working towards Healthy Schools Certification.
  • Sample newsletters for parents/caregivers.
  • Print or electronic resources.
  • Referrals to connect schools with other SMDHU programs and services.
  • Information to help connect schools with other community partner organizations.

Contact

Call 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or email [email protected] to book an appointment with your local School Health representative.

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