A healthy school involves a holistic approach where school administration, teachers, parents, students and community agencies work together to create an environment that will have a positive impact on a child’s health and learning.
Toronto Public Health’s team of health professionals work to service school communities to create Healthy Schools. We use the Healthy Schools approach which is based on the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School.
The Healthy Schools approach is integrated school-based health promotion that incorporates health and health messaging into all aspects of school activities and engages the school community at large.
There are five components:
The Healthy Schools Toolkit provides you with everything you need to transform your school using the Healthy Schools Approach.
There is a close connection between health and learning. The Healthy Schools Approach supports improvement in students’ educational outcomes and promotes resilience by addressing school health in a planned, integrated and holistic way.
It encourages involvement of all members of the school community (students, parents, school staff, community agencies, local businesses) to work together to make schools healthier places for students to grow and learn.
April 4th was Healthy Schools Day. This year’s Healthy Schools Day focused on diesel. Schools and communities across Canada are taking action to lower the exposure to diesel emissions. Be part of the change. Let’s make sure all children in Canada are learning, playing and growing in educational environments that get an ‘A for effort’ in lowering diesel emissions. Visit the Healthy Schools Day website to find out more!