NEWS: October 2008: Challenging Students To Be Healthier
October 29, 2008
CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO BE HEALTHIER
NEWS
Ontario students are being challenged to do one more thing to make their school healthier as part of the Healthy Schools Recognition Program.
Now in its third year, the program uses the link between a healthy learning environment and student success to encourage kids to be more healthy by:
- Starting a daily breakfast club or running club
- Inviting health professionals, such as public health nurses, to speak with students about fitness, wellness and teen health
- Introducing a range of healthy activities such as yoga and dance.
Schools can come up with a healthy living activity of their own, expand on previous activities or participate in existing voluntary programs. This could include using healthy recipes from Eating Well Looks Good on You, a project designed to bring healthier food to school cafeterias using fresh, locally grown food.
Participating schools will receive a certificate and pennant to display in their school.
QUOTES
“Healthy students have more energy for learning — and eating healthy and staying active are an important part of that. I challenge everyone to get involved and help bring healthier food into their schools,” said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.
“By educating children and youth about health and wellness, we are providing them with the building blocks to live healthy, active lives,” said Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best. “The Healthy Schools Recognition Program is just one of many ways we are encouraging Ontarians to eat healthy and be active.”
"Participating in the Healthy Schools Recognition Program helped everyone at our school get more physically active. It also fostered more teamwork, student engagement and pride in our school," said Carolyn Thomson, Holy Family Catholic School principal.
QUICK FACTS
- Over the last two years, more than 1,700 schools have pledged to undertake more than 4,600 healthy activities through the Healthy Schools Recognition Program
- Schools participating in voluntary provincial programs under Ontario’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Action Plan such as Active and Safe Routes to School and the Raise the Bar Program are also eligible for the Healthy Schools Recognition Program.
LEARN MORE
Find out how you can help create a healthier learning environment at your school.
Read some of the success stories from the last two years.
Ministry of Education
Michelle Despault, Minister’s Office, 416-212-3747
Patricia MacNeil, Communications, 416-325-2676
Public Inquiries, 416-325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514
TTY 1-800-263-2892
ontario.ca/education-news
Ministry of Health Promotion
Lise Jolicoeur, Minister’s Office, 416-326-8497
Julie Rosenberg, Communications, 416-326-4833
ontario.ca/healthpromotion-news
