HEALTHY SCHOOLS
Healthy Schools
Links
The following websites provide a wide range of information to help make Ontario's schools healthier places for students to learn and grow.
- Healthy Eating
- Physical Activity
- Bullying Prevention
- Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
- Substance Use and Abuse
- Healthy Growth and Development
- Mental Health
- General Information
Healthy Eating
- Vending Machine Policy (Policy/Program Memorandum 135)
This policy directs school boards and schools to ensure that only foods and beverages that contribute to the nutritional well-being of students should be dispensed through school vending machines in elementary schools. Ministry of Education. - Eat Smart! School Cafeteria Program
Through its "Award of Excellence" program, the Eat Smart! School Cafeteria Program offers recognition to Ontario school cafeterias and school food service providers that meet exceptional standards in nutrition and food safety. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds
The Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds ™ is a 3-year pilot program in Windsor-Essex that provides fruits and vegetables and companion tools for teachers and students in grades 3-5 on the nutritional benefits and great taste of Ontario greenhouse vegetables. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. - Northern Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program
This pilot program will provide free fruits and vegetable to elementary students in Northern Ontario schools. Nutrition educational materials will be provided to teachers to help teach the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. (OAFE)
OAFE works to increase awareness of the agri-food industry by providing educational programs and tools. Tools include educational resources for elementary and secondary school students and workshops for teachers. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. - Power4Bones
Targeted to help Grade 5 students learn about bone health, this program offers tools for teacher and students. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Student Nutrition Program
Funding to provide food in elementary and secondary schools through breakfast, lunch and snack programs. Nutrition guidelines to support selection of appropriate foods. Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Physical Activity
- Community Use of Schools
This program encourages increased use of schools by not-for-profit groups at reduced rates. Ministry of Education. - Daily Physical Activity (Policy/Program Memorandum 138)
This policy directs school boards to ensure that all elementary students have a minimum of twenty minutes of physical activity each school day during instructional time. Resource guides are available for teachers, principals and school boards. Ministry of Education. - Active and Safe Routes to Schools
Active & Safe Routes to School is a national program that encourages the use of active modes of transportation to and from school. Many fun and easy-to-use tools are provided for teachers, students, parents and community partners. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Communities in Action (CIA) Fund
Eligible program applicants can receive CIA funding for non-capital projects focused on increasing physical activity in communities through planning, implementation, and/or development. Ministry of Health Promotion. - "Not Gonna Kill You"
A campaign that speaks directly to young people aged 12-15 about the importance of healthy eating and active living. The campaign features an interactive website for youth seeking information on how to eat healthy and to become and stay active. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Pause to Play
A web-guide for kids who want to be active, including inter-active tools. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Active Schools
"Active Schools is a fun, free program for Kindergarten to Grade 8, designed to motivate and recognize school communities for getting up, moving and making the commitment to leading active, healthy lives. Active Schools is managed by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (Ophea)." Ministry of Health Promotion - Raise the Bar
"Raise the Bar is an exciting new program designed to improve the quality of intramural/houseleague programs across Ontario. Raise the Bar will provide schools with resources and assistance in the development of these programs."
Bullying Prevention
- Bullying: We Can All Help Stop It
A guide about bullying for parents of elementary and secondary students. Ministry of Education. - Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a 24/7 helpline and web resource for elementary and secondary students who are bullied or bullying. Ministry of Education. - Registry of Bullying Prevention Programs
The Registry of Bullying Prevention Programs provides Ontario educators with information about bullying prevention programs which may be suitable for purchase and use in elementary and secondary schools. Ministry of Education. - Safety At Your School: Sample Surveys For Students, Parents, and Teachers About Bullying
Surveys for students, parents and teachers to assess the elementary and secondary school environment related to bullying prevention. Ministry of Education. - Shaping Safer Schools: A Bullying Prevention Action Plan
This report on Bullying Prevention provides the necessary information and tools to successfully implement bullying prevention initiatives for the education community. Ministry of Education.
Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
- Sabrina's Law: An Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils
The Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils indicates and describes the requirements for school boards to maintain an anaphylaxis policy. The act is supported by an E-Learning Module and an Anaphylaxis Resource Kit. Ministry of Education. - Asthma Strategy: School Pilot Project
The Creating Asthma Friendly Schools: A Resource Kit provides recommendations and resources for seven essential goals for creating asthma-friendly elementary schools. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. - Live Safe! Work Smart!
Free classroom-ready resources for Kindergarten to Grade 12 to meet safety-related expectations in the curriculum and provide lots of appropriate learning opportunities. Ministry of Labour. - Work Smart Ontario
A website targeted to parents, teachers and young workers including information about health and safety. Ministry of Labour. - Young Workers Awareness Program
The Young Workers Awareness Program website provides students with the information they need to protect their health and safety on the job.
Substance Use and Abuse
- FOCUS Community Program
Twenty-two community coalitions support alcohol and other substance abuse prevention programs. All coalitions sponsor programs targeted to youth – school activities vary from community to community. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Smoke-Free Ontario
Ministry of Health Promotion, initiatives include:- Youth Action Alliances, a peer leadership program for teens aged 14-17 about tobacco control issues that engages youth in local community-based initiatives;
- Grants to high schools for smoking prevention activities, provided through public health units;
- Lungs are for Life, a school-based smoking prevention curriculum for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12; and
- Stupid.ca, a multi-media campaign developed by kids for kids to make teens aware of the dangers of smoking.
Healthy Growth and Development
- Mandatory Health Program: Sexual Health
Guideline for provision of sexual education in schools to students in Grades 7 to 9. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Mental Health
- Child and Youth Mental Health Services
Mental health services are delivered to children and youth by numerous community agencies located throughout the province. Ministry of Children and Youth Services. - Children's Mental Health Ontario Directory
A directory of children's mental health centres across Ontario. Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
General Information
- Healthyontario.com
A website providing health information for Ontario residents. Ministry of Health Promotion and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. - Curriculum and School-Based Health Resource Centre
Supports the development and implementation of curriculum and school-based programs related to various health topics. Ministry of Children and Youth Services. - Ontario Heart Health Program: Local School Initiatives
Thirty-six community coalitions implement programs promoting healthy eating, physical activity and smoke-free living. School-related programs are implemented by many Heart Health community partnerships – specific activities vary from community to community. Ministry of Health Promotion. - Joint Consortium on School Health (JCSH)
The Province of Ontario, through the Ministries of Education and Health Promotion, is a member of the pan-Canadian Joint Consortium on School Health (JCSH). As part of the agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health Promotion to jointly participate on the JCSH, a School Health Coordinator position has been established and is currently located at the Ministry of Health Promotion.
The Consortium includes representation from all provinces, with the exception of Alberta and Quebec, territories and the federal government through the Public Health Agency of Canada/Health Canada.
The key role of the Consortium is to act as a catalyst in strengthening cooperation among ministries, departments, agencies and others across Canada in building the capacity of health and education systems to work together. - Public Health Units
There are 36 public health units in Ontario. Health Units administer health promotion and disease prevention programs to inform the public about healthy life-styles, communicable disease control including education in STDs/Aids, immunization, food premises inspection, and healthy growth and development which includes parenting education, health education for all age groups and selected screening services.
