Healthy Schools


Working Towards a Healthier High School – 6 Steps for Students

Want to make your school healthier? Remember, it's a team effort. Students, school staff, parents and community partners can all work together.

As a student, you can play a key role to make your school healthier. You know the issues that impact you and the kinds of activities that will interest the students in your school. You can provide:

  • Fresh ideas and candid responses about current activities
  • A better understanding of the needs and interests of students
  • Encouragement for more students to get involved.

Ready to make your school healthier? Here's how!

Step 1 – Get Started

What healthy schools activities are happening at your school? Start by using the School Scan (PDF, 608 KB) to identify them. Then establish a healthy schools committee to come up with an idea and act on it.

Tips:

  • Talk to school staff about starting a healthy schools initiative. They can provide guidance about school procedures and the protocols for making decisions.
  • Contact your student council or student trustee association. They can help you coordinate activities with another school or find out if there are resources already available.
  • Understand which health-related topics are most important. Invite students to a meeting or ask them to fill out a survey.

Step 2 – Do Your Homework to Determine What's Important To Your School

Talk about the issues impacting students at your school. Look for resources in your school, community and across the province to help with the activity you have chosen. Make a list of potential health-related topics you are interested in and focus on one area.

Tips:

  • Identify people who have expertise in the health-related topic you have identified. This could be school staff or your local community partners (this could include public health unit, parks and recreation department or police).
  • Organize a meeting with students from other schools. Share healthy schools activities and learn from their successes and challenges.
  • Review the web links and student ideas on the health-related topic you are interested in.

Step 3 – Develop a Plan

After choosing a healthy schools activity, develop your plan of action. It should include:

  • Timeline
  • Budget
  • Responsibilities
  • How you will implement the plan.

Use the Planning Template (PDF, 778 KB) to record and track the progress of your healthy schools plan.

Tips:

  • Get input from other students, school staff and community partners (where appropriate).
  • Identify the steps and timelines to accomplish your goal.
  • Share a copy of your plan with your school principal and staff representative.
  • Post a copy of your plan for all students to see.

Step 4 – Make it Happen

Encourage other students to participate in your plan. Keep everyone up-to-date to raise awareness and enthusiasm for the activity. Schedule time throughout the year during school assemblies and meetings to recognize and celebrate what you are doing.

Tips:

  • Use school announcements, school newsletters, websites and posters to make everyone aware of your activity.
  • Schedule meetings so students and staff can share successes and come up with new ideas.
  • Share what your school is doing with your school board, local media or the Ministry of Education. Write an article, take pictures or offer to do a presentation about your healthy initiative. Give yourself some credit!
  • Don't forget to submit the Healthy Schools Recognition Program Application Form (PDF, 580 KB) to be recognized by the Ministry of Education.

Step 5 – Review and Identify Next Steps

After your healthy schools activity is complete, think about what you have done. Have you achieved your goals? What could you do differently next time? Reflect on what you have achieved and identify possible next steps:

  • Starting a whole new healthy schools activity, or
  • Building on the same initiative by enhancing or expanding on the activity.

Tips:

  • Organize a wrap-up meeting to talk about the successes and challenges of your initiative.
  • Share the comments you received about your initiative with other students and school staff.
  • Identify what you would do the same and what you would do differently next time.
  • Establish a healthy schools committee for next year. Identify potential student leaders and recruit new students to join the committee.

Step 6 – Celebrate Your Success

By celebrating your success as a team, you keep everyone focused and enthusiastic! Celebrations can increase student awareness of the healthy schools initiative and may encourage other students to get involved.

Tips:

  • Communicate what you have achieved through PA announcements, school newsletters, a presentation to the school board, or by meeting with associate schools.
  • Recognize everyone involved with a certificate, plaque, or even a T-shirt.
  • Share your stories with the Ministry of Education using the feedback form and we may feature them to inspire other schools.