716: Healthy School Communities
Responsible Administrator: Associate Superintendent Education Services
PURPOSE
Sturgeon Public Schools believes that health and education are interdependent; healthy students are better learners and well educated individuals are healthier. Through a Comprehensive School Health approach,school communities will create a culture of wellness that is inclusive, collaborative and connected. Staff shall promote and support the physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional and mental well-being of students and continuously strive to strengthen our capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working.
PROCESS
Using a team approach to harmonize the components of Comprehensive School Health students will be supported to realize their full potential as learners and as healthy productive members of society.
The Associate Superintendent Education Services shall be responsible for maintaining this Administrative Procedure.
PROCEDURE
The school staff shall address the four distinct but inter-related components that provide a strong foundation for a healthy school.
1. Social and Physical Environment
Staff shall:
1.1 Create welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and positive sense of self for all students and staff.
1.2 Create learning environments where social-emotional, physical and nutritional well-being are modeled and developed in students and staff.
1.3 Recognize that the buildings, grounds, play space and equipment in and surrounding the school should be safe and promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
2. Teaching and Learning
Staff shall:
2.1 Integrate health and wellness across curricular areas.
2.2 Promote and encourage the development of physical, social-emotional, and nutritional competencies.
2.3 Encourage students to think critically about the impact of their choices on their current and long-term health.
2.4 Have access to professional learning opportunities and resources related to health and well-being.
3. Healthy School Policy
Staff shall:
3.1 Meet all provincial curricular requirements with respect to Daily Physical Activity (DPA), Physical Education, Health, and Career and Life Management (CALM).
3.2 In consultation with school councils, develop a practice, where healthy foods are available and promoted as the healthier choice.
3.3 Welcome, care for, respect and create safety for everyone in division schools, in accordance with the Education Act.
3.4 Include school-level practices for healthy schools within the school’s Counselling and Wellness Plan.
4. Partnerships and Services
Staff shall:
4.1 Foster positive connections between the school and families.
4.2 Engage in developing supportive working relationships within schools and within the division.
4.3 Where appropriate and possible partner with community organizations to deliver and support programs and services to collectively advance healthy school communities.
References:
Admin Procedure: 525 Counselling Services
Physical Education Programs of Study
Health and Career and Life Management Programs of Study
Daily Physical Activity: A Handbook for Grades 1-9 Schools
Guide to Education, ECS to Grade 12:“Daily Physical Activity Policy, Daily Physical Activity (Grade 1 to 9”)
Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth (Choose Most Often, Choose Sometimes, Choose Least Often from Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth)
Education Act: Section 33.1
Joint Consortium for School Health
History
2020 Jan 29 Initial Approval
2020 Jul 24 Amended
Administrative Procedures VII. Personnel and Employee Relations (Employee Conduct)