Healthy Schools Recognition Program
What is the recognition program?
(from edu.gov.on.ca)”The Healthy Schools Recognition Program promotes and celebrates healthy behaviours and practices in Ontario’s schools. Schools pledge to take on a healthy activity in their school – and receive recognition for it. Schools can start a new activity or build on an existing one.
The Premier and the Minister of Education will recognize participating schools with a certificate and pennant. A list of participating schools will also be posted on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Why participate?
Research shows that a healthy school environment supports student success. Students, teachers and the larger community benefit when children learn in a healthy school.”
Healthy Activities promoted by Ken Danby School:
- Walking or biking to school is encouraged as the healthiest choice for students.
- Nutrition and the four food groups is taught as part of the curriculum.
- Two mornings a week we offer all students a healthy snack, including fruits and vegetables, to begin their day.
- School council has supported the “no junk” food fundraiser mandate. Instead of selling chocolate bars we have a physically active “Dance-a-thon”.
- We maintain the 20 minutes a day “DPA” (Daily Physical Activity) program for all students.
- A wide variety of intramural and sports teams are offered throughout the year.
- Articles about healthy lunch choices and nutrition tips are included in our newsletter.
- To promote social health we subscribe to the “Tribes” character education philosophy, and undertake a number of anti-bullying activities including participating in “Pink Shirt Day”.
- A healthy school includes caring about and creating a healthy planet. Ken Danby P.S. undertakes numerous environmental initiatives and is a gold EcoSchool.