Healthy Schools BC Newsletter

HEALTHY SCHOOLS BC NEWSLETTER - June 2021

News

Funding to Bring Your Small Project Idea to Life

Do you have an idea for a project to build community in your neighbourhood? Consider applying for a Neighbourhood Small Grant (NSG) to kickstart your idea. NSGs offer up to $500 for projects that connect people socially or involve sharing skills or talents with each other. Anyone in B.C. can apply and the proposed project can take place online or in-person, as long as it adheres to local COVID-19 guidelines. Find out more.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is June, 21st, 2021

National Indigenous Peoples Day is held to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. While large public gatherings may not be held this year, there are lots of ways you can celebrate and recognize Indigenous Peoples in your classroom. Download the Government of Canada’s Learning and Activity Guide for classroom-ready activities, games, quizzes and stories. Find out more.

Living Life to the Full for Youth

The Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. division is offering their Living Life to the Full for Youth, an evidence-based resilience skills course, to selected B.C. schools free of charge. In eight weekly 1.5-hour sessions delivered either in-person or virtually, the course covers topics such as combatting low mood and isolation, problem-solving, healthy thinking, managing anger and anxiety, and boosting self-esteem. Find out more and submit your expression of interest here.

Articles

Essential Conditions for Comprehensive School Health

Comprehensive School Health (CSH) is an internationally recognized framework for supporting improvements in students' educational outcomes while addressing school health in a planned, integrated and holistic way. In this article Dr. Kate Storey and the SIRCLE lab outline the Core and Essential Conditions required to successfully implement CSH. Ensuring these conditions are in place will help schools optimize implementation of CSH, and bolster their impact to improve the education, health, and well-being of students and the whole school community. Find out more.

Stories

Wellness Baskets to Promote Well-being for Indigenous Support Staff

School District 48, Sea to Sky, in collaboration with the First Nations Health Authority and local First Nations, used a DASH Staff Well-being Grant to support the district’s Indigenous support staff. Each Indigenous support worker received a wellness basket which included sage, masks, blankets, and gift certificates curated from local Indigenous businesses and artists. They were unable to host a gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they hope to host a small celebration in the future. Find out more.

Comox Valley Schools Collaborate to Create Resource Kits

Brooklyn Elementary and Airport Elementary in the Comox Valley teamed up to create shared resource kits. The schools used a Healthy Schools BC Regional Grant to purchase books, equipment, games and printable activities. The resource kits were designed to fit three important themes: social emotional learning, outdoor education, and place-based learning. Despite pandemic-related challenges, the schools ensured that the resource kits were able to support student learning across multiple contexts. Find out more.

Resources

A Blackfoot Movement Story

A Blackfoot Movement Story, created by Be Fit for Life in partnership with Livingstone Range School Division in Alberta, is an introduction to the Blackfoot Creation Story. Students can follow along with action prompts that support the development of physical literacy through exploration of different gross motor movements, repetition and fun. Find out more.

Announcements

Vaping: The More You Know

DASH, with support from the McCreary Centre Society and tobacco and vaping experts from the B.C. health authorities, has recently launched a youth-led vaping reduction initiative. Vaping: The More You Know engages students in learning about vaping through interactive presentations, a facilitated dialogue, and the creation their own initiatives to share the knowledge they gained with their peers. The initiative is currently being piloted in four schools across B.C. with plans to expand to more schools next year. Find out more.

Move Your Way to Becoming Canada’s Most Active Community

ParticipACTION is once again hosting the Community Better Challenge, a national event that encourages Canadians to be physically active. Through the month of June, you can track your physical activity minutes in the ParticipACTION app or webpage to count towards your community’s total score. At the end of the month, one community will be awarded the top prize of $100,000 and the title of Canada’s Most Active Community. Digital toolkits are provided to support participation in your community, workplace, and school. Find out more.