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More than 1,200 schools rise to the healthy schools challenge

Schools Have Pledged To Do More Than 2,000 New Healthy Activities

    TORONTO, May 4  - More than 1,200 schools have accepted the McGuinty
government's challenge and brought together students, parents and community
partners to find ways of making schools healthier in this school year,
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne and Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson
announced today.
    "I'm delighted by the huge response to our challenge and by the variety
of great initiatives that schools have pledged to do," said Wynne. "I applaud
all of the staff and students at these schools for their leadership and
commitment to making their school a healthier environment."
    Pennants are being distributed to more than 1,200 schools over the next
few weeks to recognize their acceptance of the government's challenge to be a
part of its Healthy Schools Recognition Program, launched in December 2006. To
accept the challenge and receive recognition, schools had to pledge to do at
least one more healthy activity this school year.
    "This challenge was simple, achievable and in the best interests of
healthy young minds and bodies," said Watson. "I'm thrilled with how many
schools have stepped up to the plate to help make their students, staff and
principals healthier."
    Some of the thousands of activities that schools have pledged to do
include:

    

    -  Holding a health fair
    -  Planting a vegetable garden on school grounds
    -  Adding healthier food choices to the cafeteria menu
    -  Forming a weekly walking program
    -  Partnering with a community sports group to increase participation
    -  Adopting a school-wide bullying-prevention program
    -  Creating a diversity club to discuss ways of making all students feel
       welcome
    -  Offering free healthy snacks, such as a fruit basket outside the main
       office
    -  Engaging student leaders to conduct school-wide physical activity.
    
Contact Info

    Schools were encouraged to consult with staff, students, parents and the
community to choose their activities. The Ministry of Education also provided
a broad framework for healthy schools in consultation with experts from the
education and health sectors. The framework outlines components of a healthy
school and is posted on the ministry's website. Tools, tips and best practices
are also posted to help schools plan their activities and measure success.
    The McGuinty government has a variety of initiatives at work in Ontario's
schools to make them healthier places to learn, including:

    

    -  Asking elementary schools to remove junk food from vending machines
    -  Requiring 20 minutes of daily physical activity
    -  Encouraging secondary students to take a leadership role in healthy
       schools initiatives
    -  Introducing a comprehensive bullying prevention strategy
    -  Requiring every school board to have an anaphylactic policy in place
       (per Sabrina's Law)
    -  Implementing the Northern Fruit and Vegetable pilot program
    -  Support for safer schools through new programs and by amending
       legislation.
    

    "We know that students learn better when they're in a healthier
environment," said Wynne. "That's why I'm encouraged by the great work that
has been done by so many schools to find ways of becoming healthier."

    

    Disponible en français


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