Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué

Transcription

1 Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué November 2013 Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS CONFERENCES, PD OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS: Opportunities for administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members to engage in learning activities and participate in events that promote healthy school communities Page 1-2 SUPPORTS FOR HEALTHY EATING 2-3 SUPPORTS FOR ACTIVE LIVING 3-4 SUPPORTS FOR POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS 4-5 SUPPORTS TO REDUCE RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH 5-6 CONFERENCES, PD OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS Shaping the Future Save the date! January Be sure to register for the upcoming Shaping the Future conference from January 23-25, 2014, in Kananaskis. Teaching Sexual Health 101 Online Workshop 2014 Dates: February 3 24, 2014 March 10 31, 2014 April 14 May 5, 2014 Online registration will begin in January. This workshop is intended for Alberta Teachers in the Public School System and is provided by Alberta Health Services. The purpose is to increase comfort, knowledge and skills in teaching human sexuality education. Each workshop consists of three modules conducted over a three week period. To access more information about available workshops or to register for this free online workshop please visit: 1 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013

2 The Sandbox Project (January 23, 2014) The Sandbox Project 4th national conference will bring together community organizers, innovators, researchers and advocates, for a two day planning session to identify strategies to improve the health of children and youth in Canada. Participants will identify and prioritise the community-based programming, public education campaigns, research initiatives and policies that are needed to improve the health of children, youth and families. The results of this conference will guide national advocacy and fundraising initiatives, cross sectoral collaborations, and the development of new community programming. To view the draft agenda, click here! 5 Things We Wish All Teachers Knew About Social Media and Suicide Webinar: Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm (MST). To register for the webinar, please click here. Amanda Todd s suicide in 2012 created a major stir in the mass media regarding cyberbullying and suicide. Many felt this media coverage would incite further suicides. However,the notion of social media and its influence on today s youth cannot be ignored as a source of contagion. Social media and the internet are not only the sources of information for most young people but the platforms for much of their social interaction as well(including expressions of suicidal behaviours). This webinar will focus on these themes of social media and suicidal contagion in relation to youth 2014 Teachers Convention Watch for these health / wellness related sessions at Teachers Convention: - Ask - Don't Tell! Engaging Student Voice to Promote Wellness in Your Schools - Eat Well Be Well - Embedding Wellness Through Curricular Links in High School Settings - Daily Physical Activity (DPA) Greatest Hits - Physical Literacy: Connecting with the Physical Education Curriculum - Sexual Health Education for Public School Teachers: Teaching with Confidence!" - Wellness Starts with YOU! Note: not all sessions are available at every convention. SUPPORTS FOR HEALTHY EATING AHS Cooking Club Manual (attached): this manual provides a hands-on opportunity for students aged 8 12 to learn about healthy food choices and valuable cooking skills. APPLE Schools Monthly Campaigns February: Rate Your Super Snacks - teaches students, staff and parents about healthy choices for snacks, according to the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth. Choose Like a Champion - educates students, staff and families about healthy beverage choices according to the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth. 2 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013

3 Kid s Health Newsletter (attached) The January edition of Kid s Health focus on grains and provides information on healthy bodies and healthy minds. SUPPORTS FOR ACTIVE LIVING AHS January & February Health Promotion Calendars (attached) January s theme is physical activity ; February s theme is staff wellness The Alberta Medical Association Youth Run Club In partnership with Ever Active Schools, the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Youth Run Club is a free, fun, school based running program designed to get children and youth physically active. School communities receive a handbook, coaches t shirt, prizes for all participants and general support from a provincial Run Club Coordinator. If you already have a school based run club, join the AMA Youth Run Club and receive further support! Register your school online at registration or for more information runclub@everactive.org or call: APPLE Schools Monthly Campaigns January: New Year, New You - focuses on setting healthy living goals. "Don't Hibernate-Participate!!" Formerly known as "WinterActive." Canadian Olympic School Program The Canadian Olympic School Program (COSP) seeks to create the excitement of the Olympic Movement in the classroom and throughout the school. The resources are aimed at sparking discussions about values, telling stories that inspire, and encouraging students to work together to find creative solutions to suggested challenges and current issues. Written by teachers, for teachers, the resources are pedagogically sound, classroom friendly and adaptable. The and Sochi COSP Resources are officially being launched on January 15. Links to the resources below will go live as they become ready leading up to the official launch: Teacher s Guide: Click Here Be a Champion For Life (Mental Fitness): Click Here Fostering Positive Body Image: Coming Soon Comprehensive Health and Training Journal: Click Here Sochi 2014 Class Resources (GO CANADA Bulletin Board & My Podium Pages): Click Here Destination Sochi: Coming Soon Cultural Olympiad / Multimedia Campaign: Coming Soon To learn more about the Canadian Olympic School Program, please visit the About the Canadian Olympic School Program page. To access free resources for viewing and printing, please visit the Resources page. 3 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013

4 Maximum Engagement in Games and Activities (MEGA) from the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) is an instructor s guide for after school program leaders targeting children aged 3 12 years old. It includes activities from the Be Fit For Life resource: Move and Play through Physical Literacy. This resource includes: Description of the developmental characteristics of children and best practices for leading activity sessions. Sample lesson plan and a blank template for creating your own lesson plans. Warm-up activities and games to develop movement skills in children ages 3-5 years, 6-8 years, and 8-12 years. Adapted games and activities for children with disabilities. This resource can be accessed from: Winter Walk Day Feb 5, 2014 Every winter thousands of Albertans celebrate Winter and walking by participating in Winter Walk Day in February. Register as a participant for Winter Walk Day Walking is great for our health, the environment, reducing traffic and building community! Simply become a SHAPE member and we will send you information and schools will receive participant items for each student. Then on Winter Walk Day record and report the total minutes your group walked by logging back into your membership. SUPPORTS FOR POSITIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS Creating a Positive Learning Environment Every classroom in Ontario s publicly-funded schools is made up of a variety of students; each with different needs, different learning styles, different levels of prior knowledge and different interests. Discover how you can engage all of these students in learning over the course of the year by visiting: Mental Health and High School Curriculum School-aged youth are a vulnerable population. They are in a period their lives that is crucial in their mental health development. Canadian youth spend more time in school than anywhere else outside the home. Schools are often challenged to deal with youth mental health, but are seriously under equipped and inadequately supported to handle this responsibility. The curriculum guide provides a complete set of educational tools to increase understanding of mental health and mental disorders among both students and teachers. For more information or to purchase ($40), visit: Raising Energy Awareness Across Canada Take part in the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge. Students across Canada will increase their energy awareness and help improve energy literacy across Canada. Classrooms and student groups from kindergarten to Grade 12 will compete to win more than 40 prizes with a total value of $40,000! Register at: 4 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013

5 TD Friends of Environment Foundation The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary funding focus on: Environmental education, urban greening and enhancing biodiversity, and energy conservation. For more information visit: Funding deadlines are January 15, July 15, and October 15, 2014 The Doorman : Check out what happened when Clarke Road SS student, Josh Yandt, started holding doors open for his school mates. The best part about this story is that it carries a message we can all learn from. Kindness breeds kindness. If we all go out of our way to do something nice for someone else, even once a day, we can create a better community to be a part of. Rock on, Josh! SUPPORTS TO REDUCE RISK TAKING BEHAVIOURS IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH 5 Things We Wish All Teachers Knew About Social Media and Suicide Webinar: Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 3:40 pm to 4:10 pm (MST). To register for the webinar, please click here; Amanda Todd s suicide in 2012 created a major stir in the mass media regarding cyberbullying and suicide. Many felt this media coverage would incite further suicides. However,the notion of social media and its influence on today s youth cannot be ignored as a source of contagion. Social media and the internet are not only the sources of information for most young people but the platforms for much of their social interaction as well(including expressions of suicidal behaviours). This webinar will focus on these themes of social media and suicidal contagion in relation to youth Link: registration ?utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_medium= &utm_source=eb_ &utm_term=eventurl_tex t# AHS Resources for Parents: Why teens smoke: Prevention Tips How to Talk to Your Kids About Smoking: Talking to Teens about Alcohol & Drugs: General Parenting Information Sexual Health: Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse The Parent Action Pack provides parents and other caregivers a quick, accessible route to the issues involved in guiding their youth to healthier, safer decisions emphasizing the relationship between parenting and preventing problems with alcohol and other drugs. Research shows that parents have a significant influence on their teen. More information on why and how of that influence is still being studied. Go to: 5 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013

6 Influenza Information For information about influenza and how to care for a sick child visit: Is It Worth It? Teen Driver Safety PSA Competition is a Canada-wide multimedia competition, offering more than $2000 in prizes to the best student-created video public service announcements. PSAs are due online by March 31st, 2014 and can be in any creative medium youth would like to use (e.g. acting, clay animation, graphics, stop motion photography, etc.). PSAs need to inform and motivate people to become aware of the risks associated with associated with distracted, impaired and aggressive driving. Please share this amazing opportunity with secondary schools and students in your network. National Non-Smoking Week (January 19th - 25 th information attached) National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW) is celebrated annually during the third week of January; this year January Please see attached documents for more information on activities and resources to support National Non-Smoking Week. You may also contact your School Health Facilitator, the local Community Health Centre or your nearest Addiction and Mental health office for resources and supports. Winter Safety Before the first snowflakes of winter have even touched the ground, children and teens of all ages are anticipating their winter activities. Keeping active during the winter months can be fun and invigorating. To help manage risks during winter activities: Look First, Wear the Gear, Get Trained, and Drive Sober. For more practical tips for staying active and safe this winter, visit: 6 AHS Central Zone Healthy Schools Communiqué; January 2013