2014-2015
EVER ACTIVE SCHOOLS
HIGHLIGHT REPORT
“HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE INTERDEPENDENT: HEALTHY STUDENTS ARE BETTER LEARNERS AND BETTER-EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS ARE HEALTHIER.” (PAN-CANADIAN JOINT CONSORTIUM FOR SCHOOL HEALTH, 2015)
AN INTRODUCTION TO EVER ACTIVE SCHOOLS Ever Active Schools is an established cross-ministerial provincial initiative designed to help create and sustain active, healthy school communities. Inspiring Young Leade rs
ng eni es h t ng uniti m
Alberta School Communities
g
s Empowering Educators
S Co tre m
Empowering Educators Inspiring Young Leaders Strengthening Communities Sharing Successes Fostering Resiliency Championing Policy Designing Solutions.
De S sig o l uti nin on
• • • • • • •
mpioning Cha licy Po
We act as key agents of change to address health and learning outcomes for Alberta students, by:
Sha ing Succ ring ster ncy o ess F ilie s es Re r Active Schools Eve
VISION
MISSION
All Alberta students belong to healthy school communities that enable optimal health and learning.
To provide provincial leadership that promotes and supports healthy, active school communities through a comprehensive school health approach.
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS Ever Active Schools touched the professional learning practices of 6,142 participants from across all 61 school jurisdictions through 265 learning opportunities provided this year. Professional learning opportunities represent a key channel of support to Alberta teachers and we’ve succeeded in offering diverse, unique and high quality experiences.
WORKSHOPS
SCHOOL OR JURISDICTION PD DAYS PRE-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING TEACHERSʼ CONVENTIONS
CONFERENCES
SHAPING THE FUTURE SUMMER INSTITUTE PHYSICAL LITERACY SUMMIT
EDUCATORS IN RESIDENCE
CSH AND THE ARTS PHYSICAL LITERACY AND YOU (PLAY) PARKLAND
2,150
WEBINARS
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS HOSTING HEALTHY SPORTING EVENTS
76
3,216 700
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
SHAPING THE FUTURE Shaping the Future is Alberta’s premier annual school health conference held in January that draws delegates from education, health promotion, policy development, research, and community to support wellness amongst children and youth.
497 61 86% 2/3
delegates, selling out the conference.
of 61 jurisdictions represented.
“I FOUND THAT THIS WAS CERTAINLY THE HUB OF WHERE ALL THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTION TAKES PLACE IN THE PROVINCE. IF YOU WISH TO MAKE INROADS AND/OR HAVE A HEALTH AND WELLNESS IMPACT, THE SHAPING THE FUTURE CONFERENCE IS THE PLACE TO BE!” - SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
of delegates shared knowledge gained at Shaping the Future with others to a moderate or great extent. of Shaping the Future participants attested to forming new partnerships to a moderate or great extent.
PHYSICAL LITERACY EDUCATOR IN RESIDENCE This project is a novel approach to professional learning and community engagement that was prototyped in 2014-15 in Parkland School Division. Working with recreation and community supports, Ever Active Schools and Be Fit For Life provided quality physical education delivery and mentorship across subject areas and settings. The project was modelled to implement the Active Alberta policy, aiming to get more Albertans more active, more often.
11 5 1,500
“THE WAY I FELT, I FELT LIKE I BELONG SOMEWHERE AND BE SOMEONE (SIC).”
engaged teachers.
- STUDENT TALKING ABOUT THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROJECT
involved school communities. impacted students.
“THE TEACHERS ARE KEEPING THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING INTEGRAL IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS.” - TEACHER ON IMPACTS OF EAS WORKSHOP ON TEACHING PRACTICES AND STUDENT LEARNING
INSPIRING YOUNG LEADERS We recognize students as both benefactors and key agents of change in healthy school communities. As such, Ever Active Schools works to empower young leaders to reach their full potential.
HEALTHY ACTIVE SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM The Healthy Active School Symposia (HASS) support the development of student leadership skills and competencies. HASS creates opportunities for students to think critically, identify problems, innovate and identify and apply career and life skills through personal growth and wellbeing. Students are empowered to become agents of change for healthier school communities by participating in leadership opportunities that have interdisciplinary learning both within and outside of school hours. As a result of engagement in HASS, the following positive behavior changes have been reported in follow-up surveys: • Over 80% of adolescent participants responded they developed skills that can help them be leaders • Over 90% of adolescents responded that HASS helped their school team build a useful Healthy Schools Action Plan.
72%
of school health teams started to plan new healthy eating activities, new physical activity opportunities and new activities to support positive social environments.
640 adults
267 55 12
Alberta schools
jurisdictions
Alberta communities hosted a HASS
ALBERTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION YOUTH RUN CLUB The Alberta Medical Association Youth Run Club is a free school-based running program designed to get children and youth active. Through this initiative, teachers, parents and community members become ambassadors for physical activity in their school communities.
300 17,500
impacted schools. impacted students.
95% 86%
will keep running. felt supported to make healthy choices.
77% 67%
felt less stressed. felt more connected to classmates.
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES Established relationships with schools, community and government uniquely positions Ever Active Schools to strengthen communities through reinforcing partnerships and services as a key pillar of a comprehensive school health approach.
RESOURCES TO CONNECT STAKEHOLDERS Through funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ever Active Schools led the development of a series of online tools that utilize technology to extend support for school and community stakeholders to: • connect with others doing similar work • facilitate information gathering • provide geographic knowledge of provincial and local partnership possibilities.
PARTNERSHIPS Ever Active Schools’ participation in national and provincial partnerships bring strength to communities in the areas of: • Healthy local foods • First Nations, Métis and Inuit Health • Physical Literacy • Healthy Food Policy • After School Hours • Injury Prevention.
SHARING SUCCESSES Ever Active Schools is a connecting point for schools to advance health and learning outcomes in Alberta. Platforms to engage school community stakeholders: • Website • Monthly Electronic Newsletter • Biannual Magazine • Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) • Email and personal communications.
FOSTERING RESILIENCY Ever Active Schools has worked closely with three First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to build relationships, laying the foundation for the critical reduction of health and education disparities that exist. • In Alberta indigenous communities, rates of overweight and obesity are 2-3 fold higher • 61% of people aged 20-24 living on-reserve in Saskatchewan and Alberta have less than an high school level education.
KAINAI BOARD OF EDUCATION Recognizing the extreme importance of healthy school communities for their children and youth, the Kainai Board of Education (KBE) committed $100,000 in funding for the first School and Community Wellness Coordinator position in Kainai’s history. Beginning in September 2015, the coordinator will be mentored by Ever Active Schools to organize health and wellness initiatives on a school- and district-based level.
PEIGAN BOARD OF EDUCATION The Peigan Board has partnered with Ever Active Schools to support its new staff wellness team at the Piikani Nation Secondary School. The wellness team has put together community, parent and youth-focused community-wide events to discuss health and wellness challenges faced in the community. With guidance, expertise and resources from Ever Active Schools, the Peigan Board of Education will create a cultural shift towards prioritizing health, happiness, Blackfoot culture and well-being in their schools and community.
PAUL BAND In the school community of Paul First Nation west of Edmonton, EAS has established early partnerships with local supports to work on a resiliency-based model as a path to wellness. Activities include professional development and student input and are expected to continue.
EVER ACTIVE SCHOOLS, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF EDMONTON, EDMONTON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COORDINATED THE JOURNEY TO RECONCILIATION SYMBOLIC WALK AND COMMUNITY ROUND DANCE IN EDMONTON, INVOLVING OVER 400 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. EAS LED PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYMBOLIC WALK FROM THE SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE TO SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL SQUARE.
CHAMPIONING POLICY Influencing policy is central to Ever Active Schools’ efforts to sustain progress in healthy school communities. Policy is developed and implemented at provincial, jurisdictional and school levels.
“ALL FOOD AND BEVERAGES SOLD AND PROVIDED AT ASAA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS HELD IN ASAA MEMBER SCHOOL FACILITIES MUST FIT WITHIN THE CHOOSE MOST OFTEN AND CHOOSE SOMETIMES CATEGORIES OF THE ALBERTA NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, DETAILS OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN THE APPENDIX AND ON THE ASAA WEBSITE.” - NEW ASAA POLICY
HOSTING HEALTHY SPORTING EVENTS A partnership with the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association successfully resulted in healthy food policy that aligns with Alberta’s Nutrition Guidelines.
8,500 36
impacted student athletes, plus coaches and spectators
Host Provincial Championship school communities.
PLAY PARKLAND PROVINCIAL POLICY PLAY Parkland is a project supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to prototype implementation of the Active Alberta policy. The success of the cross sectoral initiative will be scaled up into into other school jurisdictions and communities in 2015-16.
SCHOOL POLICY The project also resulted in policy shift at the school level. The participating school jurisdiction is reviewing its gymnastics policy after recognizing that the restrictive nature of it was limiting opportunities for students to develop physical literacy.
DESIGNING SOLUTIONS Ever Active Schools is a catalyst for innovative projects enhancing student wellness through interdisciplinary learning and collaborative processes. Projects take a multisectoral approach to empower local communities and build capacity to sustain wellness initiatives.
21ST CENTURY SPACES FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNERS 21st Century Spaces for 21st Century Learners enhances the built environment of schools to support the achievement of 21st century learning competencies through a health-promoting lens. The primary activities of the project include professional learning, resources, pilot site support, research and consultation.
ULTIMATE GOAL: INFLUENCE PROVINCIAL, BOARD, INDUSTRY AND SCHOOL-LEVEL POLICY AND PRACTICE TO SUPPORT HEALTH-PROMOTING LEARNING SPACES.
Key Successes: • Secured three corporate partners and four research partners. • Finalized two initiatives for launch in fall 2015: Don’t Walk in the Halls and Don’t sit Still in Class. • Hosted two professional learning opportunities for 160 participants from education, research, government and architecture/design.
TEACHERS OF TOMORROW Teachers of Tomorrow works with faculties of education from post-secondary institutions in Alberta to embed comprehensive school health in pre-service teacher training. Key Successes: • Engaged representatives from 5 post-secondary institutions in an advisory role to promote comprehensive school health on Alberta campuses. • Held a health champions workshop at the Werklund School of Education, teaching comprehensive school health to 80 pre-service teachers. • Provided 12 professional learning sessions for 285 pre-service teachers. • Secured commitment from faculty for development of a CSH course as a requirement for an education degree from Werklund School of Education beginning January 2017. • Representation and presentation at the International Health Promoting Universities Conference.
ULTIMATE GOAL: EMBED COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH IN PRE-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING.
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