Wellness Fund Summary - Highlights for Students

What’s Inside Summary Report | 2010

Project Reporting Results

• What healthy school community activities are students getting involved in?

• How have healthy school community projects impacted students?

• What do projects feel is needed to develop a healthy school community?

Sharing the Success of Wellness Fund Projects:

Highlights for Students The Alberta Healthy School Community Wellness Fund would like to recognize all students for their involvement in Wellness Fund projects!

Wellness Fund Reach

The Wellness Fund has put together a brief summary to share the excellent work and impacts described by projects during 2009 and 2010.

approach!

Wellness Fund Reach Since 2007

Wellness Fund projects are well on their way to developing sustainable healthy school communities using a comprehensive school health

Thanks to the hard work of 100 projects funded since 2007, healthy school communities are being developed in over 600 schools, impacting more than 200,000 K – 12 students across Alberta. This equates to over one third of all Albertan students!

Edmonton (13) Calgary (10) Medicine Hat Lethbridge (5) LEGEND District level project

School level project

1 Sharing the Success of Wellness Fund Projects: Highlights for Project Leaders

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What healthy school community activities are students getting involved in?

The following chart highlights activities that students participated in as part of the healthy school community project taking place at their school.

Healthy Eating Activities

Active Living Activities

• School-based vegetable garden planted and cultivated by students, with food grown used in cafeteria lunches

• Hip hop and yoga classes for students and staff

• Cooking club/class in which students plan and make food items for school events and publish recipes • Healthy breakfast club or hot lunch program offered to students • Salad bar and smoothie bar in the cafeteria • Reverse lunch – eat after recess rather than before as students will not rush their eating and will return to class calmer

• Mobile Classroom – e.g., bike to the forest to learn about the local plants for science class • Creation of school and community walking paths • “Geo-caching” – outdoor ‘treasure hunting’ activity using navigation techniques to find hidden ‘caches’ • Fitness Fridays - an opportunity to bring the school community together

Positive Social Environments Activities • Sandwiches made and delivered to the homeless by students • Student-developed murals and art displays throughout the school • A two-way mentoring/ conversation program between students and seniors at the local seniors home • Student-run leadership clubs that involve building crossgrade relationships • Yearly youth circus camp to build confidence, self-esteem and skill sets

School communities have also found success with the use of professional development opportunities, workshops for students and staffs, and health promotion-focused resources.

“With parent support and their own push for Wellness the future looks good for [School].” – Lead Teacher

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How have healthy school community projects impacted students?

Making healthier food choices “By role modeling and educating … on the benefits of eating and drinking healthier and the effects… on [students’] ability to perform physical activities, students began choosing healthier options; water not soft drinks during periods of physical activity.”

- Principal

Shaping and embracing healthy improvements to their school community “We were able to renovate and purchase equipment for a school fitness facility. The students became involved in the process and painted murals on the walls, taking ownership of the space.” - Principal

Getting active

Taking charge of their health

“Students who typically are not engaged in physical activity are now active, enjoying school and are motivated to learn.”

- Lead Teacher

“We have students identifying themselves as successful contributing members of their community, and that they can make healthy choices.”

- Family School Liaison

Students are:

Seeking out positive relationships

Feeling a stronger sense of community at school

“Students eat and participate in events with their ‘Family Grouping’ which has resulted in a calmer lunchroom and multi-age groupings and friendships.” - Lead Teacher

Increasing their “healthy” knowledge and skills “The students involved in the project … spent valuable time developing character skills.”

- Lead Teacher

“…reports from teachers at [district project] indicate that …there is an increase in teamwork, unity and school spirit among students.” - Health and Physical Education Consultant

Becoming leaders “Our involvement with [district project] has lead to a leadership initiative within our school which has involved many students in positive social and physical behaviours. It has allowed for a leadership role model relationship to emerge between our younger and older students…” - Lead Teacher

Although not a strong theme, some project leads did report that families/parents are more aware of the changes to healthier options and that they too are embracing them.

Sharing the Success of Wellness Fund Projects: Highlights for Students

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For more information, please contact: Alberta Healthy School Community Wellness Fund Centre for Health Promotion Studies University of Alberta 5-10 University Terrace 8303 - 112 Street Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2T4 TEL: (780) 492-2537 FAX: (780) 492-9579 EMAIL: healthyschools@ualberta.ca​ www.achsc.org/wellness_fund.htm

Our Partners Alberta Health and Wellness Alberta Education University of Alberta, Centre for Health Promotion Studies Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities

What do projects feel is needed to develop a healthy school community?

student voice/input

working together

“The most significant lesson learned was ...the need to involve students. Their energy and willingness to take a new idea and ‘run with it’ was integral to the success of the project.” - Lead Teacher

“Our key lesson learned is that in order to be successful you must include all stakeholders, accepting their concerns, differences and opinions. If you can achieve this you can achieve great things for your school community. … changes cannot be made by [telling people], they can only be achieved by collaborating.” - Principal

dedicated time

“Changing a school community towards a healthier [outlook] takes time. It is important to build awareness with staff to ensure they are on side ... A longer time frame to implement and build awareness with students will see more lasting results.” - Principal

staff education/ understanding

“When all staff are more aware of the need to address their own health, they transfer their knowledge, passion and energy to the students and parents. It benefits the entire school community, and in this case, an entire school district…”

- Assistant Superintendant

principal’s support

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“This process has given students the opportunity to have a voice in bringing about positive changes in their school.” - Principal

“Having set time provided for by [the Principal] …was an asset. Being able to have time in the teaching schedule to meet with the student action team was also a benefit and will allow for continued success.” - Lead Teacher