Healthy Schools Recognition Program
Embrace Your Healthy Schools Journey!
The Healthy Schools Recognition Program is a self-directed, step-based program that promotes strengthening new and existing school-based health initiatives that can influence student belonging, school connectedness, and health and well-being through:
- encouraging a student-centred approach
- establishing a shared and focused commitment between students, school staff, and the broader community
- supporting school teams in identifying and implementing initiatives and evaluating their impact on the school community
- aligning with broader school/school board priorities and initiatives
- recognizing and celebrating schools for their commitment, progress, and achievements
This program empowers schools with flexibility and ownership by providing tools, tips, and prompts that support the development of a personalized Healthy Schools journey.
Healthy Schools initiatives have reached hundreds of schools and demonstrated the positive impact of this approach on all members of the school community for over a decade.
The Healthy Schools Recognition Program is inspired by Canada’s Comprehensive School Health Framework and additional guiding frameworks on belonging, health, and education.
Why join the Healthy Schools Recognition Program?
The Healthy Schools Recognition Program guides schools through a 4-Step Healthy Schools Process that, when completed, can support meaningful, sustainable change and improved health-related outcomes for the school community (Bassett-Gunter et al., 2015).
This program has been developed to support schools in enhancing the health and well-being of their students and staff, as well as strengthening school-based initiatives supporting health, belonging, inclusion and well-being. It also encourages meaningful collaboration to promote a holistic, whole-community approach to the Healthy Schools journey.
By taking part in the Healthy Schools Recognition Program, schools can get support with goals like:
- strengthening the school community and developing students’ sense of belonging, which can lead to improvements in physical and mental health, social development, and academic success
- establishing healthy, safe, and inclusive learning environments where all students feel valued and connected and can reach their full potential
- planning and implementing priorities reflective of your whole school community and its needs
- increasing access to and participation in school-wide health and well-being initiatives
- demonstrating a commitment to supporting school-wide health through measurable improvements in school policies, daily classroom practices, and community engagement
- promoting and empowering student leadership to build skills and support a student-focused approach
- promoting student learning through improvements in student health and well-being
- creating long-term strategies and approaches to maintaining a Healthy School
Have Questions?
Feel free to contact us by submitting a form on the Contact Us page!
