Annapolis Valley Health Promoting Schools Program

• Support for individual school health promoting teams as they work toward school goals.
  
• Mental Health: What does this look like within a Health Promoting School model?
• Farm to School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program: Some schools will receive monthly deliveries of local produce, which all students at the receiving school will have an opportunity to try. Produce delivered to schools is featured in the Strive for Five at School resources.
• Expansion of universal free After School Physical Activity programs
  
• Implementation of new Health Curriculum outcomes
• Universal free breakfast programs
• School gardens
• Youth Health Centres and youth engagement
• SchoolsPlus: This initiative is part of Nova Scotia's child and youth strategy, Our Kids are Worth It. SchoolsPlus supports the provision of community and government agency services for students and their families within schools. Services may include social work, health, justice, and mental health, as well as family resource centres, child care and youth health centres. Champlain Elementary School will house the first SchoolsPlus site in AVRSB, serving the Annapolis West Education Centre family of schools (Champlain Elementary, Clark Rutherford Memorial School, Annapolis Royal Regional Academy, and Annapolis West Education Centre).

2011-2012 Funding Opportunities for AVRSB Schools

BACKGROUND
The Annapolis Valley Health Promoting School Project (AVHPSP)was initially a 2 1/2 year project funded through the Canadian Diabetes Strategy, Public Health Agency of Canada. It grew from a grassroots initiative started in 1997 by a group of parents. Initially eight elementary and middle schools in the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board (AVRSB) took the opportunity to make it easier for their students to make healthy choices in physical activity and healthy eating as one way to contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases. Recognized as a leader, this project is now a provincial program. Within the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board almost all schools are involved. There is recognition that the work of a health promoting school is broader than food and physical activity. It is about creating a culture and environment that supports the health of the school community.
Healthy students learn better. The core business of a school is maximizing student learning outcomes. Quality Health Promoting Schools make a major contribution to achieving these outcomes.

VISION

• All students in the Annapolis Valley are more active and making healthier choices more often.
  
• There is increased value of healthy lifestyles which is mirrored by families and community.
  
• There are strong partnerships, increased infrastructure, proper staffing and ongoing funding
  
• Effective support results in equitable and accessible healthy school programs
  

• The people who are affected need to be involved in the planning and implementation process - students, staff, parents, and the community at large.
  
• Teamwork is essential.
  
• A Population Health approach is the foundation for improving the health of the entire population and reducing health inequities among population groups. In order to reach these objectives, we must look at and act upon the influences on our health, such as income, social environment, social support networks and healthy childhood development.
  
• Evidence must be used to support program activities.
  

• Schools are the voice and the leaders in the program. Health Promoting School Teams are formed at each school. These are comprised of a cross-section of people including school staff, food service workers, students, parents, Public Health staff and community members (e.g. recreation directors). Their purpose is to assess needs and develop a plan for their school. At the high school level where Youth Health Centres are being established, the vision is that health promotion will be part of the Youth Health Centre role.
  
• Regional meetings bring together representatives from the school teams and provide opportunities for the schools and partners to share ideas, solve problems and build capacity.
  
• An Evaluation Committee develops and guides the evaluation process and research.
  
• The Policy/Management Committee manages, advocates and influences decisions under the jurisdiction of the agencies represented, with the aim of supporting, promoting and enhancing health for all students in the AVRSB. The membership is comprised of representatives of agencies involved in the program, Annapolis Valley Health (AVH), AVRSB, Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection (NSHPP) and those who have influence on budget and policy decisions.
  
• A Program Manager coordinates key aspects of the program, working closely with the Consultant of Active Healthy Living and other key individuals from Health and Health Promotion.
  
• Ad hoc committees are established as needed (e.g. the Producer/Supplier committee).
  

• students’ involvement
  
• family inclusion and education
  
• school and community links with outside organizations
  
• universal breakfast programs
  
• access to good nutrition throughout the day
  
• healthy menu choices with increased offerings of fruit and vegetables
  
• food preparation equipment
  
• taste testing
  
• school food policies
  
• daily physical activity
  
• increased access to equipment & physical activity opportunities before school, at recess and lunch
  
• after school physical activity programming
  
• non traditional physical activities
  
• increased physical activity opportunities for girls
  
• access to transportation
  
• curriculum activities
  
• modeling of healthy attitudes & behaviours
  
• creation of outdoor facilities for learning and activity
  
• healthy school environments
  
• professional development for staff
  

• It is most successful when you build on the demonstrated successes of the schools.
  
• Having a champion, a committed team (students, parents, teachers, administrators and partners) and support or leadership from the school principal are critical for success.
  
• When you become part of a group such as this you are supported and motivated
  
• Visual appeal of nutritious food is important.
  
• Changing the display of food items so the healthiest are most visible makes a difference.
  
• You can increase the activity of “inactive” students when you remove their barriers to participation (cost, transportation, skill level).
  
• When students were asked, given no barriers, what activities would you most like to do in a day and what foods would you most like to eat for lunch, they chose the healthy food options and physical activities more often! Evaluation supported this, they were engaged.
  
• The recognition that physical activity opportunities are broader than traditional sports teams helps schools plan activities for all students (during and after-school).
  
• Students are excited when they were involved. It is vital to engage them.
  
• Evaluate and plan for sustainability.
  
• Successful implementation will depend on appropriate funding now and in the future.
  
• Capacity is enhanced among the schools and partners through training and skill building.
  
• Resources, connections, and expertise expand exponentially with good community linkages. Schools benefit as a result.
  

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