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Annapolis Valley Health Promoting Schools Program

Additional Funding Opportunities Booklet 2009-2010

Initiatives of Special Interest for 2009-2010 School Year

Establishment of Youth Health Centres.
Mental Health - What does this look like within a Health Promoting School Model?
Canada Get Active Over 200 Grade 5 students in Annapolis County will be getting a free facility pass which gives them free access to participating recreation facilities at designated times. The pass will also allow them to travel on Kings Transit to get to the facilities. Annapolis County is one of six communities selected from across Canada to be part of this pilot project. Grade fives were selected as research shows that physical activity levels often drop sharply between Grades 3 and 7 for girls and boys. The hope is that the pass will allow students to overcome barriers to participation and help develop good physical activity habits which carry into their teens.
Strive for Five at School! launched provincially March 2010. This is a resource that has been developed to help support the preparation and consumption of fruit and vegetables by school communities. Through the Farm to School program local producers are donating a variety of fruit and vegetables which are featured in the schools on a monthly basis and support the Strive for Five at School resource.

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

KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE PROGRAM

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.

The International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) have developed Guidelines for Health Promoting Schools . These are an important reference point for the work in Annapolis Valley

Program Structure

The Schools are the voice and the leaders in the program. Health Promoting School Teams are formed at each school - made up 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 their role.
Regional meetings bring together representatives from the school teams and provide opportunities for the schools and partners to share ideas, problem solve 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, the Sports Animator, and other key individuals from Health and Health Promotion.
Ad Hoc Committees are established as needed, e.g. the Producer/Supplier committee.

GOOD NEWS!!!

Research showed that students in the original schools
(Champlain Elementary, Coldbrook & District, Evangeline Middle School, New Minas Elementary, Port Williams Elementary, Somerset & District Elementary, Wolfville School, Margaretsville Consolidated (now closed)) were making healthy food and physical activity choices more often, when compared to other students in Nova Scotia. These choices are having a positive impact on their health. To read the full article please refer to the American Journal of Public Health, March 2005 Vol.95, Issue 432-5. “Effectiveness of School programs in preventing childhood obesity: a multilevel comparison” Veugelers PJ, Fitzgerald AL Ongoing research is investigating whether what happened in the original schools is transferable to other schools.

Other Research Articles of Interest
Diet Quality and Academic Performance

LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED

Schools are making the healthy choice the easy choice by working to implement and continuing to support:

students’ involvement
family inclusion and education
school & 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

LESSON LEARNED

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.

COMMENTS

“…don’t ever forget that we are creating the next generation – not just of learned people, but of healthy, well-rounded socially aware citizens.” - School Administrator

“…Most students who grow up active have parents who begin building fitness activities early as a part of their family life…” – Parent

“Health Promoting School's must develop a culture where all students feel equally valued, respected and welcome…...” – Retired School Principal

“At my school, I guess they care more about what kids eat than in making money.” – Student

“Focus on making the inactive active, not the active more active!” – School Administrator

OUR PARTNERS

Acadia University, School of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Recreation Management and Kinesiology

Annapolis Valley Health

Annapolis Valley Health Community Health Boards

Annapolis Valley Regional School Board

Armstrong Food Service Ltd

Breakfast for Learning

Capital Health, Public Health Services

Dieticians from the Annapolis and Eastern Kings Memorial Community Health
Centres & Western Kings Health Centre,

Kings Federation of Agriculture

NS Department of Education

NS Department of Agriculture

NS Health Promotion and Protection

NS Sport and Recreation Division – Valley Region NS Health Promotion and Protection

Click here to view the Guidebook

“Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice”
For more information please contact
Annapolis Valley Regional School Board (902) 538-4600
or
Public Health Services Annapolis Valley Health (902) 542-6310