Healthy Schools Newsletter for Educators
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

November 2022

 In this Issue:

  1. National Addictions Awareness Week - Vaping Resources
  2. Physical Activity and ParticipACTION
  3. Bullying Prevention Week
  4. New School Masking Resources

Welcome to the November HPEPH Healthy Schools Newsletter!

We invite you to encourage your colleagues to subscribe to this newsletter to receive up-to-date and timely information from HPEPH.

National Addictions Awareness Week

National Addictions Awareness Week takes place November 20-26. This year, HPEPH is working to promote resources that disourage vaping and help connect those who vape with supports to quit. HPEPH is aware that the predominance of vapes and vaping devices is affecting school environments in our region. The impact of nicotine on attention, memory, focus and mood is well documented, and its effect on the developing brain is even more pronounced.

One of the best things a caring adult can do to help youth avoid the risks of vaping, is to learn about vapes so they are able to have open, honest, and informed conversations with youth. Being able to have theses conversations is important – regardless of whether the youth are currently using vaping products or not. Our School Public Health Nurses in secondary schools are trained in Tobacco & Vaping cessation, allowing them to support students who are looking to reduce their use or quit.

HPEPH is working with the school boards to address vaping within our schools. We would like to learn more about challenges being experienced at your school related to vaping, and opportunities for HPEPH to support efforts to reduce the occurrence of vaping in the school. If you have any suggestions/ feedback, please connect with your School Public Health Nurse or Health Promoter.

Find out more about National Addictions Awareness Week at ccsa.ca/national-addictions-awareness-week.

School staff and education resources

Fact Sheets for Educators

Home school connection resources

Vaping

Substance Use

Additional resources

Suggested social media and newsletter inserts

Physical Activity and ParticipACTION

School staff and education resources

The ParticipACTION report card is here and there are some great recommendations for schools and educators to consider to help improve the level of physical activity for children and youth. One recommendation is to break up periods of sedentary behaviour with movement breaks at least every 30 minutes for students ages 5-11 years, and at least every hour for students ages 12-18 years. Another recommendation is to “consider including movement-based learning activities (including standing) and outdoor lessons into the school day to further support students’ health and well-being”. Check out the resources below to help incorporate more movement and time outside into your school day.

School Staff and Education Resources

  1. New DPA ideas for your classroom:
    1. Energizers (APPLE Schools) – check out activities like Rock! Paper! Scissors! Evolution!, Wiggles, and Smile, Clap, Hurray!
    2. Games and Activities to Optimize Self Regulation – Try out these activities and students will get active and work on their self regulation skills.
    3. Healthy Kids HPE – video explanations of active recess and DPA activities such as Four Square, Hopscotch and Basketball games.
  2. 12 Days of Fitness (APPLE Schools) – Fun idea to add some activity into the school day to get students and staff moving and having fun!
  3. Physical Activity Leadership in Schools (P.A.L.S.) - P.A.L.S. is a peer leadership training and implementation program that encourages youth engagement to create physical activity opportunities in schools. HPEPH offers training resources and game booklets available here. P.A.L.S. works well to keep kids active and warm all winter long!
  4. Outdoor Education Toolkit (Ophea), grades 1 - 8 and grade 9 -12 – includes lesson plans and curriculum links, teacher checklists, tips to promote a culture of safety-mindfulness, conversation starters and reflections activities.

Home-School Connection Resources
  1. Tips to help your kids get more active! (ParticipACTION) – Read the latest tips from the ParticipACTION Children and Youth report card.
  2. 20 Simple ways to get active with your kids after school this fall (Active for Life)

Additional resources

PHE Canada Access to Action Grant Program to empower school communities to provide inclusive and meaningful sport and physical activity opportunities before, during and after school. Grants from $500 -$5000 are available and applications are open now.

Suggested social media and newsletter inserts

Visit our website for newsletter inserts, morning announcement messages and sample social media posts on the topic of Physical Activity.

Bullying Prevention Week

November 14-18, 2022 is Bullying Prevention Week!

HPEPH’s October Healthy Schools newsletter included some great resources for bullying prevention, including social media messages, newsletter inserts and more. It also included a section specific to Anti-2SLGBTQI+ Cyberbullying.

New School Masking Resources

While there has been no change to the provincial guidance regarding masking at the current time, as we enter respiratory illness season, the following resources may help remind students of the benefits of masking when returning to school after being away due to illness.

Find social media posts, newsletter inserts, and posters on our website that schools can use to help remind students of masking recommendations. You can also check out all previous social media and newsletter resources on a variety of public health topics at hpepublichealth.ca/newsletters-and-social-media/
 

Encourage your colleagues to subscribe to receive our monthly newsletter and receive updated resources and information directly from HPEPH. HPEPH will also provide updated resources directly to school administrators for distribution to staff before the return to school.

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Contact Information: 

To give us your comments about this e-newsletter: healthyschools@hpeph.ca

For other questions about Healthy Schools: healthyschools@hpeph.ca

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people.

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