Healthy Schools Newsletter for Educators
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

April 4, 2022

 In this Issue:

1. Helping students achieve good oral health
2. Vaccines help your body help itself
3. Eye exams can identify problems early

Welcome to April’s 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.

In accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards, Oral Health Screening and School-based immunizations are two programs which are mandated by the Ministry of Health.

As HPEPH gradually resumes offering regular services, these programs will once again be offered in local schools.

Helping students achieve good oral health

Oral Health Screening is an important school-based program which involves a visual assessment of the child’s mouth. The child is sent home with an oral report card to inform parents of any dental concerns.

Good oral health can positively impact a child’s ability to learn, attend school and eat nutritious foods. Specifically, healthy teeth and gums contribute to promoting overall health, self-esteem, language development, social development, self confidence and conveying of emotions.

Oral health is also related to a child’s performance at school! Dental discomfort may lead to reduced concentration and absenteeism rates among students.

School Staff and Education Resources

As an educator, you play an important role in helping your students achieve good oral health. Educators can encourage students to make well-informed healthy choices, build life-long dental health habits and attitudes as well as develop behaviours that contribute to their overall health and well-being.

Food can have an impact on overall health and dental health, especially early in life. Some foods, such as those higher in sugar or starch, can lead to more teeth being exposed to cavity-causing acid. Choosing a variety of foods and serving foods higher in sugar or starch as part of a meal with water and crunchy foods can help to promote oral health and reduce the likelihood of cavities.

Curriculum, Teaching & Learning Support Materials

The following teacher curriculum support resources are available for Grades 1-6, revised based on the new curriculum:

• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• PowerPoint Presentation – Grades 1-3
• PowerPoint Presentation – Grades 4-6
• Oral Health Educational Guide (Grades 1 – 8): This guide is meant as a tool to enable educators to teach oral health, as it links oral health education and resources to learning blocks and strands found in the Ontario Curriculum.

Home-School Connection Resources

Engaging families in learning about healthy behaviours supports them in making informed decisions about their student’s well-being.

• Information regarding dental services available to kids through HPEPH is available at hpePublicHealth.ca/kidsdental
• Find newsletter Inserts and social media messaging to support the above communications items at hpePublicHealth.ca/newsletters-and-social-media (password: schools).

Vaccines help your body help itself

HPEPH works with school partners to help keep kids safe and healthy while in class. Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that children and adolescents attending primary or secondary school be appropriately immunized against designated diseases, unless they have a valid exemption. All immunization requirements for school attendance align with Ontario's publicly funded immunization schedule. Immunization protects children from many serious diseases that are easily spread in schools.

Parents are encouraged to check with their child’s health care provider to make sure that they have all the vaccines needed to attend school.

Routine childhood vaccinations can be received through a child’s health care provider. In addition, HPEPH will be offering catch-up clinics this spring for children and youth who need to get up to date with their school vaccinations. Upcoming clinics can be booked online through our Immunizations Clinics page.

Home-School Connection Resources

Find newsletter Inserts and social media messaging to support the above communications items at hpePublicHealth.ca/newsletters-and-social-media (password: schools).

Eye exams can identify problems early

Vision problems are common in school-aged children but it’s not always easy for parents to know if their child has trouble seeing. Having vision problems can make it harder for kids to learn, play sports or do every day activities. Children should have an eye exam before starting kindergarten, and then yearly exams after that.

While HPEPH’s vision screening program is on hold due to the pandemic response, parents/caregivers can still ensure their children get their eyes checked – to identify any problems early.

Home-School Connection Resources

Find newsletter Inserts and social media to messaging support the above communications items at hpePublicHealth.ca/newsletters-and-social-media (password: schools).

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

To give us your comments about this e-newsletter: hart.sara@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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