Healthy Schools Newsletter
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

September 2024

 In this Issue:

1. Supports for Healthy Schools 

2. 2024-2025 newsletter curriculum support topics

3. Healthy Schools website walk-through

4. Infection control and immunization resources

5. Vaping prevention and digital citizenship

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

Supports for a healthy school

The HPEPH Healthy Schools Team is here to work with your school to support student and staff well-being in 2024-2025. We provide resources and in-person support to encourage healthy school communities.

Supports include:

• Action guides - Visit our website section for Educators under Partners and Professionals to find classroom and school community resources for health topics based on the Foundations for a Healthy School Framework.
• In-person support in secondary schools - Public health nurses are available on a weekly basis in secondary schools within HPEDSB and ALCDSB for clinical support and available to students by text during business hours.
• In person support in Elementary Schools - Health promoters are available to visit your school to provide information to staff, school councils and curriculum support for priority topics in classrooms.
• Healthy school communities - Apply for a grant to support your healthy school community and positive school climate. The Healthy Schools Toolkit can be used to guide your school community to even greater well-being.
• Program Resource Guide - this resource outlines all Healthy Schools programs and supports available to boost your healthy school community.

Newsletter curriculum support topics

Below you will find an overview of our newsletter curriculum support schedule. If your teaching schedule doesn’t line up with the timing below or you are interested in a different health topic, check out previous year newsletter editions for resources.

• September (this issue) – Infection control and immunization, vaping prevention and digital citizenship
• November – Violence, bullying prevention and healthy relationships
• January – Substance use prevention & cessation, sexual health/human development
• April – Mental health promotion

Website walk-through

The HPEPH Healthy Schools web pages hold many great resources for educators and school staff! Watch this video to learn where to find resources on our website section for Educators.

Infection control and immunization

See resources below to promote good respiratory hygiene and infection control in schools:

• Action Guides
  • Infection Control in Schools
  • Immunization in Schools
• Glo Germ Kit – A toolkit to support educators in teaching about handwashing and infection control.
• Respiratory Illness
  • social media posts
  • images for social media
  • fact sheet
  • webpage

Vaping prevention and digital citizenship

As per the Provincial Code of Conduct and School Boards Code of Conduct, Policy/Program Memorandum 128, effective Sept. 1, 2024:

• Students cannot have electronic cigarettes (vapes), tobacco and/or nicotine products on school property.
• If a student is in possession of an electronic cigarette (vape), tobacco or nicotine product it will be surrendered and disposed of.
• If a student is in possession of an electronic cigarette (vape), tobacco or nicotine product, parents/guardians will be immediately informed.

See resources below to support these upcoming changes and substance use prevention in general:

• Substance Use, Addiction and Related Behaviours resources for classrooms, school communities and home-school connections.
• Adult allies can also check out the Quash Brief Conversations Toolkit that contains tips and short videos on how to get the conversation on tobacco and/or vaping started with a young person.
• Digital Citizenship resources for classrooms, school communities and home-school connections to support appropriate use of screens.
• Check out Canadian based Media Smarts or Common Sense Digital Well-being Lesson for Grades K-12.  

Looking to promote information to your school community on another topic? Visit our Newsletters and Social Media page for newsletters inserts, social media messages, and school announcements that can be easily “cut and pasted” into your school promotional materials.

Stay tuned!

Stay tuned for our November newsletter, which will feature information, announcements, and resources for students, staff, and families about violence and bullying prevention, and healthy relationships.

Spread the Word About the Healthy Schools Newsletter! For four updates in 2024-2025 school year, including direct links to topic-specific curriculum supports, activities, and resources, encourage your colleagues to subscribe to our Healthy Schools e-Newsletter!

Questions? Do you have questions right now? Use our online form to contact us.

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

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

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