Healthy Schools Newsletter for Educators
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

April 2023

 In this Issue:

  1. April is Oral Health Month!

  2. Active and Safe School Zone Campaign

  3. Vision Check Reminder

  4. International Day of Pink

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 to assist students with maintaining a healthy environment.

April is Oral Health Month!

Oral health screening is an important school-based program which involves a visual assessment of the child’s mouth. This screening takes place for students in JK, SK, and Grade 2 throughout the year. Students are 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 well. 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 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, and develop behaviours that contribute to their overall health and well-being.

Food can have an impact on overall and dental health, especially early in life. Some foods that are higher in sugar or starch can lead to more teeth being exposed to cavity-causing acid.

To promote oral health and reduce likelihood of cavities:

  • Choose and offer a variety of foods.
  • Include water and crunchy foods when serving food higher in sugar or starch.

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

Home-School Connection Resources

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

Active and Safe School Zone Campaign!

The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition (QRTC) has received a grant to increase awareness of safe driving habits in school zones and to educate the school community about the benefits of active school travel. This campaign supports the Active and Safe School Travel Charter developed by the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB). Five local schools have been chosen to have special road-side signage installed this spring in their school zones to promote safe driving. Follow HPEPH on social media for updates.

One goal of this campaign is to make school zones safer so that families will feel more confident in choosing active transportation during their travel to and from school. Active transportation is any activity that uses human power to travel to or from a destination. This can include walking, cycling, rollerblading, using non-motorized mobility devices, and more. By using active transportation students will get to know their community and their neighbours, improve their mental and physical health, and boost brain development which will help them be ready to learn. If families choose to drive, schools can encourage families to ‘Drive to 5’ which means driving to a location that is within a five minute walk from the school and walking with your child the rest of the way. Every step counts! Promoting active school travel will help decrease traffic congestion and increase road safety.

School Staff and Education Resources

NEW Curriculum links – Check out RoadSMARTS4Kids – a digital library of free educational resources to help teach elementary students about road safety. RoadSMARTS4Kids was created by the Ottawa Safety Council.

Additional Resources

Vision Check Reminder

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 everyday activities. Children should have an eye exam before starting kindergarten, after which they should have an exam once a year.

While in person vision screening is currently on hold for this school year, HPEPH will be providing parents/caregivers with resources on the importance of getting your child’s vision checked.

An eye exam with an optometrist is free of charge (once every 12 months, up to the age of 19) with a valid Ontario health card. If you have concerns about your child’s vision, don’t wait. If found early, many eye conditions can be treated.

Home-School Connection Resources

International Day of Pink

April 12 is International Day of Pink!

Wednesday, April 12 is International Day of Pink. This year’s Day of Pink theme is ‘Courage’. Join us by wearing pink to celebrate authenticity, allyship, and having the courage to be our true selves. Let’s all have the courage to stand together in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQI+ communities for equality and acceptance for all. For more information on International Day of Pink, visit DayofPink.org. To learn more about violence and bullying, visit hpepublichealth.ca/violence-and-bullying-schools.

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Evidence-informed information about school health topics can help parents and caregivers to make informed decisions about caring for their child. HPEPH is committed to helping schools share this information with parents and caregivers, with the goal of encouraging parent engagement and raising awareness about evidence-based resources.

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Contact Information: 

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

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