Help make New Westminster students the healthiest they can be!

Being healthy is critical for children and youth to learn. Being healthy is about more than eating well and being active; it’s about social connectedness, resiliency and emotional well-being. It takes support from the community to make it happen.

Schools play a critical role in promoting students’ health and well-being. The New Westminster School District wants to work with the community so that together we can best meet the health needs of all our students.

Many of our students are at-risk and this can affect their ability to learn. Data collected on our kindergarten students indicate that one-third of our students are beginning kindergarten vulnerable on scales that measure physical, social, emotional, cognitive and communication skills. One-quarter of our grade four students are vulnerable on similar scales.

School District No. 40, in partnership with Fraser Health, has secured funding to develop a “Healthy Schools Vision” utilizing the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) model to support improvements by addressing school health in a planned, integrated and holistic way. CSH extends far beyond what happens in the classroom. It encompasses the whole school environment including: Relationships and Environments; Teaching and Learning; Community Partnerships; and Policies.

Jonina Campbell, Board Chair, stated that “this Healthy Schools Visioning process is very important not only because it is a proven fact that healthier children and youth learn better, but because our district and community stakeholders play a key role in supporting the work that we do.”

As it takes a village to raise a child, School District No. 40, wants to work collaboratively with the community. The School District would like your participation and feedback in the development of the “Healthy Schools Vision”. What do you believe the priorities are to improve health? How do you want to be involved? What resources or support can you provide? The School District will be hosting a Healthy Schools Brunch on October 23, 2015 from 8:30 am – 11:30 am to gather input, as well as soliciting feedback through an online survey.

The School District hopes that interested staff, parents and community members will join us as together we define a “Healthy Schools Vision”.

To register for the free October 23 Healthy Schools Brunch please reserve your ticket at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sd-no-40-healthy-schools-brunch-tickets-18721485467

If you are unable to attend and/or wish to provide feedback through an online survey, please click here: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/betina-ali/sd-no-40-healthy-schools-visioning/

Media Release: PRESS RELEASE – HEALTHY SCHOOLS VISIONING AND BRUNCH – 28.09.15

Parents and caregivers:

Please join international expert Robin Moore to learn about creating built environments that foster children’s play and learning. Dr. Moore will provide examples illustrating the challenges and successes of places, programs and policies that positively impact child development and what you can do as a parent or caregiver. Please see the attached poster for registration information.

Play and the Built Environment_Event Poster

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Century House
620 Eighth Street, New Westminster