Healthy Schools

Working Towards a Healthier High School – 6 Steps for Students

Want to make your school healthier? Remember, it's a team effort where students, school staff, parents and community partners can all work together.

As a high school student, you can play a key role making your school healthier. You know the issues that impact you and the kinds of activities that will be interesting. You can provide:

• Fresh ideas and candid responses about current activities;
• A better understanding of the needs and interests of students; and
• Encouragement for more students to get involved.

Ready to make your school healthier? Here's how!

Step 1 – Get Started

What healthy schools activities are happening at your school? Start by using the School Scan (PDF, 608 KB) to identify them. Then establish a healthy schools committee to carry out your activity.

Tips:

• Talk to school staff about starting a healthy schools initiative. They can provide guidance about school procedures and the protocols for making decisions.
• Contact your student council or student trustee association about coordinating activities with another school or to find out if there are resources already available.
• Understand which health-related topics are most important. Invite students to a meeting or ask them to fill out a survey.

Step 2 – Do Your Homework to Determine Important Areas

Talk about the issues impacting students at your school. Look for resources in your school, community, and across the province to help with the activity you have chosen. Start by reviewing the web links and student ideas on each health-related topic.

Tips:

• Identify people who have expertise in the health-related topic, such as school staff, your local health unit or community partners (local police, St. John's Ambulance, MADD).
• Organize a meeting with students from other schools to share healthy schools initiatives and learn from their successes and challenges.
• Make a list of potential health-related topics you are interested in and focus on one area.

Step 3 – Develop a Plan

After choosing a healthy schools activity, develop your plan of action:

• Timeline
• Budget
• Responsibilities
• How you will implement the plan.

Use the Planning Template (PDF, 778 KB) to record and track the progress of your healthy schools plan.

Tips:

• Get input from other students, school staff, and community partners (where appropriate).
• Identify the steps and timelines to accomplish your goal.
• Post a copy of your completed plan for all students to see.
• Provide your school principal and staff representative with a copy.

Step 4 – Make it Happen

Encourage other students to participate in your plan. Keep everyone up-to-date to generate awareness and enthusiasm for your initiative. Schedule time throughout the year during school assemblies and meetings to recognize and celebrate what you are doing.

Tips:

• Use PA announcements, school newspapers, websites and posters to make everyone aware of your initiative.
• Schedule meetings to allow students and staff to share successes and brainstorm new ideas.
• Share what your school is doing with your school board, local media or the Ministry of Education. Write an article, take pictures or offer to do a presentation about your healthy initiative. Give yourself some credit!

Step 5 – Review and Identify Next Steps

After your healthy schools initiative is complete, think about what you have done to see if you achieved your goals. Use the reflection section of the School Profile (PDF, 702 Ko) to record your thoughts and identify possible next steps:

• Starting a whole new healthy schools activity, or
• Building on the same initiative by enhancing or expanding on the activity.

Tips:

• Organize a wrap-up meeting to talk about the successes and challenges of your initiative.
• Share the comments you received about your initiative with other students.
• Identify what you would do the same and what you would do differently next time.
• Establish a healthy schools committee for next year. Identify potential student leaders and recruit new students to join the committee.

Step 6 – Celebrate Your Success

By celebrating your success as a team, you keep everyone focused and enthusiastic! Celebrations can increase student awareness of the healthy schools initiative and may encourage other students to get involved.

Tips:

• Communicate what you have achieved through PA announcements, school newsletters, a presentation to the school board, or by meeting with associate schools.
• Recognize everyone involved with a certificate, plaque, or even a T-shirt.