St. John School Achieves Ophea Gold Level Healthy Schools Certification
(June 22, 2016) The Kenora Catholic District School Board would like to congratulate St. John School for achieving gold level Ophea Healthy Schools Certification.
St. John School is part of 113 schools across the province that were recently certified as a healthy school: 54 received gold certification, 37 received silver certification, 16 received bronze certification and 6 completed as participants.
Ophea's Healthy Schools Certification recognizes and celebrates school communities for promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader community. Participating schools across Ontario completed the 6-Step Healthy Schools Process, which aligns with the Ministry of Education's Foundations for a Healthy School resource. Through a point-based system, schools planned their Healthy Schools process over the course of the school year. They outlined the steps needed to achieve certification and applied to be certified as a gold, silver or bronze Healthy School.
"We are very proud of our SJS Healthy Schools Team and all the students that formed that team," says Michelle Sawa, Principal. "Our team created a Healthy School Action Plan that focused on Mental Health and the students were very involved in talking about Mental Health and how as an entire school we could improve our mental health."
Ben and Caitlin were part of the Healthy Schools Team and they talk about what it means to achieve Gold level Healthy Schools Certification:
"It really means a lot to me because we were 1 of only 54 schools that got gold. I felt very excited and happy because we've worked to make our school healthier, says Ben, grade 4 student.
"I am just really happy that we accomplished our goal. One of our best activities this year was creating our Mind Jars. When you shake them up the sparkles are supposed to be your sad thoughts. When you watch the sparkles float to the bottom it's really relaxing," says Caitlin, grade 2 student.
Over the school year St. John School implemented the following activities:
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Monday Mindful Yoga for all students
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Using the Ontario "Mind-Up" curriculum in our Student Summits
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Filling our recess bucket with stickers by practicing Leadership Skills during breaks
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Creating calming tools such like the Mind Jars
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A Mental Wellness station during Leadership Day in May
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Presentations to each classroom about Mental Wellness
A very special thank you to the community partners that supported St. John School in achieving gold Ophea Healthy Schools Certification. Particularly, the Northwestern Healthy Unit, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital.
Ophea is a charitable organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships and advocacy, and is led by the vision that all children and youth value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living. For future information about Ophea and Healthy Schools Certification please see the website www.ophea.net/HSCertification
For More Information Please Contact
Trina Henley
Executive Assistant to the Director & Communications Officer
p: 807-468-9851
e: [email protected]