Boards Showcase Health Promoting Ideas for Schools

A high school cooking club, a student lounge that is a "friendly" place for students to hangout, and traditional playground games that inspire students to have fun getting fit are among the innovative activities being used to improve student health in Nova Scotia.

The Health Promoting Schools Showcase, which began in Dartmouth today, Oct. 16, highlights the work across the province to help schools incorporate healthy, active living into everyday school life.

"One of our key goals in education is to improve learning conditions so that students can meet their full potential," said Education Minister Marilyn More. "We know that a child's overall health is a key determinant of their ability to learn, and that the habits they form early in life can last a lifetime.

"That's why I want to congratulate our Health Promoting Schools teams for their leadership in supporting students to become better, more engaged learners and healthier Nova Scotians for life."

Health Promoting Schools is a provincewide approach that draws together school boards, district health authorities, community members, and other health and education partners to ensure key school health programs are available to students.

"The health challenges facing young people are often complex and cannot be solved by the school system alone or one department acting on its own," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Maureen MacDonald. "It is important that we all work together. I think the initiatives showcased today clearly show that our partnerships are paying off."

Health Promoting Schools addresses issues such as healthy eating, physical activity, youth sexual health, tobacco reduction, addiction and injury prevention.

To learn more about Health Promoting Schools, visit www.nshealthpromotingschools.ca .