Welcome!Ontario Physical & Health Education Association (Ophea)

OverviewWhat is Active Schools?Where does Active Schools come from?Why was Active Schools created?How well-developed is the concept?How does Active Schools meet the needs of students and schools?How can Active Schools meet my needs in the Public Health field or in my school?How do I get moving? What are my next steps as a Public Health Professional or a Teacher?Today we will answer your questions:

Whats the Active Schools program?

Active Schools isA fun, free program designed to motivate and recognize school communities (teachers, parents, leaders, and students) for getting up, moving, and making a commitment to leading active, healthy lives.A flexible framework for recognizing the active practices that schools already have, and encouraging the implementation of additional initiatives that build upon existing programs and community resources.

An easy program to supportSchools complete 1 activity in each A-C-T-I-V-E category to achieve a level.Achieve 6 levels to be recognized as a SuperActive School.Complete a minimum of 6 activities in each category every year to maintain SuperActive status.Recognition and opportunities for prizes along the way!

Resources you can really useActive Schools GuidesClassroom PostersLevel/Tracking Posters and Level StickersNewsletters with ideas from other schools, news about programs and recognition of Leaders who are making a differenceWebsite with updates, information and success storiesListserv to share information, questions and experiencesRewards and incentives from recognized partners.

A framework for other existing programs and servicesFor example:Local/regional health promotion initiativesOntario H & PE Curriculum, Active Participation StrandClubs, teams, sports, play-days, etc.Fund and awareness raising eventsother?

Whats the whole point?The purpose of Opheas Active Schools program is to establish a model for school communities to implement a comprehensive approach to school physical activity and health promotion, and to recognize schools for their efforts to enhance physical activity opportunities for all students.To promote the Active Schools program to school communities across Ontario.To increase the capacity for physical activity participation and promotion in school communities.To build relationships with and among public health, schools, parents, and other community leaders.To sustain the implementation of the Active Schools program in Ontario school communities.

Where does Active Schools come from?

The Ontario Physical & Health Education AssociationOphea is a not-for-profit organizationdedicated to supporting school communities through:AdvocacyQuality programs and servicesPartnership building

Ophea promotes meaningful, active, healthy livingOphea works to provide Ontario school communities with the means to ensure the environment where children live, learn, and play encourages active healthy living in a manner that is meaningful and fun.

Official Support

The Active Schools program is managed by PARC and supported by the Ministry of Health Promotion .

Why was the Active Schools program created?

Inactivity during childhood is a real problem in OntarioAs many as 82% of children and youth are not active enough to meet international guidelines for optimal growth and development (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 2001).The prevalence of obesity among Canadian children more than doubled between 1981 and 1996 (Tremblay and Willms, 2000)Inactivity leads to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, and more.Inactive children become inactive adults.

How well-developed is the Active Schools concept?

An established, validated program1999 - Literature review1999 - Focus groups2000, 01 - Pilot projects and review in 27 schools2001 - Launch through 396 schools2004 - Expansion to include Super-Active Schools level

What does the word ACTIVE represent?

A-C-T-I-V-E categoriesA ctive participationC o-curricularT eamwork I nvolvementV aluesE ducation

Active participationRegular physical activity beyond health and physical education classes. Make equipment available at recess & lunch Teach children cooperative games Encourage families to walk to school Design playgrounds and fields to encourage quality activities other ideas?A

Co-curricularOrganized teams and clubs that provide opportunities for as many students as possible to be active outside the class, in a structured setting. Co-ed soccer teams Skipping clubs Relay races other ideas?C

TeamworkTeamwork occurs when students, and teachers work together to get active within the school community. Play days Track and field activ8 challenge days other ideas?T

InvolvementGetting your community involved is part of being an active school. You are getting involved whenever you access community facilities and engage more community members. Use the communitys pools, rinks, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, etc Involve parents, community members and health professionals in activities Hold workshops and assemblies for members of the community other ideas?I

Values promotionPromoting the importance of being physically active in your school. Newsletters Announcements Posters Bulletin boards other ideas?V

EducationSchools provide opportunities for both students and teachers to participate in and learn about healthy behaviours, active living, and physical education. Regular Health and Physical Education classes Healthy living workshops for teachers Heart Healthy Toolkit School Olympics other ideas?E

What is Comprehensive School Health?

Comprehensive School HealthAn approach to school-based health promotion maintaining that health instruction should be coordinated with school health services.Consists of 4 components:Instruction: quality H&PE programSupport Services: collaboration with the communitySocial Support: environmental context for actionHealthy Physical Environment: addressing barriers and meeting the needs of students

Comprehensive School HealthA Comprehensive School Health approach aims to address the following Risk Factor Areas:Physical Inactivity Unhealthy Eating Tobacco Use Alcohol and Substance Use and Abuse

Why Comprehensive School Health?The school is an ideal site for prevention initiatives orchestrated active healthy living strategies in schools may be societys most cost-effective prevention strategy.CSH empowers children and their communities to alter their health-related behaviours and the environments that influence them.

How does Active Schools meet the needs of students and schools?

Motivating rewardsMonthly draws for prizes from WintergreenMonthly profiles of winners on TVOs CrawlspaceMonthly Active Schools Prize PacksSeasonal newsletters profiling draw winners and SuperActive Schools leadersAnnual grand prize drawAnnual draw for SuperActive schoolsSuccess stories, profiles, registrants, and achievement levels posted on ophea.net

Benefits to school communitiesAligned: Linked to the active participation strand of curriculum.Free: Program, rewards, & support materials you can really use.Valid: Established, researched, field-tested, evaluated, and validated program you can depend on.Co-Promoted: Use Active Schools as a vehicle to support other events and activities like walk-a-thons and play days.Supported: Free access to Active Schools Staff to help with implementation and development.Connected: Improve connections to the community and to public health departments.

Its easy for schools to startIdentify an Active School LeaderComplete registration by fax or online at Ophea.netOrder free materials from OpheaReceive guides, classroom posters and tracking posters from OpheaComplete activities and send in forms regularly to become eligible for prizes and recognition.

How can active schools meet my needs in the public health field?

Benefits of Active Schools to public health professionalsAligned: Meet your Mandatory Health Program and Services guidelines.Free: Program, rewards, & materials you can really use to promote activity in schools.Valid: Established, researched, field-tested, evaluated, and validated program you can depend on.Easy: Just help the schools plug in and track the fun!Co-Promoted: Use Active Schools as a vehicle to support other events and activities.Supported: Free access to the Active Schools Team to assist you and the school communities you serve.

How can I get started? Whataremynextsteps?

Start here! Start now!Talk: Word of mouth is the most common reason why schools register.Visit: Face-to-face support is a key success factor for recruitment and use of the program.Justify: See how Active Schools actually relates to and supports Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines that require public health to work with schools and encourage physical activity.Connect: Remind people how common and existing events benefit from Active Schools.Link: Bring your knowledge of community resources to the schools to help them launch.Recruit: Help the school community find its own Active School Leader.Surf: Visit ophea.net with a colleague to see how easy it is to register.

Its fun, its free, it builds on whats going on, and it promotes healthy living.

Contact

activeschools@ophea.orgJulie TaylorProject LeaderOphea416-426-7085

Greatest part about Active Schools is that it recognizes successful PA programs that have already been established in schools i.e. Unplug & Play (no screens week), Terry Fox Run, Holy Name school had Freggies Fruit & Vegetable challenge (local health unit), junior girls basketball clubs etc.Take participants to the Active Schools website to show where to download level forms- and show them what it looks like.Once your school achieves a level- send in level form (fax, or mail) and Ophea will send you a level sticker.

AS binder/guide is full of great information to get you started as an Active School. It contains general program information, activity ideas, FAQs, provides links to Health & Physical Education curriculum, a facts and statistics page with relevant info related to Physical activity and children/youth (i.e. amount of time spent playing video games, PA levels), Planning support to assist school in identifying what already doing, Level application form blackline master, Sample Activites, Share success as an Active School with others. Binder provides templates for media release, announcements, AS certificates (to recognize staff, students, and community members).Classroom posters- one for each class in your school (taking part in Active Schools). Each student encouraged to sign poster to show intention to become an ACTIVE School.Level poster- get one for school. When level stickers are earned, they can be displayed on your poster.Newsletters (past ones archived on website- go there)- 3 per year (fall- Sept, winter/spring- Feb/March, summer- May). Share success stories, activity ideas i.e. summer one had a DPA parachute activity idea.Website updates- celebrate registered schools and when get a level, and prize winnersListerv- send relevant information on PA i.e. DPA, Summer Active etc.Prizes, Prizes, Prizes! Monthly draws- partners TVO Dont Sit Still Cup, Wintergreen prize pack (of PA equipment), and a prize pack from Ophea (air balls, sports bag and large parachute!).Take advantage of initatives offered by your local public health unit (mandated to work in schools) i.e. No Screens weekDirect links to the H&PE curriculum are made.

Active Schools is an Ophea program, which is now managed by PARC (for the past 2 years).If interested or in need of additional statistics- go to the PARC website, under Conference Proceedings- Dr. Mark Tremblay presentation- go to it.If need more stats to build the case- feel free to contact PARC parc@ophea.net

Focus Groups: principals, teachers, parents, students and key stakeholders provided input which was incorporated into the programPilots testing: 27 Elem schools, 300 teachers and 6000 students testing program materials2001: second version of the program created. Translated into French2001: funding agree with MOHLTC to administer under Active Ontario

Key Recommendations:1 comprehensive approach must involve entire school community to facility behaviour change among students2 not necessary to create something new instead create a program that would facilitate the use of existing programs and resources3 program should recognize and build on what schools are already doing NOT creating something extra for schools to doProvide leadership opportunitesMake maximum use of the sports equipment in the school.Consider painting tarmac surfaces with hopscotch, four square or other line games, teach wall games and line games. Check out CIRA- Awesome Asphalt activities- book of playground activities.Sports Skills clubs: provide students with opportunity to develop sports skills without pressure of team. And getting maximum exposure to equipment and activity (no bench warming) Other ideas: bean bag floor hockey use bean bags instead of pucks; volleyball, basketball, aerobics.Show where on Ophea.net can find activ8Playground Games Day- teach fun and active playground games that can be used at any time. Also raise school spirit by providing whole school with activity play.Partnering with Recreation- pools, rinksSnack Nouveau- to encourage snacking habits which facilitate healthy, active lifestyleTo foster community involvement to foster access to healthy snacks etc. & highlight healthy snacks are delicious and convenient for active people. This activity also provides opportunity for awareness raising in students, community and home (V, I, and E).Schools have many ways of communicating in place already i.e. monthly publication of school news sent to families?, home class newsletters, PA annoucements and bulletin boards. What ways could your school/health unit use to communicate PA and health information both in-house, and to the community at large?

Heart Healthy toolkit (E & A)- program of the H & S Foundation of Ontario- importance of living a hearty healthy life (being active, eating well and living smoke-free, also teaches students basic playing skills so is also Active). H & S also has a new component to toolkit called PlaySkills: HeartSmart Family Activities- ways to encourage students to be active with families- curriculum supported.Public Health healthy living workshops School Olympics- many ways to run it. Some schools have done an Olympic Field day, or events could be run during physical education classes, with data compared at end of day/week; integrated with Grade 5 Ancient civilizations social studies (history of olympics, showcase olympic athletes)When you are thinking of Active Schools in general integration is the key. AS designed to help your school community adopt, implement and maintain a variety of PA initaitvesand CSH says that Physical activity must not be limited to a formal class in the curriculum, PA must be a family and community priority. Effective Health Policies or Guidelines- guidelines to create an environmental context for actionQuality Health and PEHealthy and Supportive School Community EnvironmentsHealth Promoting School Community Programs and ServicesOne monthly winner will receive The Active Schools'Don't Sit Still'Cup for display in their school for that month (the school name will be engraved on the Cup! In addition,all schools cansend artwork and any other creative ideasrelated to Active Schools to be featured on the Crawlspace every weekday from 3:30 to 6:30pm on TVO.Grand Prize Draw- For one Active SchoolAnnual draw for 2 SuperActive Schools- Wintergreen bursary

1. Either within you public health unit, or school.Beneficial to the schools to send in forms regularly to become eligible for prizes and recognition.

Tips:Assess your schools needsTalk to possible school championKnow all your PA programs before you walk into the school use AS to promote your programs, and your program to promote ASBe Enthusiastic about the benefits of PA and benefits of the AS programInitiate supports for your schools by making connections in the coomunity with other schools, parents, and teachersNo to the program doesnt mean no forever!

Steps for Schools (orange brochure) 1. Identify LeaderRegister onlineFill in level sheets as you complete activitiesSend in level forms to get prizes!