Active Schools, which was originally developed in 2001 with the goal of motivating, assisting and recognizing elementary school communities to implement and maintain physical activity initiatives for children and youth both in and outside of the school day. With an emphasis on encouraging and facilitating community partnerships, particularly between schools and public health, Active Schools provides a comprehensive approach to promote and support physical activity for children and youth.
Given several new provincial policy and program directives such as the Foundations for a Healthy School, the Healthy Schools Recognition Award, and the new Ontario Public Health Standards, the after-school strategy, and the Healthy Communities fund, the focus for Active Schools in 2009/10 will be to evolve this initiative to better align with these key MHP priorities as well as key education sector policies such as Daily Physical Activity and the renewed Health and Physical Education Curriculum.
Specifically, some key objectives for the renewed Active Schools will be:
- To enhance awareness and understanding of the concept and benefits of community partnerships as part of “healthy schools” approaches in the context of a healthy community to increase and enhance access to healthy active living opportunities for all.
- Work with partners and stakeholders from the public health and the sport and recreation sectors to ensure effective and coordinated approach to communication and physical activity/health promotion in schools
- Provide opportunities to recognize communities for their progress and achievements related to healthy schools and communities.