School Health

Last Edited/Reviewed: September 12, 2024

The Peterborough Public Health School Health Team is a multidisciplinary team who work with schools, school boards and community agencies to protect and promote healthy schools based on the Foundations for a Healthy School Framework and the Ontario Public Health Standards.

A healthy school promotes the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the whole school community by involving administrators, teachers, support staff, students, families and community partners working together to look beyond the classroom.

The link between education and health is clear. Healthy children learn better, and education helps children to be healthier.

HEALTHY CHILDREN = BETTER LEARNERS = BRIGHTER FUTURES

Comprehensive School Health

Comprehensive school health is an internationally recognized approach to supporting improvements in students’ educational outcomes while addressing school health in a planned, integrated and holistic way.

There are 4 separate but interconnected components that address comprehensive school health identified in the image below.

When actions address all four components, students are supported to realize their full potential as learners – and as healthy, productive members of society.

By incorporating CSH into everyday practice, healthy schools learn to plan, coordinate and deliver healthy school activities and strategies without adding to workload. Embracing CSH can make a significant difference in the health of students, the school, and the community as a whole.