Take action for healthier schools this School Health Week

Children spend the majority of their week in their school environment, so schools play a big role in helping them learn the habits of a healthy lifestyle early on. It was School Health Week from 4 to 8 March 2015. Did your child’s school or the school in your area do anything for School Health Week?

Take the lead or let schools know about the free Vitality Healthy Schools Teacher’s Course and these eight healthy habits that schools can adopt to help boost everyone’s wellness:

1. Offer healthier food options in tuckshops and in the school. With the challenges of both hunger and obesity in South Africa, the types of food served in schools are more important than ever. Give learners access to healthier food so they can make healthier choices.
2. Provide more physical activity before, during and after school. Kids have to do at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day, but few do. They can do up to 40% of the daily requirement of physical activity during school. It’s easy to do. Schools can add physical activity to instructional programmes, create exercise breaks during class and have a ‘no classroom’ rule during breaks.
3. Help learners and adults get the necessary vaccinations. Immunisation is a basic step to preventing illness and can save lives by stopping the spread of diseases.
4. Create healthier indoor environments. Poor air quality, rubbish lying around and un-kept grounds can lead to or worsen asthma and other allergic conditions which are causes of school absenteeism.
5. Support bully-free environments. No one must feel unsafe at school. Schools need programmes and policies for everyone to feel safe and secure. When adults see bullying take place, they need to step in and stop it with the support to do so.
6. Teach safe and appropriate use of the internet, social media and technology. Learners have to understand how to connect smartly and safely to prevent the misuse of valuable information, which can cause lasting harm.
7. Provide basic care. Learners will be less likely to miss school with access to health services, such as school nurses and councillors.
8. Hope for the best but be prepared for anything. Schools need a crisis response and management plan that includes educating everyone about dealing with emergencies.

Registering for the Vitality Healthy Schools Teacher’s Course

The Vitality Healthy Schools Teacher’s Course is free and aims to provide teachers, school champions, coaches, tuckshop owners, nurses, HR managers and other passionate individuals with access to information that can help create healthier school environments.

The online Vitality Healthy Schools Teacher’s Course has four modules, which run over four weeks.

Module 1: The health status of South Africa’s children

Module 2: Creating a healthy school environment

Module 3: Why physical activity and physical education are so important

Module 4: Planning a physical education lesson

Each module consists of short videos and notes, and offers interaction with other course participants on discussion forums. After completing the online quizzes, each participant will get a certificate. It’s easy to register. Visit www.vitalityschools.co.za or phone 0860 909 939.

The dates for the 2015 courses are:

The Vitality Schools Programme is a free programme that gives information and tools to help make school environments healthier. Go to www.vitalityschools.co.za for more information or to download free curriculum based lesson plans for physical education. We hope you took action this School Health Week and we also encourage you to tell other schools about these free programmes and initiatives that will benefit everyone’s wellness.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to keep in touch, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.