For years, school communities across Ontario (and, with our national expansion occurring in 2022, across Canada!) have participated in Healthy Schools Certification (HSC). The program’s goal? To promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community! The structure of Healthy Schools Certification allows for schools to customize their experience and Healthy Schools journey by selecting unique priority Health Topics (such as Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Healthy Eating) on which to focus their efforts throughout the year.
This year, we’re excited to share some program updates and enhancements for the 2024/2025 school year! Keep reading to learn more, and be sure to register for the 2024/2025 cohort when Healthy Schools Certification registration opens on Tuesday, September 10 at 12pm (EDT)! Find out more about what you need to register.
Extra Week for Reporting!
Great news! In response to feedback from schools that have registered in previous years, the reporting deadline for Healthy Schools Certification has been extended until May 9th, 2025!
We understand how much is involved in planning and accurately reporting on Healthy Schools initiatives, and are hopeful that this additional week will support registered schools in having a stress-free reporting process.
When it comes time for reporting, please review the updated 2024/2025 Healthy Schools Certification Guidebook thoroughly to ensure that you (and your team) understand the steps required to receive points toward your school’s certification and the online reporting required for each step. The guidebook also contains a wealth of information to support your Healthy Schools journey, including templates, tips, and other support tools!
Remember, Healthy Schools Certification is a team-based process, and Ophea is a member of your school team! If you have questions at any point during the 4-Step Process, please get in touch with Ophea directly – we’d be happy to help!
A Win for Well-being #HSCert
Registered Healthy Schools from the past few years will fondly recall the “Time to Shine” section of our monthly Healthy Schools newsletter, which focused on amplifying the Healthy Schools initiatives schools shared on social media to the rest of the cohort. This year, Time to Shine is outgrowing the Monthly Updates newsletter and taking it to the big leagues – introducing “A Win for Well-being”!
A Win for Well-being aims to bring the network of Healthy Schools that spans across the province closer together, with participating schools engaging with their peers to celebrate their mutual efforts towards well-being in their school communities! Remember – learning moments are “wins”, too, it’s all about perspective! Wherever you are in your Healthy Schools journey, share on social media for the chance to be featured on Ophea’s channels.
All registered schools that use the Healthy Schools Certification hashtag, #HSCert, and tag @OpheaCanada on X, Facebook, or Instagram will be eligible to have their Healthy Schools “wins” shared directly on our feeds to our audiences; we want to highlight exactly how much great work is being done in Healthy Schools all across the province! Please ensure that appropriate consent has been received from parents/caregivers prior to posting any student images online.
New Collaboration: Jack.org Secondary Chapters
Jack.org is Canada’s only charity that trains and empowers young leaders to revolutionize mental health, and this year we’re excited to announce a unique partnership between Jack.org’s Chapters initiative and Healthy Schools Certification!
Jack.org will promote Healthy Schools Certification to more Ontario secondary schools through their Chapters program, strengthening both our organizations’ efforts to support youth in developing robust mental health and resiliency. Jack.org Chapters are student-led groups that work to shift how young people “think about, talk about, and care for their mental health”.
Just like Healthy Schools Certification, Jack.org Chapters are designed to be tailored to the unique strengths of and challenges faced by their school communities, allowing schools to focus their efforts on initiatives that will have a direct impact on well-being in their communities. Jack.org Chapters also receive access to funding, training and access to mental health resources, and personalized support from the Jack.org team. Learn more about Chapters today!
Digital Banners for 2024/2025
This year, all schools certified at any level will receive a digital banner with their certification level which can be proudly displayed on websites, social media platforms, and other digital platforms to celebrate their achievements. A print ready production file will also be provided along with the digital banner.
National Healthy Schools Week
Want to get your Healthy Schools Certification planning started early in the year? Consider registering for the second annual National Healthy Schools Week (NHSW), from October 7th-11th, 2024. NHSW aims to support, empower, and engage school communities as they work towards achieving Healthy Schools Certification. Your school’s priorities may emerge as conversations with students, staff, and community members are had throughout NHSW, which you can explore further by choosing complementary Health Topics towards your Healthy Schools Certification!
Please note that Healthy Schools Certification and National Healthy Schools Week each require separate registration.
Registration for Healthy Schools Certification 2024/2025 opens Tuesday, September 10th at 12pm (ET)! We can’t wait to see what another year of prioritizing health, collaboration, and connection looks, sounds, and feels like in YOUR school community!
Healthy Schools Certification is offered in partnership between Ever Active Schools, Ophea and PHE Canada. These not-for-profit organizations champion healthy, active living in schools and communities to ensure that all children and youth enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living. Healthy Schools initiatives have reached hundreds of schools and demonstrated the positive impact of this approach on all members of the school community for over a decade.