Better Health = Better Learners; Health and Education are interdependent
Comprehensive School Community Health (CSCH) works to support improvement in students' educational outcomes while addressing school community health in a planned, integrated, and holistic way. CSCH enhances what already happens in the classroom and motivates the whole school community through actions that encompass four integrated components providing a strong foundation for school community health.
What does Comprehensive School Community Health do?
- Recognizes that healthy children and youth learn better and achieve more.
- Understands that schools can directly influence students' health and behaviours.
- Encourages healthy choices, and promotes students' health and well-being.
- Incorporates health and wellness into all aspects of teaching and learning.
- Links and aligns health and education issues and opportunities.
- Thrives with the participation, support and engagement of families and the whole community.
Goals of CSCH
- to promote health and wellness;
- to provide equitable opportunities that address disparities and contribute to academic success;
- to intervene to assist vulnerable children and youth;
- to help support those who are already experiencing poor health; and,
- to prevent specific diseases, disorders, and injury.
Grayson School's Learning Journey: Moccasin-Making Experience
November/December 2024
Over the past several weeks, Grayson School’s staff, students, and families embarked on a meaningful journey aligned with the Education Week theme, “Learning is a Journey.” Guided by a talented parent, the school learned the intricate process of moccasin-making.
The project began with beading workshops, where participants practiced patience and creativity before progressing to assembling moccasins, gaining a deep appreciation for the skill involved.
Made possible by the Comprehensive School Community Health grant from the Good Spirit School Division, this initiative fostered cultural appreciation and community connections while teaching valuable skills. Grayson School extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this enriching experience.
Columbia School - Cooking & Regulation Snacks
Thanks to a generous grant, Columbia School recently launched a hands-on cooking initiative for students in Grades 2 to 8. The funding allowed the school to purchase regulation-friendly snacks, groceries, cooking materials, storage containers, and a recipe book to support the program.
Students worked in pairs to prepare selected recipes—many of which were chosen by the students themselves. The program encouraged curiosity and teamwork while exposing students to new foods and cooking methods. Each participant also received the ingredients needed to recreate the recipe at home, promoting learning beyond the classroom.
Alongside cooking, students completed comprehension questions to reinforce their understanding of the recipes and procedures. They also learned essential life skills such as dishwashing, oven and stovetop use, and safe knife handling.
Most of the students involved in the program were working toward goals outlined in their Inclusion and Intervention Plans (IIPs), making the experience both meaningful and personalized.
This project has proven to be a valuable learning opportunity, blending literacy, independence, and practical life skills into one unforgettable experience.