Nearly 300 people converged on Tuesday to learn how they can better promote physical activity, healthy eating and mental health in Central Alberta schools.
Students, principals and health practitioners were among those who gathered for the Healthy Active School Symposium held at CrossRoads Church.
Alberta Health Services, Ever Active Schools and community partners are working together to develop healthy children, and the symposium is one of those endeavours.
The main health focuses are healthy eating, physical activity, positive social environments and student leadership.
Joyce Sunada, schools co-ordinator for Ever Active Schools, a project of the Health and Physical Education Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said they want to empower students.
The symposium, which will be held in 12 locations this year, is focusing on student leadership. In recent years, school participants have focused on healthy eating and physical activity.
“It’s taking the students from engagement to leadership and provide schools the opportunity to connect with their own school teams and other school teams,” said Sunada. “Last of all, we want them to go at the end of the day with an achievable action plan.”
Students at the symposium were encouraged to come up with ideas, to plan and to take the initiative in order to lead and implement healthy initiatives in their schools.
Sunada said creating better health can be done by different avenues, but this one through Alberta Health Services, Ever Active Schools and community partners is an all-encompassing approach. That way, everyone has a role to play.
Dallee Pollitt, a Grade 7 student at Leslieville School, attended the event and will be a part of a school team to encourage healthy living.
“I like to be active and eat healthy stuff and teach it to younger grades,” said Pollitt, wearing a green Health Action T-shirt.
She particularly likes participating in Terry Fox Runs and fitness programs at school.
Stanton Swain, principal for Leslieville School and district co-ordinator for Healthy Schools in the Wild Rose Public Schools, was one of nine recipients who were recently given the Healthy Schools Community Award. He was nominated by Alberta Health Services.
Thirty per cent of his time is working on this initiative. He encourages people in the schools to be physically active, eat healthy and have positive relationships.
He’s a big believer in promoting health, particularly when he had triple bypass heart surgery at 44.
“Part of what I’ve done is shared my own story,” said Swain. “I would say I was probably in average health. When I came back from that, I just dedicated myself to the cause so others don’t have to go through what I went through.”
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com