Healthy Schools BC Newsletter
April 2016
Stay Connected to the Healthy Schools Movement in BC
There are plenty of ways to stay connected to the healthy schools movement! Follow DASH on social media for all your healthy schools news and happenings.

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Grant Opportunities 
Arts in Education Council of BC Fund
Deadline: Apr. 8, 2016

BCTF Local Social Justice Grant
Deadline: Apr. 15, 2016
 

View other healthy school grant opportunities here.
Video of the Month:
The Puppet Program at Kitwanga Elementary 
Kitwanga Elementary School has been focusing on building resiliency in students through the creative use of art. The Puppet Project supports students to not only develop puppeteering skills, but also build resiliency, determination and cooperation. Click here to read more about this story and watch their Puppet Show videos! 
Have a Great Story? We Want to Hear It!
We want to hear your healthy schools story! Educators, students and community members across the province are working hard to create healthier schools. Sharing your stories can help support and inspire others, and viewing stories from other schools can do the same for you. Check out the Healthy Schools Stories Map today!
Submitting an Article for the Newsletter
How would you like to promote your organization's message to members of the health and education sectors across BC? To learn how to submit an article for the Healthy Schools BC Newsletter, please visit the Healthy Schools BC website here for submission dates and guidelines. 
About DASH BC
The Healthy Schools BC Newsletter is brought to you by DASH BC. Our vision is that ALL children and youth in BC will realize their full potential as healthy learners who feel connected and engaged in their community.
 
We are a non-profit society that inspires our partners and stakeholders to improve the health and learning of students in BC by promoting, supporting and facilitating a healthy schools approach. Visit our website for more information.  
 
DASH BC 

1205-700 W Pender St 

Vancouver, BC 

V6C 1G8

 

www.dashbc.ca

info@dashbc.ca    

 

phone: 604-681-0600

fax: 604-681-0602   

 

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Featured Articles
Seven Principles of Learning 
Healthy and innovative learning environments

How do environments influence learning? How do our environments influence our wellbeing? What does redesigning schools and schooling through innovation mean in practice? Learning is complex and influenced by a number of factors, including contextual factors such as physical surroundings and social environment. Establishing positive and healthy learning environments is essential for creating teaching and learning opportunities and enabling students to thrive at school and beyond. Click here to read more.
DASH Update
School District Readiness Grants Available   
School districts and health partners working together

Healthy Schools BC is excited to share that School District Readiness Grants are now available! The goal of the Healthy Schools BC School District Readiness Grant is to support school districts to identify and address priorities for healthy schools through strengthening and shaping partnerships with health sector partners. Grant applications are due by May 6, 2016. Click here to learn more. 
Healthy Schools BC Webinar Series 
Healthy school environments

The Healthy Schools BC Webinar Series showcases inspiring stories from schools across the province that improve health and learning for students and school communities. The upcoming webinar will share stories related to healthy school environments including naturalized play spaces and innovative learning environments. Click here to read more.
Healthy Schools BC in Conseil Scolaire Francophone 
Caravane Santé initiative videos
 
Caravane Santé has been traveling around the province visiting Conseil scolaire francophone and French Immersion schools! The "Caravane Santé" project aims to build capacity within the Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF) and French immersion schools to promote healthy living in students. This is done through training champions in schools on the Healthy Schools BC Learning Framework and creating a learning community around healthy habits in students and staff. Click here to read more.  
School Connectedness
What's Your Favourite Flavour? 
Promoting mental wellbeing in schools 
 
When people talk about supporting and promoting mental wellbeing in schools, they usually discuss the practices they use in their environment. Some people are focused on school connectedness, others on social-emotional learning, yet others on resilience, mental fitness, or another approach. While each of these approaches has its own flavour, they are all part of the larger family of positive mental health-supportive practices. They overlap and work side-by-side, each strengthening the impact of the others. Click here to read more.
Healthy Schools Stories
Principles of Learning, Learners at the Centre
Self-regulation at Sherwood Park Elementary School

At Sherwood Park Elementary School in North Vancouver, teachers noticed that students were finding it challenging to regulate themselves. Research suggested that the classroom environment may be overstimulating for students and that natural tones and furniture may better support students. By changing the physical environment of the classroom, students were able to feel calmer and more focused. Click here to read more about this story. Read more self-regulation stories on the Healthy Schools BC Stories Map. 
Healthy School Resources
Mental Wellness in BC School Communities 
Register for the 2016 Summer Institute 
 
Save the date for the upcoming Summer Institute on August 25th and 26th, 2016.The 7th Annual Summer Institute is a two-day event that will bring together school professionals, parents, youth and school community partners from across BC to exchange knowledge and ideas about improving mental wellness in school communities. Click here to learn more.
A Snapshot of BC Youth's Mental Health  
McCreary Centre Society report 
   
The latest report from the McCreary Centre Society highlights a snapshot of BC youth's mental health. The report, Unspoken Thoughts and Hidden Facts is a result of the work of 28 young people in BC who shared a common interest in promoting positive mental health among BC youth by increasing awareness and understanding of youth mental health. This report highlights the prevalence of mental health challenges faced by youth in BC, and shows that fostering protective factors (including youth engagement and connectedness to school, peers and community) can reduce risk behaviours and negative health outcomes for even the most vulnerable youth. Click here to read the report.  
Curriculum-linked Conversations on Substance Use 
Promoting drug literacy for students 
  
Part of our job as educators is to help kids navigate the twists and turns in life, including those related to alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Researchers say one of the best ways to help is to engage kids in honest, open conversations. More useful than telling them what to think, encouraging kids to explore, discuss and question their own ideas about drugs-and those of other-can go a long way toward helping them develop important life skills. Click here to read more. 
Planting a Promise with Daffodils 
School gardens with BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation 
  
Planting a Promise was created to enable teachers and their students- especially those already enrolled in the Spuds in Tubs Program-to extend their gardening experience into the fall and to help students explore plants and what they need to grow. Planting a Promise involves a series of activities that take place over several months, starting from September and ending in June. Click here to learn more about the program and see videos and pictures from BC schools!   
Farm to School BC 
Big impacts for little people 
  
Yarrow Community School applied for a Farm to School BC Start-up Grant in the winter of 2014 and, after less than one year, the fulsome program already includes a garden, smoothies, connecting with local farmers and communities and local food meals. The entire school student population-all 307 students, plus the on-site preschool and daycare programs-participate in the program in one way or another. Click here to read their story.