Healthy Pledge Program
Peel school boards and Peel Public Health are partners in creating a school where the healthy choice is the easy choice for students.
How the program works
The H.E.A.L.T.H.Y. Pledge Program (High-impact, Easy Approach Leading to Healthier Youth) involves Public Health Nurses working with school principals to select pledges that will provide the most benefit to the school.
The Public Health Nurse
- Meets with the principal to have a conversation about the school's current state and where the pledge program can help the school reach their health goals.
- Recommends a pledge that will most benefit the school.
- Provides schools with resources and support needed to run the program throughout the school year.
- Meets with principals throughout the year to see if there are any additional areas where support is needed to ensure school success.
Helping you succeed
We will provide you with all the resources to support your success.
You will be able to engage your students and staff in the pledge by identifying and adapting fun activities that can easily be applied in the classroom and throughout the school.
Ready to get started? Contact your school Public Health Nurse.
Youth Empowering Students for Mental Health
In addition to the H.E.A.L.T.H.Y Pledge Program, Youth Empowering Students for Mental Health (YES4MH) was developed as a unique mental health initiative to improve the health and well-being of secondary school students in Peel by creating a safe and welcoming school environment that will positively impact students’ mental health.
Learn more about the YES4MH program.
Other information
Create a school environment that reduces students' access to unhealthy food and increases access to healthy food and physical activity during school fundraisers.
Benefits for the school
- Offering healthy food and physical activity fundraisers can be profitable and easy to apply
- Healthy eating and physical activity are associated with positive mental well-being and reduces risk of chronic disease
- Healthy fundraising can lead to positive school outcomes and improved behavior among students
Contact your Public Health Nurse to learn about how to implement this pledge in your school.
Resources
Create a school environment that provides only water and unsweetened milk.
Benefits to the school
- Drinking water and unsweetened milk instead of sugar-sweetened beverages improves nutrition, which can positively impact mental well-being and academic achievement.
- Drinking water from a reusable container is eco-friendly.
- Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages reduces the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
Contact your Public Health Nurse to learn about how to implement this pledge in your school.
Resources
Create a school environment that offers all students chances to be active before, during, and/or after school.
Benefits for the school
- Being active is easy and fun, and can improve self-regulation, concentration, and school achievement.
- Offering all students opportunities for regular physical activity can help reduce or prevent anxiety, depression, stress, diabetes, and cancer, while building confidence.
- Daily physical activity makes for an easier day by helping lower aggressive and bullying behaviours both at school and at home.
Contact your Public Health Nurse to learn about how to implement this pledge in your school.
Resources
- P.A.L.S. Supervisor Handbook
- P.A.L.S. Leader Handbook
- P.A.L.S. Games Book
- P.A.L.S. Student Leader Application Form
- P.A.L.S. Parent Permission Form
- Elementary school Facilitator Training Guide
- Secondary school Facilitator Training Guide
- Elementary school Time and Location Planning Tool
- Secondary school Time and Location Planning Tool
- Elementary school Activity Menu
- Secondary school Activity Menu
- Elementary school Teacher/Facilitator Checklist
- Secondary school Teacher or Facilitator Checklist
- Elementary school Activity Tracker
- Secondary school Activity Tracker
Create a school environment that ensures students take part in at least 20 minutes of physical activity each day during class time.
Benefits for the school
- Offering all students opportunities to move and engage in regular physical activity throughout the day can help reduce or prevent anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Daily physical activity is easy and fun, and can help to improve behaviour, concentration, and academic achievement.
- Daily physical activity makes for an easier day by helping lower aggressive and bullying behaviours both at school and at home.
Contact your Public Health Nurse to learn about how to implement this pledge in your school.
Resources
A program that encourages students to use active transportation, such as walking and cycling, to get to and from school.
Our program is built on the Green Communities Canada’s STP Model. The STP Program looks at barriers and finds solutions to using active transportation to and from school through collaboration with community stakeholders.
Public Health Nurses guide elementary schools in Peel through a 5-step process that takes place over 3 years.
Program benefits
- Increased physical activity among students
- Improved mental well-being and academic performance because of increased physical activity
- Reduced traffic congestion around the school and improved air quality
- Safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists
- Increased school community engagement
Contact your Public Health Nurse to learn about how to implement this pledge in your school.
