Framework for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Wellness Education

Framework for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Wellness Education

Background • Alberta’s Commission on Learning (2003) • Joint Consortium for School Health (2005) • Healthy Kids Alberta! (2006) • Healthy Alberta School Communities (2007) • Literature Review & Stakeholder Consultations • • (2008) Draft Framework for K – 12 Wellness Education (2009)

Comprehensive School Health

Healthy Alberta School Communities School Health and Wellness Manager Priority Wellness Issues • Healthy Eating • Physical Activity • Positive Social Environments Long-term Intended Result Improved health and learning outcomes for school-aged children and youth in healthy school communities.

Healthy Weights Initiatives Health Promotion Coordinators • Partner with school communities to promote healthy eating and physical activity for school-aged children and youth • Facilitate implementation of Daily Physical Activity (30 minutes per day in all Grades 1 -9 schools) and the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines in a variety of settings. • Support the development of School Nutrition Policies Alberta Nutrition Guidelines • Released in 2008 and distributed to all schools, day cares and recreational facilities in Alberta • School boards encouraged to develop district-wide school nutrition policies that support implementation of the Guidelines

Healthy Weights Initiative Alberta Healthy School Community Wellness Fund • As of December 2009 73 projects have received funding • In total 371 schools have established more than 446 community partnerships in support of healthy schools. Previous Healthy Weights Initiatives (2006 -2009) • Alberta Healthy School Communities Award • Create a Movement

Safe and caring school initiatives Alberta Nutrition Guidelines Ever Active Schools Healthy School Planner Tools Daily Physical Activity Allergy & Anaphylaxis Information Response (AAIR) Safe and Caring Policy School Nutrition Policies (to be developed by School Boards) Alberta Healthy School Community Wellness Fund Revise the current wellnessrelated programs of study Healthy Living Recognition programs Daily Physical Activity (DPA) resources Healthy Promotion Coordinators Evaluation of Healthy Weights REAL Kids Survey Healthy U / Media awareness Joint Consortium for School Health DPA Implementatio n Survey Authorized teaching and learning resources for wellnessrelated programs of study

Introduction • Purpose of Framework – to describe the fundamental concepts and inherent values of K– 12 wellness education – to provide guidance for the future development and implementation of K– 12 wellness education programs of study in Alberta. • Vision of Wellness Education – for students to be educated, informed and contributing members of society and to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be well in every sense of the word —emotionally, intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually.

Health and Physical Education Programs of Study

Implementation • Comprehensive school health approach • Meet the diverse needs of learners and engage • • students in a meaningful way Adequate teacher expertise, preparation and implementation time Appropriate resources—facilities, funding, teaching and learning resources.

Assessment and Accountability • Assessment and accountability model – indicators of success – reporting processes utilizing elements from established school health assessment tools – student assessment strategy