| NWHU School
Calendar
NWHU
School Newsletter Tips
The health unit provides monthly School
Newsletter Tips for parents and caregivers.
To share healthy living messaging with parents, just copy and paste into
your newsletters, emails or social media pages. |
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Getting a flu shot - do it for the kids!
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Remember to
get your flu shot this year. It not only protects you, but also your family,
children in the school, and the community.
You can make an appointment
for a flu shot beginning in October at www.nwhu.on.ca or by calling
1-866-468-2240. You can also get free flu shots at most pharmacies in our
region without an appointment. Children
under 5 cannot get flu shots at pharmacies; your family doctor or the health
unit can provide flu shots for young children.
Tips to
prevent spreading germs this flu season: - Stay home when you are sick;
- Cough or sneeze into your arm/sleeve, not your hands;
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth without first washing or
sanitizing your hands; and
- Clean and disinfect surfaces at home and school, especially when someone
is sick!
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| Dental services in your school
Letters will
be/have been sent to your classroom to advise parents/guardians of the dental
screening we will offer to all students this school year. Following the dental
screening, you may be given consent forms for eligible students to take home.
Please encourage parents/guardians to return the consent forms so the students
can benefit from these important services.
Dental
health problems cause many children pain, embarrassment and time away from
school. It can also affect their learning ability and concentration in the
classroom.
Help improve students’ dental health
The
Northwestern Health Unit offers free tooth brushing programs for teachers who
are interested in running a program. The health unit provides all necessary
materials, including resources and tooth brushing supplies. Contact your local
health unit office, email dentalhealth@nwhu.on.ca or visit our website for more information. |
| Make healthy sleep a priority
Many kids are too tired to get enough physical activity
during the day, but are not active enough to be tired at night – creating a
vicious cycle. Visit ParticipACTION for more information
and resources.
Click here for healthy sleep hygiene tips.
Smoke-Free
Movies
The more kids and teens see smoking in movies
the more likely they are to start. What can you do?
- Talk
to your students about smoking scenes in movies. Why is it there? Would the
movie change if smoking was removed?
- Search
movies to make sure they are smoke-free at smokefreemovies.ca.
- Visit
smokefreemovies.ca to learn more and take
action!
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Adults need
immunizations too!
As a school
employee, you are a role model for students - they watch you and are inspired
by you every day. Living a healthy lifestyle yourself promotes student health
too. A very important aspect of health is immunization… are you due for any
shots? Call your local health unit office today to find out.
What is BrightBites?
BrightBites
is a NEW program that celebrates steps schools take towards a positive focus on
food and eating. The website has tools, resources and success stories to
guide and inspire teachers and other school leaders to create this environment
at their school “one bite at a time”, and recognizes them for their efforts.
Recognition comes in the form of fun badges that represent bite-size
efforts of teams (schools, individual classrooms) working towards improving the
school food environment.
Upcoming Food
in Schools Workshop
A NWHU Public Health Nutritionist and a Health Promoter will
facilitate this 1-day workshop in Kenora on October 14th. Topics include school food policies, menu
planning, food safety and more.
Registration is free and open to all school staff and volunteers. If you are interested in attending send an
email to scran@nwhu.on.ca.
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Physical
activity
The following programs or resources
have been created to support teachers, schools and parents to help get kids
more active:
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| - The Canadian
Tire JumpStart Program helps kids 4-18 pay for sport registration fees or
equipment for families that cannot afford the cost of sports. Call 1-800-461-3348, email efischer@nwhu.on.ca or visit JumpStart
for application or information.
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| | Active & Safe Routes to School
provides a variety
of ideas and programs to create a culture of walking and other active travel
options for schools, classrooms and families. |
| It’s time to Rethink
Your Drinking
Many people in Northwestern Ontario (NWO) are drinking in a way that is
harmful. 3 out of 5 people in NWO exceed Canada’s Low-risk
Alcohol Drinking Guidelines and almost a quarter of our population report
episodes of heavy drinking. To find out
more about what you can do to reduce your risk, visit the Rethink Your Drinking website.
Alcohol
in the Community
Are you concerned about the role that alcohol
plays in your community? Now is your chance to have your say. Complete our
survey.
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Share
your Healthy School success stories and receive a prize pack for your school!
Stories can be emailed to healthyschools@nwhu.on.ca.
Like this
newsletter? Let other educators and
school staff know they can subscribe too by sending an email to healthyschools@nwhu.on.ca with “subscribe” in the subject line.
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