The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has become the first and only board in Ontario to have all of its schools participate in Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification initiative.
The certification recognizes and celebrates schools for promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, staff and the community.
Monteith says the honour “tells us that we’ve made daily physical activity a high priority in each school in our board.”
Monteith adds when kids are active and healthy, the chances of them being engaged and attending school are better.
He says the key now is sustaining their work and building on their success.
The recognition is based on several factors including physical activity, healthy living initiatives and nutritional programming.
Monteith says the work being done locally is grassroots, stressing “most of these achievements aren’t the brainchild of senior administration, they are the absolute accomplishments and success stories of individuals and now they are reaping the benefits.”
He singles out Dryden instructor Lorna Tremonti for the success of the healthy living and learning programming.
Monteith says “Tremonti has been instrumental with this, she has been leading this charge.”
(Picture Credit for Laura Tremonti: Twitter)