Living School - Concord Public School - 2004-10-06 at 09:40
Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting school communities through advocacy, quality programs and services, and partnership building. Ophea is led by the vision that all kids will value, participate in, and make a lifelong commitment to active, healthy living.
In December 2003 Ophea released a Call for Applications to Ontario school communities to get involved in the Living School Pilot Project. Ophea received and reviewed 50 pilot site applications, representing 74 schools.
With guidance from the Research Advisory Group and other Living School provincial partners, nine pilot sites were chosen that represent the diversity of Ontario’s school communities, geographically and socio-demographically. Although some sites already have well established partnerships between the school and community stakeholders, others are in the early stages of developing these relationships. All selected pilot sites however, demonstrated a strong intention to be an active healthy school community.
Concord Public School (Windsor) – Greater Essex County District School Board
This school is located in a Windsor subdivision and backs onto local community recreation facilities. The school has established strong partnerships with the University of Windsor and the YMCA. The parents’ council is highly involved in school activities, as are a number of community volunteers. The local heart health coalition has supported the school with curriculum-based events and resources. They have worked with their local health unit on a “Recess Revival” project to raise funds for school physical activity equipment, and they are investigating the provision of healthy snacks in their school general store. Concord Public School’s Living School vision speaks to school community education workshops related to healthy weights, the provision of healthy food choices brought about by community partnerships, and also to daily physical activity and increasing the number of H&PE classes per week.
