ڱϹ Mountain staff, students, and partners collaborated over the last school year with a particular focus on mental health and have now been recognized by a provincial organization. They are among just 11 schools in BC to be certified as a Healthy School Community by DASH (Dedicated Action for School Health), which celebrates school communities for promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader community.
The work at the high school was driven by the school’s Healthy School Committee: made up of Grade 10-12 students, teachers, a school administrator, a Community Schools Coordinator from the District, a Health Sciences student from Simon Fraser University, as well as a public health nurse and dietician from the Fraser Health Authority. The group came up with a number of school initiatives. They used the framework laid out by DASH, which works within Ministry of Education guidelines to promote and support student well-being.
ڱϹ Mountain’s Physical and Health Education Department Head, Brad Kinoshita, leads the group.
There were many amazing things that occurred in the Healthy School Committee, including being certified as a Healthy School, one of only a handful in BC.”
Highlights of the work include Kindness Week, which was held in February. Students created a “kindness tree” and painted “kindness rocks” in the student commons. A “kindness quote” scavenger hunt was held, and students painted permanent inspirational messages on bathroom stalls. During the year, the committee also produced a .
As the committee enters its second year, they are in the midst of recruiting student leaders to bring their creative ideas forward for the 2020-21 school year.
Posted October 2020