Two Schools Receive Gold Status From Ontario Physical And Health Education Association

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Bellewood Public School: Gerry Dufour, Vice Principal; Allison Laramie, Physical Education Teacher; Chris Pillon, Principal; Kelly Samms, Public Health Nurse.

Two local schools have achieved Gold status in the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association Healthy Schools Certification Program for the 2018/2019 school year. This certification process recognizes and celebrates school communities for promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, staff, and the broader community.

During the 2018/2019 school year, 284 schools across Ontario participated in the six step healthy schools process to work towards Gold, Silver or Bronze level certification.

Both Bellewood Public School from the Greater Essex County District School Board and St.Teresa of Calcutta from the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board  were honoured with the gold status certification.

Bellewood Public School is a two-time Gold status recipient who also received the distinction in the 2017/2018 school year. Under the direction of Principal Chris Pillon, Vice Principal Gerry Dufour, and the committed leadership of the Physical Education teacher Allison Laramie, the students focused on activities surrounding Mental Health and Physical Activity.

Some activities included the ‘8 Days of Fitness’ leading up to the winter holiday, and various Fit Week initiatives such as Wellness Wednesday, daily quotes, and facts about mental health.

“Academics should not be the only focus for students and OPHEA provides us with the resources to ensure we’re meeting the needs of all our students and the certification program gives us a school wide focus to ensure it’s happening for all of our students,” said Principal Chris Pillon.

St.Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School was the sole recipient Gold status certification within the WECDSB. The Mental Health focused initiative was successfully lead by Kimberly Givlin, the school’s Health and Learning Support Service Teacher (LSST) with support from Principal Elise Daragon and Vice Principal Maggie Dorian.

Doran, the incoming Principal, commented “STOC is really proud of achieving Gold Status for OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification Program. We have a phenomenal staff and community support team. It was really a community effort to get this certification”. The Mental Health initiative highlighted the school’s healthy nutrition program, participation in extra-curricular activities and a school wide Mental Wellness Day that had a large range of activities such as visual arts for relaxation, yoga, Zumba, and coping strategies to list a few.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School: Elise Daragon, former Principal for the 2018/2019 school year; Maggie Dorion, Principal for the 2019/2020 school year; Lora Prokopetz, RN, Public Health Nurse.