Ecole Chebucto Heights Elementary School hosted a “Health Fair” with funding support from the Our Healthy School Steering Committee’s Health Promoting School Grant. 

Presenters from various health-related organizations provided students with information, samples, physical activity and/or short presentations. 

“This is a wonderful way for our students to learn more about the value of healthy eating, physical activity and living well,” said Principal Ed Donnelly. “The participating organizations were very generous with their time and resources.” 

Project Coordinator Debbie Supple said students were well-behaved and attentive to the guest presenters. At the blow of the whistle, every 10 minutes, volunteers lead groups of 10 students to different stations/workshops set up in the gym and Library. 
  
Some of the volunteer leaders were students from JL Ilsley as part of the recently introduced program called Options and Opportunities (O2). A credit in the O2 program helps students broaden their understanding of the community and their role in the community. Participation in the Health Fair was a wonderful opportunity for these students to strengthen and reinforce skills as well as learn more about their abilities and interests. All of this contributes to a more effective program for the students. Details on the program can be found at http://www.ednet.ns.ca/O2/e/index.shtml.

Students were each given passports. Presenters stamped the passports at their station. On the back of each student’s passport they were asked to list what they had learned. 

  
Younger students seemed most impressed with exploring the ambulance, turning on the lights and siren.  Older students seemed to enjoy the physical activities such as dancing, jute ball and yoga. One mother commented that her daughter didn’t stop talking all through her lunch about all the fun she had at the Fair. 

  
To cap off the day’s events, about 30 people attended the Health Fair in the evening. 

Funding for Health Fair 07 at Ecole Chebucto Heights School comes from a Health Promoting School grant. Presenting organizations included: 
Yoga Loft (demonstrating yoga stretches and twists)
Dairy Farmers of Canada (healthy food choices) 
Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (fitting helmets) 
Doctors NS (physical activity demonstration)
Superstore (healthy food choices and samples) 
Mount Saint Vincent (psychology students with relaxation/stress reduction techniques
IWK Child Care Safety (car and booster seat information) 
African Dance (demonstration and dance) 
Halifax Regional Police, Constable Booker (drug information) 
HRSB Sport Animators (Tchouk Ball and Cup Stacking) 
Emergency Health Services (information and visit in the ambulance) 
Dance Dance Revolution (dance) 
Diabetes Association (healthy eating & physical activity information) 
Heart & Stroke Foundation of NS (healthy eating & physical activity information) 
Canadian Cancer Society (sun sense information) 

The Health Fair is one example of how these grants are being used in Halifax Regional School Board schools to help kids lead active, healthy lives.  For more information about Health Promoting Schools, please contact Catherine Cole, Our Health School Leader, Halifax Regional School Board, ccole@hrsb.ns.ca and 464-2000 ext.4419.