School Events
Elementary and secondary school events
The KFL&A Public Health School Health Team offers a number of school events available to both elementary and secondary schools within the KFL&A area.
If you are interested in having one of the following events at your school, please contact the School Health Team.
Alcohol and substance misuse
Drive for Life
Drive for Life is an interactive program highlighting impaired and distracted driving prevention, as well as alcohol and marijuana use prevention for Grade 10 students. Students learn the effects and consequences of alcohol and drug use on the body and how they relate to driving. They also learn strategies to manage situations where alcohol is involved. Students will learn that impaired driving includes the use of alcohol and drugs, as well as the risks involved with distracted driving.
P.A.R.T.Y. Program
The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) program is a one-day, injury prevention program at Kingston General Hospital. The program is coordinated by Kingston: Partners for a Safe Community and its injury prevention partners.
Steer Clear of Drugs
This event for Grades 6 students focuses on drug-free messages and takes place every year at KFL&A area schools. It is organized by Kingston: Partners for a Safe Community, and various community partners including KFL&A Public Health. It is attended by more than 2,000 KFL&A area students each year. (Students visit interactive pit stops presented by community partners). Pit stop messages relate to healthy lifestyles, drug-free living, tobacco-free living, and injury prevention.
Tobacco
Teens Trashing Tobacco
An interactive workshop for Grades 7 and 8 students in the KFL&A area focusing on tobacco use prevention and matched to the Health and Physical Education curriculum (substance use, addiction and related behaviours). Students attend four interactive stations and learn the effects of tobacco advertising and marketing, addiction, hazards of using tobacco, and the numerous costs of tobacco use. Schools are eligible for this workshop every other year.
Breathe Free
This multi-week program is offered at secondary schools to help interested youth stop smoking. It is based on Health Canada's Quit 4 Life program (quit4life.com) and is delivered by your school's Public Health Nurse.
Injury prevention
Prepared to Ride Every Time! ATV Safety Event
The purpose of this event is to provide accurate information about the safe and responsible use of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to students in Grades 4 to 8 and their parents. It is designed to increase parents and students' awareness regarding the importance of safe ATV recreation use, including training, safety issues, equipment, and the law.
Active transportation
Walk, Cycle, Bus to School ... Leave the Car Behind
A presentation given by a Public Health Nurse to Grades 3, 4 and 5 students on Active Transportation to and from school. During the presentation, students learn how walking, cycling or busing to school can improve health and support a healthy environment. Also includes bicycle safety information that teaches students road safety skills and proper helmet use.
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour
Jingle Bell Run
Jingle Bell Run encourages community goodwill through a food drive for local food banks and promotes and supports a school-wide winter physical activity. Students exchange a food bank item for a jingle bell and then take part in a school-based run or walk.
Marathon Club
Students of all ages (elementary) and abilities are offered the opportunity to join the marathon club for that school. They will be provided with instructions and resources to support running activities during or after school hours that will accumulate towards the 42 kilometre distance required to complete a “Marathon Run”. The final kilometer will run at a centrally located event, organized by the planning committee. Kindergarten and primary students are also offered the opportunity to run a half-marathon. The 2018 run was held at Caraco field.
Celebration of Dance
Celebration of Dance is an annual event to support he Ontario Curriculum for Health and Physical Education & The Arts as well as the Ontario Public Health Standards in effort to increase physical activity levels in children and youth. KFL&A Public Health partners with local school boards to provide students with dance routines to develop and learn over the winter term and the opportunity to come together and celebrate in May.
Healthy Eating
Under Cookstruction
Under Cookstruction is a four-week hands-on program designed to improve youth participants’ confidence in the ability to nourish themselves by building food preparation skills and addressing food access challenges. The sessions are once a week, during class time, for approximately 75 minutes. At each session, participants learn basic functional kitchen and food safety rules. They plan and participate in hands-on small group food preparation activities using the Under Cookstruction Everyday Cookbook. Students interact in a positive atmosphere while enjoying participant-made food, and engage in peer-to-peer food access discussion. This program is offered to all secondary schools in KFL&A on rotating schedule. For more information please contact the Supporting Healthy Schools line.
School based food literacy programming
KFL&A Public Health offers a variety of additional food literacy programming that can be tailored to meet the individual needs of schools in KFL&A. To learn more about these opportunities please contact Supporting Healthy Schools.