The ISB Healthy Outcomes Program
The International School of Brno (ISB) Healthy Outcomes Program is a school health program that outlines school safety protocols and aims to promote healthy lifestyles amongst students and staff. Through a holistic approach, the school will address the many different facets of student and staff health and wellbeing.
What is a School Health Program?
A school health program is a structured outline of a coordinated system that promotes health and safety in schools. The plan encompasses many aspects of a child’s wellbeing and also aims to address staff health.
The different aspects of a school health program include physical safety, a “health program” curriculum, promotion of healthy and balanced nutrition, physical education and activity, social and emotional wellbeing, as well as parent and community involvement.
Why a School Health Program is Necessary
A school health program is vital to student success in academics as well as life outside of the classroom. Not only does a health program increase academic performance, it also promotes good behavior in class. It boosts morale amongst staff and students and creates a positive school environment. It supports employee wellness and satisfaction which in turn benefits the students in the classroom. Working together to encourage health and well-being creates a sense of community and general positivity in schools.
Stakeholders
The stakeholders are all those impacted by the school health program. This includes school administration, teachers, support staff, community partners, parents, and most importantly the students.
Program Components and Goals
School Physical Safety
Physical safety ensures the school is providing a safe environment and that all students and staff are protected and secure. School physical safety is addressed by creating a positive, safe, and clean environment on campus where students feel protected. This aspect of the program is carried out with guidance from written and published protocols found on the Teacher’s Site and listed below.
Hazardous Materials Policy and Lab Safety
Health Education
A comprehensive, holistic approach to student health is vital for a successful outcome and a health curriculum is an important part of this approach as it provides the backbone to the overall program and goals. The curriculum should address all age ranges from years K-12 and contain age appropriate lessons taught in classrooms as well as in assemblies and after school programs or events.
The School has to establish a health program/curriculum that is implemented in K-13 and includes lessons each teacher can incorporate into their curriculum as well as health themed topics addressed by teachers.
The school is actively raising awareness and planning activities to address the following topics in secondary:
Health Services
Health services include nutritional services via food provided in the cafeteria, a nurse’s station for physical health, and a psychologist to address mental health needs. Staff are trained in First Aid and CPR and each room has a First Aid Kit with all of the necessary equipment required by Czech Law.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays an integral part in student health and wellbeing. Students should have access to healthy food options while at school. They should also learn how to make healthy food choices on their own. This will be addressed through the program that includes education regarding nutrition, cafeteria food served, a visit to a local farm, a farmer’s market event, and a school garden.
Primary - PYP approach to healthy nutrition
“Balanced Health Style Choices Affect our Well-Being”
We strongly believe that quality food is a fundamental right of a child's life not just in providing necessary nutrition, moreover in sharing positive values, attitudes and experiences with other students. We believe that as lifelong learners and role models we need to continuously support our students to understand the importance of balanced choices that lead to our overall happiness, and well-being.
Our Mission: To provide students with opportunities to make balanced choices regarding their food choices. To encourage students to be risk-takers and try new food. To provide our students with the knowledge about the impact of these choices on their overall wellbeing.
Actions we take to ensure our values and mission are implemented effectively and in a nurturing manner:
1- We lead by example by eating healthy food and drinks in front of our students and in school
2- We provide set times in Early Years and Primary to ensure students have time to eat a healthy snack
3- We provide multiple learning experiences to try new food through a variety of cultural events
4- We encourage parents and carers to prepare a healthy snack and lunch for their child/children.
5- We always raise concerns regarding unhealthy snacks with parents only and never question children
6- We respect that at times parents may, send in what is deemed as an unhealthy snack and allow the students to eat their snack or lunch without making them feel guilty
7- We raise awareness of the importance of healthy life choices through a range of meaningful activities which are age appropriate
8- We are aware that students can go through different phases and attitudes towards food and our role is to encourage and not to blame or judge decisions made at home
If a homeroom teacher sees that a student is repeatedly bringing in unhealthy snacks then the first protocol is a friendly phone call or email home to emphasize our policy statement. If this continues then they should inform the Primary Principal so a meeting can be set to find strategies in which they can best support the healthy eating habits of the student of concern collaboratively.
Physical Education and Activity
Students are taught the benefits of being physically active during their P.E. period and through the health curriculum. Students are also encouraged to engage in activities during P.E. and outdoor playground time. Teachers can be encouraged to include a physical movement component to lesson plans and have students stand in class or take walks.
The PE system at ISB is well outlined in following documents:
Curricular and Extracurricular Sport activities
Social and Emotional Wellbeing
The social and emotional component includes addressing such topics as bullying, culture shock, problems at home and school, stress management, and creating an environment where students feel safe, comfortable, and included.
Specific Tasks of the Well-being Coordinator
School Physical Safety
This is well addressed by the school nurse, administration, and in the health and safety policies posted above.
What the health coordinator will do to assist with the campus’ physical safety:
1. Make sure there is a written protocol for emergency situations that students, parents, and staff can easily access.
2. Help coordinate and perform safety inspections of the school campus.
Well being curriculum
What the health coordinator will do to address the health curriculum:
1. Create and coordinate a whole school health education plan that is disseminated by teachers in the classroom.
2. Provide lesson plan ideas or resources if needed.
3. Assist student council with ideas to address health topics and help execute any events.
4. Compile a list of topics and lesson plans for the three main health lessons for years 10-11 and teach with Dylan. Each class will have a different, age appropriate topic to discuss, compromising 15 lessons total.
5. Create a health needs assessment for teachers, parents, and students.
Health Services
Health services are thoroughly covered by the school nurse.
Social and Emotional Wellbeing
What the Well-being coordinator will do to address social and emotional wellbeing:
updates:
Jan Svihalek 6/10/2023