Healthy Schools Recognition Program

Healthy Schools Healthy Communities

The Healthy Schools Recognition Program is a national, self-directed, step-based program that promotes strengthening health initiatives that can influence student belonging, school connectedness, and health & well-being. This program empowers schools with flexibility and ownership by providing tools, tips, and prompts that support the development of a unique, personalized Healthy Schools journey.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated May 2026

Web presence

2015

Established

390 2026

1

Countries

Community

Target group

The long term goal of the Healthy Schools Recognition Program is to help build strong, connected school communities where every student feels a genuine sense of belonging. However, what’s special about the Healthy Schools Recognition Program is that it gives schools the tools and support they need to plan and take intentional actions based on their unique strengths and needs. These actions are rewarded with digital badges and captured through journey stories, where schools complete guided digital journals and submit photos documenting their actions, changes, and impacts. These stories become the legacy of this work and allows schools to share their stories so successes and learnings are not lost.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

The Healthy Schools Recognition Program was developed as a national, self-directed, step-based program that promotes strengthening health initiatives that can influence student belonging, school connectedness, and health and well-being.

The Healthy Schools Recognition Program strives to:

• support schools in enhancing the health and well-being of their students and staff.
• strengthen new and existing school-based initiatives supporting health, belonging, inclusion, and well-being.
• encourage meaningful collaboration to promote a holistic, whole-community approach to the Healthy Schools journey.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Recognition as a Healthy School is based on a school’s engagement with the Healthy Schools Process and completion of the 4 step process at their own pace. The process supports schools with the identification, planning and implementation of initiatives, and sharing achievements and impact on the school and broader community.

Participation in The Healthy Schools Recognition Program creates a recognition within the Ontario school community. Journeys can be shared amongst schools and school boards expanding reach and opportunities to learn and collaborate as larger community provincially.

Once registered, you will have access to:

• a web-based dashboard to support your Healthy Schools team with working through the 4 steps of the Healthy Schools Process.
• support tools, tips, considerations, and prompts to help guide you through each step in the Healthy Schools Process connected to the Comprehensive School Health areas.
• your school's very own Journey Summary Report, created upon completion of the Healthy Schools Process, that highlights your journey and achievements through a storytelling infographic.
• digital badges, provided as digital image files, that can be downloaded and shared to show your commitment to a Healthy School. The badges are an indication that your school is recognized as a Healthy School which can support pride and accountability within your community.

How has it been spreading?

We promote our program mainly through established school board/school relationships, social media, professional learning initiatives, conferences, newsletters, and ambassadors within the school communities in Ontario and across Canada.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Start your journey by connecting with others in your school and greater community. There may be students, staff, parent(s)/caregiver(s), community partners, and/or Elders and Knowledge keepers who are passionate about supporting the health priorities of the school community, and may be interested in leading or co-leading a Healthy Schools team.

Familiarize yourself with the Healthy Schools Process through the program website at https://healthyschools.ca

The Healthy Schools Recognition Program Team is available year-round as an additional support to schools.

Implementation steps

Step 1: Assemble Your Team

Forming a Healthy Schools Team creates a foundation for sustainable change by building shared ownership, encouraging collaboration, and amplifying student voice. A school team can help inspire your school’s journey by bringing together a range of perspectives that can provide input and voice into the needs, interests, and priorities of the school community. Your team should include students, school staff, a principal/vice-principal, parent/caregiver and community partners, school teams/clubs.

Step 2: Identify Your School Community Priority Area(s), Assets, and Goals

Work with your team to identify priority area(s), school assets, and goals. Collecting information from the school community is an important part of this step. Priority area(s) should be identified in a collaborative way with students, staff, and the broader school community and should reflect the health priorities of the school community. When students are leaders in and contribute to this process, the priorities reflect their interests and lead to increased engagement and connectedness.

Step 3: Develop Your Plan and Take Action

Work with your team to develop a plan that transforms your school’s priority area(s) into meaningful initiatives with school-wide impact. When students help design and carry out the plan, they build leadership skills, take ownership of the process, and see their ideas come to life, making the plan more relevant and effective. Your team should implement and monitor the initiatives and update your plan, as your journey progresses to document the journey.

Step 4: Celebrate and Reflect

Celebrate the contributions of each team member and reflect on your Healthy Schools journey, including what you’ve learned and what impact you’ve had on your school. Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of those involved, especially students and their leadership, can deepen their learning, strengthen team identity, and help build momentum for continued work ahead.