Healthy Schools Projects Connect Students to Improve Health and Well-being

As part of Healthy Schools Week, Oct 5-9, 2015, British Columbia’s Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH) launched an online School Connectedness Film Festival; publicly releasing videos developed by six school connectedness grantees in the province. The videos show examples of the strong practices and diverse approaches being used in BC schools and districts to support and improve the school connectedness and mental well-being of students.

The presence of caring relationships in schools — the heart of school connectedness — is increasingly recognized as a vital component of successful schools. The DASH vision is for BC children and youth to feel connected to their schools and experience positive mental health and wellbeing. Research has consistently shown students who feel connected at school do better academically and are healthier. The focus in school connectedness is on building strong, positive relationships: among students; between students and school staff; between school staff, families and the larger community.

DASH, the Coalition and Healthy Schools Week invite school communities to take action to ensure all students are healthy, engaged, and connected at school. For more information, tips, activities and resources on making your schools more connected, and to view the six videos of the School Connectedness Film Festival, visit the Healthy Schools BC and DASH BC websites.

Written by David Samis