A focus on health in schools is an important part of enabling all students to reach their full potential.
Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) supports school boards, teachers, students and parents at 42 elementary schools and 11 high schools with health related programs and services that are congruent with the expectations of the Ontario Health and Physical Education elementary and secondary Curriculum and the Ontario Public Health Standards.
Health Promoters and Public Health Nurses are available to assist elementary and high school with implementing components of the Foundations for a Healthy School:
- Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
- School and Classroom Leadership
- Student Engagement
- Social and Physical Environments
- Home, School and Community Partnerships
RCDHU staff also provide:
- Immunization Clinics
- Dental Screening
- Vision Screening
- Food Safety Consultations and Tobacco Control
For more information about our School Health Programs and Services contact: schoolhealth@rcdhu.com.
Immunization Clinics
All children attending school between the ages of 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to Ontario’s immunization schedule. Immunization protects children from many serious diseases that are easily spread in schools. For more information see our immunization page.
Resources for Parents
Flu Vaccine Information
- RCDHU: Immunization
- Ontario: The Flu
Childhood Illnesses and Infections
- Caring for Kids: Health Conditions and Treatments
- Government of Canada: Infectious Diseases
- Ontario: Protection from COVID‑19 and other respiratory illnesses
Head Lice
- Caring for Kids: Head Lice
Vision and Dental Screening
Mental Health
Physical Activity
- Active for Life
- Government of Canada: 24 Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth: An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep
Safety
- Parachute: Discover injuries before they happen
- Caring for Kids: Safety and Injury Prevention
- Prevent Child Injury
Nutrition
- Government of Canada: Canada’s Food Guide
- UnlockFood.ca – Children’s Nutrition
- Healthy schools: Linking nutrition and mental well-being (Infographic)
- School Lunch Your Kids Will Munch (PDF)
- Ontario Dietitians in Public Health
- BrightBites
Preparing your Child for Kindergarten
- Ontario: Full-Day Kindergarten, Preparing your Child
- Ontario: Kindergarten
Parenting Programs
For more information on available parenting programs, please visit RCDHU’s Child Health page.
Preventing the Spread of Illness
Schools have common characteristics that include shared spaces such as washrooms and classrooms. Infection control measures play a critical role in creating a healthy learning environment for students and staff.
Resources
Renfrew County Youth Needs Assessment Report
Since 2013, the Renfrew County Youth Network (RCYN) with leadership from the Renfrew County and District Health Unit has been striving towards the development, implementation and sustainability of a Renfrew County Youth Engagement Strategy. The strategy would provide a framework for decision makers and community organizations to inform decision making to meet the needs of local youth.
The report intends to provide a summary of survey feedback collected through online surveys of youth aged 12-24 years of age and RCYN members and a series of youth sharing circles hosted by RCYN members throughout Renfrew County.
Renfrew County Youth Needs Assessment Report, 2018 (English) (PDF 73 pages)
Rapport d’évaluation des besoins des jeunes du comté de Renfrew, 2018 (French) (PDF 84 pages)