Physical and Health Education: Enhancing Student Wellness and Promoting Community Engagement

The May/June 2013 issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine included an article about organizing and implementing a Physical and Health Education (PHE) Fair—an event that introduces the school community to local resources that can help families maintain a healthy lifestyle (find that article by visiting “Healthy Living” under “Articles” at canadianteachermagazine.com). A PHE Fair is an effective initiative for helping educate school communities in terms of physical and health education, wellness, physical literacy and physical activity.

This article is a follow-up to share how Jennifer Landers, a school teacher from Alberta, implemented this initiative in her school. Since their successful event, Jennifer has come to believe that the PHE Fair influenced her school community positively and immeasurably. 

SUCCESS!

In addition to the vast array of student learning, a PHE Fair delivers a great amount of added value to the school community. PHE Fairs have been found to reach not only students, but staff members, parents/guardians and school community members, too. The following statements have been heard following PHE Fairs:

“I’m going to yoga classes now!”

“I’m way more aware of mental health issues from the health nurse’s presentation!”

“Zumba! My daughter and I love it now!”

“There is so much more to wellness than being physically active!”

“My child came home and showed me how morning smoothies can be a healthy start to the day!”

“I love morning smoothies! A great and healthy way to begin the day!”

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Organizing and implementing a PHE Fair requires some effort from school members such as a PHE Champion like Jennifer Landers. However, what can be accomplished from initiatives such as these can reach high levels of learning for all— everyone involved learns! As can be understood when reading Jennifer’s words, although a PHE Fair can enhance student learning on physical and health education topics, it’s the greater community of school members who benefit too. A PHE Fair may prove to be as successful in your school as it seems to have been in Jennifer’s school.


Brent Bradford
Brent Bradford (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton. Along with extensive teaching experiences at the elementary and junior high school levels, Brent also served as a Teacher Educator from 2009-2014 while earning a PhD. Brent’s teaching has been recognized with several awards at both the school and university levels. Brent serves on PHE Canada’s Advisory Board for Physical Education and Physical Literacy. He can be reached at brent.bradford@concordia.ab.ca.

Stephen Berg
Stephen Berg (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia Okanagan, where he teaches courses in the areas of Physical and Health Education. Stephen has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and serves on PHE Canada’s Advisory Board for Physical Education and Physical Literacy. He can be reached at stephen.berg@ubc.ca 

Jennifer Landers
Jennifer Landers (MEd) earned a Bachelor of Education Degree (University of Alberta) and a Master of Education Degree (Penn State University). After teaching for five years with Red Deer Public Schools, Jennifer traveled overseas to teach in the Middle East for five years. She then returned to Alberta where she married and taught at Sunchild First Nations School for two years. Jennifer then settled at Eldorado Elementary School in Drayton Valley, AB where she teaches full-time Kindergarten and is the enthusiastic Health Champion. Jennifer can be reached at: jennifer.landers@wrsd.ca.


This article is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Sept/Oct 2015 issue.

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