Importance of Vaccinations and Reporting Immunization Records
Keeping immunizations up to date helps protect the health and well-being of everyone in our schools. Vaccinations play an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and strengthening community immunity.
Submitting Immunization Records
Each year, the Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) Immunization Team reviews student immunization records to ensure they are current and that students meet Ontario’s immunization requirements.
Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring their child’s immunization records are reported to RCDHU. If a parent/guardian chooses not to vaccinate their child, a valid exemption must be submitted to RCDHU.
Immunization Notices
If the student file is incomplete, RCDHU will be sending Immunization Notices throughout the year to advise and remind parents to update their child’s records with RCDHU.
For details on the immunization schedule and required vaccines, exemptions, or how to update your child’s immunization record, visit: Immunizations for Children.
Together, we can help keep our schools healthy, safe, and protected!
New RCDHU School Information Hub
RCDHU has launched a new School Information Hub for educators, administrators, and school staff. The hub brings together school-focused public health resources, health promotion campaigns, classroom supports, and current school year e-newsletters in one convenient location.
Visit the hub throughout the year for timely health information and resources to support healthy school communities.
Visit and explore the new School Information Hub!
Bee Grant: Applications Now Open!
Schools can apply for the Bee Grant from the Whole Foods Market Foundation to support hands-on pollinator education and beekeeping programs.
The grant is available to K-12 schools and non-profit organizations serving K-12 students that want to start a new bee program or enhance an existing educational hive program.
Successful applicants can receive either:
- A $2,000 monetary grant, or
- An indoor observation hive plus $1,000 to support a school bee program.
The grant is intended to help schools bring live bees onto campus and provide students with opportunities to learn about pollinators, food systems, and environmental stewardship.
Application deadline: October 30, 2026. Applications opened September 1, 2026, and successful applicants will be notified in December 2026.
Learn more and apply by visiting: Bee Grant program.
Smoking and Vaping Resources
Vaping Prevention: School Resources
RCDHU has developed a comprehensive vaping prevention resource to help educators address vaping-related topics with students. The resource provides a variety of tools and information to increase awareness, support informed choices, and assist youth who may be using or thinking about using vaping products.
Featuring curriculum-connected resources, discussion guides, and quit support information, this resource can strengthen school health education and student well-being initiatives.
View the resource at:
Smoke Free Ontario Act: School Resources
RCDHU’s School Health: Tools for Educators has a range of resources are available to help schools support compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and create healthier learning environments.
These resources include Smoke Free Act posters for display throughout the school in common areas such as hallways and cafeterias. Schools are encouraged to use these materials to raise awareness, reinforce legislation, and support a culture of health and compliance.
View the posters:
Tobacco Enforcement Officers
Tobacco Enforcement Officers conduct inspections to monitor and support compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. School administrators and staff can submit a Smoke-Free Ontario Act Offence Notification Form for follow-up regarding smoking or vaping incidents that occur on school property.
Anchoring Change: Substance Use Prevention, Education, and Intervention
Anchoring Change is a national initiative designed to transform how schools across Canada address substance use through coordinated, evidence-informed prevention, education, and intervention. Its approach is grounded in developmental and prevention science, student well-being, and the practical realities of education systems.
The initiative is led through a collaborative partnership between Wellstream: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of British Columbia, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA), Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada, and the Students Commission of Canada.
Visit: Anchoring Change – School-Based Substance Use Prevention,
Education, and Intervention
