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 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
Health Unit 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.
COVID-19 Preparation
Resources
Parents
- Health and Safety Measures in Schools 2022-2023
- School Mental Health Ontario: How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child
- RCDHU COVID-19: Who is considered a close contact at school?
- RCDHU link: COVID-19 Back to School/Childcare Confirmation Form
- Ontario: COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care
- Ontario’s printable COVID-19 Screening tool for students and children in school and child care
- Public Health Ontario – How to care for a child who needs to self-isolate
Elementary
- PHO: COVID-19 Public Health School Safety Plan Checklist
- Ontario: COVID-19 School & Child Care Screening Tool
- RCDHU: Diapering Children
- RCDHU: Increase in Gastrointestinal Illness for Children
- RCDHU: Increase in Respiratory Illness for Children
- RCDHU: Washroom Etiquette for Children
- RCDHU: My Mask Protects YOU – Elementary
- RCDHU: Washing Your Hands
- RCDHU: Do Not Enter If Sick – Elementary
- RCDHU: Wash or Sanitize Your Hands
- RCDHU: Cover Your Cough – Elementary
- RCDHU: Wear Your Mask – Elementary
- RCDHU: Practice Physical Distancing – Elementary
- Ontario: COVID-19 Printable Screening Tool for Employees and Essential Visitors in Schools and Child Care Settings
Secondary
- RCDHU: COVID-19 School Screening Checklist
- RCDHU: My Mask Protects YOU – Secondary
- RCDHU: Do Not Enter If Sick Poster – Secondary
- RCDHU: Cover Your Cough – Secondary
- RCDHU: Wear Your Mask – Secondary
- RCDHU: Practice Physical Distancing – Secondary
- Ontario: COVID-19 Printable Screening Tool for Employees and Essential Visitors in Schools and Child Care Settings
Guidance Documents
- COVID-19 Integrated Testing & Case, Contact and Outbreak Management Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge (Dec 30, 2021)
- COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Schools and Child Care: Omicron Surge (Jan 10, 2022)
- COVID-19 Guidance: School Case, Contact and Outbreak Management
- Ontario COVID-19: Health, Safety and Operational Guidance for Schools (2021-2022)
- Guide to Reopening Ontario’s Schools
- Ontario’s School Reopening Plan Technical Briefing
- Ministry of Education: COVID-19 Face Covering Procurement and Delivery to Child Care and Early Years Programs
Useful Resources
- RCDHU COVID-19: Safe & Effective Disinfectant Use
- RCDHU COVID-19: Infection Control in a Library Setting
- RCDHU COVID-19: PPE Modification in Schools Fact Sheet
- RCDHU COVID-19: Guidance for Food in Schools
- RCDHU COVID-19 Handout: Student Nutrition Program Grab n’ Go
- RCDHU COVID-19 Poster: Student Nutrition Program Grab n’ Go Letter
- RCDHU COVID-19 Poster: Student Nutrition Program Grab n’ Go Legal
- RCDHU COVID-19: School Bus Safety
- RCDHU COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control for Reopening of Workplaces
- RCDHU Poster: My Mask Protects YOU
- Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium: Student Transportation Request Protocol
- Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium: COVID-19 Information (Including Response Plans)
- Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium: Pandemic Planning Process
- Government of Ontario: COVID-19 Reopening Schools
- Government of Ontario: COVID-19 Supports for Students and Parents
- Government of Canada: COVID-19 guidance for schools Kindergarten to Grade 12
Préparation pour la COVID-19
Ressources
- Programme d’alimentation saine pour les élèves Aliments « prêts à emporter »
- Programme d’alimentation saine pour les élèves Aliments « prêts à emporter » Affiche
- Programme d’alimentation saine pour les élèves Aliments « prêts à emporter » Affiche
- RCDHU Resource: COVID-19 Public Health School Safety Plan Checklist (Anglais seulement)
- RCDHU COVID-19 Attestation pour le retour à l’école
- COVID-19 Fonctionnement sécuritaire pour les centres de dons
- COVID-19 LIVRAISON SANS CONTACT
- COVID-19 directives de la santé publique nourriture dans les écoles
- COVID-19 sécurité en transport scolaire
- Veuillez svp porter un MASQUE / COUVRE-VISAGE à l’intérieur de cet établissement
- Enlever l’équipement de protection individuelle
- Comment mettre l’équipment de protection individuelle
- Affiche ”Dépistage COVID-19’’ pour entrée
- Comment mettre et retirer un masque
- Le lavage des mains
- COVID-19: Trousse de prévention et de contrôle des infections
- Aidez-nous à freiner la propagation de la COVID-19
- Lave ou désinfecte tes mains
Parents
Élémentaire
- Affiche “Mon masque te protège” – Élémentaire
- Couvre ta toux – Élémentaire
- Porte ton masque – Élémentaire
- Practique la distanciation physique – Élémentaire
- Ne pas entrer si vous êtes malade – Élémentaire
- Outil de dépistage de la COVID-19 pour les employés et les visiteurs essentiels dans les écoles et les services de garde d’enfants
Secondaire
- Affiche “Mon masque te protège” – Secondaire
- Couvre ta toux – Secondaire
- Porte ton masque – Secondaire
- Practique la distanciation physique – Secondaire
- Ne pas entrer si vous êtes malade – Secondaire
- Outil de dépistage de la COVID-19 pour les employés et les visiteurs essentiels dans les écoles et les services de garde d’enfant
Ressources utiles
- Gouvernement de l’Ontario: Dépistage de la COVID-19 pour les écoles
- Consortium de transport scolaire d’Ottawa: Mesures préventives à bord des véhicules scolaires – COVID-19
- COVID-19 : Document d’orientation sur la gestion des cas, des contacts et des éclosions dans les écoles
- Gouvernement de l’Ontario COVID-19 : directives en matière de gestion, de sécurité et de santé pour les écoles (2021-2022)
- Gouvernement de l’Ontario: COVID-19 : Réouverture des écoles
- Gouvernement de l’Ontario: COVID-19 : Soutien aux élèves et aux parents
- Gouvernement du Canada: Directives relatives à la COVID-19 à l’intention des écoles de la maternelle à la 12e année
Infection Control Measures
Everyone has the potential to come into contact with microscopic germs during interactions with people and the environment. Schools have common characteristics that include shared spaces such as washrooms and classrooms.
Link: RCDHU COVID-19: Safe & Effective Disinfectant Use
Link: RCDHU COVID-19: Infection Control in a Library Setting
Link: How to Wash Your Hands/How to Sanitize Your Hands
Link: Steps to Put on and Remove a Face Mask
Link: Steps to Put on and Remove a Cloth Mask/Face Covering
Healthy Eating in Schools
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit Dietitian works in partnership with Health Unit school contacts to promote healthy eating in schools.
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health
Link: All resources
School Lunch Your Kids Will Munch EN FR
Healthy Schools: Linking Nutrition and Mental Well-Being
Formerly called ‘Nutrition Tools for Schools’, BrightBites is a free, non-profit program created by Registered Dietitians working in public health units across the province.
Students and teachers need to eat well to be at their best, physically and mentally. Boosting school nutrition can be challenging. BrightBites makes it easy and rewarding! Win badges, receive recognition and watch your school transform – one bite at a time.
For support to create a healthy nutrition environment in your school contact our Registered Dietitian at 613-732-3629 ext. 327
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)