DARREN C.

CARIÑO
Schools Division of Abra

My learning in HEALTH Excels is worthwhile, it is our step-by-step guide to organize

child health and wellness. HEALTH Excels can help me meet a number of points on my
School Health Program checklist, from parent involvement, to healthy nutrition
promotion. The learning make it seamless. I am learning from everybody, everybody
has a resource, everyone has something to say.

Healthy students are better learners.  A student experiencing hunger, vision or hearing
loss, or severe asthma will not perform well in school.  As we work together across
sectors to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the link between health and schools has
grown even closer as we grapple with how to keep students, staff, families, and
communities healthy, safe, fed, and in good spirits. Coordinated and comprehensive
school health invests in the totality of the child; establishing healthy behaviors during
childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors in
adulthood.  Schools play a critical role in promoting the health and safety of youth and
helping them establish lifelong healthy behavior patterns, facilitating academic
success.  

When schools invest in the health of their students, they contribute to future, vibrant
communities. To have a positive impact on the health outcomes of young people,
government agencies, community organizations, schools, and other community
members must work together through a collaborative and comprehensive approach: the
FRESH Approach.

Schools play a vital role in developing and supporting children as they grow and learn.
Every teacher, parent, school heads and non-teaching personnel wants to see students
succeed in school, and establish the skills, knowledge and readiness they will need as
adults. While MAPEH classes are an integral part of school health, the evidence is clear
that the skills and knowledge gained through MAPEH programs alone are not enough to
provide students with the strong foundation they need to lead lives that are physically,
emotionally, socially and mentally healthy.

By developing healthy school environments, we can set students up for success in the
classroom and beyond. Health in our schools must extend beyond the curriculum and
the classroom to the entire school setting. Establishing physical and social
environments, formal and informal learning and leadership opportunities, and rules and
day-to-day practices that support and encourage healthy behaviors are all critical
factors.

Research confirms that students do better in school when they are emotionally and
physically healthy. They miss fewer classes, are less likely to engage in risky or
antisocial behavior, concentrate more, and achieve higher test scores. Unfortunately,
too many students go to class in less than optimal health.
During this pandemic, one thing I realized is not forget reaching out to students as often
as I can or I can facilitate peer-to-peer communication.
As a Health Champion based in SDO, I am excited to be working with our local schools
to create healthy school communities that support the wellness of all their members
(learners, teachers, non-teaching personnel, parents and volunteers).

All learners teaching and non-teaching personnel deserve a healthy school environment
that supports their well-being and builds a foundation for learning. Comprehensive
school health can effectively improve both health and education outcomes, and help
students to be healthy, lifelong learners. Healthy schools also support the development
of many student competencies, such as critical thinking, problem solving, decision
making, personal management, collaboration, and leadership.