Spark! Share Your Story: McKinnon P.S. & Ruth Thompson Middle School 2013 Health Expo

1. Spark! Share Your Story: McKinnon P.S. & Ruth Thompson Middle School 2013 Health Expo

2. Project Overview • Health and Wellness Expo to encourage parents to encourage a healthy family life • Mental health, nutrition, active living, relaxation and community resources • Expo represented the culmination of family-centred activities taking place at both schools throughout the year • Overall objectives: partnership between schools and parent councils and a year that engaged, educated and inspired parents to get involved and get healthy • Welcoming atmosphere – reduce barriers to participation

3. Promotional Materials • Flyers, posters, web link with local councillor, roadside signs • Syner-voice, emails • Goal was to reach as many families in the community in as many ways possible • We are everyone’s school and every family is welcome • Good information that can help your child succeed at school

4. Student Success • By encouraging health family life it encourages better parent involvement and increased student success at school • Student participation – drumming, ambassadors • Healthy family life was an ongoing focus at both schools as was mental health • Family nights at each respective school – ie, Yoga night, badminton night, family game night • Make the schools a welcoming place for all families

5. Budget • Two PRO grants: 2 @ $1,000 each = $2,000 budget • Main expenses : printing, honorariums • Partnership, partnership, partnership • Two school parent councils = 1 great idea • Sue McFadden – Ward 10 – web, prizes, road sign • West Credit S..S – catering • Schools – student drumming, ambassadors • Settlement worker • Region of Peel Health • City of Mississauga – parks/rec • Loblaws - nutritionist

6. Impact • Feedback via survey • Very positive response • 100 attendees/53 returned surveys • 95% very impressed and would attend again • 100% felt welcomed and engaged • Anecdotal - Good committee turn out for meetings and at event, spirit of partnership, school family • Parents felt info provided was useful – take away info to help families new to Mississauga/Canada • Language barrier

7. Key learning • Partnerships work – we are better together • People will come if you provide relevant info and plenty of lead time • If you want a good school where kids are successful parents need to get involved in appropriate areas • Making people feel welcome goes a long way • Plans to expand next year to 3+ schools