The Minister of Health and Seniors, the Hon. Jeanne Atherden, CA, CPA, JP, MP, today presented awards to those who participated in the 2017 Healthy Schools programme. The Healthy Schools Awards focuses on schools that consistently promote health to their students and staff. This year, schools demonstrated that they consistently implemented five categories of health specified by Healthy Schools to demonstrate a high level of compliance to school health policies and health-related Bermuda Laws.
This year, 24 of 31 public and private primary, middle and senior schools submitted their Healthy Schools Component presentations or binders. Each school received three to five GOLD STARS and has been designated as a Health Promoting School. Also chosen were forty individuals who were nominated as Health Champions by their schools; twenty-nine principals who have been recognized for promoting health in their schools; fourteen outstanding Department of Health service providers nominated by their programme managers; five community health partners; seven outstanding students; and twenty-one Water-Only schools and preschools. Of note, the number of government schools advocating a Water-Only Policy or Practice increased from 13 to 22.