Monday, February 3, 2020
When it comes to professional development in education, there’s rarely enough time or funding to go around. That’s why making the most of the resources available is a must.
“It’s a complex system with competing priorities at every level,” says Joanne Walsh, Ophea Curriculum Consultant, long-time...
Monday, June 3, 2019
Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification helps everyone come together for the health of the school community.
Hip hip, hurray! As Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification approaches the end of another school year, there’s a lot to celebrate.
This year 274 schools have been certified as either Gold,...
Friday, September 28, 2018
Supporting Physical Literacy Assessment
Through a joint position paper called “Addressing Quality Assessment to Support the Development of Physical Literacy Skills in Health and Physical Education,” Ophea and OASPHE—Ontario’s two provincial subject associations for H&PE —have brought forward...
Monday, March 26, 2018
How student voice can build a school culture that works to stop sexual violence
When students speak up about sexual violence and harassment, their peers listen. That’s what Ophea and three partner organizations Draw-the-Line, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, and White Ribbon, along with support...
Monday, February 5, 2018
When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission completed its six-year investigation in 2015 into the Canadian Indian residential school system, it released a series of reports that documented how to move forward to address Canada's colonialism. Physical education and sport were important components...
Monday, November 6, 2017
How a more flexible approach to Daily Physical Activity supports student health & their readiness to learn.
According to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth, children aged 5–11 should be getting at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day....
Friday, September 29, 2017
Inclusion means every student can succeed.
“That’s not fair!” It’s a refrain that teachers—especially at the elementary level—hear often, but what students often fail to understand is that, when it comes to learning, fairness doesn’t necessarily mean everyone follows the same rules or gets the same...
Monday, May 1, 2017
How an integrated approach to H&PE in kindergarten is serving Ontario’s youngest students
Kindergarten students have a variety of backgrounds, interests and temperaments, but there’s one thing they’ve got in common: “They never stop moving,” laughs Colleen Walsh, a Registered Early Childhood...
Monday, March 6, 2017
Human Development & Sexual Health (HD&SH) is a key component of overall health and well-being that affects us all. Due to the diverse family structures, cultural and religious values, sexual orientations and gender identities of students, there’s no doubt it’s a topic that needs to be...
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Asking questions and searching for answers is a fundamental part of being human. A young child curiosity knows no bounds. Whether it’s “why?” or “what’s that?” they constantly look for answers from the trusted adults in their lives. As children mature, however, an important shift takes place...
