Ophea announces full support for Ontario Ministry of Education's revised
Health and Physical Education Curriculum

Calling on all stakeholders to join Ophea in actively supporting this crucial initiative

TORONTO , Jan. 19 /CNW/ - Ophea today announced that it fully supports the vision of the revised Health and Physical Education (H&PE) Curriculum Grades 1-8 that was released by the Ontario Ministry of Education on January 18, 2010 .

"Ophea believes the revised curriculum is the most significant health promotion initiative the province has ever seen," said Chris Markham , Executive Director of Ophea. "If fully implemented it will positively impact the health and learning outcomes for Ontario's children and youth and ensure success for all students."

The revised curriculum is based on the vision that the knowledge and skills acquired in the program benefit students throughout their lives and help them to thrive in an ever-changing world by enabling them to acquire physical and health literacy, and to develop the comprehension, capacity, and commitment needed to lead healthy, active lives and to promote healthy, active living.

"Ophea is making this announcement today because we believe the revised H&PE curriculum presents significant opportunities for collaboration among all Health and Physical Education stakeholders in raising awareness for and communicating the importance of this policy," said Markham. "We are eager to explore these opportunities for collaboration and alignment of resources to implement the provincial support strategy with all stakeholders, and to work with Ontario's new Minister of Education, Leona Dombrowsky, to realize the curriculum's vision."

The new curriculum has shifted to a student-centered approach to skill building for learning and includes a revised healthy living framework, updated information to align with student needs today and in the future and integration of and emphasis on living skills.

Ophea is ideally positioned to actively support communications and awareness efforts for and implementation of this policy and we are looking forward to working to ensure that adequate attention is placed on sustaining and enhancing provincial and community capacity to ensure the effective implementation of this policy.

About Ophea

Ophea is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting schools and communities through quality program supports, partnerships and advocacy. Ophea is led by the vision that all kids will value, participate in, and make a lifelong commitment to healthy active living. To learn more about Ophea's response to the revised curriculum please visit Ophea's website www.ophea.net.

For further information: Melanie Slade, Corporate Communications Leader, [email protected], [phone]