International Walk to School Week (iWalk 2012)

I walked to school every day, when I was in grade school. And I walked to school from campus residences while I did my MBA and my PhD. If I lived in faculty housing at UBC, I would have walked to school every day as well. So I’m always keen to promote local health activities, including International Walk to School Week 2012 (iWalk 2012).

The Directorate of Agencies for School Health in British Columbia (DASH BC) is a network of local, regional, and provincial organizations and individuals including teachers, parents and community members who hold closely to the vision that:

every school aged child or youth in British Columbia is part of a health-promoting school community that enables them to lead active, fulfilling lives, well-equipped for future life success

I love the goals established by DASH:

Committed to making a significant contribution toward positively influencing the health and learning capacity of students in British Columbia, DASH BC helps inspire school communities to adopt a comprehensive school health approach. This approach offers a practical framework for teachers, students, families, schools and communties to work together to create plans that will enhance student health and learning. It encourages children and youth to make healthy choices about their lifestyle, schools and the communities in which they live.

DASH BC exemplifies trusted leadership in the field of school health through its successful work with cross sector partners. DASH BC has facilitated shared learning, advocacy, development of promising practices and delivery of leading school health programs.

DASH BC uses its deep understanding of comprehensive school health and its network of leaders to deliver and facilitate innovative school health initiatives to directly benefit the health of students and school communities. It also creates meeting opportunities for those who care about school health to connect, share knowledge, and learn with and from each other.

If you are not already a member of DASH BC, we invite you to inquire about how you can become involved in helping to ensure that “healthy students in healthy schools learn better”.

Check out the Comprehensive School Health Approach video below by DASH.