NHSW School Spotlight: Westisle Composite High School

Westisle Composite High School is a Grade 10-12 school in Rural Western Prince Edward Island. We are a dual track school that provides a wide variety of courses, options and experiences for our diverse community. We strive to offer programming that compliments the amazing students in the area so they can have the best opportunity to choose a career path that best suits them. Westisle has taken a keen approach to advocate and bring attention to the healthy choices that are available to students each day. From athletics, intramurals, clubs, as well as a healthy cafeteria, Westisle Composite High School values giving students the best chance to be successful in and out of the classroom.

How does your school support health and well-being?

Westisle is fortunate to be a HUB School for the PEI School Food Program. Because of this, students have access to healthy, nutritious meals each day. This combined with our Breakfast Program, we are a leading school in ensuring students have every opportunity to learn and grow with a full stomach.

Westisle has recently partnered with PHE Canada to offer a student advocate group that focuses on reducing tobacco use in our school community. A group of 10-15 students have been meeting weekly to come up with ideas and initiatives to raise awareness to the harmful effects of tobacco products. These meetings led the students to host a session with a neighboring Intermediate school that provided interactive opportunities for the students in that school to learn more about tobacco products and the impacts it has on their lives.

Westisle offers a strong intramural and athletics program where students have many opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. We offer diverse activities in the gym during lunchtime as well as offer any sport that is sanctioned by the PEISAA with multiple teams in each division.

What advice would you share with schools starting their Healthy School journey?

I would tell a school or group that organizing and implementing activities that emphasize Healthy Schools is a marathon, not a sprint. Acknowledge and identify the areas of the school that offer healthy options for students and build from there. Persistence is a wonderful skill and that any small progress is progress. I would also encourage school groups to seek out liaisons and partners that align with your healthy school goals as having a broader team provides a better chance for sustainability within your school.

Spotlight provided by School Champion, Collin Dillon