Getting Moving at St. Mary's Primary School

For the second year in a row, St. Mary’s Primary School students will get moving in October participating in the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program.

This is the second year St. Mary’s have participated - last year 98% of students walked, rode, skated or scooted 1671 times during October - that’s about 1200 kilometres - equivalent to walking from Cohuna to Canberra and back!

For the first time classes at St Mary’s students will compete against each other in an effort to win a Gannawarra Golden Shoe trophy…

Tanya from Northern District Community Health spoke about the importance of children being active and healthy both at school and at home. Being active in the morning wakes us up, helps us to focus on learning at school and keeps our bodies in tip top condition. Children were encouraged to find activities that they enjoy so that they fit at least 60 minutes of physical activity into each day. This can be riding or walking to school, to the shops, participating in sports or enjoying time kicking a ball around at home.

 

A fun and active Cha, Cha, Slide! dance session with Pia from the Gannawarra Library Service followed creating lots of happy smiles and laughter.

 

 

All eleven primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire are participating in this year’s Walk to School program with students encouraged to ride, walk or scoot to and from school, the school bus or while at school, throughout October.

The Walk to School program promotes the importance of children being Active and Healthy in their communities and fitting at least 60 minutes of physical activity into their daily lives. Getting actively to school, the school bus, or while at school not only helps keep children fit and healthy, it also helps them to stay alert, to concentrate and improves learning outcomes.

The Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program is rolled out across the Gannawarra Shire as a Gannawarra Local Agency Meeting (GLAM) partnership project. This is a partnership between Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, Victoria Police, with support from the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership.

Walk to School is a VicHealth initiative. For more information go to: http://www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au/

 

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

 

and our Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: http://gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au/