Riding2School and Healthy and Active Living Celebrated at Kerang Primary School

Ride2School was celebrated at Kerang Primary School on Friday 4^th March 2016 with 34 school students riding or scooting to school on the day.

Over 2,000 other primary schools across Australia and 350,000 school students participated in Bicycle Network’s National Ride2School Day promoting the importance of children being Active and Healthy in their communities and fitting at least 60 minutes of physical activity into their daily lives.

Kerang Primary School students enjoyed their daily walk/run around the block followed by colourful fruit and vegetable platters. Some of the fresh produce on the platters had come from the student’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.

Cr. Keith den Houting and Manager Community Health Narelle O’Donoghue judged the decorated bike and scooter competition with prizes awarded for each class for the most colourful bike or scooter, best themed bike or scooter and best bike or scooter decorated in Australian sporting team colours.

An amazing array of colourful entries made the judging very difficult and all students and their families were congratulated for their effort. Category winners were presented with toothbrush and toothpaste sets to help keep those big smiles happy and healthy!

More bike riding activities followed with students participating in an obstacle course and then a ride on their bikes and scooters around the block.

 

Later in the day Cr. Oscar Aertssen and Narelle O’Donoghue returned to present Kerang Primary School with their Get Active Statement. This statement reinforces the school’s commitment to supporting Active and Healthy Lifestyles and Gannawarra Shire Council and partner agencies ongoing commitment to support local primary schools to support every child to have a great start to life!

The Statement is a partnership project between Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, VicPolice and the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership. All primary schools in the Gannawarra Shire have been asked to contribute to a Get Active Statement for their own school and are at varying stages of consideration.

Cr. Aertssen congratulated the school for adopting a Get Active Statement and said how important it was for Council and partnership agencies to support active and healthy primary schools. He said that schools are a safe place for students not only to learn but also to connect to the wider community and develop good citizenship qualities.

School principal, Brent Taylor, said that he had no hesitation in adopting the Get Active Statement as the school places a very high priority on student’s health and wellbeing and connecting with the wider community helps to support students to develop into good citizens.

VicPolice is a partner to the Get Active Statement and Tania and Carole from the Swan Hill Crime Prevention Unit came to speak to students about the importance of looking after their bikes and being safe on the roads.

There were lots of questions and some very good ideas for how to stay safe. Wearing bright clothing and being sensible on the roads and footpaths is a good start as is sticking to the left and using the bell and your voice to make people aware of your presence.  We learnt that children under 12 are able to use the footpath but that they must ride slowly and give way to pedestrians.  Remember those four key messages: Stop, Look, Listen and Think…

Wearing a correctly fitted helmet is also really important. Ensure that the helmet sits centred on the head about the space of two fingers above the top of the eyebrow and does not move off the forehead or from side to side. The straps should not twist or cover the ears and the chin strap should be adjusted so it sits firmly.

 

 

Bikes should be correctly sized so that when sitting on the bike we can comfortably hold the handlebars and place the balls of both feet firmly on the ground.

Tania and Carole then assisted students to engrave their bikes and to complete a Bicycle Passport to help keep their bikes and scooters safe.

 

Six primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire participated in National Ride2School Day encouraging students and their families to ride, walk, skate or scoot to and from school, or the school bus. Other schools participating are Murrabit Group School, Kerang South Primary School, Quambatook Group School, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna.

Riding, walking, skating or scooting are great ways for children to learn independence, to help build confidence and improve their health and wellbeing. Children also love catching up with friends and getting to school actively together. Being active helps keep children alert, improves their concentration and helps them to learn.

Ride2School is a Bicycle Network initiative. For more information about the Ride2School program or National Ride2School Day visit https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/179/

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Kerang South Primary School Ride2School

There was a flurry of early morning activity at Kerang South Primary School on Friday 4^th March 2016 as students ‘wheeled’ their way to school as part of National Ride2School Day.

Eighty two students excitedly rode or scooted to school with the bike racks overflowing with enthusiasm and colour. Many more walked their way to school on the day.

Students had learnt about bike safety in the lead up to Ride2School Day with further bike activities incorporated into Friday morning assembly.

The assembly commenced with the singing of the National Anthem and the awarding of student achievement awards recognising learning outcomes and good behaviour. School leaders were also presented with their school badges.

 

Gannawarra Shire Council’s Manager Community Health, Narelle O’Donoghue congratulated the school on its involvement in the Ride2School program and the school’s ongoing commitment to Active and Healthy living.

Riding, skating, scooting and walking to school, or the school bus are all great ways to help students incorporate activity into their daily lives and to improve mental and physical health. Being physically active also helps students to stay alert, to concentrate and improves learning outcomes.

Narelle noted how happy the students were as they arrived to school on their decorated bikes and scooters and how great it was to see so many parents encouraging their children by supporting them to get actively to school and by attending the assembly.

 

Tania and Carole from the Swan Hill Crime Prevention Unit came along to reinforce the importance of being safe on the roads. Children under 12 years are able to ride on the footpath with an adult but this comes with added responsibility and being considerate of other foothpath users such as walkers and the elderly. All bikes should be fitted with a bell and students were encouraged to use their bells to alert other footpath users to their presence and to watch out for cars crossing the footpaths particularly when they back out of driveways.

Some other things to be aware of is that dark clothing sometimes makes it difficult for drivers to see students so wearing something bright over is a very good idea to improve safety. How to fit a helmet properly were demonstrated as well as how to check a bike to make sure it is ‘road safe’.

 

The judging of a decorated bike and scooter competition added excitement with winners from each year level awarded with a toothbrush and toothpaste set to help keep their smiles bright!

 

Following assembly students walked or ran two laps around the school oval which helps further support the importance of being physically active while at school.

 

Tania and Carole from VicPolice then assisted students with permission from their parents to engrave their bikes and to complete a Bicycle Passport to help keep their bicycle safe.

Six primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire participated in National Ride2School Day encouraging students and their families to ride, walk, skate or scoot to and from school, or the school bus. Other schools participating are Murrabit Group School, Kerang Primary School, Quambatook Group School, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna.

The Ride2School Program is an initiative of the Bicycle Network with more than 2,000 schools across Australia taking part and more than 350,000 students riding, walking, scooting or skating to school.

The Ride2School 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.

Ride2School is a Bicycle Network initiative. For more information about the Ride2School program or National Ride2School Day visit https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/179/

LIKE our Facebook page to continue to keep up to date with Healthy Lifestyle programs at Gannawarra: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

 

 

 

Getting Active and Healthy at Quambatook Group School

Quambatook Group School re-committed to supporting Active and Healthy lifestyles at an event held on Thursday 3^rd March 2016.
The event, held in the lead-up to National Ride2School Day on Friday 4^th March 2016, aimed to build knowledge and confidence about bike safety, and of course to have some fun.

All five Quambatook Group School students ride or walk to school almost every day. They enjoy meeting up with their friends and walking or riding together. Daily physical activity is also part of the school day helping students to learn through exploring and play.

Students brought their bikes along to school for the Ride2School event and created signs for their bikes.

Good role modelling from adults is also really important with Miss Blight and Council staff participating.

 

Students learnt how to fit a helmet properly and to check their bikes to make sure they are safe to ride on the roads. We used Bicycle Network’s Get Kid’s Riding Guide with all children taking home a guide at the end of the day to help start conversations about the importance of helmets and bike safety with their families.

A fun obstacle course helped reinforce some riding skills.

Back in the classroom, Gannawarra Shire Council’s Manager Community Health, Narelle O’Donoghue, launched the Quambatook Group School’s Get Active Statement demonstrating a local partnership approach between schools, Gannawarra Shire Council and partner agencies to support every child to have a great start to life.

The Statement is a partnership project between Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, VicPolice and the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership. All primary schools in the Gannawarra Shire have been asked to contribute to a Get Active Statement for their own school and are at varying stages of consideration.

Quambatook Group School was keen to adopt the Get Active Statement to demonstrate its commitment to supporting Active and Healthy Lifestyles and the importance of wider community partnerships to a small rural school.

Each student was excited to be presented with a copy of the Get Active Statement and a toothpaste and toothbrush set to recognise their personal commitment to health, and to keep their smiles bright!

A viewing of the Gannawarra Ride2School media clip was a fun way to end the day. The media clip highlights the four key messages Stop, Look, Listen and Think and demonstrates how to check a bike using the ABC method – Air, Brakes and Chains. This clip was developed in partnership with three local primary schools in 2015 after the Gannawarra Shire Council successfully secured one of two Bicycle Network Victoria grants available across Victoria.

Six primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire are participating in this year’s program with students encouraged to ride, walk, skate or scoot to and from school, or the school bus.

Other schools participating are Murrabit Group School, Kerang Primary School, Kerang South Primary School, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna.

The Ride2School Program is an initiative of the Bicycle Network with more than 2,000 schools across Australia registered to take part in National Ride2School Day and more than 350,000 students expected to ride, walk, scoot or skate to school.

The Ride2School 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.

Ride2School is a Bicycle Network initiative. For more information about the Ride2School program or National Ride2School Day visit https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/179/

LIKE our Facebook page to continue to keep up to date with Healthy Lifestyle programs at Gannawarra: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

  

Murrabit Group School launches 2016 Gannawarra Ride2School program

Murrabit Group School launched the Gannawarra Ride2School program on Monday 29th February 2016 in the lead-up to National Ride2School Day on Friday 4^th March 2016.

Six primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire are participating in this year’s program with students encouraged to ride, walk, skate or scoot to and from school, or the school bus.

Other schools participating are Quambatook Group School, Kerang Primary School, Kerang South Primary School, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna.

The Ride2School Program is an initiative of the Bicycle Network with more than 2,000 schools across Australia registered to take part in Friday’s National Ride2School Day and more than 350,000 students expected to ride, walk, scoot or skate to school.

The Ride2School 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.

Murrabit was selected to launch the Gannawarra Ride2School program due to its long-term commitment to incorporating a formal Bike Education program into the annual school curriculum. Bike education teaches children important road safety information, builds children’s confidence and responsibility for road use and also enables children to put these skills into practice riding around their communities.

As a special reward, every second year students from years 3-6 participate in a 68 kilometre bike ride spread over two days. A number of parents support the bike education program and act as the support crew on the bike ride.

Cr. Oscar Aertssen launched a Murrabit Group School Get Active Statement demonstrating a local partnership approach between schools, Gannawarra Shire Council and partner agencies to supporting every child to have a great start to life.

The Statement is a partnership project between Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, VicPolice and the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership. All primary schools in the Gannawarra Shire have been asked to contribute to a Get Active Statement for their own school and are at varying stages of consideration.

Murrabit School Principal, Neil Hopkins, said that he had no hesitation in adopting the Get Active Statement as it supports Murrabit Group School’s commitment to incorporating physical activity within the school curriculum. He said that primary school students who are supported and encouraged to develop their fitness during their primary school years are more likely to continue to keep fit and healthy though to adulthood and beyond.  Learning outcomes are also improved when students are healthy and well.

Students then watched the Gannawarra Ride2School Media Clip which highlights the four key messages Stop, Look, Listen and Think and demonstrates how to check a bike using the ABC method – Air, Brakes and Chains. This clip was developed in partnership with three local primary schools in 2015 after the Gannawarra Shire Council successfully secured one of two Bicycle Network Victoria grants available across Victoria.

School leaders, Alistair and John, assisted by Jessie and Kate, demonstrated how to fit a helmet correctly and how to check a bike to ensure that it is ‘road safe’.

Students then headed outside for their daily fitness routine before enjoying a healthy fruit and vegetable snack and heading off to class.

 

Next Ride2School event is on Thursday 3^rd March at Quambatook Group School commencing at 2:15pm. Stay tuned for details...

Ride2School is a Bicycle Network initiative. For more information about the Ride2School program or National Ride2School Day visit https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/179/

LIKE our Facebook page to continue to keep up to date with Healthy Lifestyle programs at Gannawarra: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

Local School Wins VicHealth Walk to School Regional Prize

Kerang Christian College has been announced as a first time participant winner for the North West region.

 All 57 Kerang Christian College students (100%) participated by walking, riding, skating or scooting to or from school during October and marking their activity on the VicHealth Walk to School classroom calendars. Total student participation across the month was 78.2%. Walks totalled 1784 and based on the average walking distance that’s 1281 kms – equivalent of walking from Kerang to Canberra and almost home again!

The school’s prize is free tickets to the Melbourne Stars practice match on 15 December 2015.

 

Well done to Kerang Christian College and the other ten local primary schools who participated.

All up Gannawarra students walked 16,237 times as part of October’s Walk to School program and based on the average walking distance this equates to 11,658 kilometres – that’s almost a circuit around Australia!

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: www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au.

 LIKE our Facebook page to continue to keep up to date with Healthy Lifestyle programs at Gannawarra: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra.

Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School Wrap Up

The 2015 Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program has come to an end and Gannawarra Shire Council at its meeting held on Wednesday 18 October passed a motion of thanks to the following partners:

VicHealth, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Victoria Police, Gannawarra Library Service, Rocky’s Fruit and Vegetables Cohuna, Border Packers Koondrook, IGA Cohuna, IGA Kerang, Woolworths Kerang, Gray’s Bakery, Murray Milk, Kerang South Primary School, Kerang Primary School, St. Joseph’s Primary School Kerang, Kerang Christian College, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School, St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna, Leitchville Primary School, Koondrook Primary School, Lake Charm Primary School, Murrabit Group School, Quambatook Group School, and the Dental Health School at LaTrobe University Bendigo.

Some Key Points

For the first time all eleven Gannawarra primary schools participated in the 2015 Gannawarra Walk to School program. That’s 763 students. 95% of these students (726) participated by walking, riding, skating or scooting to school, or the school bus, throughout October.

Walks for the month totalled 16,237 and based on the average walking distance this equates to 11,658 kilometres

 – that’s almost a circuit around Australia!

 

Ten events were coordinated throughout October, with Lake Charm and Quambatook combining for a joint activity.

A Facebook page was established at the commencement of the program with 121 followers at the end of the month.

A Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG assisted in recording stories from events and sharing these stories across other Gannawarra schools and the wider community.

Gannawarra posts were shared across the state via the VicHealth Facebook page and Twitter feeds.

4 schools participated in the Gannawarra Golden Shoe trophy aimed at motivating children to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school throughout the month and to fill in the VicHealth Walk to School calendars.

Through the activities at individual schools and via Facebook, Twitter and the BLOG, promotion of Gannawarra Shire as a great place to live and visit were provided. This year community walks took place at Leitchville, Lake Charm, Murrabit and Cohuna to showcase the towns and to increase the sense of community for students.

The majority of the food for healthy fruit and vegetable platters, breakfasts, lunches and milk were donated by local businesses namely: Rockys Fruit and Vegetables Cohuna, Border Packers Koondrook, IGA Cohuna and IGA Kerang, Gray’s Bakery, Woolworths Kerang and Murray Milk. In fact Council’s food bill for the month to feed 763 hungry students totaled the very small amount of $145.20!

Involvement in the VicHealth Walk to School program supports Council’s Healthy Liveable Communities priority area and the new Gannawarra Municipal Early Years Plan which has the vision to support every child to have a great start to life.

Primary schools are a key setting for promoting healthy liveable communities were children can grow and develop in a supportive and safe environment but also where they develop a sense of place and pride in their community that may entice them to one day raise their own families in Gannawarra.

The program provides a fabulous opportunity for Council to take a leadership role in coordinating a large scale community health program focused on promoting healthy lifestyles, and the opportunity to have conversations with schools on other important issues that impact on the educational and community outcomes for children.

Great feedback has been received from schools and media coverage has provided positive promotion for all parties involved.

An evaluation of the 2015 program will occur in partnership with health agencies and participating schools. This will ensure that the outcomes are captured as well as key learnings and opportunities to build on the partnership approach in the future.

Thanks again to all who supported the 2015 program.

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: www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au.

LIKE our Facebook page to continue to keep up to date with Healthy Lifestyle programs at Gannawarra: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra.