Leitchville Primary School

The 2015 Gannawarra Walk to School program kicked off on Thursday 8^th October with an event held at the Leitchville Primary School. Children arrived at school excited to be greeted with a healthy breakfast of cereal, toast, fruit and milk.

 

 

 The event focused on the importance of Healthy and Active Living and following breakfast the 20 school students filed into the classroom where Cr. den Houting launched the new Gannawarra Ride2School media clip and encouraged all students to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school, not just throughout October, but all year round.
 
Coinciding with Mental Health Week, Cr. den Houting also spoke to the students about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give and particularly how important it is to talk to friends, family and teachers about any concerns so that little problems don’t become big problems.
 

Leesa, a Dietician from Northern District Community Health, enthralled students with a display on the amount of sugar in common food and drinks. We read ingredient lists, food labels and weighed out the quantity of sugar in grams and converted this to teaspoons. We also looked at some of the tricky ways food is marketed to make products look like a healthy option so that we want to buy them. 

 

 

We also talked about good sugars, in fresh fruit for example, and not so good sugars in processed foods and drinks. Even though fruit contains natural sugar they provide lots of vitamins, minerals and fibre that help keep growing bodies healthy and strong.

LaTrobe University’s Dental Health School in Bendigo provided the sugar display as part of the Rural Engaging Communities in Oral Health project. Volunteer dentists from the Royal Flying Doctors Service visited Leitchville Primary School as part of this project earlier this year and were concerned at the amount of tooth decay they saw in children at primary schools and pre-schools across the Gannawarra Shire. 

Our discussion on the importance of choosing healthy foods and drinks was followed by a tooth-brushing demonstration and how children can look after their teeth – brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush taking extra time to clean the molars at the back as well as gently brushing the gums. Toothbrush prizes were awarded as part of the demonstration.

We then learnt that laughter really is infectious as Glenda from the Gannawarra Library Service led us through a fun laughter yoga session outside. We did the monkey and the lawn mower with lots of loud Ha, Ha, Ho, Ho, Hos! adding to the excitement.

Laughter yoga made for a great warm-up for our walk around the town walking track with children collecting 5 Ways to Wellbeing stamps on their ‘walking passports’ as they went. 

 
Children then received a locally developed Walk to School bookmark and Walk to School ruler as constant reminders to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school.

Students are busy recording their walking activity on their Classroom Walking Calendars. Walks  to and from school, the school bus, or around a special circuit at school all count. Leitchville students know the benefits of filling in the calendars after winning to regional Walk to School prize in the 2014 Walk to School program. They enjoyed a personal soccer clinic with the Melbourne City Football Club as their reward.

 

 

Support from local businesses helps the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program continue so a very big thank you to Border Packers Koondrook, Murray Milk, Rocky’s Fruit and Vegetables Cohuna, Woolworths Kerang, and Gray's Bakery Kerang for providing everything we needed for our healthy breakfast.

Walk your way to wellbeing – get to know your community, meet other people, take in some fresh air, and improve your health by walking everyday. So pull on your walking shoes, and get walking…..

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 walktoschool.vic.gov.au.

 

A Snap Shot of the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School Program

VicHealth Walk to School month has created lots of excitement across the Gannawarra Shire for the past two years and thanks to a $10,000 VicHealth grant, the 2015 program will again be full of colour and activity.

Follow this Blog to stay up to date with what’s going on across the Gannawarra Shire throughout October as we encourage everyone to pull on their walking shoes and get walking!

Here’s a snap shot of what’s planned:

The theme that will run through the 2015 Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program is Healthy and Active Living.

The Healthy and Active Living theme will be supported by the official launch of a new Ride2School media clip developed by Council in partnership with Kerang Primary School, Kerang South Primary School and Cohuna Consolidated School. This was funded through a $5,000 Bicycle Network Victoria grant resulting from Council’s coordination of the 2015 Ride2School program in March. This was one of only two grants awarded across Victoria.

Increasing rates of physical activity is critical to learning outcomes for children and in establishing healthy habits from an early age. Encouraging children and their families to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school more often is the key outcome of the VicHealth Walk to School program. This year Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital and the Gannawarra Library Service are supporting physical activity messages as part of the Walk to School program. The hospitals will deliver interactive strength training sessions and the library will focus on active learning and laughter yoga.

A Sugar display provided by LaTrobe University’s Dental Health School in Bendigo will also support the Healthy and Active Living theme. This is part of Gannawarra’s involvement in the Rural Engaging Communities in Oral Health Research Project. Sugar in food and drinks is a major issue when it comes to oral health outcomes in children as well as overweight and obesity and chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. Northern District Community Health will support the delivery of key healthy eating and oral health messages at local Walk to School events.

 

 

Supporting good mental health and wellbeing throughout childhood is also critical to maintaining healthy liveable communities. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing (connect, be active, keep learning, take notice, give) will be incorporated into events again this year with a new 5 Ways to Wellbeing banner, stamps and walking passports developed to support this.   

Victoria Police will again support the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program by incorporating Stop, Look, Listen, Think messages into events at schools that are new to the program.

 

 

For the first time all 11 Gannawarra primary schools are involved in the Walk to School program.  Each of the schools will host a Walk to School event which will include a walk and a healthy breakfast, morning or afternoon tea.

All students will receive a locally developed Walk to School bookmark at the start of October as a reminder to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school throughout October and to fill in their activity details on the VicHealth Walk to School calendars. Each student will also receive a locally developed Walk to School ruler at the school events. The ruler is designed to be a constant reminder to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school.

The 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.

Parents are encouraged to support their children to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school, or the school bus. You might like to walk with your child or arrange for them to walk with neighbours, friends or siblings. And if you live too far away from school or the school bus, why not drive part of the way and walk the rest?

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 walktoschool.vic.gov.au.

 

 

2015 Walk to School event details

Details of this year's events are below:

Leitchville Primary School Thursday 8 October 2015
8:45am-11am includes breakfast

Koondrook Primary School Thursday 8 October 2015
12:15pm -1.30pm includes lunch.

Kerang Primary School Friday 9 October 2015
9.30am-11.30am includes morning tea.

Kerang South Primary School Friday 16 October 2015
8:45am-10am includes morning tea.

Kerang Christian School Monday 19 October 2015
9:30am-11am includes morning tea.

Murrabit Group School Tuesday 20 October 2015
9.00am-11.30am includes breakfast.

Lake Charm Primary School combined with Quambatook Primary School Friday 23 October 2015
9am-12pm includes breakfast, morning tea and lunch.

Cohuna Consolidated School Tuesday 27 October 2015
9am-11am includes morning tea.

St Mary’s Primary School Wednesday 28 October 2015
9.30am-11am includes morning tea.

St Joseph’s Primary School Friday 30 October 2015
2.00pm -3.30pm includes afternoon tea.

Walk to School is a VicHealth initiative, go to www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

Walking, riding, skating or scooting are fun and exciting activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s easy, free and fun…and it’s good for you too!

Gannawarra Walks to School in October

For the third consecutive year Gannawarra Shire Council is coordinating a local VicHealth Walk to School program after successfully applying for a $10,000 VicHealth grant.

All eleven local primary schools will participate in this year’s program of events with playgroups and kindergartens invited to join in activities along with families and the wider community.

The Gannawarra Walk to School program will be delivered in partnership with local health agencies throughout October.

Mayor Neville Goulding said living a healthy active lifestyle is important for children’s health and wellbeing.

“Children, who walk and ride to school, or to the school bus, arrive at school more energetic and ready to learn.  Getting actively to and from school also contributes to the recommended minimum physical activity level for a child of 60 minutes per day.”

St Joesph's Primary School Kerang students walk to school with Councillor Keith Den Houting

This year’s Gannawarra Walk to School program will involve almost 800 primary school children who will be encouraged to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school each day throughout October.

Cr Goulding said that spring is the perfect time to get outdoors and walk.

“Walking is a great way to improve wellbeing by enjoying some fresh air, sunshine and meeting other people.”

Ride2School Cohuna Consolidated School

Students from Cohuna Consolidated Primary School tucked into a healthy breakfast on arrival to school Friday morning as part of National Ride2School Day.

National Ride2School Day supports schools across Australia to promote a healthy school community where students are encouraged to actively travel to school all year round.

Cohuna Consolidated students joined more than 350,000 other students from across Australia who rode, walked, scooted or skated to school as part of the nationwide celebration of active transport.

Cr. Lorraine Learmonth helped serve the breakfast and enjoyed time talking with students, teachers and families. Council provided a crunchy apple for students to enjoy as part of Ride2School Day.

A crazy hair theme added to the event which saw 70% of students actively travel to school on the day. Twenty one students rode to school, eleven scooted and eighty walked. A fantastic effort.

In Victoria Ride2School day is coordinated by Bicycle Network Victoria with support and funding from the state government.

Participation in National Ride2School Day is part of Gannawarra Shire Council’s healthy lifestyles priority area and strengthens and promotes a partnership approach to address health and wellbeing issues at a local level.

Ride2School Kerang Primary School

Students from Kerang Primary School joined over 300,000 school students from across Victoria either riding, scooting, skating or walking to school this morning as part of National Ride2School Day.

Lots of decorated bikes and scooters added colour to Friday morning assembly where students, teachers, parents and visitors joined in singing the National Anthem and applauding students who received rewards for positive behaviour.

Following assembly students divided into three groups and participated in Ride2School activities.

An obstacle course allowed students to learn and demonstrate road safety rules like wearing a helmet, leaving a safe stopping distance between riders and how to move with the bike by weaving around safety cones. Students also experienced different riding surfaces like asphalt, sand and grass.

Cr. Brian Gibson and Council’s community health team participated in the obstacle course and spoke to students about the importance of getting out in the sunshine and fresh air and being physically active. Riding bikes, walking, scooting or skating are great ways to get out and about in the community and how to be safe and sensible on the roads were important take home messages for the students.

Police officer Chris talked about bike safety with another group while the final group enjoyed watching a locally produced You Tube video on bike safety at the Kerang Skate Park and also the correct way to wear a helmet.

Toothbrush and toothpaste pack prizes were awarded to students from each year level for the best decorated bike or for the way in which they demonstrated road safety and leadership on their bikes. Prize winners were: Beau Roberts and Kai Roberts – Prep, Aleeyah Wilkinson and Jaxson Neil – Grade 1, Phoenix Freeman – Grade 2, Hannah Gardner – Grade 3, Bridie McNeish – Grade 4, Kylah Clapham – Grade 5 and Hunter Hein – Grade 6.

Ride2School finished at Kerang Primary School with Fresh Fruit Friday where students enjoyed platters of fruit and vegetables like banana, orange, red and green capsicum, celery, cucumber and carrot. Council provided students with an apple each to enjoy crunching on throughout the day.

Ride2School Day Kerang South Primary School

National Ride2School Day kicked off early with Kerang South Primary School students participating in a traffic safety day on Wednesday March 11, 2015.

Students learnt how to cross at designated school crossings under the watchful eye of the School Crossing Supervisor. There were lessons around Stop, Look, Listen, Think followed by a visit from the local police.

Constable Annie showed students the features of the police van and spoke about police being approachable if children needed assistance. There was also advice about being safe on the roads by riding with a bigger person, wearing a well-fitted helmet and being sensible. The students had lots of stories and questions for Constable Annie.

Council’s community health team encouraged students to get actively to school everyday whether this be through riding, scooting, skating or walking to either school or the school bus.

Children received an apple from Councillor Brian Gibson who is also a local policeman. Cr. Gibson said that Council wanted all children to be safe on the roads and being involved in Ride2School day is a great way for Council to work in partnership with local primary schools to promote road safety as well as the importance of healthy lifestyles.

Ride2School will continue at Kerang South Primary School on Friday when children learn how to maintain their bikes so that they are ‘road safe’.