Out and About with Quambatook Group School

Great excitement at Quambatook Group School this week as the seven students pulled on their walking shoes for a walk around their community as part of the VicHealth Gannawarra Walk to School program.
 

We learnt that even in small communities we need to always practice “Stop, Look, Listen, Think!”, to watch out for our friends and make sure we are visible and able to be seen by the traffic. We got a few waves and some ‘beeps’ from passing cars and trucks so it was good to know that everyone could see us in our safety vests!

Walking is a fantastic way to check out what’s going on in the environment as there are some great learning experiences in our own communities. We stopped off at the Bev Nalder Memorial Park and tried out the local sun dial.

We called in to say ‘Hi’ to the ladies at the Quambatook Stores before heading down to the Avoca River to see that the recent floodwaters had receded.

Back at school we all enjoyed a cool drink of water and healthy fruit and vegetable snack. We even took a vote on our favourite fruit or vegetable. Brodie and Jake voted for blueberries, Danica, Braedon, Paige and Mrs G. all voted for watermelon, Brandon for grapes and Braeden for green apple.

The children also talked about what new fruit and vegetables they had tried from the platter. Danica tried snowpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and celery for the first time, Braedon capsicum, snowpeas and tomato, and Brandon tried a snowpea. It’s always great to try new things. We may decide we don’t like them the first time but our tastebuds change as we grow up. It’s always good to keep trying new foods as one day something we didn’t like as a child, might just start to taste great!

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 Scool 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

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra and the Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: www.gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au

 

 

Fruit & Veg Rock at Koondrook Primary School

We all know we should eat 5 serves of vegetables a day, right?...But did you know that the average person only eats half that? This week is Nutrition Week and Koondrook Primary School students want to encourage everyone to discover new ways to add vegetables to your day – eat a rainbow of different coloured vegetables each day, and try something new along the way…

At Koondrook Primary School the students grow lots of vegetables, herbs and fruit. The school chooks are also happy to contribute! Fresh produce is used to cook up delicious treats in the classroom. Excess produce is sold each month at the local farmer’s market - raising a healthy profit as well as healthy kids!

The school even took out lots of prizes at this week’s Barham/Koondrook & District Annual Show – 1^st and 2^nd prize for 6 eggs any colour, 1^st prize for 10 snow peas, 1^st prize for a pot grown herb (oregano), 1^st prize for pot grown strawberry, and 1^st and 2^nd prize for a bunch of 3 beetroot. What a sensational effort!

It’s Walk to School month and each morning students walk or jog twice around the school oval; some go fast, others go slow, more content to walk and talk. Regardless of the pace, getting some fresh air and exercise is a great way to kick start the day.

 

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 Scool 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

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra and the Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: www.gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiring Others to be Active and Healthy at Kerang Primary School

What are you waiting for? Get Walking Gannawarra! Kerang Primary School students want to inspire everyone to Get Walking. After all, it’s a free and fun activity that the whole family can enjoy and it’s a great time of the year to be out and about connecting with others in your community and checking out what’s going on in the environment around us.

A Ready, Set, Go Walk to School Treasure Chest at Kerang Primary is helping students improve their literacy skills by writing down inspirational tips each week that they want to share with everyone. 

Aochim, Bainli and Xander were presented with $10 vouchers for the local sports store as prizes for the great inspirational tips they put in the Treasure Chest the first week of Walk to School month: 

“If you’re running and you’re tired, don’t give up”. Aochim Grade 6

“I think kids should Walk, Ride and Scoot to school to get their blood pumping through their bodies”. Bainli Grade 3

“Stop, Look, Listen, Think! Do you need a drink? Walk, Ride, Scoot, Skate, everything you do is Great!!!!!”  Xander Grade 5/6A

And the Winners of the Week 2 Ready, Set, Go Walk to School Treasure Chest inspirational tips are:
“Jump, walk, hop and skip – it’s fun!” Kai Prep

“When it’s raining you can still walk using an umbrella” Azaihlee Grade 1

“Walk with somebody else it makes it more exciting” Natalie Grade 1

Being healthy and active every-day is something the students at Kerang Primary School take very seriously. Each morning they walk or jog around the block before going into class to learn. They are one of eight of the eleven primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire that has been presented with a Get Active statement demonstrating the local partnership approach between schools, Gannawarra Shire Council and partner agencies to supporting every child to have a great start to life.

And being healthy doesn’t just mean being active, it also means eating a healthy diet including lots of fruit and vegetables.

Kerang Primary School students work hard to keep their Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden in great shape, producing lots of yummy fresh vegetables and herbs. In season now are broad-beans, spinach, parsley, broccoli, parsley, chives, basil which are being turned into delicious meals. Next week some parents are coming to enjoy homemade pasta using spinach and parsley out of the garden.

Sometimes the students graze in the vegetable garden before school and on Friday’s sell some of their fresh and produce at the school gate – the students have made $39.50 over the past two weeks which will help buy supplies to keep the garden growing.

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.

It really is Cool to Walk to School! And students are busy recording their activity on Walk to School classroom calendars in an effort to win prizes for their school. Kerang Primary are also one of seven local schools competing for a Gannawarra Golden Shoe trophy which will be presented to the class with the highest participation walking, riding or scooting to school, or the school bus, 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 Scool 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

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra and the Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: www.gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au

Looking after Mind and Body at Leitchville Primary School and Leitchville Preschool

Leitchville Primary School combined with the Leitchville Preschool this morning for a colourful Fruit Salad walk as part of the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program. Children dressed in fruit salad colours to highlight the importance of eating a rainbow of fruit and vegetables every day to stay healthy and well. Three big bananas, a carrot and snowpea also joined in the fun!

It’s Mental Health Week and staying healthy and well, both physically and mentally, helps children develop lifelong healthy habits and improves learning outcomes.

Before going on our Fruit Salad walk we talked about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing and what we wanted to do and see while out walking. Connecting with some key people down the street at the Leitchville Store and the Leitchville Bakery were priorities as well as popping in and saying ‘Hi’ at Lipps Rural Supply Store. 

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are easy things we can remember to do everyday to help keep us happy and healthy. We practiced all of these out on our walk: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give…

As we walked, we breathed in the fresh Leitchville air, saw some pretty flowers, birds and trees. Along the way we learnt to Stop, Look, Listen and Think! as we crossed the roads. Lots of people waved to us along the way and stopped to talk.

Connecting with our communities and the people around us improves our wellbeing. It also helps children to recognise their place in the community and be feel proud of where they live.

Back at school we all enjoyed a cup of water and yummy fruit and vegetable platters. There was crunchy celery and carrots, cucumber and little tomatoes that exploded in our mouths! There was cantelope, strawberries, apples, oranges, kiwifruit, and blueberries. In fact, there was every colour of the rainbow!

After a healthy snack the preschool children stayed on to enjoy playtime at school.

 

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.

Ready, Set, Go! - Walking to School at Kerang Primary

Kerang Primary School students want everyone to know that It’s Cool to Walk to School!

The students are writing down tips to inspire all school children across the Gannawarra Shire to be active on the way to and from school, while at school and at home. Tips are placed in the Ready, Set, Go Walk to School Treasure Chest whenever the students think of an inspirational tip they want to share.

This week’s great tips:

“If you’re running and you’re tired, don’t give up”. Aochim Grade 6

“I think kids should Walk, Ride and Scoot to school to get their blood pumping through their bodies”. Bainli Grade 3

“Stop, Look, Listen, Think! do you need a drink? Walk, Ride, Scoot, Skate, everything you do is Great!!!!!”  Xander Grade 5/6A

Students at Kerang Primary School set a great example by walking or jogging around the block every-day. Throughout Walk to School month they are also using pedometers as a new and exciting way to track activity levels and stay motivated.

 

Active bodies need to be fuelled with lots of healthy food like fruit and vegetables and there are lots of delicious vegetables and herbs to be found in Kerang Primary School’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden at the moment. Last week the gardening group was collecting spinach, chives, parsley and basil for the cooking group to turn into yummy bolognaise sauce.

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: www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra and the Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: www.gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au

Fruit and Veg that's our Pledge! - Walk to School at Kerang South Primary School

Friday morning assembly was a colourful affair at Kerang South Primary School with students coming along dressed up in the colour of their favourite fruit or vegetable – there were blueberries, bananas, watermelons, oranges, carrots, pineapples and even a tomato!

The fruit and vegetable theme was to celebrate the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program which encourages students to walk, ride and scoot to school throughout October.

Assembly kicked off with the National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and weekly presentations based on good learning outcomes and positive behaviour.

Tanya from Northern District Community Health spoke about the importance of children being active and fitting at least 60 minutes of physical activity into each day. Tanya congratulated Kerang South Primary School for their commitment to health and wellbeing and encouraged students to spend less time on screens and watching TV and more time out and about enjoying the outdoors, participating in sports and connecting with other people.

A very colourful walk out in the community followed. Along the way we learnt to Stop, Look, Listen and Think! as we crossed the roads. We saw people out working and gave them a wave. We heard the birds and bees and stopped to look at some pretty flowers and trees along the way. Most of all we heard lots of chatter and laughter and enjoyed stretching our muscles and taking in the fresh air.

 
Our walk was followed by Fresh Fruit Friday with platters of equally colourful fruit and vegetables quickly being devoured – yum, yum!! This week’s Fresh Fruit Friday was sponsored by Gannawarra Shire Council.

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: www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au

Follow along with the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program: www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra and the Gannawarra Walk to School BLOG: www.gannawarrawalkstoschool.blogspot.com.au