Leitchville Primary School and Leitchville Pre-School

Colours of the rainbow brightened up the streets of Leitchville on Tuesday as Leitchville Primary School and Leitchville Pre-School children dressed up to join in the excitement of a special Walk to School and Children’s Week event.

 

The pre-school children paraded from the building to join the school children at the front gate. Andrew the policeman provided some great pedestrian safety tips – Stop, Look, Listen, Think! before we all safety walked a circuit of the local recreation reserve and followed the walking track back to the pre-school. It was fantastic to have some parents come along and join in the fun, along with a big stawberry and carrot!

 

The big carrot and stawberry promoted the importance of eating a rainbow of fruit and vegetables every day to keep our bodies in tip top condition and to provide lots of important nutrients to be active and healthy.

 

It was a warm morning so the lovely shaded yard at the pre-school provided reprieve from the heat as we enjoyed healthy fruit platters and cups of cold milk for morning tea.

 

Cr. Lorraine Learmonth thanked everyone for coming along and said how wonderful it was for Council to be involved in the VicHealth Walk to School program. She launched the new Gannawarra get walking! Walk your way to wellbeing brochure and awarded three toothbrush and toothpaste prizes to the Leitchville Primary School students.

 

 

Madison (10) won the main prize for her quote “I like walking because it keeps you fit and healthy and it’s time to spend with your friends and family”.

Other prize winners were Bridie (11) and Liam (11) who submitted the following drawings of themselves out walking:

 

Rachel the Partners in Recovery program coordinator with Northern District Community Health spoke about the theme for this year’s Gannawarra Walk to School activities – the 5 ways to wellbeing – connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. School children circled around the pre-school children and they shared what each other’s favourite food was, where they would most like to visit, and what they would do if they won a million dollars! This little activity allowed the children to share their own interests and thoughts but they also had to listen and learn about someone else – they had to give and connect, take notice and learn, all very important life lessons.

Year 6 student Liam thanked the pre-school for hosting the morning tea and sharing their outdoor space with the school children. School children then collected their Gannawarra Walk to School packs before heading back to the school.

Remember that eating a rainbow of fruit and vegetables everyday as well as being active is great for your health and wellbeing…

This week is Children’s Week and events are taking place at the Gannawarra Children’s Centre, Cohuna Pre-School and Koondrook Pre-School.

Watch here for more photos, posts and comments...

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

 

St Joseph’s Primary School

A big surprise was waiting as students from St. Joseph’s Primary School entered the assembly hall for a special Walk to School event last Friday afternoon; they were greeted by April the carrot! Whispers could be heard around the room as the children sat quietly waiting for the fun to begin - and begin it did…

 

Year 6 students led the assembly and welcomed the school community, parents and younger siblings and guests to this special event. Cr. Brian Gibson congratulated St. Joseph’s on being involved in the VicHealth Walk to School program and launched the new Gannawarra get walking! Walk your way to wellbeing brochure.

 

April the carrot is really the Diabetes Educator with Northern District Community Health. April led the children on a fun circle activity that made everyone laugh called “catch the mouse” reading out a list of words starting with “C” and every so often yelling out “carrot”. On hearing the word “carrot” hands and fingers snapped together to catch the mouse! April highlighted the 5 ways to wellbeing – connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give and how important it is for your health and wellbeing to be with your friends, give smiles and love to your family and to be healthy and active.

 

Gannawara Shire Library, Arts and Culture Manager Nerida then had everyone in fits of laughter in a fun and very interactive laughter yoga session. We warmed up our face muscles with the lemon suck and then pretended that we were eating a whole pineapple! We did the monkey laugh, the lawnmover, aeroplane, chicken dance and even high fived the person next to us chanting “Ha, Ha, Ha”. Laughter exercises lots of muscles, is a great way to connect with others and to cheer ourselves and others up. 

 

Cr. Gibson presented toothpaste and toothbrush prizes to three students from St. Joseph’s Primary School. Ellie (10) was the overall winner having her illustration of her waving and saying “Hello” to a friend at the park printed in the Gannawarra get walking! brochure. Charlotte (12) came a close second with her great illustration of walking the dog.

 

Jessie (11) also won a prize for his quote “I like walking because it clears my head and I just get to relax. When I walk I feel awake, energised and happy. Walking just makes me feel like me”.

 

Police officer Andrew provided some essential pedestrian safety messages - Stop, Look, Listen, Think before we hit the streets for a walk around the block taking in the wonderful sunshine and checking out all the goings on in the world around the school. Back at the school we all enjoyed lots of lovely fresh fruit and a glass of milk.

   

Children then picked up their Gannawarra Walk to School packs which included a range of brochures, Gannawarra Healthy Lifestyles-Healthy Community Water Bottle, Five Ways to Wellbeing magnet and a fresh juicy orange donated by Border Packers of Koondrook.

 

Remember that laughing is great for your health and wellbeing so along with a walk make sure you enjoy a good laugh every day!  

 

The next Gannawarra Walk to School event will be held on Wednesday 22 October 2014 at Leitchville Primary School commencing at 9am. We will be picking up the Leitchville Pre-School children on the way past for a walk around the Leitchville Recreation Reserve then back to the pre-school for a healthy morning tea. This event is part of Children’s Week activities happening across the Gannawarra Shire this week…

Watch here for more photos, posts and comments...

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

Kerang Primary School

The 2014 Gannawarra Walk to School program kicked off this morning with an event held at the Kerang Primary School. The event was combined with Mental Health and Carer’s Week activities.  

Police officer Andrew provided some essential pedestrian safety messages - Stop, Look, Listen, Think before the crowd of about 100 people, including 58 school children, enjoyed a heritage walk of Kerang’s Central Business District lead by Year 5 and 6 students Hunter, Alex, Phoebe and Max. These students did an awesome job providing the commentary with the help of a portable PA system.
 

The event was focused around the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. We certainly practiced all five of these actions this morning learning so much about the history of our community.

Some of the features of the walk were the historically significant Kerang Primary School and School Bell, the Kerang Post Office, Court House and Municipal Chambers, the Memorial Clock and the London Chartered Bank. Further along we heard about the remains of the original house of Woodford Patchell who founded Kerang in 1858, that’s 156 years ago! Mr Patchell was a tricky man as there was already a Kerang further along the Loddon River. He made his own bridge and hired a man with a horse and dray to give it a ‘well-worn’ effect so people thought they should come this way!

Back at the school Cr. Brian Gibson launched the new Gannawarra get walking! – walk your way to wellbeing brochure compiled with the help of school students. Toothpaste and toothbrush prizes were awarded to five students with the overall winner having a quote printed in the brochure.

Tyson (13) submitted the winning quote “When I walk to school I can see my family. They give me a wave or a smile or a hug. That makes me feel loved and very special”.

Tyson said since moving house recently he is now able to walk to school most days. He walks with his mum, dad and little sister.  He enjoys the nice fresh air and it keeps him fit and healthy.

Other competition winners were Alex (12) who said:

 

”I enjoy walking because my mum trusts me now that I’m about to start high school and that’s important”. And Dakota (10) – I like to walk to school because it is good exercise and it keeps me fit. I like walking in winter because it warms me up and in summer because the weather is lovely. 

The winning illustrations were submitted by Matilda (7) and Jye (12).

 

Claire Gillen from Northern District Community Health spoke on the Five Ways to Wellbeing and the importance of caring for both our physical and mental health. She acknowledged all the Carers who had come along today to be part of this event as well as numerous other agencies such as the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership, Victoria Police and Mallee District Aboriginal Service. Local short-listed entrants in the Poetry Competition ran as part of Mental Health Week across the Southern Mallee were read out.

The morning ended with a healthy morning tea where children and adults alike enjoyed platters of fresh fruits, vegetables sticks and dips along with a glass of milk.

 

All school children participating in the Gannawarra Walk to School program receive a pack containing a range of brochures, Gannawarra Healthy Lifestyles-Healthy Community Water Bottle, Five Ways to Wellbeing magnet and a fresh juicy orange donated by Border Packers of Koondrook.

 

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 next Gannawarra Walk to School event will be held on Friday 17 October 2014 at St. Joseph’s Primary School commencing at 2pm.

Watch here for more photos, posts and comments...

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

Walk to School 2014

The 2014 VicHealth Walk to School program starts today and thanks to a VicHealth grant, Gannawarra Shire, with the support of local health agencies, is excited to again be involved.

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!

A full program of events is planned with nine primary schools, five pre-schools and the Gannawarra Children’s Centre involved – that’s more than 900 children!

Walk to School activities kick off this Friday, 10^th October 2014, with a Community Walk in Kerang. The walk is a combined Mental Health/Carer’s Week and Walk to School event that will involve students from Kerang Primary School. The walk leaves from the front of the school at 9:30am.

The theme for the Gannawarra Walk to School program is the 5 Ways to Wellbeing - connect, be active, keep learning, take notice and give.

Each Walk to School event will include a walk, with most focusing on heritage and nature, and a healthy morning or afternoon tea.

A “Gannawarra Get Walking – walk your way to wellbeing” brochure compiled with the help of school students will be launched and competition prizes awarded.

Parents are encouraged to attend and participate in the events and to assist their children to walk throughout October. You might like to walk with your child or arrange for them to walk with neighbours, friends or siblings. If your child enjoys riding their bike or scooter, that’s great too! And if you live too far away from school or the school bus, why not drive part of the way and walk the rest?

Children will be able to keep track of their walks using a VicHealth Walk to School calendar in their classroom.

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

Max is six and attends Koondrook Primary School. He drew this picture of his family out walking. Max said that walking makes him feel relaxed and as he walks along he gets to see trees and grass and birds…

 

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

Get Active Video Clip - Now Available!

Council partnered with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) to run the Walk to School initiative with the aim of encouraging more Victorian families to be active and produced a short video clip featuring children from around the Shire explaining what being active means to them.

Check out the video by visiting our Gannawarra YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlsGXOIFXXU

What a Great End to a Great Month

Today marked the end of the Gannawarra Walk to School and Healthy Breakfast program. Twelve events have occurred throughout November with nine primary schools, five kindergartens, one playgroup and the Gannawarra Children’s Centre all participating.

Funded by VicHealth, the Gannawarra Walk to School and Healthy Breakfast program has been a fantastic partnership project supported by a range of partners including Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, the Mallee Sports Assembly and the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership. In addition, year 9 students from the Kerang Technical High School and Cohuna Secondary College have come along to assist at the events. Partnerships have also developed with and between primary schools, kindergartens and playgroups as a result of these activities.

A great deal of support was received from businesses who provided breakfast products - Kelloggs and Sanitarium donated a range of cereals, Fonterra provided yoghurt, Pauls provided milk and orange juice, our local IGA supermarket donated vegemite and butter, and our local bakery provided all the bread required for toast, plus a rotary toaster.

Approximately 900 children have participated in the events throughout November plus teachers, parents, younger siblings and community supporters. Involvement in the VicHealth Walk to School program formed part of the Gannawarra Shire Council's commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles and building on local partnerships to support health and wellbeing outcomes for our communities.

This Blog has been a great way to spread the Walk to School message and to connect schools across the Gannawarra Shire together. We hope you have enjoyed our Walk to School and Healthy Breakfast stories.

Even if you are now a big person and you no longer have the opportunity to walk to school or the school bus, walking is a great way to get to know your community, to meet other people, take in some fresh air, and check out what’s going on in the environment around you.

So, pull on your walking shoes and get walking…..

Cohuna Pre School

A big surprise was waiting when children and families arrived at the Cohuna Pre-School this morning with a special healthy breakfast and an obstacle course set up in their backyard. The event was the final Walk to School and Healthy Breakfast event to be held in the Gannawarra Shire as part of the VicHealth funded Walk to School project.

 

Children arrived with a bowl, cup and spoon in hand and waited patiently on the mat enjoying a song until everyone was settled. Some children had walked to kinder, others has scooted or ridden their bikes. Lots of mums and younger siblings came along as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Council’s Health and Wellbeing Planner, Narelle O’Donoghue, spoke to the children about the importance of being active and filling little tummies with healthy breakfast foods like cereal, toast, yoghurt and milk in readiness for a busy day of playing and learning.

 

Year 9 students from Cohuna Secondary College assisted the children with their breakfast choices and helped get wobbly bowls of cereal back to tables. Cr. Mark Arians presented each child with a “It’s Cool to Walk to School” sticker.  

 

Following breakfast the children raced outside to enjoy the obstacle course. There was lots of laughter and chatter as children practiced balancing on the balancing beam and stepping stones, climbed over ramps, swinging bridges, and scuttled through tunnels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was lots of fun had by all and it was a great way to finish off what has been a month long celebration of walking and healthy eating across the Gannawarra Shire.