Roslyn School Takes Top Health Promotion Award
31/10/2007
| Roslyn School Award
Roslyn School took out the top award in the MidCentral District Health Board Primary Health Awards 2007 Health Promotion Initiatives in Schools section.
The health promotion initiatives in schools section was created for the 2007 awards in recognition of the outstanding work being done within the education sector to promote health and wellbeing of children, staff and their wider school community. There was an excellent response from schools across the region and judges commented on the high calibre of work being undertaken by the entrants.
Roslyn School caught the judge’s eye with their commitment to a whole of school approach.
MidCentral District Health Board member and awards judge, Diane Anderson said: “Roslyn have been working toward creating a healthy school environment for several years and this was evident in their award application. They have taken every opportunity to link the teaching in the classroom to activities planned by students through out the year and to the wider community events that they may run or host.”
Roslyn School principal Joanne How said it was a real surprise to win the $2500 prize.
“It was a very lovely surprise, it was lovely to be acknowledged and good on MidCentral too,” she said.
Mrs How said the school has been actively ‘health promoting’ for more than three years and said that it is almost ingrained in the school’s culture.
A few of the school’s many health promoting initiatives include not only fruit drops, healthy eating and exercise but also environmental initiatives where the school grows its own fruit and vegetables.
Another initiative is ‘brain gym’. Each morning every one of the 550-plus students from year 1 to year 8 takes part in ‘brain gym’, which is a five minute exercise to kick start the children’s day by doing exercises that stimulate electrons in the brain and give children control over their bodies and learning. The brain gym exercises are also preceded by a glass of ‘brain juice’ – water, which also the only drink he children have at school.
Mrs How said the students will be consulted on what the prize money should be spent but she suspects the consensus will be to complete the school’s adventure playground.
Other schools who entered included Monrad Intermediate and Russell Street School from Palmerston North, Pahiatua Primary and Hillcrest School from the Tararua region and Foxton Beach and St Joseph’s Catholic School, Levin made up the MidCentral region-wide representation.
“It was fantastic to see schools from all parts of MidCentral entering the Primary Health Awards and if they are a reflection of the standard of work being undertaken in schools to create healthier environments for their pupils, staff and their families then we will only see positive health benefits in the future,” said Mrs Anderson.
Photo caption:
Roslyn School children with their MidCentral DHB 2007 primary health care award. Back row from left, Whitney Tuimana, Laura Clifford, Shamrock Stewart. Front from left, Kylee-Anne Taueki-Whale and Manaia Clegg.
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