Active living at Wheatland school
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
Healthy eating and active living is talked about almost daily, but many kids do not know what it means.
The Golden Hills School Division has been asking schools to implement more healthy initiatives, and find ways to teach the kids to be active and healthy. Susan Shearer of Wheatland Elementary School thought of a way to do just that. She wanted to find a way to bring the school and the community together, and so she created the Active Living Community Day.
“It was kind of a brainchild of mine, how to meld the school and community together,” said Shearer.
Activities took place both inside and outside the school, starting at 1 p.m. May 13. The students were treated to healthy smoothies, and at one station they were taught how much sugar is really in their favourite drinks.
“This is a great activity for the kids to do during the school day. They are covering nutrition and healthy choices for snacking. This is a really great activity that’s getting them involved and trying it out,” said Timothea Jakubowski, one of the teachers.
The students participated in a short dance lesson, archery, soccer, football and T-ball among other activities.
Everyone was able to participate in the activities including special needs child 7-year-old Jonah Teunissen.
“It’s awesome, it’s been great. It works with Jonah and he gets to do it with everyone else,” said Sherri Judd who is a special needs educational assistant.
Grade six students were the leaders of each of the groups; they were given maps and directed their groups to each activity according to the map.
Students rotated every ten minutes so each group would get the chance to participate in every event.
“The kids get a chance to try stuff out and then they can go home and tell their parents about it,” said Michelle Bean.
Some of the corporate/community participants in the day included Sobeys, Jumphouse, Expressions of Dance, Benjamin Moore Paint and just about every sports club in town. Agrium also donated money, allowing the school to purchase ‘Olympic medals’ to award to the kids at the end of the day.