In the news…

Pleased to announce exciting funding news!

ACTIVE SCHOOLS GRANTS TO HELP GET KIDS MOVING IN SOUTH WEST VICTORIA

Schools in South West Victoria will receive a funding boost to help get kids moving as they return to school for Term 2, thanks to the Victorian Government.

Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced five schools in Victoria’s south west are among 96 schools across the state to receive a $30,000 funding boost under the Active Schools initiative to help introduce a whole-school approach to physical activity.

Recipients of the funding include:

  • Colac Secondary College – Implement a holistic whole school approach to physical activity through PD for school staff, development of year 7 Bike Ed program, installing bike storage shed, purchase sporting/active recreation equipment (class set of canoes, bikes, lifejackets, yoga mats, boxing gloves)
  • Lavers Hill K-12 College – Installation of outdoor education equipment (E.g. a gaga pit to play high energy ball games), upgrading the school walking track, memberships to Bluewater Fitness centre to access the gym, pool, sports courts
  • Bundarra Primary School – Installation of new multi-use bike track used for a range of programs (walking/running club, cross country, bike education, leisure play, community access and PE and sport classes)
  • Merri River School – Development of a new outdoor learning classroom and outdoor education program including swimming lessons, beach and river safety sessions, bike education and water-based recreation activities.
  • Portland Bay School – Purchase of new sensory playground equipment and new PMP equipment

The cash boost is part of the $24.2 million Active Schools initiative, which is delivering more opportunities for physical activity, sport and active recreation for Victorian students, helping them develop healthy lifelong habits.

As part of the wider Active Schools package:

  • all schools will have access to a new Active Schools Toolkit, which will include tips and tricks on how to make their school and their kids more active
  • a new team of physical education leaders will provide on-the-ground advice and support to more than 800 schools to improve their approach to sport, physical education and physical activity
  • a number of new and innovative approaches to increasing activity will be trialled through several partnerships, including working with the start-up community to explore how technology can get teens moving and adapting Deakin University’s Transform-Us! Program for secondary schools to get adolescents moving more and sitting less
  • a statewide communications campaign designed to encourage children and their families to be more active and promote the importance of physical activity.

 

In November, Minister for Education James Merlino also released a joint ministerial statement with Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence and Minister for Health Martin Foley, which outlines a new strategy to create active schools, kids and communities.

The Labor Government is committed to meeting the Education State target of increasing the proportion of students taking part in physical activity five times a week to help them be happier, healthier and more resilient.

Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney

“The evidence is clear – active kids are happy, healthy and resilient kids, who are able to focus more in class. That’s why we are investing $24.2 million in the creation of Active Schools.”

“Sport and recreation are central to our way of life. These grants will help make sure more young people in south west Victoria can get the best start in life with an education linked to active and healthy lifestyles.”

Back to Term 2, 2020

Article in the Portland Observer Tuesday 14th April 2020

Breakfast program recognition…

 

With the number of activities on offer for students at Bundarra Primary School’s Breakfast Club, grabbing a nutritious breakfast is just another bonus. At Breakfast Club students have the option of playing with puzzle books and card games, practising their colouring skills with food themed colouring sheets, or trying their hand at breakfast trivia. The room is also decorated with breakfast themed pictures and information.

The games and activities help create a very social environment for students, which encourages a large turnout each morning.

Here’s what Bundarra PS Breakfast Club Coordinator, Katie had to say:

“We open at 8:30am every morning serving breakfast to anyone who wants it – sometimes even mums, dads, grandparents and friends eat with their kids! Our Breakfast Club is based in an old kitchen that’s been cleaned up and has become the social safe hub of our school. We have books, puzzles, weekly trivia, colouring sheets and card games available every day. We have a Breakfast Club playlist that the kids choose songs to be added to and is played every morning – there has been the occasional dance off! The kids know there will always be a place to go and someone to talk to.

We have a ‘Breakfast Team’ of 3 senior students that change each term. Part of their job is to greet other students when they arrive in the kitchen, they keep breakfast running smoothly – helping make toasted sandwiches, toast and apple slinkies and help clean up when breakfast is finished. The Breakfast Team are rostered on twice a week although they often still come in and help out on the other days! The kitchen is open to the whole school and its awesome watching kids interact with other students they normally wouldn’t interact with. We can’t thank Foodbank enough for giving us the opportunity to be able to provide this for our school community and without the amazing generosity of Bakers Delight in Portland we wouldn’t have the variety of food we do.”

https://www.foodbank.org.au/breakfast-club-spotlight-bundarra-primary-school/?state=vic