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Minister celebrates Education Week

Education Minister Tom Hedderson today joined Fred Douglas, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association (NLTA), in launching Education Week. Opening ceremonies were held at Crescent Collegiate in Blaketown and broadcast via the Web to schools throughout the province. This year�s honourary chair is Dr. Alice Collins, dean of the faculty of education at Memorial University.

Minister Hedderson took the opportunity at the opening to remind students about the importance of their education. "Education is more than books and studying," said the minister "It is a means for personal growth; it provides the key to understanding the world around us; it is the path to social and economic growth; and it is the means by which we attain our highest aspirations, because, without education, we are so limited in how we can contribute to the world around us."

This year�s theme for Education Week is Food for Thought.

"All of us in education are working together to create a culture of wellness in our schools, where students and teachers are engaged in being physically active and eating well. We believe in healthy, active living for life, and fostering positive attitudes toward being active. Inactive children may not learn as well as those who are physically active. Physically active learners have high self-esteem, attend school more regularly and are less likely to drop out - all this from simply being healthy and active," Minister Hedderson said.

The Department of Education, together with our education partners, is moving ahead with our

commitment to promote healthy living. Thus far, the department has:

• introduced a new physical education curriculum in K-6, and 7-9; the new senior high curriculum will be in place in September of this year;
• changed the graduation requirements so that all students can now complete two high school credits in physical education;
• introduced Healthy Living, a multi-disciplinary course for senior high students;
• created a new Human Dynamics course for high school which gives students the opportunity to explore the challenges that many young people face as they mature and move into adulthood;
• are working towards ensuring school cafeterias offer healthy eating choices.

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-0048, 685-5000

2005 03 07          11:50 a.m.