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NLIS 4
September 28, 2006
(Education)
(Health and Community Services)
 

Schools celebrate Living Healthy Commotions

Education Minister Joan Burke and Health and Community Services Minister Tom Osborne today announced that schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will celebrate Living Healthy Commotions on Friday, September 29. The Commotions are one-day in school events to celebrate wellness initiatives in schools and will focus on promoting the benefits of healthy eating, being active, and living smoke-free.

"There are many interesting and imaginative strategies being used by schools to promote the importance of healthy living," said Minister Burke. "The Living Healthy Commotions provide an exciting opportunity for schools to showcase what they�re doing to make their school environments healthy places to learn. I encourage anyone who�s interested to drop by their local school tomorrow and see the inventive ways that students are supporting healthy, active lifestyles."

Living Healthy Commotions are student-organized and planned events that arose from student comments from the Healthy Schools Student Summit, held in St. John�s in September 2005, hosted by the departments of Education and Health and Community Services. During the summit, students identified the need to create local events and activities to celebrate healthy living initiatives and healthy schools. The departments of Education and Health and Community Services have provided a total of $50,000 to support schools in planning their Commotions.

"Our government is committed to improving the health outcomes for residents of our province and we are accomplishing this through our Provincial Wellness Plan," said Minister Osborne. "The Living Healthy Commotions are an excellent way to encourage interest in healthy living among students in our province. The Commotions also build community support for wellness initiatives in our schools including our provincial Healthy Students Healthy Schools initiative and our new school food guidelines."

Minister Burke noted that schools have been very creative in planning events for their Commotions. For example, students and teachers have planned scavenger hunts to find healthy foods, some are creating a giant fruit salad, other schools are holding skipping contests and dance marathons, a Favorite Healthy Food Idol contest, and a teacher/RCMP vs. students softball game.

The Living Healthy Commotions follow several government initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and safe and caring learning environments in schools, including the Provincial Wellness Plan, the new School Food Guidelines, the Safe and Caring School Policy, and the new smoke-free policies as developed by each school district and the addition of new physical education equipment. "It�s important that we take any necessary steps to encourage both the physical and mental well-being of our children. This is why our Healthy Schools Initiative has three main goals � healthy eating, physical activity and feeling good about one�s self. Ultimately, making wise lifestyle choices will ensure our students learn and grow better," said Minister Burke.

Promotional material has been sent to every school, including a school activity booklet, to assist students and teachers in planning their events.

As well, on Friday, the Healthy Students, Healthy Schools web site, www.livinghealthyschools.com, will be launched. The web site contains information for students, teachers, parents and the larger school community on wellness. The site also provides an opportunity for schools to share and highlight how they are making their schools healthier.

The Healthy Schools Student Summit is an initiative of the Provincial Wellness Plan. Government invested $1.3 million in Budget 2006 to support the implementation of the Provincial Wellness Plan, following a record $2.4 million investment to develop the Wellness Plan in 2005. The plan�s first phase will be implemented over the next three years and will focus on some key areas including healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco control, and injury prevention.

Media contact:

  • Jacquelyn Howard, Education, (709) 729-0048, 689-2624
  • Tansy Mundon, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741 or tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
  • 2006 09 28                         4:20 p.m.


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