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Huron Expositor, 2005-11-16, Page 8Page 8 November 16, 2005 • The Huron Expositor News Project pushes healthy weights for students Fun Fit will help Grades 7 and 8 students in Huron East teach games to younger kids Stew Slater A well -rehearsed message about physical activity and healthy nutri- tion continues to be presented with- in the two school boards in Huron and Perth County. And responses to that message, in the form of in -school programs and activities, are gradually becoming common. For representatives of the two counties' district health units, the most recent opportunity to deliver the message, contained in a recent report entitled "Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives," came at a regular meeting of the Avon Maitland District School Board on Tuesday, Nov: 8. At the meeting, Perth Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari and Huron Public Health MASSAGE THERAPIST and REIKI PRACTITIONER Becky Campbell Evening Appointments Available 137 Market St. 5272058 Supervisor Linda Stobo related the report's findings about increased levels of obesity in the two counties, and suggested some possible responses for school boards. A health unit -funded pilot project, involving eight elementary schools from both the Avon Maitland and Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board, is set to begin in January, 2006. Entitled the Healthy School Initiative, it will provide $2,000 per school for implementing policies which encourage greater and more inclusive physical activity, and pro- vide healthier nutrition options dur- ing times when food is provided to students. Schools in South Huron, however, are a step ahead, thanks to an entirely different pilot project fund- ed last year by the provincial Ministry of Zburism and Recreation. And, if all goes as planned, schools in Huron East could soon join the fun. According to Stobo, the Vanastra Recreation Centre has submitted an application to oversee an in -school BIA Christmas Draw Radar Aub Parts • Dutch Store • Friends • New Orkrarts • BartUH's • Dinner Bell • Interior Wends • Reflections by Design • Heartland Community Credit Union • DeMilclous • Clinton News-Rsoord • The Shipping Store • StylIn Dogs • Clinton commercial Printers • Per-Fect Designs • Crossroads • Moore's • Groves • B&M Furniture • Side Street Video • Elllott's Liquidation • My Fair Lady • Cooke's Florists •. Godfathers • Verbeek's Fenn & Garden Centre • Corris's VMansrf • Mads In Huron • Clinton F Restaurant • • Ends • Jervis • Clinton Pharmacy • Curves program called Fun Fit for all Huron East elementary schools. It's hoped the program will follow up on the success of a similar par- ticipation -themed initiative which ran last spring at five schools in South Huron. With Fun Fit, Grade 7 and 8 stu- dents are trained to lead coopera- tive games for younger pupils, involving physical activity. The games stress problem -solving and communication, and the level of skill and intensity is heightened week by week so children feel they've improved as the program continues. "They're different types of games from your traditional basketball and soccer," explained Stobo. "And they encourage participation by everyone, regardless of athletic abil- ity. "If you think of dodgeball, some children might always get hit by the ball right away and then they're out of the game, and all they get to do is watch the more athletic kids jump out of the way. These games aren't like that at all." In South Huron last spring, Fun Fit ran for 10 weeks, three days per week, at lunch or recess. Stobo says some schools have con- tinued this year, with the Grade 7 students from last year still able to act as leaders this year. And at St. Boniface Catholic school in Zurich, she said Fun Fit "acted as a real seed for a whole Healthy School initiative," with school administration implementing other health -promoting programs and policies. Another plus of the student lead- ership is that the program doesn't take up additional staff time. Funding for the program must flow through a municipally -run agency, instead of the school board or health unit. That's why the Vanastra Recreation Centre has submitted the grant application for the Huron East program. In South Huron, it was adminis- tered by Exeter's South Huron Recreation Centre. Grades 7 and 8 could be moved into high schools by '08, says public board Stew Slater September, 2008, could be a time crf sig- nificant change on var- ious fronts in the Avon Maitland District School Board, accord- ing to this year's annu- al Preliminary Accommodation Analysis. Possible scenarios mentioned in the report include relocat- ing Grades 7 and 8 stu- dents into high school facilities in Goderich, Clinton, Wingham, Mitchell and Exeter, and a decrease in the number of elementary schools in the triangle cornered by Goderich, Wingham and Clinton. "Staff are making no recommendations regarding changes in accommodation at this time, but anticipate that recommendations will be made in the coming years," states the report, which was presented to trustees at a regular meeting Oct. 25. "We have more space than we need and that's going to continue to increase," explained business superinten- dent Janet Baird - Jackson. This September, the board welcomed stu- dents from Stratford's aging Avon Public School into a nearby building formerly occu- pied by an elementary school which had closed two years earli- er. The most recent high-profile accommo- dation changes in the board, however, occurred in 2002 and 2003, with the closure of Seaforth District High School and the relocation of all Grades 7 and 8 students with- in Stratford into that city's two secondary schools. Replicating that Grades 7 and 8 sce- nario in other locations may be the first item up for examination by the board. According to Baird - Jackson, an indepen- dent consultant will be hired this year to review Avon Maitland enrollment projections over the next 15 years. "Analysis is antici- pated to take place in the spring and fall of 2006," states the report. "Communities would then be engaged in a consultative process prior to the board making a deci- sion."