St Mary’s Wins Healthy School Award
There was more to celebrate at St Mary’s Catholic Primary in Chippenham
than just the end of the school year. In a special award ceremony
organised by Wiltshire County Council, St Mary’s were presented with
the Healthy School Award after two year’s of hard work.
Miss Ellie Holdsworth attended the presentation at the Bowood Estate, along with School Council representatives Sophia Haig and Amber Perkiss.
The Healthy School Award is a national award given to schools who meet criteria in Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE), healthy eating, physical activity and emotional health and well-being and is part of the Government’s drive to help schools become healthier.
Miss Holdsworth, Year 1, Reception Teacher and PHSE Coordinator led a task force made up of parents, staff members and governors, introducing changes throughout the school to make it a healthier place to work and learn.
“We started working for the award in September 2004”, explained Miss Holdsworth. “We have revamped our school dinners changing to a menu made with freshly prepared local produce and more healthy choices such as salads, yoghurt and fruit. We increased the number of sports and physical activities available to pupils through our Enrichment Programme and introduced a water bottle scheme so that the children now have improved access to drinking water through out the school day. Pupils across the school also learn about healthy eating and the need for regular exercise in the classroom through the topic cycle.
“Graham Paton, from the Health Team, came in to do his assessment during our Health Week in June and happily, he was very impressed by what he saw. We had lots of sports and health related activities on for the children. We started the week with a whole school aerobics session, did maypole dancing and ended with a fruit kebab picnic on the school fields. It was great fun.
“Everyone has worked really hard, especially Jane Strike, our School Cook, I’m very grateful for all her efforts on the changes to the school dinners menu and to everyone on the Task Force. Special thanks go to the children on the School Council for setting such a great example and encouraging everyone to take part. All our school family - staff, pupils and their parents – were so supportive and adaptable. They have really taken on board the need to look after our bodies by regular exercise and making the right choices at meal times.”
Miss Ellie Holdsworth attended the presentation at the Bowood Estate, along with School Council representatives Sophia Haig and Amber Perkiss.
The Healthy School Award is a national award given to schools who meet criteria in Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE), healthy eating, physical activity and emotional health and well-being and is part of the Government’s drive to help schools become healthier.
Miss Holdsworth, Year 1, Reception Teacher and PHSE Coordinator led a task force made up of parents, staff members and governors, introducing changes throughout the school to make it a healthier place to work and learn.
“We started working for the award in September 2004”, explained Miss Holdsworth. “We have revamped our school dinners changing to a menu made with freshly prepared local produce and more healthy choices such as salads, yoghurt and fruit. We increased the number of sports and physical activities available to pupils through our Enrichment Programme and introduced a water bottle scheme so that the children now have improved access to drinking water through out the school day. Pupils across the school also learn about healthy eating and the need for regular exercise in the classroom through the topic cycle.
“Graham Paton, from the Health Team, came in to do his assessment during our Health Week in June and happily, he was very impressed by what he saw. We had lots of sports and health related activities on for the children. We started the week with a whole school aerobics session, did maypole dancing and ended with a fruit kebab picnic on the school fields. It was great fun.
“Everyone has worked really hard, especially Jane Strike, our School Cook, I’m very grateful for all her efforts on the changes to the school dinners menu and to everyone on the Task Force. Special thanks go to the children on the School Council for setting such a great example and encouraging everyone to take part. All our school family - staff, pupils and their parents – were so supportive and adaptable. They have really taken on board the need to look after our bodies by regular exercise and making the right choices at meal times.”
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