École Stella-Maris Gets Active

Students at École Stella-Maris in Clare, Digby Co., will have more opportunities to be active and healthy. Their school is launching its Active School Community project on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The school's three-year project is one of 11 pilot sites for Active School Communities, a component of the province's Active Kids, Healthy Kids Physical Activity strategy. It is also a component of the Department of Education's Learning for Life plan.

"Across the province there's a need and a desire to get our young people active and École Stella-Maris is taking the steps to make that happen," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Their initiatives will benefit and improve the health of youth, families and the community of Clare."

École Stella-Maris has partnered with the Municipality of Clare, Clare Recreation Department, the South West Nova District Health Authority, the local detachment of the RCMP and volunteers from the community, including parent and students. The program highlights the strong partnership between the school and the municipality.

Through it's funding for the project, the school hired a full- time physical activity co-ordinator. The co-ordinator will consult with the committee to develop and implement a Walk or Bike to School program, field days, and family activities such as curling, bowling and biking. Parents and teachers will provide workshops and resources on physical activity, for students.

"With a range of daily physical activity opportunities and nutritious food choices, it is our hope that students at École Stella-Maris will understand the importance of healthy living and will participate in events with enthusiasm," said Sean Aucoin, the physical activity co-ordinator. "We want to introduce healthy lifestyle habits so that our youth can adopt them now."

Aside from the pilot project committee, Mr. Aucoin is working with a volunteer parent committee to offer more nutritious food choices and decrease non-nutritious foods at the school's canteen.

The Office of Health Promotion and the Department of Education are each investing $10,000 per school site for the pilot projects. The Active Kids, Healthy Kids strategy is based on the vision that, by the year 2010, Nova Scotia will be known as a province that experienced a fundamental shift in its support for active, healthy lives for children and youth.