Organizations applauded for supporting health promotion

BY KIRK STARRATT

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com



A number of organizations have been recognized for their contributions to health promoting schools initiatives at New Minas Elementary School.

During a recent open house held to showcase the school’s new gym, the school recognized Wal-Mart, Sobey’s and the Village of New Minas Parks and Recreation Department for their financial contributions that make the health promoting initiatives possible.

Principal Eric Trahan said health promoting schools initiatives at New Minas Elementary include after-school programs such as volleyball, soccer, dance, skating and more.

Annapolis Valley Health Promoting Schools Program Manager Caroline Whitby said New Minas Elementary was one of eight schools in the Valley involved originally in the Health Promoting Schools program. Research showed that students were benefiting from eating more nutritious food and being involved in more physical activity.

“Through Health Promoting Schools, we’re looking to make it easy for every child to have access to good food and physical activity and to have it available on a daily basis,” she said, pointing out that the value to improving the education of students has been recognized and the program has now grown into a province-wide initiative.

She said the school was able to make its multi-purpose room work, but the new gym is a great improvement that will mean more options for students to be more physically active.

As part of the event, New Minas Village Commissioner and recreation committee chairman Dale Pineo presented a financial contribution to the school to be used for health promoting schools initiatives.