Humboldt Public School (HPS) was rewarded for their commitment to making healthy choices last week.
The school was one of two in the province to win the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge. An award was presented to HPS principal Dave Hill during an assembly on September 9.
"It is great to see everyone here to help us celebrate something special," said Hill. "We feel very fortunate to be chosen for this award."
The Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge is a partnership between Breakfast for Learning, the Saskatchewan Nutrition Advisory Council for Kids (SNACK) and the Mosaic Company to challenge Saskatchewan schools to develop action plans to improve school nutrition and health, explained Hill.
During the assembly, the school was not just announced as one of the winners of the challenge. Before the presentation, the students showed their dedication to having a healthy lifestyle by participating in Walk to Breakfast, where they walked around the school grounds and Caleb Village before heading to the gymnasium for the presentation and a healthy breakfast of fruit, cheese, yogurt, muffins, bagels, juice and milk.
"I enjoyed my walk around the school," said Brad Trost, MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, who was in attendance.
The staff at the school have shown their commitment to healthy choices in the past with their many school programs dedicated to nutrition, physical activity and mental health.
Some of those programs offered include a milk program, a monthly hot lunch, morning and afternoon snacks for Pre-Kindergarten classes, outdoor education opportunities, noon hour intramurals, body break activities, school counselling, a health fair in February, Nutrition Month in March and special interest groups related to nutrition and health during activity afternoons.
"We value all nutritional and healthy lifestyle choices," said Hill. "They increase achievement and alertness, improve behaviour, self-confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem."
As winners of the challenge, the school was presented with a cheque for $10,000 to help fund their health action plans.
Hill explained they plan to continue all of their previous activities as well as create and implement some new ones for the students with the money they were presented.
Some of their plans for the future include a new After School Kid Cooking Program, where students will learn to cook and take home healthy choices to go on the supper table, expand their Nutrition Month activities, provide healthy recipes on their website and newletters, include Grade 5 and 6 students in intramural sports, encourage students to use recess for physical activity and many others.
"Our hope is that students will make healthy choices," because of their special programs, said Hill.
The dignitaries at the event were impressed with the commitment the school has made to educating the students about having a healthy lifestyle.
"It is only the beginning of the school year and you already have exciting plans for the year," said Donna Harpauer, Humboldt MLA. "I wish you the best of success."
She also commended the students on making healthy choices in our society.
"In a busy society, it is not always easy to make healthy choices," said Harpauer. "It's awesome to see all of you making the right choices."
Trost encouraged the children to continue to make good choices for their health as well, explaining that health is the most important resource they have.
"I'd like to congratulate each of you for your good diet and good exercise," said Trost. "Use what you learned and do it all year, both at school and home."
