St. Joseph School in Fergus and Salem Public School received some equipment on Jan. 16 that will help keep students moving.
Centre Wellington Township’s Andy Goldie and Public Health Nurse Joan Heath presented officials at both schools with a bag full of play gear that included balls, frisbees, pedometers, and skipping ropes so students can get extra active outdoors – when the weather gets a little nicer.
The schools received the awards because they have reached Level 3 of the In Motion project for Wellington and Dufferin Counties and Guelph.
Belinda Reinhart, who coordinated activities at St. Joseph school told a school assembly that two out of three Canadian kids do not get enough exercise in a week to promote good health. She listed a number of activities that the school has undertaken to get In Motion.
Reinhart also noted that a dance program was starting at noon that day.
Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj congratulated the students on their achievement, and said the program is important.
She urged students “to put physical activity into your day every day means you will be healthy.”
Ross-Zuj also noted that if the school reaches Level 6 in the program by the end of the year, the school will receive a plaque, and students will also earn free ice time for skating.
Centre Wellington Recreation Director Andy Goldie said the In Motion program for the schools is part of the Active Schools Program the province is promoting. He said the township presents the equipment as an incentive for schools who reach set levels of activity.
Goldie noted that the township’s involvement seems to be encouraging.
“Centre Wellington schools are the best,” he said. “We’ve got more schools at Level 3 and Level 6 than any other municipality in Wellington, Dufferin, or Guelph.”
St. Mary School, in Elora, and James McQueen Public School, in Fergus, have each reached Level 6.
