Getting legs and hearts pumping
- Created: Monday, 29 February 2016 01:23
Teaching students to be bike-safe and more physically active has earned Hurupaki School a place in the Heart Foundation’s record books.
This inspirational Whangarei school has become the first in Northland to receive our Heart Schools Award, after students took part in the Bikes in Schools programme.
Impressively, the school fundraised enough money to build a 500 metre bike track and buy its own container to store equipment. It also secured a grant from Bikes in Schools to purchase 50 bikes and helmets for the children and teachers.
Students were given bike skills and safety lessons from Norman Gruebsch, who is the Bikes in Schools Coordinator in Northland.
Teacher Karen Johnsen says being taught to ride by an expert has given her students a major confidence boost on their bikes.
“The success of this programme is evident from the high demand for the bikes at lunchtime, while the students’ enjoyment and participation has meant improved fitness and energy levels,” says Karen. “Biking has also been good for those children who don’t enjoy team sports.”
Karen added that she’s received excellent feedback from parents about the programme.
Abi Alger, Heart Foundation Health Promotion Coordinator, says Hurupaki School clearly understands the importance of healthy eating and physical activity for its children.
“By creating this fantastic new bike track, the school has really inspired its children to get their legs and hearts pumping. That’s so important because helping children establish healthy habits in their early years provides them with a strong foundation for well-being throughout their lives.”
This is not the end of Hurupaki School’s healthy journey, as they have also signed up to complete Heart Start Excellence – another Heart Foundation programme. This will further cement healthy eating and physical activity in the school’s ethos.
Ka pai Hurupaki School!