St Mary’s RC Primary School, Haddington
Health Week
St Mary’s RC Primary School in Haddington have just finished a very successful health week. Led by Miss Graham (PE specialist), Mrs Bueckardt (P2/3 class teacher & Health Coordinator) and Suzanne Laing (Active Schools Coordinator), the pupils enjoyed a week of different tasks, in and out of the classroom, that encouraged them to adopt healthy and active minds and bodies.
The week kicked off in style on Monday morning with the whole school (including staff!) and a handful of Meadowpark and St Mary’s nursery pupils taking part in a dance session in the playground led by Suzanne Laing. The energetic efforts and happy mood set the tone for the rest of the week with pupils and staff throwing themselves into all activities full of enthusiasm and with a smile on their faces.
The rest of Monday had a food theme with “Ready Steady Cook” taking place in the hall and fruit and vegetable tasters with Marjorie Shepherd running for P2/3, P4 and P6/7. Mrs Marlow and Mrs King took on the role of “Big Cook, Little Cook” in front of the whole school to make a healthy and nutritious chicken curry. The pupils learned how to prepare and cook the ingredients then got to take away the recipe and taste the finished product.
On Tuesday some classes went outside to take part in outdoor challenges led by the outdoor education team. The nursery class, P1/2 and P5 had their fruit and vegetable tasters with Marjorie Shepherd. P5 and P6/7 continued their food education in class with Mr Griffin and Miss Robertson when they made healthy spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread. In the afternoon during assembly, the school were presented with their Health Promoting Schools Level 1 Certificate.
Street Jammin visited the school on Wednesday and pupils in the school, Meadowpark and the nursery all had the opportunity to learn some hip-hop dance moves. All pupils also took part in a basic certified First Aid lesson throughout the day with St Andrews Ambulance Service. On Wednesday afternoon pupils from the health group at Yester Primary School in Gifford, came down to join in the activities and to share ideas with the St Mary’s health group.
Thursday afternoon saw the eagerly anticipated Staff Vs Pupils potted sports challenge take place under a very sunny sky. Despite staff injury and absence the pupils could not muster enough skill or wit to be crowned champions. Better luck next time kids! Also on Thursday the P1/2 class were working in an enterprising way with fruit. They made up menus for a colourful fruit salad, put their ideas to P2/3 to evaluate their success and finally made up the fruit salad.
Friday morning saw the staff of Meadowpark, St Mary’s school and nursery come together for a healthy breakfast. Miss Graham laid on quite a feast and the staff thoroughly enjoyed the chance to have a chat with colleagues and sample some delicious food. The school day started off with a whole school walk around Haddington. Pupils were divided into groups of mixed age and accompanied by staff and parent volunteers, many of whom were adult members of the Health Group. Miss Graham left clues along the route for children to collect and upon returning to the school they were able to work out an answer. After break a school assembly was held to close health week and celebrate its success. Many pupils were given certificates and all pupils left the assembly with a piece of fruit courtesy of Marjorie Shepherd, stickers and a “high 5” card that reminded them of the 5 healthy rules – sleep well, be active, eat 2 portions of fruit & 5 portions of vegetables per day, have fun and be happy. After lunch on Friday health week continued for staff from Meadowpark, St Mary’s and the nursery with a Charleston dance lesson from Fly Right Dance Company. After the dancing staff were able to enjoy a short taster of massage or reflexology, get their cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index checked and pick up various pieces of health information. All staff agreed that the afternoon had been an excellent way to end health week and feel motivated and enthused to continue to work towards making St Mary’s as healthy a school as it can be.
St Mary’s would like to take this opportunity to give a massive thanks to all those who contributed towards health week.
