Health Promoting Schools Cluster Meeting

As Leaders of the HPS(Health Promoting Schools) team at our school, Whaea Linda and myself attended the Whakatane HPS cluster meeting at Whakatane Hospital conference room on Friday 27th March.  The meeting was led by Carl Cowley and other members of the  HPS school  co-ordinators team.
Number one on the agenda:we  viewed and discussed the 'New and Improved HPS Toolkit' which is the new national school-community health and well-being self-review tool  based on the Ministry's health and wellbeing indicators. The process supports school communities to identify their strengths, and address their health, wellbeing and education priorities. At James Street School the HPS team has used the toolkit and completed the self-review tool using our 2014 findings ,progress indicators, community surveys and staff feedback. We were able to use the completed self-review tool to discuss future focus areas for Health and well-being in our school context and to support other Whakatane school HPS leaders with the process of filling out the self-review tool.
Number two on the agenda:we had an opportunity to log on to the Heart Foundations new free web-based programme for schools. We were introduced to the Lesson Plans and teaching resources available at the different primary/intermediate levels. This is an excellent web-site and of real value to teachers when planning Hauora units. The Unit plans include Te Reo vocab and tikanga as well as links to other curriculum areas. Linda and I thought it would be good if we were able to share this website with teachers back at school during syndicate meetings.
Number three on the agenda: The head public health nurse shared with us about a new skin infection campaign they have started. She shared resources such as posters and phamphlets that are available for schools and to include with school newsletters to inform parents.
Number four on the agenda: The new Regional Obesity Intervention Project. We viewed a video, that had recently screened on T.V,  where a GP outlined the seriousness of the sugar uptake in young chn/teens  and the links to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. The aims of the new project were discussed and as a group we talked about ways we could help combat this urgent problem in our own school communities such as educating  parents about healthy options for food and drink, making it school policy that students can't bring takeaways/fizzy or energy drinks to school, Educating our students to read the ingredients,sugar content of food and drinks so that they make informed choice about what the purchase to eat and drink.

House of Science PD

At this week's staff meeting we were fortunate to have Louise and Peter Maple( Green Gauge science) to come and talk about a new science initiative called 'The House of Science'. With the support of REAP and local businesses they have put together 19 science kits, covering a range of topics, that are available for schools to use. There will be a free trial for the rest of this term and from next term there will be a cost to schools to pay for replenishing kit stocks after use. The science kits contain lesson plans and equipment needed to implement with a class of children on such topics as 'Mystery Box- The nature of science' , 'Who Dunnit?- Forensic science' , 'What's the buzz?- Electricity' and others. Louise and Peter showed teachers how the kits work and we got to trial some of the lessons and equipment. They were motivating, hands-on and definitely promoted the use of science skills, knowledge  and attitudes.  The kits issue and return  will be administered by REAP.