MURRABIT Primary School has reconfirmed its staunch commitment to active living after being the first school in the Shire of Gannawarra to adopt the Get Active Statement.
During the Ride2School launch, which is celebrated today, students demonstrated their allegiance to supporting an active and healthy lifestyle at home, at school and within the wider community.
The statement, presented to principal, Neil Hopkins and its student leaders by Gannawarra Shire councillor, Oscar Aertssen, encouraged students to participate in at least 60 minutes of daily physical exercise, adopt healthy habits and urge families to walk, ride, skate or scoot to school.
Ride2School Day is an annual initiative of Bicycle Network Victoria, with 2000 schools registered and 350,000 students expected to pedal.
During the hour-long launch of the program in Gannawarra, students demonstrated how to hit a helmet correctly, with the aid of the seven-point ride ready checklist, which highlights the importance of checking tyre pressure, brakes and any loose bolts.
Murrabit is the only school in the district to have a bicycle education program in its curriculum.
“This program has been running by a trained professional for more than 10 years and helps students build confidence and to learn how to ride a bike safely on the roads and footpaths, especially on roads that are now becoming congested and changed from dirt and gravel to bitumen,” Mr Hopkins said.
“Riding to school helps children progressively learn independence, boost their confidence and improve their health and social awareness.”
Shire community health manager, Narelle O’Donoghue highlighted to students the importance of being active and consequently connecting better with their community through sport and recreational activities.
“When we are physically active we are healthier, happier and more connected to our families and friends,” she said.
“When we are active in the morning, we learn better at school because activity helps wake us up and improves our concentration.”
More exercises and fresh fruit complemented the launch.
Cohuna Consolidated School, Kerang Primary School, Kerang South Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Cohuna, and Quambatook Primary School are also participating in the Ride2School program.
