San Gwann Primary B

Together We Grow: The Smart Healthy Way!

For the third consecutive year, the school community of the Primary School B, San Gwann which forms part of St Clare College, organised an open day with the focus on healthy living, under the title: Together We Grow: The Smart Healthy Way! Every year the focus is shifted to different health areas and this year the focus themes chosen were: Germ Attack! The Colourful Fruit and Vegetable Way! and Let’s Move and Groove!.

The topical subject of the AH1N1 virus, the frequent need to wash hands and the various ways how to stop the spread of germs was dealt with in Germ Attack activities. To emphasise the need of the daily consumption of different coloured fruit and vegetables so as to ward off some ill-health conditions, activities were designed and implement. To put theory to praxis, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs also sponsored a fruit each to all members of the school community.

The Let’s Move and Groove! theme focused on the need of physical exercise. Being healthy implies having a good fit body that performs daily physical activities. The body needs food to obtain its energy but it also need movement for it to keep its muscular, joint and bone built, etc.. well maintained. Thanks to the collaboration of members of the Sports’ Promotion Unit, within the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport and the school’s two P.E. peripatetic teachers, stations were organised in the turf grounds of San Gwann nursery, which was used by the school for the first time. Students, teachers and parents had the opportunity to engage in physical activities hopefully to instil the need for future routine physical activity.

The school foyer was a hub of children’s art work. A school-based competition was organised, wherein students of different year groups were set to design posters on the three themes chosen for this open day. Other information stands were also set up. A novelty for this event, were retail stalls that sold items related to the theme of the open day. Health related books, antiseptic hand rubs, anti-bacterial hand wash and surface detergents, etc… were all available to visitors, students and staff to purchase.

Parents took an active part in the event. They were invited for the special assembly, which kicked off, by a brief rationale of the event, then students under the supervision and choreography of their teacher, sung and danced to the Fit Kids song. Parents then proceeded to the school hall, where Dr. Tania Mellilo Fenech (Head of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit) gave a talk on checking the spread of germs. The audience was very receptive and had time to ask a good number of questions.

After a short refreshment break, parents joined their children in hands-on activities organised by class teachers in class or joined in the physical activity groups on the turf ground. Time was also allotted for all stakeholders to visit the exhibition and retail stalls set up in the school foyer.

A plethora of activities were organised by the class teachers. These included; poster and chart making, treasure hunt in the school front garden, cookery sessions, activities using the interactive whiteboard, games and sports activities. Talks were also organised with the help of personnel from the Home Economics Seminar Centre and Health and Safety Teachers from the Health and Safety Unit, Education Directorates. A big thank you for their co-operation in making this day a special day for all our students.

A number of dignitaries also joined us in our event. Honourable Minister George Pullicino, Hon Parliament Secretary Dr Joe Cassar, Ms Maria Ciappara – College Principal, Ms Mary Rose DeBono (Service Manager and ex-head of school), Mr Phillip Bonello (Health and Safety Education Officer), Mr J. Bonello (St Clare College Officer) and representatives from our college schools.

The school’s mission in empowering all the school community to make healthy living choices will not end here. The school will continue to strive to work in the area of health in order to develop amongst all its members a much desired need to be healthy and fit, which is reflected in the national HELP document. In the long term this will have a positive impact on the whole Maltese population, hopefully reducing the prevalence of diet-related disease amongst our young generation.

Site Administrator - Ms. Dorita Galea