Masterton Primary School kids are learning new ways to get active and are having fun with it, thanks to Sport Wairarapa.
Yesterday was the launch of the school's new status as a Wairarapa active school the first for the region, with another three signing on in the next school
term, Sport Wairarapa regional development manager Dayle Clarkson said.
Sparc and the Ministry of Education are driving the initiative, which is designed to increase physical education and physical activity in primary schools, she said.
"My role initially will be to come into the school on a weekly basis and assess different elements of education and activity and look at where there could be improvement. "One area might be how children are transported to school or what sort of activity they prefer in the playground and another could be looking at how we can fix declining numbers of sport volunteers."
She said Sport Wairarapa has been allocated four Wairarapa schools where the programme can be implemented and "the intention is that it is life-long and is sustainable in all schools".
MPS teacher Steve Elliott is co-ordinating the active school programme and says it's vital the whole community gets on board.
"Part of the process is to involve kids in the decision-making process and at the moment we are putting together a health team that will include students, parents and staff."
He said they are aiming to achieve a holistic approach whereby the whole community can get involved with the school and encourage each other to take part in regular exercise.
"It's not that we don't already have exercise programmes in place but this is about improving areas that aren't so good and having a school goal to work towards."
Mrs Clarkson said the programme isn't designed for MPS to compare their school with schools in other areas. "It's a case of deciding where their start point is and working towards where they want to be in the future, which means it will always be ongoing."
