Today children and adults throughout New Zealand are celebrating National Drink Water Day, but Upokongaro School has been doing it every day for six years.
Upokongaro School principal Naomi White said the school supported the children's drinking of water as part of a whole plan for improved nutrition and learning.
"We started it in 1998 with research into how important nutrition and hydration was for learning.
"Now it's what we do every day," Ms White said.
The New Zealand Kidney Foundation recommends four to five glasses of water a day for children, and six to eight glasses for adults.
"Hopefully, this generation of children will come through school and value their health," she said.
Upokongaro School teacher Andrew Fawcett said the idea of children with water bottles beside them all the time was a radical turnaround from what he had seen in other schools.
"When I was teaching in England water on desks was unheard of. 'You'll get your books dirty' was the common thought. "With the water with them, the children seem more independent in their work," Mr Fawcett said.
Ms White said there was also a highlight for the parents of children following a programme like theirs.
"We have had positive feedback from the parents. They save on their grocery bill because healthier foods are cheaper. "The dentists that come visit us don't need to stay as long as they used to," she said.
Upokongaro School kids way ahead of water trend
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