Northland healthy runs a host of programmes

Tag: fruit jam Healthy is cool at Northland schools such as Whangarei's TikipungaPrimary, which runs a host of programmes to make sure pupils arehappy and fit. It's an "Active School", supported by Sport Northland, andhaspupil-led activities at lunchtime such as Jump Jam aerobics. It's also part of the Health Ministry's Fruit in Schools programme,promotes sun safety, has the children brushing their teeth everyday and offers walking-school buses. The teachers role-model healthy behaviour by wearing hats, drinkingwater and eating well. Tikipunga has also just applied to join the KidsCan programme,which funds raincoats for children who otherwise would come toschool in bad weather soaking wet, or just stay home. Health teacher Maureen Toki says it "just makes sense" for a schoolto want the best for its pupils. "I think we've just got to look at the needs of our pupils andaddress them as best we can," she said. "I think our current programmes fill those needs but we'll alwayslook at what else we can work with." The Fruit in Schools scheme makes sure each pupil gets one or twopieces of fruit a day. "Fruit is pretty expensive now and often thechildren get something like a nectarine or kiwifruit, which many ofthem have never had before," Mrs Toki said. Since the schoolstarted promoting healthy lifestyles, fewer pupils were buying pieson the way to school and more were taking part in organised sportoutside school, Mrs Toki said.