Students from Ferny Creek Primary School and Kallista Primary School in Victoria have kicked off a unique project aimed at getting kids thinking about how their local environment affects their ability to stay active.
As part of the Yarra Ranges: Health Researchers project, the students created advocacy posters exploring how their local environment and infrastructure can impact their and their communities’ ability to be active.
The participating students conducted an environmental audit of their communities and looked at key things, including how close parks are, the availability of shade and water facilities, the safety of walking paths to school, and access to public transport.
Kallista Primary School acting principal Justin Benne says the school teamed up with local community health service Inspiro to help educate students in the hands-on project about the importance of staying active in the community.
“Being a school in the Hills, the infrastructure for getting around was quite different, which meant our kids had different opportunities to be active in the community compared to others – I really loved the idea of partnering with Inspiro and their team to help our students explore new ways to be active in their area,” Benne says.
Walking to school safely
As part of the project, the school conducted walk-to-school events and provided families with resources on safe strategies.
The acting principal is a local and often walks to school himself.
“It’s important for my own family to stay fit and as an educator, I know when kids come to school fitter and healthier, they’re more likely to learn – healthy kids are happy kids, and that’s what we want for our school – walking to school is a great way to start the day positively,” he says.
“By doing this project, I noticed that the students were really thinking deeply about their own lives and their communities, as well as about other people – they were showing empathy, collaborating, and being very creative.”
Kallista Primary School year four student Alice McMurray worked with her classmate Astrid Delio and says they used vibrant colours and stickers on their posters to effectively convey their message.
“We’ve been making posters to encourage people to walk to school – or just to walk anywhere, really, because it makes you fitter and healthier,” McMurray says.
“We’re trying to get the message across that walking to school is great and you can walk with a friend, listen to music, or even take your pet along – it’s fun and fit for both of you,” says Delio.
Ferny Creek Primary School students across years three to six also participated in this health research project.
The students’ finished posters will be showcased in the window at the Belgrave Hub and potentially within the Yarra Ranges Council from the start of November, with Kallista Primary School’s Benne saying that “it’s a great way for us as a school to engage with the commnity”.
