Students at Stayner Collegiate Institute have just got a healthy boost. Theirs is the only school in the Simcoe County District School Board to receive two grants from the Ministry of Education to support active living.
Earlier this week, SCI found out it was the recipient of both a $50,000 healthy eating grant and a $20,000 physical activity grant. The grants will be used to change the food culture of the school and increase its 400 students’ physical activity levels.
“We’re very excited about the next two years,” said Principal Jane Seymour. “It’s a great opportunity to get the students involved and engaged. We’re making changes to promote a healthier lifestyle, which will benefit the school community for years to come. We want to start it now but have it end up being sustainable in the community.”
To do this, the school will implement a project called “Gardens N Greens” over the next two years. It will include a student leadership team, an outdoor garden, educational events and workshops. The Grades 11 and 12 construction classes are about to start building sheds on the property for tools and gardening supplies. As well, the Grade 9 business class is creating a design for a logo for “Gardens N Greens.”
“We want to brand the program with the logo for years,” said Mike Wheatcroft, a teacher in the Technology Department who helped apply for the active living grant.
The grant will also be used to fund SCI’s “Green Industries” program, which focuses on growing healthy food for the students and community. This will include the purchase of soil, seedlings and a stainless steel salad bar for its cafeteria. SCI will also organize educational field trips for students and hire guest speakers to come to the school.
To promote healthy activity and provide pupils with more opportunities for physical fitness, the school plans to upgrade its current fitness room using input from the students.
After the Ministry announced the grants in January, SCI quickly submitted its applications to meet the February deadline. The applications were the result of a collaborative effort by students, staff members, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, the Clearview Food Bank and Clearview Township.
More than 250 schools throughout the province applied for the grants and only 44 schools received one.
“We have the staff on board and we’ll get the kids on board,” said Seymour. “The kids will get the kids on board. They will start talking and texting!”
Pictured on home page: Principal Jane Seymour, teacher Mike Wheatcroft and Lisa Jacksch, who runs the school cafeteria.