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Live It Up Challenge
Each Living School has implemented outstanding events to celebrate their successes as a Living School. Here is just a sample of what took place in various school communities: Mother Teresa School, Oakville Mother Teresa held a Live It Up Challenge Day that offered 4 different sessions for over 800 students, staff members and parents. Students participated in a Winter Carnival that offered a number of outdoor activities and games as well as a nutritional break and video. Other sessions included a Dance-a-Thon, Fitness session and a Living School Art session. Staff members were treated to a special lunchtime wellness session that included a motivational speaker. Perth Avenue Public School, Toronto Over 300 students, staff members, partners and parents helped with a Special Snack Day. All classes planned a special snack, prepared their ingredients and brought a healthy snack to the gym for everyone to sample. Before sampling the snacks the whole school enjoyed a brisk walk twice around the school. St. Michael School, Oakville St. Michael School began their Living School Day with a nutritious recess snack in the classroom before proceeding to a full school assembly. During the assembly a student from each of the three grade divisions delivered a very inspirational speech about being a Living School and challenged all students to embrace an active, healthy lifestyle. A group of Grade 7’s then led the school through a series of warm-up routines. Finally, our students learned a series of stretches and aerobic exercises from a fitness instructor. John McCrae Public School, Markham John McCrae engaged their students in 200 minutes of activity. The morning was broken up into an indoor and an outdoor challenge. During the outdoor challenge students participated in a variety of fun activities which included snow soccer, ball hockey, three-legged races, tug-of-war, snow shoeing, snow sculpture making, “walking the plank”, a tarp challenge, using land skis, and eating a healthy snack. During the indoor session students participated in skipping activities or basketball activities as they also participated in Jump Rope for Heart or Hoops for Heart. A great morning was had by all! Prince Charles Public School, Trenton Prince Charles held a school wide indoor Daily Physical Activity (DPA) event. They linked up classes (K-8) and participated in a series of dance activities, weaving their way through the school hallways to songs such as: Conga, Hamster Dance, Bird Dance, Macarena, Bunny Hop, etc. Grade 8 student leaders helped prepare classes and teachers for weeks before the event and everyone practiced the dances during DPA periods. The student leaders also demonstrated the dances during a Celebration Assembly the week before their event. Great fun for all! Local businesses supported this Living School by providing healthy snacks and water. St. Bernadette School, Oakville The entire school met in the gym for a fun 20 minute workout. The students participated in a teacher lead dance activity followed by a healthy snack. The kindergarten families were invited to participate in an evening skate. The teachers and students were positive and enthusiastic – chanting “Live It Up!” West Oak Public School, Oakville This Living School celebrated all day and into the evening! They had a kick off assembly in the morning with a performance by the White Oaks Secondary School cheerleaders, their school dance pack, and a stacking game demo. The Mayor of Oakville and the Director of Education spoke. Many of their Living School partners (school council chair, local trustee, Parks & Recreation representative, public health representative) were in attendance. West Oak students participated in a healthy snack challenge where the list of their healthy snack ingredients was their ballot for a draw at the end of the day. The school purchased clementines for all staff and students to enjoy. After a break, students rotated through 6 physical activity/challenge centres around the school. Students on the athletic council led these activities. All students from kindergarten to grade 8 participated in the activities. In the afternoon, students worked in their homeroom class on their page for this year’s Living School scrapbook. Each grade was given a specific theme. The scrapbook was put together at the end of the event. At the end of the day, all students returned to the gym for a reflection on the day and prizes for the healthy snack contest (swim/skate passes donated by Parks & Recreation and stacking games donated by the school council). From 6-8 p.m., West Oak hosted a wellness evening for the community with our community partners setting up storefronts to provide information to families on wellness activities. Their keynote speaker was Constable Jodie Richmond, speaking on Cyberbullying and internet safety. Breakout sessions included Dr. Jason Lee on adolescent stress, as well as Yvonne Attard, a personal life coach, and K. Daniel and J. MacKay on healthy lunches and the Walk On program. They also set up a Daily Physical Activity circuit for parents to try with their children as a sample of some of the DPA activities West Oak offers their students. In spite of the blustery, stormy conditions, they had a great turnout! The students really enjoyed the rotation activities and the fact that they were led by other students. The White Oaks Secondary cheerleaders squad presentation was very popular! The Wellness Evening was a great success! Close to 1,000 people attended along with 35 community partners! Cathy Wever Elementary School, Hamilton This schools community’s celebration included the International Fun and Team Athletics program by Milt Ottey and his staff. Grades were divided into teams of 12-15 students and competed in 8 different Track and Field events. J. R. Henderson Public School, Kingston & the Limestone District School Board J. R. Henderson challenged all other schools in their school board to a giant game of Octopus. The local public health unit donated two $100 Wintergreen gift certificates as a draw prize for participating schools. All 750 students, 55 staff members and two partners participated! More than 4, 800 students and 320 staff members from 17 other schools in the Limestone DSB also participated! New Lowell Central Public School, New Lowell The Live It Up Challenge included having a guest speaker – Michael Island, an X-Games Snow Cross gold medal winner come to the school. Michael’s message was that it is important to balance school with physical activities and to always wear protective gear. Following the presentation, students did a variety of activities from snowshoeing, snow soccer, broom ball, active drama activities and in-class activities to get the hearts pumping. Everyone received a bottle of water (donated by Ice River Springs) and a “Fruit to Go” (purchased by the school). Concord Public Elementary School, Windsor The entire school community walked to Riverside Arena, (a Windsor Parks & Recreation Living School partner) where students, staff, families and the community members (health and corporate partners) went skating. When they returned to the school they all enjoyed a healthy snack and some fitness breaks. They did this in two groups as there were over 400 students, staff members, guests and Living School partners attending this event. As one group skated, the others remained at school for nutritious foods, fitness, etc. Parkland Public School, Sault Ste. Marie Along with the school board’s Daily Physical Activity (DPA) Coordinator, Parkland students, staff and guests warmed up, then walked the nwly finished 1 km Parkland Path and returned to the school for a nutritious snack of cheese pizza and milk. Students in grades 5 and 6 went downhill skiing for the day. They had their snack upon returning to the school at the end of the day. Sherwood Public School, Oshawa Sherwood Public School “lived it up” for four days with an elective program where the students had a choice to attend 6 different activities for the afternoon. The activities included swimming, bowling, skating, racquet sports, hockey, and cooperative games. This happened on four consecutive Tuesday afternoons. Over 30 staff and 4 partners helped to support the school run this program for the 425 students. St. Mary’s French Immersion Catholic School, Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s held a very active Winter Play Day! The whole school was divided into teams and participated in a number of different activities. The teachers supersized the stations so that all 400 students, 20 staff members and 4 guests could participate. Balaclava Public School, St. Thomas Over 200 students and staff members at this Living School had fun participating in various Quality Daily Physical Activities (QDPA). Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a healthy snack. Dewson Street Public School, Toronto The Daily Physical Activity (DPA) Salsa Group entertained and energized the entire school. This was a very successful and fun activity for the 500 students and 40 staff members at Dewson Street Public School! Holy Cross School, Thunder Bay All 380 students and 30 staff members at Holy Cross School attended a School Spirit Assembly in the gym. Everyone dressed in school colours for the assembly which included a fashion show and a dance called the Cha Cha Slide. After a thirty minute walk around the neighbourhood, everyone returned to the school for a healthy snack of juice and peanut free granola bars. Our Lady of the Assumption School, New Lowell Students and staff at Our Lady of the Assumption School held a school wide health hustle in the morning with songs piped through the PA system to all classrooms. Each teacher led their classes with exercises they had learned from an Ophea Daily Physical Activity (DPA) workshop. After some fun physical activity, everyone made a healthy snack and enjoyed it with a bottle of water. St. Andrew Catholic School, Oakville The St. Andrew School Skipping Club organized a Whole School Skipping Event. The school gym was set up as a circuit of skipping stations. Each class had twenty minutes to try out the circuit. Afterwards all participants received a healthy snack of carrots and oranges. Dovercourt Public School, Toronto This Live It Up celebration involved the whole school, community and daycare in a Dance-a-Thon! Over 250 students, all staff, two partners and 20 guests had fun participating. New Liskeard Public School, New Liskeard The Live It Up celebration involved all 450 students and 45 staff members walking around the school grounds together. Our Lady of Charity, Thunder Bay Over 350 staff and students at Our Lady of Charity had a lot of fun doing a Live It Up Rock-A-Thon! Scott Street Public School, St. Thomas Over 250 students and staff participated in a variety of fun physical activities that were done both indoors and outdoors. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a healthy snack. St. Margaret School, Thunder Bay This Living School celebrated by playing music over the intercom while all 294 students and 21 staff danced to the Cha Cha Slide, the Twist, the Macarena, Popcorn, and the Hokey Pokey. Greensborough Public School, Markham Students were “clapped” into the gym for an assembly of a warm-up activity and a discussion of the importance of healthy active living! Primary, junior and intermediate activities were run throughout the school building (i.e. dance centre, obstacle courses, running stairs, etc. …). A healthy snack of chocolate milk and bananas was served to all participants. Locke’s Public School, St. Thomas This Live It Up event included all 450 students, 25 staff members and 2 partners who learned new dances (based on divisions) and danced for 20 minutes! Norman G. Powers Public School, Oshawa The school Aerobics Team led the students in a Dance Challenge. The team demonstrated an aerobic activity and then challenged the students! This was followed up with all 500 participants doing the always popular “Cha Cha Slide”!
Sault Ste. Marie Cluster: Parkland Public School and St. Mary's French Immersion School
Concord Public School Students, staff and community partners at Concord participated in a full morning of Live It Up celebrations. After learning the conga and then participating in an additional 20 minutes of teacher-led activities, students, staff and parents attended a food fair where they were exposed to a variety of healthy foods, including Indian, Greek and vegetarian dishes. Recipes were also made available to students so they could eat healthy and diverse foods at home too.
Bishop Gallagher Elementary School Over 600 students from Bishop Gallagher and its feeder schools battled a snow storm to walk 5km around BoulevardLake. After the walk and a healthy snack, they were joined by their MPP, Superintendent, member of city council, manager of community recreation, and members of the health unit, board of education, and After School Community Program. Even an Alberta Clipper couldn’t stop their LivingSchool celebrations!
Our Lady Victory Catholic School The celebrations at Our Lady of Victory lasted two days, beginning with a kick-off assembly to promote heart health and healthy living. Students participated in up to 60 minutes of physical activity, were provide with information on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and were entertained by the Living School Dance and Drama Group as well as a Para-Olympian guest speaker. In addition to getting active and eating healthy, students who were able also donated a toonie to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Shanty Bay Public School Joined by their Superintendent and Mayor, ShantyBay celebrated with a full day of Living School Live It Up Challenge activities. Their first physical activity was a challenge against members of the Barrie Colts hockey team, followed by a warm-up with a fitness trainer. Students and staff then journeyed on a school community walk to the local fire hall. After enjoying the healthy snack provided by the fire department, students headed back to school for an afternoon full of activities, including snowshoeing, luge, sled races, broomball and ultimate frisbee.
Greenborough Public School Greensborough’s Live It Up challenge began with energy and excitement as students clapped and cheered for other students as they entered the gym to start the event. Special guests and partners from health services and recreation and culture, joined in a viewing of a presentation that highlighted all of their accomplishments and successes as a LivingSchool. Following the presentation students and staff participated in the Gator Live It Up Move-a-Thon, led by their very own Fitness Ambassadors, and then enjoyed fruit salad kabobs as a healthy snack.
Prince Charles Public School The Live It Up Challenge event at Prince Charles began with an outdoor Healthy Active Living House Challenge. Following some motivating words from staff and special guests, students assembled in their “houses” and participated in physical activity challenges. Each house also had the opportunity to build excitement by sharing their house cheers. For the final activity, over 400 members of the entire Prince Charles school community passed a hula-hoop over each person without unlinking their arms…sounds like a great challenge indeed!
Dufferin Cluster: Dovercourt Public School, Montrose Delta Alternative School, Essex Public School, Hawthorn II Alternative Bilingual School, Dewson St. Public School, and Perth Avenue Public School All seven schools in the Dufferin Mall Cluster, along with two other neighbouring schools, participated in their Live It Up Community Challenge. One class from each school joined a central event at the Dufferin Mall, while all other classes participated in challenges at their individual sites. Classes from each school proudly carried their LivingSchool flag as they walked to the Dufferin Mall, where they listened to exciting guest speakers, participated in physical activity challenges and enjoy healthy snacks provided by community partners.
Oakville Cluster: West Oak Public School and Mother Teresa Catholic School A variety of school community members joined this cluster for their event, including the Director of Education, the Mayor of Oakville, Toronto Argonaut, Damon Allen, children’s author Joey Schulman, and motivational speaker, Quincy Mack. After the White Oaks High School cheerleaders (who are ranked number one in Canada) showed the students how to really live it up, they all participated in a quality daily fitness break led by West Oak’s athletic council. The Oakville Cluster’s celebrations continued into the evening with a Family Wellness Night that involved 56 different community agencies.
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