By Melissa Meehan
STUDENTS at Hampton Park Primary School received a visit from local MP and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Tim Holding on Friday.
Mr Holding visited the school and spoke at their final assembly about the Government’s Free Fruit Friday initiative for students in years prep to grade two.
Each Friday, Hampton Park Primary School will join more than 300 Victorian government schools enjoying fresh fruit funded by an $11 million grant.
The initiative has been introduced into Victorian schools as an attempt to combat health problems such as diabetes and obesity.
Schools will receive an allocation of 70 cents per student each week as part of the governmental grant.
The grant gives schools the opportunity to work with retailers and producers in their local community to form a healthy alternative to sugar-filled snacks.
Hampton Park Primary School will work together with local retailer Four Seasons Fruit Market.
Principal Christine Wakeling said that the initiative would give students a taste of some fruits that they might not have access to regularly.
Winners of the Hampton Park Primary School Talent Quest treated Mr Holding to a special performance.
“Each week we will try to include some different fruits, watermelon, passion fruit, guava, pineapple and many others,” Ms Wakeling said.
She said that the school does not only promote healthy eating on Fridays but encourages students to bring fruit to school on every day during the week.
“We have two fruit breaks a day, where the students can take time out of their school work and fill up on fruit,” Ms Wakeling said.
Mr Holding also presented awards to students for academic achievement, something Ms Wakeling says is a strong focus at the school.
“Academic achievement is something we all strive for at Hampton Park.
“It was really exciting to have Mr Holding present the awards to the students,” Ms Wakeling said.
Ms Wakeling described the Talent Quest as an exciting student project.
She congratulated the junior student representative council for taking responsibility for all aspects of the competition, saying it was a huge success.
“The junior council were in charge of advertising, selecting the judging criteria and other important behind-the-scenes aspects of the performance,” Ms Wakeling said.
Performances included rap dancing, singing and the Macarena.
