Schools in Cranbourne will receive a State Government funding boost to help get kids moving as they return to school for Term 2.
On Tuesday 27 April, Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards congratulated three schools in Cranbourne – Cranbourne Park Primary School, Cranbourne West Primary School and Lyndhurst Secondary College – that are among 96 schools across the state to receive a $30,000 funding boost under the Active Schools initiative to help introduce a whole-school approach to physical activity.
Cranbourne Park Primary School has received funds to rebuild a bike enclosure and boost its existing bike education program.
Cranbourne West Primary School will use the funding in employing a soccer coach and buying soccer goal posts and implementing a weekly soccer club.
Lyndhurst Secondary College will use its funding for the creation of specific sport spaces for each year level, including equipment such as basketball hoops, outdoor table tennis tables, four square spaces and gaga pits (for high energy active ball games) for junior years.
The cash boost is part of the $24.2 million Active Schools initiative, which is delivering more opportunities for physical activity, sport and active recreation for Victorian students, helping them develop healthy lifelong habits.
As part of the wider Active Schools package, all schools will have access to a new Active Schools Toolkit, which will include tips and tricks on how to make their school and their kids more active.
As well, a new team of physical education leaders will provide on-the-ground advice and support to more than 800 schools to improve their approach to sport, physical education and physical activity.
A number of new and innovative approaches to increasing activity will be trialled through several partnerships, including working with the start-up community to explore how technology can get teens moving and adapting Deakin University’s Transform-Us! Program for secondary schools to get adolescents moving more and sitting less.
A statewide communications campaign designed to encourage children and their families to be more active and promote the importance of physical activity wil also be rolled out as part of the package.
“Sport and recreation are central to our way of life,” Ms Richards said.
“These grants will help make sure more young people in Cranbourne can get the best start in life with an education linked to active and healthy lifestyles.”
