Students lead way on health (+video)

Health promoting leaders Calais Ratahi (left), 11, Tiara Ormsby, 10, Nikita Monk, 9, Journey Anaru, 9, and Isaiah Hiva, 9. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua primary school celebrated a "momentous occasion" after the staff and students' hard work promoting healthy living paid off.

Aorangi School has been named the first in the country to achieve a gold standard accreditation in the Health Promoting Schools programme.

The school held a celebratory assembly last Friday at which they received their gold award from Toi Te Ora Public Health Service.

The silver standard accreditation was achieved in 2013 and the bronze in 2012.

Staff and pupils were also presented with a heart star excellence award from the Heart Foundation, recognising their work around promoting nutrition and physical exercise.

Principal Debra Harrod said a lot of effort and time went into gaining their gold award.

"This is truly a momentous occasion for the school and is a testament to the hard work of all our staff and pupils."

Ms Harrod said healthy living was a key cornerstone on which the school stood.

"It is now who we are," she said.

"We used to have fizzy drink, caramel squares and pies in the tuck shop and decided it wasn't good and couldn't continue on like that. Now we have a healthy food policy, exercise programmes and fruit trees and vegetable gardens."

She said the pupils and staff were rapt with the achievement.

Rotorua Lakes councillor Karen Hunt was invited to the assembly where she said the council was "very proud of the school's significant achievement".

"[Aorangi] is already a school that understands the importance of a healthy community and the pupils will be the ones leading our community in the future.

"It is up to them to take what they have learned and share it with their parents, siblings and peers so others too can understand how vital it is to have a healthy body and mind."

Toi Te Ora Public Health Service health improvement team manager Sharon Muru said the school was "absolutely committed to their journey towards becoming a health promoting school".

"Gaining this [gold award] is an incredibly special achievement but it doesn't end here.

"The pupils and staff here will be leaders and role models for other schools striving for the same outcome."

-For video from the assembly, go to www.dailypost.co.nz