A silver lining to lockdown for Mt St Thomas students

As the greater Illawarra region enters it's third month of the current COVID-enforced lockdown, the students of Mt St Thomas Primary School are doing their best to maintain a message of happiness and healthiness.

Stage Three students from the Wollongong Primary School have taken their involvement with the Illawarra Hawks Peoplecare 'Healthy Habits' program to a whole new level in the last few weeks, with many even creating their own 'Healthy Habits' brochures.

Sports Coordinator and Stage 3 Classroom Teacher at Mount St Thomas Public School, Elleni Mackay, said the content tied perfectly with the health unit currently being run at the school.

"Our students have found the online program beneficial and the content delivered is really relevant to our student learning and understanding. The students thoroughly enjoyed engaging in the interactive activities and having opportunities to share their ideas and reflections with the whole Stage over Zoom," Mackay said.

"This online opportunity was something all the students benefited from in a time that is difficult for everyone. It was fabulous to have the opportunity to learn and engage together and have this linked to our local team [The Illawarra Hawks] that so many of us support," Mackay said.

"After participating in the Zoom, we had students create brochures encouraging children their age to engage in healthy habits as discussed and learned during the online session. The children produced some outstanding pieces that portray key messages regarding healthy eating, diet, exercise and positive mindset," Mackay said.

The Hawks have been blown away by the creativity and commitment of the students and teachers at Mt St Thomas Primary School, with Illawarra Hawks community and engagement officer, Tim Coenraad, saying the proactivity of the school was commendable and something parents in the region should be extremely proud of.

"This type of positive messaging is exactly what kids this age need as they mould their learning habits and try to understand a bit more about what makes someone happy and healthy," Coenraad said.

"The Peoplecare 'Healthy Habits' Program has gone virtual over the last few months and continues to address the healthy habits of kids in our region at a time when everyone is doing it a bit tough. The tools and ideas kids can practice and learn through the program at this challenging time are even more important now and will hopefully hold them in good stead the longer this uncertainty in our lives continues," Coenraad said.

If you would like to sign your school up for the Peoplecare Healthy Habits program, please contact Tim on community@hawks.com.au

If you would like more information on the Hawks Healthy Habits program, please click below.