Principal Rikki Horlock of Pamapuria School is supporting an idea requested by new entrant teacher Dawn Reid, to have all tamariki sit in class to eat morning tea and lunch.

The idea was pitched as a beneficial way to ensure all kai was being eaten, and modelling healthy eating habits.  Miss Reid believes this will be a prime time to slow children down and have them sitting, enjoying their kai in a comfortable setting, without rushing out with nothing in their tummy to play.  This new routine will fit nicely with the already established routines of distributing the milk and fruit the school receives. Routine is very important for enabling the tamariki at Pamapuria School to succeed later on in life, through learning lifelong skills.

To launch the new initiative, Rikki gave a great korero during assembly explaining to all children and staff that this new way of eating is for the health of everyone and also brings in the safety components of children sitting down while eating.

Sport Northland Energizer, Louisa Cooper who works with Pamapuria School says “it’s really fantastic to see Pamapuria School making small steps to change through speaking up for the well-being of the students and teachers. Children running around with food in their mouths is certainly not a good thing as choking can happen, and rubbish usually gets scattered all over the school. It’s a great opportunity to promote healthy food options as well”.

Congratulations and well done to the staff at Pamapuria for implementing these changes for the health and success of your tamariki.