In order to achieve these objectives RedBranch have helped us to get
knowledge and contacts for various activities that can be put in place for
students.
Already we are well underway to fulfilling these objectives. First of all
we are continuing with last years much popular Hip-Hop dancing with Debs. On
Friday the 6th of October there were two workshops held for both 1st and 2nd
years. These workshops were thoroughly enjoyed by all, and as a result of
the enthusiasm shown by the girls, classes will be starting after the
November break.
Already a new activity has been introduced. This is yoga which has never
been done by any of the girls before, but now a number of 3rd and 6th year
girls are participating in this activity every Tuesday evening for an hour
and a half with Siobhan Shinnors. Students feel that it is a good way to
relax after a long day of school and they find it easier to study when they
go home. They feel that it is enjoyable, a bit of fun and is a nice way to
get exercise that they wouldn’t usually get. Classes will run for eight
weeks.
As another part to the introduction of new activities, Taekwon-Do will be
starting in the new year. Students are looking forward to this new activity.
We are continuing to run our healthy eating campaign. We are still
selling fruit to both students and teachers. Our sales are continuing to
increase from week t week.
The sales of lunches are going well. A selection of wraps, rolls and
sandwiches are for sale every lunchtime. As well as water, orange juice and
dried fruit snacks, smoothies will be available from next week.
We have also welcomed new members to the ‘Teenage Lifestylers’ as the 5th
year and transition year students have joined.
By Ciara Walsh and Caoibhe MacNamara
Teenage Lifestyle – A Healthy Option
at Scarriff Community College
Crisps and chocolate every day. Little
exercise. A lack of awareness of the relationship between diet and health. These
were just some of the issues brought to the attention of Senior Cycle girls by
an organisation called Redbranch. Following their Workshop in our school, and
feeling that we could do something to make a positive impact on the situation, a
number of Leaving Cert and Fifth Year girls formed a group called the “Teenage
Lifestylers.” Our main aims were to raise health awareness and help improve
the diet and lifestyles of students in the school.
We felt that we could preach all we
liked to fellow students about the dangers of junk food, but without providing
an alternative we would have little effect. Fruit seemed to us to be the ideal
school snack – it’s tasty, nutritious and full of energy – without the
calories, added sugars and chemicals of junk food. We believed that if we sold
fruit at break and lunch times we would enable students to stop snacking on junk
and encourage a habit of healthy eating.
Through Redbranch we were put in touch
with a local supplier of organic fruit, while the school helped us organise two
locations where the fruit could be sold. We felt that variety was important to
encourage return business, so we decided to sell apples, bananas, mandarin
oranges, kiwis, grapes and pears. We also make popcorn and Rice Krispie cakes
– for those who perhaps aren’t ready to make the leap away from snacks just
yet, or for those who just fancy the occasional change.
Our experience (and sales) so far tells
us that students were very willing to make a change to healthier foods. We have
had no problem selling the fruit and we have a very good supply of regular
customers. We also began to take orders from a number of teachers at the school,
and now every Tuesday we deliver a week’s supply of organic fruit to the
staffroom.
Redbranch returned to the school to give
a workshop to First Years, and following this we organised a poster competition
– raising their awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and living.
Throughout the year we have continued to
consult with Redbranch and our Home Economics teacher, learning more about diet,
exercise and health. We are attempting to incorporate what we learn into the
activities of the “Teenage Lifestylers”. For example every Thursday after
school, we attend a one hour hip-hop class – where we exercise (quite
strenuously!) but also learn modern dance and have a lot of fun. These classes
have been so successful that there are currently two running, and we intend to
organise them again next year.
Overall, we feel that we have contributed to a positive change in the
lifestyle habits of many in the school. It is our intention to keep the group
going and develop new ways of raising awareness, encouraging, and helping
organise ‘healthy living’ activities.
Caoibhe McNamara and Emya McKenna on behalf of Teenage Lifestylers, Scarriff
Community College, Scarriff, Co. Clare.
March 2006
