Saints players join Southampton school pupils for Healthy High 5 challenge
Pupils from a Southampton school were joined by three Southampton footballers and Saints mascot Sammy Saint as they took on the Healthy High 5 Award this week.
Hollybrook Junior School on Seagarth Lane themed this week (30 September – 4 October) specifically for health and wellbeing and took part in additional physical activity sessions, yoga, mindfulness and healthy eating. They were also joined on Wednesday 2 October by Sammy Saint and the Saints Under 23s players Nathan Tella, Will Ferry and Enzo Robine who came to meet the pupils, talk to them about being a professional sportsperson and help promote positive health messages to the children.
The Healthy High 5 Award is a Southampton-based award for schools to improve the health and wellbeing of their pupils. The award scheme is run by jointly by Solent NHS Trust and Southampton City Council.
The award consists of five achievable ‘stars’ that when completed together has a positive impact on health and wellbeing for pupils.
Ewen O’Brien, Year 5 Teacher and PE Leader at Hollybrook Junior School, said: “It has been a fantastic week for the pupils, it was amazing to see the enthusiastic participation and the impact it has had on the children, who have said they want to explore more sports and look after their health and wellbeing.”
Vicki Pennal, Healthy High 5 Project Lead at Solent NHS Trust, said: “We have seen many great examples of schools getting involved in the award. Hollybrook Junior School pupils have had a fantastic week taking part in a diverse range of activities relating to health and wellbeing. As a school they have worked very hard to complete the award and continue to maintain the standards of the award throughout the school year, which is very commendable.”
Year 6 pupil Immy, said: “I was really excited about the week and it has encouraged me to be more confident with sports. I feel inspired to get out more and do more activities.”
Molly, a Year 5 pupil, said: “The week has taught us to be positive about ourselves and to take part in other activities.”
Cllr David Shields, Cabinet Member for Healthier and Safer Communities, said: “I’m so pleased to see the enthusiastic response by pupils to our physical activity programme in Healthy High 5. We really appreciate the Under 23 Saints coming out to show their support for the pupils and serve as role model athletes for them.”
Hollybrook Junior School is a Saints Foundation partner school and benefits from a range sports clubs and access to special events such as this assembly and much more.
By being a partner school, Southampton primary schools can also be a part of Saints Foundations Premier League Primary Stars programme, accessing events at St Mary’s Stadium and Southampton FC’s training ground, competitions to win prizes for pupils and the school and various tournaments and festivals.
Tim Stevens, Premier League Primary Stars Coordinator, said: “Having Southampton FC linked with your school can add value to what is being taught in the curriculum. The links that sport has with literacy, numeracy, PSHE and healthy living can really engage vast amounts of pupils. At Saints Foundation we use the clubs brand to do this and have had large success in primary schools and secondary within the Southampton area. Being able to use role models like the U23 players today, gives pupils more context around what they are learning at school and how it can benefit them.”
Mount Pleasant Junior School and other schools throughout the city recently completed the ‘Half Marathon Challenge’ whereby pupils completed a half marathon distance over a two-week period and received an ABP Southampton Half Marathon Medal.
In the New Year there also plans for a ‘Full Marathon Challenge’ for Healthy High 5 Schools to take part in.
Last week, pupils from Woodlands School and Fairisle Junior School took part in additional physical activities with a giant inflatable football pitch and a mini warrior course with Active Nation and the Southampton School Nursing Service, as part of National Fitness Day, to continue their Healthy High 5 Award journey.
The award is supported by partner agencies across the city including Saints Foundation, Active Nation, Young Health Champions, The Golden Mile, The Daily Mile and Energise Me.
If you are a parent, speak to your child’s head teacher about getting your school signed up for the Healthy High Five Award. If you are a head teacher or parent and would like more information please visit www.southampton.gov.uk/healthyhigh5 to sign up, please call 0300 123 6661 or email snhs.publichealthnursingsouthampton@nhs.net
If you want to find out more about being a partner school with the Saints foundation please contact Tom Grevatt at tgrevatt@saintsfoundation.co.uk