Glashan student Sezwe Nolan is limited to healthy nutrition choices in his school’s lunch room.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle isn’t a choice for staff and students at Glashan Public School – it’s a must.
“We are a very health-conscious school,” says principal Marina Saulig. “We are always talking to students in the halls, in the classroom, about making healthy choices for living.”
A “nutrition break” has been introduced once a day for students needing energy boosts. Muffins, fruit and veggies and fruit are sold for 25 or 50 cents; Saulig says companies donate snacks, or parents make it themselves.
To wash it down, students might think twice before consuming a canned stimulant beverage, such as Red Bull. These drinks contain about 30g of sugar and 80mg of caffeine, roughly that in one cup of coffee.
If caught with one in hand, the drink will be confiscated.
“You are not drinking that on my time in my school,” says Saulig. “Our students are from 12 to 14 years of age. That’s way too young to be drinking the junk.”
Instead, students can visit the school’s vending machine, which sells only juice and water. As of 2004, the Ontario Ministry of Education removed vending machines with soft drinks and unhealthy snacks from schools across the province.
Students are also encouraged to eat lunch at school instead of venturing to a popular nearby poutine stand.
Joan Anne Nolan, the president of the schools’ parent council, says she’s happy her son, who is in Grade 8, is learning the benefits of a healthy lifestyle at a young age.
She says teachers are setting an example for students and put in an “astonishing” amount of overtime to let students use the gym, sometimes staying at school until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday nights for tournaments.
“Glashan as a model has been wonderful,” says Nolan. “I know that this doesn’t happen at other schools. Teachers here aren’t saying one thing and doing another. We are so spoiled.”
Her son, Sizwe Magubane, says the school's rules don’t bother him – in fact, he prefers it this way.
“I think we have it more at our fingertips than other schools do,” says Magubane, who plays volleyball every day at lunch hour. “At first you don’t really like it, but then you get into it.”
As of 2005, the Ontario elementary school curriculum requires all students complete a minimum of 20 minutes of physical activity each day. Glashan’s physical education program has students and teachers meeting this requirement – about three-quarters of the school’s staff coach a team.
When it comes to Glashan’s top sport, volleyball, instead of having one team for boys and one team for girls, the school has an astonishing 14 teams.
“That way, anyone who wants to play can play,” says teacher Mike Catlan, adding that gyms are open to all students before and after school every day to play basketball or volleyball.
He says Glashan has the largest number of student participants on school teams in comparison to other Ottawa schools.
In the case of field trips, staff and students will often walk to the destination instead of arranging transportation. Saulig says this is a huge advantage of being in Centretown and close to museums and libraries.
“We model for the students, and we are committed,” adds Saulig, who first-hand participates in sports with her students. “We had a relay last week, and I almost beat a student. Almost.”