Soaring towards a healthier lifestyle
Hawthorn FC mascot Hawka with Sport and Outdoor Recreation students
Healthy eating and physical activity are part of a new program for Grade 3 students developed by Monash University students and the Hawthorn Football Club.
The new program, Hawks in Schools, launched yesterday, required students from the Faculty of Education’s Sport and Outdoor Recreation course to work with Hawthorn Football Club’s Community Manager Dayna Mackenzie to develop and deliver a community outreach program in local schools.
Hawks in Schools is a partnership between the University, Hawthorn Football Club and the Monash City Council.
The program is run over two sessions with the first session involving group discussions on healthy eating followed by participation in a range of physical activities.
The primary school students are encouraged to complete a heath and activity diary which challenges the students to write down everything they eat as well as any physical activity they have undertaken throughout the week.
During the second session two Hawthorn players will talk to the Grade 3 students and check their diaries before assisting the Monash students in running some fun team-based activities for the primary students.
Senior lecturer Dr Ruth Jeanes, from the Faculty of Education, said developing the program in collaboration with the Hawthorn Football Club gave the Monash students an opportunity to apply the skills they have learnt through their Sport and Outdoor Recreation course to a practical in-school program.
“The challenge for the students was they had to develop a program that would provide school students with information and guidance on developing healthy lifestyles that could be successful delivered into schools with the support of players from Hawthorn,” Dr Jeanes said.
“The Hawks in Schools program has given the 15 students involved invaluable experience they will be able to use in their future careers in sport and outdoor recreation.”
Sport and Outdoor Recreation student Stuart Pearson said it was a perfect opportunity to put the theoretical knowledge he had developed from his course into practice.
"Being able to plan, create and then implement a healthy eating and living program has helped develop many important skills and as a result I believe I am more prepared and confident to administer such a program in the future,” Stuart said.
“Having an opportunity to work with the Hawthorn football club has been a brilliant learning experience.”
The schools involved this year are Burwood East PS, Weeden Heights PS, Pinewood PS, Syndal South PS, Jells Park PS, Camelot Rise PS, Mulgrave PS, Glendal PS.
“With the success of the program so far it is hoped that we will be able to extend the program into more schools next year,” Dr Jeanes said.