Healthy Heart Award

Bulls Kindergarten is proud to receive the region’s first Pa Harakeke Healthy Heart Award for an ongoing commitment to healthy eating and active movement.

The Heart Foundation’s Healthy Heart Award for Early Childhood Centres programme aims to encourage early childhood centres to work with whanau and the wider community to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children under five.

Pa Harakeke recognises flourishing healthy practices and is the highest of three award levels in a newly introduced tier system.

Health promotion coordinator Fiona Boyle presented the award during a Healthy Heart party at the kindergarten, recently, where she praised teachers for their motivation and commitment over the past 12 months.

“Right from the start they sought to achieve to the highest level and the enthusiasm of teachers has been really fantastic”, she said.

“Bulls Kindergarten already had a lot of healthy initiatives in place, so it was a matter of building upon and developing these areas through 12 months of hard work.”

Since beginning the programme, Bulls Kindergarten has introduced regular active movement sessions and developed its impressive orchard and vegetable garden.

“Our children love to help out in the vegetable garden - from planting and growing right through to eating”, said teacher Katrina Brewer.

“Through these experiences they are developing healthy eating habits and a love for growing things naturally.”

Ms Brewer has also noticed “amazing progress in children’s confidence and competence as they continue to challenge themselves through active movement”.