NB grant provides after-school programs

OXFORD HILLS — A $65,000 grant from the New Balance Foundation is providing students in schools across SAD 17 with free after-school programs designed to improve health and wellness.

A portion of the grant funds a new Physical Activity Coordinator position for schools in the district.

Saara Leduc, who has been active in promoting student health in the area for years, has held the position since grant funding came through earlier in the year.

Since March, Leduc has run after-school clubs for students at Rowe, Paris and Harrison elementary schools and says that they have been a success.

There are limited after-school activities for students in SAD 17 and those that exist don't focus on physical activity, she says.

Organizing activities like the Adventure Club at Rowe School in Norway is important, Leduc says, especially for kids who might not be interested in "working out" or playing competitive sports.

"Kids think in order to be physically active they have to be a competitive athlete," says Leduc. "In my version ...  I'm trying to show them that they don't have to."

The program's goal is to get kids outdoors and moving around with fun and varied activities.

From the response she has received from students so far, she thinks the idea will be successful.

"Most of the kids didn't want to leave when the club was over at 4:30 in the afternoon," Leduc says. "They were begging me to go longer."

Leduc is also working with SAD 17 Health Coordinator Pat Carson to organize a summer program at Roberts Farm Preserve in Norway this year.

Carson envisions 8-10 different programs for students at Roberts Farm that emphasise physical activity and healthy diet.

In the coming year, Carson and Leduc want to expand after-school programs across the district and create year-round activities for students.

Leduc says the fact that programs are free opens them up for more families who might not be able to afford the program if it were fee-based.

The New Balance grant covers the program for three years and Leduc says that the district will need to work hard to prove it should qualify for it again. 

"We have a lot to prove in three years," Leduc says.

"We need to show them that by what we've been doing kids are more active and if these [activities] are available, they'll do it."