PC_Cafe

In 2002 Porirua College recognized that their school, like many others around New Zealand had a problem. The food offered in the school canteen wasn’t providing students with healthy options and what the students were learning about healthy eating and nutrition wasn’t being put into practice. Home Economics teacher, Nicola Potts decided that something needed to change as change had already began by the previous teacher, but it was slow getting buy in from students. They needed to understand the importance of good nutrition for health, growth, development, and for the prevention of such diseases as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The school registered with the National Heart Foundation’s, School Food Programme. A free curriculum-linked programme that aims to support schools to educate their students and wider communities about the importance of healthy eating and nutrition for life long health.

The school achieved its Bronze Heartbeat award (the first level of a three-level award programme) in 2002. The initial changes put in place included revamping the school café through restricting the sale of confectionery, decreasing the sale of unhealthy foods and displaying tasty healthy options in a more appealing way. These changes aimed to support what the students were learning about nutrition in the classroom and to give them the chance to exercise healthy eating habits. The students of Porirua College were involved in the School Food Programme right from the outset. Students surveyed each other to gain feedback on the current café and to get suggestions for new healthy options to sell.

In 2005, Porirua College achieved its Silver Heartbeat award. This is no mean feat as it’s the only secondary school in the greater Wellington area to have such an award. The award is a reflection of Porirua Colleges approach to health and well-being. The school canteen now called PC Café underwent a transformation thanks to talented students who painted a wall to wall mural promoting healthy eating and physical activity. At the end of 2006 to celebrate the Gold award the mural was totally redone by another talented student and at the start of 2007 the students appreciated the change.

There were more changes in 2006 with a new PC Café Manger operating her own business. She is a qualified chief, lives locally and has children herself so she knows the value of “eating well for Health and Well-being”. The menu has been changed and she makes all dishes on site and sells them to students at very reasonable prices. The favorites being Nachos, Toasted Sandwiches with a variety of fillings, Chicken Salad, Panini’s with a variety of fillings, Tuna Sandwiches, and Wedges. At the end of 2006 the Gold Heartbeat award was gained and awarded to start the year off in 2007. PC Café also caters for other local schools everyday thanks to the forward thinking operators who also provide great service and good facilities in the PC Café to encourage students into it. The latest being table tennis tables.

Porirua College’s dedication to health and nutrition has also filtered into the community. Health and Home Economics classes always work to promote “good health”. In 2005 a year 12 class published a fruit and vegetable cookbook which has been circulated throughout the community and have for the last 2 years completed a programme called ‘Defeat Diabetes’ with Ora Toa Health and Partners Porirua. This programme aimed to increase young peoples’ knowledge and awareness about type 2 diabetes.

Messages about nutrition and its benefits are taught in a way that is appealing to the students. In 2005 a College Basketball team’s trip away was used for a sports nutrition unit. The students also plan and prepare healthy food for hospitality classes, run a restaurant and cater for functions within the school. Any profit made from this is put towards the student’s fees so it is a win win situation, good practical experience while paying school fees.

The school ensures that all healthy eating messages are supported by the actions of the whole school community. School staff exercise their own healthy eating habits, and the schools food and nutrition policy which has been revised in 2006 encourages healthy food to be used for fundraising and offered at school events.

For more information contact Sian Bliss, Health Promotion Coordinator, The National Heart foundation. sianb@nhf.org.nz or ph. 04 472 2780.


*Mural designed and painted by PC students in progress October 2005.* *The idea of the mural is to encourage students into the PC Cafe to purchase the "healthy" food that is available to them and to make the environment an enjoyable place to be.*

Porirua College’s dedication to health and nutrition has also filtered into the community. Health and home economics classes have published a fruit and vegetable cookbook which has been circulated throughout the community and have recently completed a programme called ‘Defeat Diabetes’ with Regional Public Health. This programme is aimed to increase young people’s knowledge and awareness about type 2 diabetes. Messages about nutrition and its benefits are taught in a way that is appealing to the students. The recent Basketball team’s trip away was used for a sports nutrition unit, and students plan and prepare healthy food for hospitality classes.

The school ensures that all healthy eating messages are supported by the actions of the whole school community. School staff exercise their own healthy eating habits, and the school's food and nutrition policy encourages healthy food to be used for fundraising and offered at school events.

Porirua College’s Silver heartbeat award is a great success and they are well on the way to achieving their Gold Heartbeat award in the future.

For more information contact Sian Bliss, Health Promotion Coordinator, The National Heart foundation. sianb@nhf.org.nz or ph. 04 472 2780.

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Please e-mail us at poriruacollege@pen.net.nz.