Journey to Beijing
On Wednesday 13th August, Anthony Byrne MP, Member for Holt, visited St Paul Apostle South Primary School in Endeavour Hills to join them on their ‘Journey to Beijing’.
Using pedometers supplied by the Australian Sports Commission, children from St Paul Apostle South will ‘virtually’ walk, skip, jump, run, dance and hop the 9,000km to Beijing by counting the number of steps they make during their Active After-school Communities (AASC) sessions.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games inspire kids in our community. It motivates them to get out there and be active,” said Anthony Byrne.
“Part of the Olympic spirit is coming together and participating in sports and recreational activities, and that’s what the Active After-school Communities program has done for children at St Paul Apostle South Primary School,” said Anthony Byrne.
‘Journey to Beijing’ involves AASC children from across Australia and celebrates the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games. Over 650 kids from eleven schools in the City of Casey will be taking part in the challenge over the course of the Games.
AASC is an Australian Government program run by the Australian Sports Commission. AASC is a free program which offers a range of fun, safe and inclusive physical activities to primary school-aged children in the after school hours environment. It is also designed to build pathways with local community organsations, including sporting clubs. The AASC program is open to all Australian primary schools and out of school hours care services.
St Paul Apostle South Primary School has formed a partnership with Myuna Farm who will provide fresh fruit and vegetables for their AASC program. They have also formed a partnership with the Dandenong Basketball Association who will provide coaches for the basketball sessions being run this term.
For more information about the AASC program visit www.ausport.gov.au/aasc or contact the Regional Coordinator, Mr Brett Johnstone, on (03) 8698 7715 or email brett.johnstone@ausport.gov.au