The pupils of IKC De Meerpaal and their families generally have little money to spare at home. More than half of the pupils are newcomers: children who have fled their homeland with their parents because of war or other reasons. Together, the pupils have more than 26 different cultural backgrounds.

Focus on a healthy lifestyle

De Meerpaal therefore already faces enough challenges. Parents who do not speak the language, learning delays among the pupils, and differing views among parents due to cultural differences. Yet they have been able to call themselves a Healthy School for almost 10 years now, with no fewer than four theme certificates. Anja Hepp was deputy head at the school until the end of 2021 and, as Healthy School coordinator, was responsible for the long-term focus on a healthy lifestyle. She has recently retired.

Started more than 10 years ago

Before obtaining the Healthy School theme certificates, De Meerpaal was already working on various programmes promoting a healthy lifestyle. Anja: “The municipality gave us funding for Lekker Fit! and Lentekriebels. Through Lekker Fit!, Monique Boonekamp from the Municipal Health Service and I already saw each other regularly. Monique told me about Healthy School, and in 2013 we applied for our first theme certificate, for the Nutrition theme.”

This is what we will continue doing

Anja immediately saw the value of obtaining the Healthy School theme certificates. “It seemed like a good idea for the long term. We were already doing a lot, and with the Healthy School approach we could turn that into one clear plan. The certificates also enabled us to show the outside world clearly—the parents, our board and the municipality: this is what we do, and this is what we will continue doing.” Anja and Monique started out together as Healthy School coordinator and Healthy School adviser and soon formed a larger working group with several enthusiastic teachers. Anja: “It is a requirement from Healthy School now, but even then it seemed like a logical step to involve the teachers.”

Problem

The first theme certificate the school obtained, in 2014, was Nutrition. According to Anja, it was very clear that this was an important theme for the school. “There was a major problem there. Many pupils at our school live in poverty and, for example, came to school without lunch. On the other hand, many families from other cultures see drinking soft drinks and eating sweets as a sign of prosperity. Now that they are in the Netherlands, they can afford it and do not understand why they should drink water instead.”

Making use of the surroundings

Exercise and sport were also a logical choice. Anja: “We were already doing a lot in this area. As a school in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, you also receive more funding for community sports. We made use of the facilities in our surroundings, such as the skate park, football field and swimming pool. It is also easy to get parents involved. We think it is important too, because exercise has such a positive effect on learning.”

Parents’ room

The theme certificates for Relationships and Sexuality and Wellbeing followed as well. During the weekly Parents’ Room sessions, mothers openly discussed what the lessons would cover in terms of sexuality. This also led to some tension because of the differing views in the various cultures. Anja: “Some mothers wondered: do you really need to tell them all this? We explained that the pupils could also look it up themselves on the internet, and together we concluded that it would be more pleasant if they heard more about it from their own parents and at school. But we also reached compromises and, for example, offered Year 8 the Year 7 curriculum.”

Looking at what does work

The fact that the four theme certificates have been renewed year after year for so long is a matter of persevering, Anja explains: “Once you have implemented your plans, you must not think: that is it. You also have to maintain them and keep working on them.” When working with Healthy School, she does not strive for perfection, she says: “Sometimes I would already have liked to see more results from everything we do. It is three steps forward and one step back, partly because as a school we are constantly dealing with new families. In addition, it was not a priority for our school board. But Monique always encouraged me to look at what had already succeeded.”

Anja’s tips

  • Don’t think: I’ll fill in the plan and then I’m finished. Implement your plan and stick to it.
  • Make use of your school’s surroundings.
  • Seek cooperation with the Municipal Health Service, welfare organisations, sports clubs and the municipality.