Join the Action! Hyacks in Motion May 13th!
Fourth Annual Hyacks in Motion Family Run/Walk
Families, classes, teams, individuals! Join the action this Saturday at Queen’s Park in New Westminster for the 4th Annual Hyacks in Motion Family Run/Walk. You can register online now for the 3 km run/walk or sign in at the park from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. The Run/Walk starts at 10:30 a.m. Join in the action, and then check out the Health and Physical Literacy Fair. Live performance by Saximus Maximus!
Check out the 2017 Hyacks in Motion Poster
Register online now
Note: The first 200 pre-registration participants that sign in with a non-perishable food item for the Elizabeth Fry Society of New Westminster will receive a free “Hyacks in Motion” T-shirt!
The New Westminster Secondary School Sport Leadership Cohort and Healthy Schools New West are working together to promote a healthier and more active New Westminster by bringing community, schools, families and students together. All proceeds will support the leadership cohort and health and physical literacy education programming for students in New Westminster Schools.
What is Physical Literacy?
Malik Shabab, Dillon Cusker, Sarban Sidhu, Jashan Taggar and Connor Pattison: sports leadership students at New West Secondary School lacing up for a fundraising run/walk in 2015.
Chad Oatway is a Physical Health and Sport Leadership Teacher, Football and Wrestling Coach, and Ski and Snowboard Club Coordinator at New Westminster Secondary School. He said while sport has been an important component of physical education in schools, physical literacy is a term that captures the idea of physical movement as an important part of healthy living.
“I see some kids who have a high level of athleticism for their age group but who may not be willing to try other things because they are unknown. It might be a football player who can’t use a bat to hit a ball or a dancer who doesn’t know how to run. You may not be an all star, but a base level of movement ability, and an understanding of body movement, is part of the process of learning. We are emphasizing the process rather than the outcome.”
The process can help students incorporate physical literacy as part of good health that supports physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Oatway noted that the term “Hyacks” is a verb that evolved from local First Nations languages that means ‘swift of foot’ or ‘run fast.’ “We are taking a dynamic approach to being active by engaging the community through this kind of event,” he said.
Schools on Mats…
Fundraising is part of the Hyacks in Motion event. One of the goals is to encourage tumbling movement skills in elementary schools by building on a pilot program at Lord Kelvin,Qayqayt and Richard McBride elementary schools. Oatway explained that a travelling tumbling mat on loan from BC Wrestling made the rounds of the three schools earlier this year. With the help of Douglas College and NWSS students, along with Community School staff, younger students learned fundamental movement skills.
As for this Saturday: “I just want to see people from all different walks of life in this community, young to old, come on out, put a smile on their face, visit some of the health vendors, and see what’s going on. We are promoting an active, engaged citizenship in our community!”