The Gulf English School (GES) has joined in the Qatar Active Schools (QAS) government initiative, which is aimed at promoting health and wellness among pupils through being physically active.  

The programme which has been developed by Aspetar and Aspire Academy, seeks to integrate several minutes of physical activity into each hour that the children are at school, said a statement.

The new scheme will be delivered through the school’s lessons and recess periods and now, with more and more pupils joining swimming, basketball and football clubs, some 80 to 140 pupils take part in an activity every day, it said.

Rebecca Cruickshank, faculty co-ordinator for Physical Education, who provided training to the school’s infant and junior teachers in September, said: “Our teachers have now already instigated workout activities with the pupils, who thoroughly enjoy these short exercise sessions.

“Establishing an exercise habit early on is extremely important in enabling young people to become independent exercisers and develop and maintain a fit and active lifestyle.”

“This is a great initiative for us to support as it is really beneficial for our pupils’ wellbeing.  They gain a health and fitness perspective which helps to improve their sports performance as well as encouraging a healthy lifestyle.  Most of all, they are really enjoying it”.  

Meanwhile, the school also has a sound physical education curriculum, a growing competitive sports programme, and a broad enrichment programme that includes activities such as scuba diving, horse riding, shooting, fencing, knitting, art and even fashion design.

It is also one of only six Doha schools selected to take part in the School Olympics Programme.  

GES has also introduced the Qatar Stars League (QSL) in this term, whereby schoolchildren take part in ’Wake and Shake’ sessions before school, a new kind of ‘Breakfast Club’ for fitness for primary and secondary levels. - TradeArabia News Service