News Release                   For Immediate Release

June 3, 2005

Winners Announced in Turn Off the Screens Week Challenge

Participation in the third annual Turn Off the Screens Week challenge increased in both the number of schools participating and the number of students taking part.  This year, 36 schools in Grey Bruce took part in this annual campaign. Student involvement was up, with 2, 897 participation logs, which is an increase of 446 logs over 2004.

Turn Off the Screens is designed to raise awareness of the amount of time kids spend in front of the television and computer.  This year’s numbers indicate that more local students turned off their computers, their televisions, and their video games in favour of physically active pastimes. 

Schools with 50% or more returns of completed log sheets receive sport packs donated by Wintergreen. This year’s top four schools are Sullivan Central with 75%, James A Magee with 56%, Elgin Market with 55%, and Lucknow with 50%.

Eric Marshall, a Grade 2 student at Sydenham School in Owen Sound, is this year’s winner of the grand prize. He will receive a $250 gift certificate for sports equipment..  Eric really enjoyed taking part in the challenge, especially playing with his friends.  “It was a lot of fun… we did all the stuff I like to do but can’t when I’m watching TV.”  Eric is thinking of using his gift certificate from Grey Bruce Partners in Health for a new bike or a pair of roller blades.

The other top winners of $50 gift certificates for sports equipment are Tonya Weiss from Immaculate Conception, Cynthia Verdonk from Derby Public, Savannah Bell from Keppel –Sarawak Elementary, and Marissa Merrifield from Macphail Memorial Elementary.

Today, more than half of children are not physically active enough for good health.  The physical activity guidelines for children and youth recommends 90 minutes of daily activity – 30 minutes at a vigorous level, like soccer, and 60 minutes at a moderate pace.

“The goal for this year’s challenge was to increase family time by reducing the time spent in front of the T.V. and computer,” said Public Health Nurse Betty Perkins, organizer of the challenge. “Comments from the school surveys indicate that the children were more active and it made families aware of how much time they do spend watching TV.  Students had an opportunity to enjoy alternative activities with their families and talk about it the next day at school,” said Perkins

Parents and schools interested in next year’s Turn Off the Screens challenge are invited to call (519) 881-1920 1-800-7714, or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.”

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Attachments:

Winners List

For more information:

Betty Perkins, Public Health Nurse

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920

Winners List

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE WINNTERS:  Frisbees and Skipping Ropes

WINNING SCHOOLS