Friday 5 February 2016
The Weekend Sun
22
Bay schools serving up KickStart Breakfasts As the school year begins again, MP’s Simon Bridges and Todd Muller are pleased that 93 schools in the Bay of Plenty region are serving KickStart Breakfasts. The KickStart Breakfast programme is a partnership between government, Sanitarium, Fonterra and the community. In 2013 the government provided $9.5 million
over five years to expand the programme from two to five mornings per week and to any school that wants or needs it, regardless of decile. “The schools that offer the KickStart Breakfast programme in our region are ensuring their students have a bowl of Weet-Bix and milk before the school day starts. These schools have embraced the initiative wholeheartedly and this helps ensure its success,” says MP Simon Bridges. “The majority of parents in our region do a superb job, but we want to make sure all young Kiwis have the chance to make the most of their schooling.” Since the government expanded the programme, 28 more schools in the Bay of Plenty region have started serving
KickStart Breakfasts. “Thanks to KickStart, students are healthier, better behaved, and more focused, with 99.5 per cent of schools satisfied or very satisfied with the Kickstart Breakfast programme.” MP Todd Muller says, “As the former Fonterra executive involved with the Kickstart breakfast and the expansion to five days a week, it’s great to see local kids starting the day with full tummies. Breakfast is so important to prepare kids for a day of learning.” This week, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley reported that the six millionth KickStart Breakfast was served, showing the success of the programme not just here in the Bay, but nationwide.
Who’s doing good in the hood? Ngawaiata McAllister welcomes her daughter Te Aumihi Beverly weighing 3530g (7lbs 13oz) on January 30.
You have won this week’s Prize Pack from Nappies for Less, Casandra Jane Photography & Baby on the move.
For all your Baby Gear & Nappies. Cameron Rd, Ph 07 571 4446 www.nappiesplus.co.nz
View and purchase your photos in the Photo Gallery at www.sunlive.co.nz
Community groups doing good in their neighbourhoods can now apply for a share of more than $1 million from Z Energy.
Stephanie Harvey and Jordan Hurley welcome their daughter Kharma weighing 2640g (5lbs 13oz) on January 29. Sister to Dacoda, 9, Cardin, 7, Taya, 6, Khorys, 4, Braxton, 2, and Roam, 2. Creative portrait photography: Rental & sales of baby maternity, newborn & families. products. 4 Lantana Pl, Ph 0274 283 526 Mt Maunganui www.casandrajane.co.nz Ph 07 575 7806
Applications for Good in the Hood are open from February 1-29. Z Energy’s community manager Christine Langdon says this year is all about providing support to local groups, big and small, that are making a difference in their community. Every Z Energy station will again be giving away $5000 to help their neighbourhoods. Of this $5000 per station, $4000 will be distributed between four neighbourhood groups or projects that help people who need it. Each Z Energy station will select the four groups that are supported by their site in 2016, with customers invited to
vote on them. Each of the successful groups will receive a share of the $4000 per Z Energy site, with customers having the opportunity to decide how much each group gets by voting with an orange token each time they visit Z Energy during May. “The remaining $1000 will be used by our local retailers throughout the year to support other neighbourhood projects and initiatives around each Z Energy station,” says Christine. Interested groups that meet the criteria of helping people and having a specific need should visit the service station near where they operate to say hello and have a chat about the good they do. To apply to be part of the Z Energy Good in the Hood programme for 2016, visit the website, www.z.co.nz/GoodintheHood
Ultra-fast broadband rolled out to 55 schools
ty Ce
elcome
Under the government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative programmes, 55 schools throughout the Bay of Plenty now have access to faster and more reliable broadband. Of these schools, 25 are based in the Tauranga electorate, while the remaining 30 are located in the Bay of Plenty electorate and surrounding areas.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says the government has met its target of getting all state and integrated schools access to better broadband speeds by 2016 “on time and on budget”. Under the two programmes, more than 2500 schools throughout New Zealand have had fibre laid to the gates which will benefit some 782,000 students. David Tauranga