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Vancouver Island school says 㽶Ƶֱno㽶Ƶֱ to pop and juice

Water is the only option for thirsty students during this trial run at an elementary school in Duncan㽶Ƶֱs Cowichan Valley.
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About 300 re-usable water bottles have been purchased for students at Alexander Elementary School to use after the school decided on a water-only to drink program. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Officials at Duncan㽶Ƶֱs Alexander Elementary school on Vancouver Island have sent a notice home to parents saying the school will no longer allow pop, iced tea, juice or energy drinks.

The school has gone water-only, after a successful experiment that saw staff and students consume more than 2,000 litres of water towards the end of the last school year. Instead, the school㽶Ƶֱs parent advisory group has donated new re-usable water bottles.

㽶ƵֱWe definitely support it,㽶Ƶֱ said school PAC co-chair Sarah Byrne. 㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm pretty sure we ordered 300 water bottles so that we could give one to every student that was coming and then have a few leftover for any sports teams and stuff,㽶Ƶֱ she said.

Superintendent Rod Allen said the district is 㽶Ƶֱfully supportive㽶Ƶֱ of what the school is doing, 㽶Ƶֱand we wouldn㽶Ƶֱt be surprised if other schools are going to be watching to see how it goes.㽶Ƶֱ

He noted School District 79 (Cowichan Valley) is working to provide all its schools with at least one water bottle filling station.

㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱre certainly supportive of initiatives that promote good health and nutrition for our students and staff,㽶Ƶֱ Allen said. 㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱre not aware of any other schools in our district who are doing a water-only school initiative like Alexander Elementary, but many of our schools have incorporated elements of a healthy lifestyle in their schools.㽶Ƶֱ

For example, school meal programs focused on providing a balanced meal.

㽶ƵֱWe work with a local nutritionist to support talking to kids about nutrition. And many schools are encouraging students to have healthy lunches, healthy snacks, limiting their sugar intake, etcetera, through awareness and education.㽶Ƶֱ

While school officials were praising the move, Facebooker㽶Ƶֱs reactions were mixed about the idea.

Some were moderately supportive, while others were vehemently opposed.

The notice that went out to parents did note, however, the move is only a trail run and will be reevaluated at a later time.

㽶ƵֱWe will try this out for a little while, and see how we do,㽶Ƶֱ it said. 㽶ƵֱWe are looking forward to seeing our learners continue to make healthy choices!!!㽶Ƶֱ

Other commenters also pointed out this initiative takes away the ability for kids to choose for themselves, something that could deter them later on in life.

Canada㽶Ƶֱs Childhood Obesity Foundation advocates for no sugary drinks and information on its website notes: 㽶ƵֱChildren at risk of becoming overweight or obese include children who consume food and drinks that are high in sugar and fat on a regular basis such as fast food, candy, baked goods, and ESPECIALLY pop and other sugar-sweetened beverages.㽶Ƶֱ



Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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