Catholic schools across the Archdiocese have jumped on board with the ACT Government’s Fresh Tastes initiative that encourages healthy eating habits and provides valuable resources and learning opportunities surrounding health and nutrition.

Mother Teresa School in Harrison is the first Catholic school to graduate from the three-year program that teaches students positive food habits through fun, hands-on learning.  

On the 7^th of August 18 schools graduated alongside Mother Teresa School at an event hosted by the school that celebrated the newly certified ‘Little Experts’.

Deputy Director of Catholic Education Angus Tulley put his healthy food knowledge to the test in a game show against the students and Suzanne Orr MLA, Member for Yerrabi presented Mother Teresa School with a graduating gift – a vertical garden.

Students were entertained by the Nutrition Magician, and attendees were spoiled with healthy food options served by the students of Mother Teresa School.

Mother Teresa’s garden features worm farms, chickens and an orchard of fruit trees that the school’s appointed ‘Green Rangers’ tend to. The produce from each harvest is then turned into delicious healthy dishes for the school canteen that is then sold to raise more money for seedlings.

As part of the program all staff participated in a nutrition training session with a dietician from Nutrition Australia.

Fresh Tastes has provided the school with refillable water stations, reusable water bottles and discounts for families to purchase fruit and vegetables from partnering businesses. All staff participated in a nutrition training session with a dietician from Nutrition Australia.

Mother Teresa REC and Fresh Tastes Coordinator Anne Leet said there have been many highlights over the years with implementing Fresh Tastes.

“Hopefully this is not a one off program,” she said.

“The staff, parents and mostly the students are enthusiastic about what we have done and we are dreaming of what we can do.”

We congratulate Mother Teresa School and look forward to more of our Catholic schools graduating from the wonderfully beneficial Fresh Tastes Program.