Haslach school integrates nutrition, sports and health into timetable

With the educational initiative “Learn today, apply tomorrow”, the Haslach middle school is launching a comprehensive program that focuses on the holistic development of students. With a focus on health, social issues and crafts, the initiative aims to impart not only theoretical knowledge to young people, but also practical skills and social competencies.

17 students will begin their middle school career with the new school concept, the remaining classes will also start in the fall. Director Franz Zinöcker explains what it is all about: “It’s about your own health with sport, nutrition and health education, about raising awareness of health and social professions, about social skills and about practical intelligence in manual work. These focal points lay a solid foundation for the holistic development of the young people and prepare them optimally for professional and private challenges.”

Mayor Dominik Reisinger adds: “The new mission statement is intended to set a new focus, and it is important to take modern, forward-looking methods and skills into account. The mere transmission of factual knowledge is a thing of the past – interactive, practice-oriented, interdisciplinary and with a high degree of personal responsibility: this is what education of the future looks like.”

Reliable network

With the Haslach Health Center and the local business association “Haslach aktiv”, the school has a comprehensive network at its side. “We will establish even stronger contacts with local companies than before, for example for projects. As a result, we naturally also hope that the companies will be perceived as future employers. We want to be visible in the school,” says “Haslach aktiv” chairman Günther Wolfmayr. Doctor Erwin Rebhandl will also hold personal lessons together with other experts from the Haslach Health Center: “I am convinced that the students will not only learn a lot for their own health, but also for a possible future career choice. The connection between knowledge previously learned in theory and later applied in practice is very important and we are achieving this with the new concept.”

“Health and Social Affairs”

The new educational initiative will integrate additional content and projects into the curriculum. The introduction of the new weekly lesson “Health and Social Affairs” is particularly noteworthy. This lesson places a strong focus on personal health, supported by theoretical and practical teaching units. “Imparting personal health is not only practiced in the new weekly lesson, but is generally given high priority at the school. Exercise plays a major role in this. We offer our students four to seven gym lessons per week with elective subjects and the new weekly lesson. We will also be taking part in more sporting events,” explains the school’s director.

Expertise in the community

The mayor is particularly impressed by the school’s networking with local institutions: “With this setup, we have a unique selling point that extends far beyond the district’s borders. In the community, we have exactly the expertise and know-how that are necessary for the new school focus. Companies and students alike will benefit from this, and as the school’s sponsor, the community will of course support this as much as possible. I am personally a fan of such new ideas.”