CHEERLEADING, smoothie making, dancing and bench ball were just some of the ways that schoolchildren learned how to stay health in Galashiels.

Galashiels Academy staged the Galahealth Games - a series of workshops based around Health and Wellbeing - to give primary seven pupils a flavour of what life will be like after the summer.

It taught pupils about nutrition, exercise, teamwork, mental health and confidence building and was inspired by the forthcoming Commonwealth Games which this year is to be held in Glasgow.

All the primary sevens from the Galashiels Academy catchment area - Burgh, Balmoral, Langlee, St Peter’s, Glendinning, Tweedbank, Clovenfords, Stow, Heriot and Fountainhall - were invited to take part.

Leanne Monaghan, a Home Economics teacher at Galashiels Academy, said: “The event went really well. We had a positive reaction from the P7s; they were quite shy at first but eventually they came out of their shell.

“We have a number of 'transition days’, including a literacy day, a numeracy day and a health and wellbeing day, which is today.

“It’s not just about physical health. It is about making the pupils aware that there is more to wellbeing than exercise and diet, it’s also about confidence and good mental health.” The pupils were divided into nine teams, each one representing a country taking part in the Commonwealth Games. They were given their own flags, and earned a raffle ticket each time they showed good teamwork, resilience or any other positive quality. At the end, the team with the most raffle tickets was given a trophy for its efforts.

Declan Bell, a P7 pupil at Langlee Primary School, said: “I had fun at the Gala health Day, I did benchball, dance mats and had a go on the target wall. I’m really into sport, such as rugby and football, and I’m Langlee’s Active Schools Co-Ordinator.” And he added: “I’m excited about going to secondary school and I think I’ll try some new sports as well.” As well as introducing the P7s to life at Galashiels Academy, the day was also a chance for the school’s senior pupils to demonstrate their leadership skills by helping out at the event. Head Boy Peter Glenfield, from S6, said: “We are helping the teachers to make sure everything runs smoothly, it’s been good fun. I think Galashiels Academy is quite good when it comes to sport, but whether everyone takes part is a different question - so it’s good that today everyone is getting involved.

“I think health is very important, and confidence is one of the most important things for getting on in life.”