Boxing champ at health week in St Columbkille’s
An amateur Scottish boxing champion visited a Rutherglen school to kick start their health week.
Shahzman Parnez returned to his former school to host a series of boxing classes for primaries one to seven at St Columbkille’s on Monday, June 19.
The 12-year-old, who now attends Trinity High, joined coach Archie Durie to teach the pupils about their respective sport.
Pupils were also able to take part in other active sessions including gymnastics, volleyball and shinty.
But as well as trying their hand at physical exercises, a mental health nurse taught pupils about the importance of telling someone about the disorder.
Class teacher and health and wellbeing co-ordinator at the school, Chloe Toal, explained:“It was great to have Shahzman back at the school.
“He is a good role model and it was good for the children to see what he has achieved so far.
“It gave the children the opportunity to try different sports that they may not have got the opportunity to do outside of school.
“And it helped encourage them to maybe take them on outside the school.
“When we think of health when we’re younger we immediately think of fitness but it’s also about mental health as well.
“We had a mental health nurse in to talk to the older kids about how to spot it and we had a nurse who taught the children how to do massages.
“The health week was beneficial for the children who got to try the different sports.
“But it was also teaching them about a healthy diet, respecting their body and others.”
Ms Toal added:“We had a sports day last week, organised by teacher Michael Murphy. Liz Arbuckle from Asda Toryglen provided every child with a fresh fruit after the event.
“Karen from Tesco Burnside also brought in different types of fruit for the children to try as part of their five-a-day.”