Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet.  A poor diet can have an injurious impact on health, causing deficiency diseases, health-threatening conditions and common chronic systematic diseases. Today the girls were informed about the importance of a well balanced and healthy diet whilst also being able to enjoy samples of food that fulfill these criteria.

Janet Johnston, a nutritionist, enlightened the girls about why the teenagers’ diet should sustain growth and promote good health.  This is the time when they have begun to develop real independence and are making decisions about the food they eat. Worryingly, the rate of type 2 diabetes is on the rise in adolescents. Fortunately there are plenty of healthy options available at school and home for healthy meals and snacks.



A VARIETY OF THE DELICIOUS SAMPLES OF FOOD PROVIDED FOR LUNCH.



Eating healthy can sometimes be tough. After all, teens are busier and busier with school, part-time jobs and other activities. What a teen eats is not always high on the priority list. While the ill effects may not show now, eventually poor nutrition habits will catch up with teens. In fact, many teens show the effects of less than desirable nutrition practices now, even though they may not know it.

Specific nutrients are especially important during the teen years. Lack of iron can lead to anaemia, and sluggish feelings during the day, negatively affecting alertness in school, at work and even during sporting activities. Iron intake is especially important for teenage girls, as menstruation depletes iron whilst calcium is important for future health. The teen years are ideal for building bone mass with the help of calcium. Brittle bones in the future (osteoporosis) and other health problems can result from a lack of calcium during the teen years. 

Here’s hoping a lesson is learned today and a healthy and happy future is in store for all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE!

Happy Birthday Sophie and once again, Katy's homemade cakes have been appreciated and enjoyed by all who have consumed them, including myself!  Having an inhouse baker ensures that the cakes are as fresh as can be.  I even got a chance to ice some of them myself but Miss Ward did the majority of the hard work.



Homemade cakes - yum!



The Birthday Girl!



The girls have their first race at the National Sculling Head at Dorney Lake today.  Here's hoping the cupcakes  have a big impact on their energy levels and overall performance.  Good luck to Maddie, Katie, Chloe and Ellaoisa!

Victory for Shiplake Netball team!

On Wednesday 6^th March, Shiplake travelled to Pangbourne College for our last netball match of the season. Shiplake started the match confidently with the first centre pass, fluid movement down the court and strong possession, ending the first quarter 5-1 to Shiplake.

Shiplake’s lead meant the girls became overly confident and paid the price as Pangbourne took advantage, scoring 4 more goals. However, despite notably messy play, Shiplake managed to hold their lead 8-5 by half time.

As the third quarter started, Shiplake began to play stronger and thanks to Anna Proctor and Sophie Arnold’s shooting skills, we almost doubled our score 14-7, with Pangbourne only managing to get in 2 goals due to brilliant defence from Sammy Hildred and our own Player of the Match, Molly Thorp as Goal Keeper.

The fourth and final quarter of the game was by far the hardest, Pangbourne began to match us goal for goal and as each team became desperate for the win, the play became noticeably rough. The substitution of Libby Harman to play Wing Attack paid off as the centre-court play became dominated by the Shiplake girls, with Trudi Lister and Libby Harman channeling the ball easily past the Pangbourne opposition to the awaiting shooters, Proctor and Arnold. Thanks to the strong determination and fast fluid movement from the Shiplake girls, we overcame Pangbourne for a second consecutive match and won 21-15. Well done to all the girls and thanks to our coach Lou Porter for a brilliant season. 

Written by Trudi Lister.

Marathon training update!

On Sunday Daisy completed the Eton Dorney 20k run in a time of 1:53:01 and is on target to complete the London Marathon in just under 4 hours.  Overall, Daisy was the 10th female and I'm pleased to say was in good shape at the end, which bodes well.  She also managed to “pull” a running partner on the day, Tony – 73 yrs old who has 23 marathons under his belt, the two of them paced each other the whole race.



The start of the race.

 Donations are most welcomed, anything from a £ or two will help Daisy and Jo reach the huge target they have set themselves to help young talented sports people less lucky than themselves.




"In youth we learn; in age we understand. " ~Marie Ebner-Eschenbach
Dasy and the lovely Tony!

 

You can donate via their JustGiving page http://www.justgiving.com/DaisyGresswell-JoUnsworth   OR  to save time they have set up a quick text method for sponsorship:

 

Just send a text to 70070 and in the message type the code: DGJU99 and on the next line put the amount you wish to sponsor in £s

        ·         DGJU99

·         With the amount £????

·         To

·         70070

You will also be able to add Gift Aid at no extra cost

 





Daisy looking remarkably well and Jo providing support.

 Many thanks to Daisy's supportive parents for providing the photographs and a great deal of the information.





Flute Exam

Gym/Practice Room

Prep duty usually entails checking in on the girls every so often to ensure that they are using this time productively.  However, tonight has been particularly pleasant as I have had the joy of listening to Annabelle McIntosh practice her flute in preparation for her grade eight exam tomorrow.  This is quite an achievement to get to this standard and I’m impressed by the way her fast moving fingers are able to create millions of notes from the highest to the lowest notes.  The music practice room would seem to be a logical place to begin her preparation but being in a place devoid of distractions will suffice.  Looks like the Gilson gym has proven to be useful in more ways than I initially anticipated.  All of Gilson wish Annabelle the best of luck tomorrow.