The 2008 Bulldog Friendly Schools program will kick off this week with the assistance of Minister of Education, Bronwyn Pike.
The Bulldogs Friendly Schools program is a significant part of the Bulldogs Community Club strategy and commitment to schools in the western region.
In its second year, the program will reach over 40 000 students in the municipalities of Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobson’s Bay, Wyndham and Melton – areas now known as the Bulldogs’ Backyard.
Minister Pike will launch the program along with Western Bulldogs Chief Executive Campbell Rose, President David Smorgon and Captain, Brad Johnson who is the Bulldog Friendly Schools Ambassador, as well as Michael Daniher, Development and Planning Manager, AFL Victoria, and Commissioner Di Foggo, Deputy Chancellor, Victoria University.
“We take our role as the community club of the AFL very seriously. We recognise that the contribution of the school community in promoting and delivering AFL to young people is significant and we want to support that effort by working in partnership with the schools. It is the goal and responsibility of the organisation to be a community leader,” said Campbell Rose.
“We are delighted to have the Minister join us for this launch and extend her support to our program.”
In 2008 schools under the program will have two initiatives to choose from: Footy in Schools program which is aimed to communicate the importance of physical activity and healthy eating; or the Multicultural Schools program– an introductory football program for schools with culturally and Linguistically Divers (CALD) populations.
The 8 + week programs are aimed at grade 3 and 4 students and are linked into the Physical and Social Learning strand of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS).
