STUDENTS at Newington Primary School are working with the City of Ballarat to look at ways to promote active transport as part of a leadership program.<\/p>\n
Their initiative was informed by the statewide and local government-partnered Active 2 School program, and teacher Shauna Hardy, who is coordinating the team, said it\u2019s being led by student research.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe leadership team are in the process of collecting data to see how many in our school community are and aren\u2019t getting here in an active way and how many are not,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids have met with a Ballarat council representative and were coming up with different solutions and ideas that could promote more community members actively getting to school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s been most identified is footpathing is an issue and not necessarily on all our streets. Another is crossing and car-parking. It\u2019s a busy chaotic time for drop-off and pick-up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The leadership team features eight students throughout grades 4, 5 and 6 who have been working on the Active 2 School since the start of the school term.<\/p>\n
Grade 5 student Tom Shillington is one of the leadership members, and said they\u2019ve talked about several ideas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been discussing a zebra crossing so people can get back and forth from school really easily,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have any of those so we\u2019d like to get that safety while you\u2019re enjoying riding to school or walking.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking part in this and getting as many people as we can to be active feels so good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Signage for a walking route towards the school is another option, while bike education classes and free workshops are also being considered by the leadership team.<\/p>\n
The municipality\u2019s director of community wellbeing Matthew Wilson said there\u2019s potential for outcomes to be had through the students\u2019 ideas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to work with the school as part of this program to support the outcomes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo help encourage active transport the leaders have been promoting National Ride 2 School Day on Friday, 24 March.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing this event, an action plan based on their findings will be developed by the students to help reduce the barriers to active transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is wonderful to see that Newington Primary School is committed to reducing travel-based carbon emissions with eight of its student leaders championing the initiative within the school environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Active 2 School program is funded by RoadSafe Central Highlands and VicHealth as part of their Victorian Local Government Partnership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STUDENTS at Newington Primary School are working with the City of Ballarat to look at ways to promote active transport as part of a leadership program. Their initiative was informed by the statewide and local government-partnered Active 2 School program, and teacher Shauna Hardy, who is coordinating the team, said it\u2019s being led by student […]<\/p>\n