Feet and pedal power take kids to school

NATIONAL Walk Safely to School Day is an annual, national event when children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school.

The community event, seeking to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment is on Friday, 17 May.

Lethbridge Primary School has 131 enrolments in grades Prep to 6.

“We use the day to promote and encourage walking, so families drop their kids off at the nearby park and they go from there,” Principal Emma Remilton said. “In fact, a lot of them do that every day.”

The park is located two blocks away and there are no roads to cross between it and the campus.

The teachers do a classroom survey afterwards to see how many participated and which class had the most walking.

Alfredton Primary School sets up designated walking points about 500m from the grounds where teachers meet pupils and walk with them to the precinct.

Of the 580 enrolled at Alfredton, Foundation teacher Kaitlyn Dunstone said about 150 participate in the walk.

“It is a time for them to meet up with their teachers and enjoy and celebrate walking together,” she said.

As a lot the pupils live close to the school, Ms Dunstone said, and about 30 per cent of the students walk each day.

“We also have a lot of children who ride their bikes and this has been a bit of a focus over the last year or so and we really encourage them to ride,” she said.

St Mary MacKillop Primary School in Bannockburn has two permanent active-paths, just under 1km in length, constructed by Bicycle Network and Golden Plains Shire.

Staff are at the paths on the day at 8am and walk with their pupils to the campus.

Principal Anthony Drill said everyone who walks or rides on the day is given a sticker and about 25 to 30 per cent of the kids walk or ride on a normal day.

Mr Drill said on a specific bike riding day last term 70 per cent of the 160 students rode their bikes or scooters.

“The bike rack was full to overflowing,” he said.