Get ready to walk to school
Primary school students, teachers and parents are encouraged to sign up and participate in VicHealth’s Walk to School program running throughout October.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said the Walk to School program aimed to encourage primary school children to walk, ride or scoot to and from school every day in October to highlight how regular activity can improve children’s health and wellbeing and help form healthy travel habits from a young age.
“VicHealth’s Walk to School month is a free, easy and fun way for kids to get active this October and build healthy habits that will support active lifestyles for children as they grow,” Cr Gauci said.
“At a time when worrying trends such as increasingly sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity are on the rise, it’s great to see a health initiative designed to tackle these issues by encouraging children to get outside and be active everyday”.
Registered schools will receive a classroom calendar where teachers can record how many times students walk, scoot or ride to and from school during October.
At the end of October, teachers can tally up the overall participation and report it to VicHealth on the Walk to School website who will award prizes to the schools with the highest walking participation.
VicHealth can provide all the materials needed to get involved. Schools can order free posters, classroom calendars, stickers and fact sheets as well as a range of online tools and resources to support participation.
“All primary schools across the shire will receive an invitation letter in coming days containing more information about this program and how to register,” Cr Gauci said.
Registrations are now open. For more information or to register online, visit the Walk to School website.
Walk to School 2016 is being undertaken in partnership between Baw Baw Shire Council and West Gippsland Healthcare Group, and is funded by the state government’s VicHealth branch.