Students encouraged to walk to school

Warragul North Primary School will lead national walk to school month efforts in Baw Baw Shire this year.

Baw Baw Shire Council selected Warragul North Primary as its pilot school for this year, with four designated safe drop off points established around the school.

Drop off points include the corner of Sutton St and Brandy Creek Rd, corner of Stoddarts Rd and Normamby St, corner of Sutton St and Normanby St and corner of Stoddarts and Brandy Creek Rds.

Baw Baw Shire Cr Keith Cook said a partnership had been established with West Gippsland Healthcare Group to encourage healthy travel habits.

“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,” he said.

“This program is aimed at using positive reinforcement to encourage, empower and educate children about the value of regular physical activity and the lifelong benefits of forming healthy habits from a young age.

“It’s a great way for the whole family to increase their physical activity and even make the roads a little lighter on traffic.”

As part of the event launch, each Warragul North Primary School student who participated in walk to school day yesterday received a prize.

Every October, VicHealth’s Walk to School encourages Victorian primary school kids to walk, ride or scoot to and from school. It helps students learn healthy habits and achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity, every day.

It also encourages primary schools, local councils and communities to make active travel easy, safe and accessible.

Drouin Primary School was selected as Baw Baw Shire’s pilot school last year.