Walking tally brings rewards

A competitive spirit helped Labertouche Primary School take out the major prize for Walk to School in south-east Victoria.

While the school may be only 29 students in size, competitive spirit among the students saw them walking before school, during recess and lunch time each day.

The school’s overall participation rate of 100 per cent saw it land the major prize of an ultimate footy experience, with an AFL player to attend the school next month to bring AFL memorabilia and lead a clinic.

Labertouche Primary School teacher Peta Waterhouse said with it was not practical for students to walk to school due to lack of safe paths to the school, the school came up with an initiative to help students walk each day.

“Because we can’t walk to school here, in 2016 we met at Labertouche Hall and walked from there,” she said.

“But we had to think differently to get the students walking every day.

“The first bell goes at 9.15, so I told the students I would be out on the oval walking laps at 9am and those that wanted to could join me.”

Ms Waterhouse said students drove their regional win, with only a couple of heavy downpours of rain putting paid to their efforts during the month-long initiative.

“They were so keen to walk, I soon had students coming to ask me if they could walk at recess and lunch time,” she said.

“Some even started running laps to see how many they could do each day as a little competition.”

School principal Corey Fleming said the initiative not only helped students build their fitness, but it also gave them enthusiasm to get to school on time.