Fw: walk to school day
Kyla Boyse
Hi All,Looks like Eberwhite is not registered. Here's info on how to do that in case anyone is interested:Register your school online or call the Michigan Fitness Foundation at (800) 434-8642. Registered schools receive stickers for all walkers and a certificate of participation for the school.Here are resources if anyone is inspired to put up posters or promote the event: http://saferoutesmichigan.org/w2sd.Debi, there are classroom activities available from the above link. Perhaps you'd like to share this with teachers?Cheers,--KylaKyla Boyse, RN
Editor
YourChild: Development and Behavior Resources
An Internet Guide for Parents
www.med.umich.edu/yourchild
University of Michigan Health System
Jim Rees
Can the PTO/SR2S Committee make it happen anyway? --even though
"Eberwhite" has decided not to participate? All it takes are some
posters, classroom announcements, and stickers to make an event!
I talked to Debi last night about this. I think she'd be open to doing it
if one of us were willing to do the planning and work. Unfortunately I will
be out of town that week.
One reason she gave was that some parents were confused by having to go to
the bottom of Soule and walk up from there. And her staff were
inconvenienced by having to supervise the parade. She also doesn't want to
exclude the bus kids or the kids who can't walk.
I think she's doing it wrong. Rather than make this a school event, it
should be more of a grassroots thing, where kids walk to school the way they
normally would. Our role is to publicize, organize walking routes and
groups to walk together, and hand out stickers and praise at the end. We
don't need to all parade up Soule together.
I would really like to see this happen but we need someone who is going to
be in town to take the lead. I'm also a bit concerned about doing this
after Debi has decided not to. Someone would have to go talk to her and
allay her concerns.
We're short of both time and manpower. Any ideas?
Kyla Boyse
Walk to School Day events draw attention to the benefits of walking and any changes needed to make it safer for students to walk to school. Larger events include breakfasts, balloons, school mascots, and press conferences.
Many events are simpler. In fact, it's possible to plan a Walk to School event in one week. Here are some tips:
- Get the principal's approval.
- Post flyers at school. If your school has an e-newsletter or listserv, send an announcement that way. The event doesn't have to be formal — just inviting families to walk or bicycle to school together is what the Day is all about.
- On Tuesday, October 5, make an intercom announcement to remind students to walk to school on Wednesday.
- Register the event so that students and the school will be counted among the thousands of participants across the USA and worldwide.
- Create posters that will greet students when they arrive at school on October 6. Potential phrases include "Thanks for walking," "It's Walk to School Day" or "It's cool to walk to school!"
- Have fun! And remember your success for next year, when you can plan a bigger event or repeat the simple path.
Laura Welsh Florence 1
I *completely* agree with Jim. My kids ride the bus so maybe it could be
called "Walk, Bike, and Bus to School Day". They did think it was strange
that the bus dropped them off at the door to school and then they had to
walk down the hill and back up again. Including the bus riders is
consistent with the original intent-- encouraging families to get their
kids to school without their cars. In my case, that would be encouraging
the families in our neighborhood to try the bus for a day instead of
driving.
It could be as simple as sending a blast email and recruiting a few
neighborhood volunteers to help walk kids whose parents have to get to
work. Then have teachers give out stickers to the kids who participate, or
have Debi make a PA announcement.
Sounds like Jim's idea is something Debi could get on board with.
Jim Rees
I *completely* agree with Jim. My kids ride the bus so maybe it could be
called "Walk, Bike, and Bus to School Day". They did think it was strange
that the bus dropped them off at the door to school and then they had to
walk down the hill and back up again.
That was a mistake. The busses were supposed to drop the kids off at the
bottom of the hill. They did this two years ago, but somehow it didn't
happen last year. Debi cited this failure as another reason not to do W2S
Day this year.
Lily Guzman
I like the resource that Kyla attached: "How to plan a W2SD in 7 days." I've been using this with schools I'm working with. I also really like the idea of combining and promoting the three modes (walk/bike/bus) -- It is very important to be inclusive. I will incorporate this into our programs at other schools.
If you are having issues with your availability on the "official" International Walk to School Day, you could choose have a walk/bike/bus/carpool, etc to school day on any day. It could be anytime in October (or any month for that matter), and on any day of the week.
Finally, since the WISD now organizes all busing for AAPS and there is no longer a AAPS transportation department, this is probably not a great year for remote drop off anyway. New bus drivers are still getting used to routes and so I think WISD and AAPS would be hesitant to mess with the routine.
I think it is critical to have the principal on board if you want it promoted widely. Do you think it would help to have a face to face and reassure her that her concerns have been addressed in your event plan? You may have already done this, though.
Lily Guzman
Health Educator
Washtenaw County Public Health
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Brod, Anne [HMIUS]
I will be out of the country during that time, and unable to help. However, I can’t help but add my 2 cents:
One item to note regarding busses is that to the best of my knowledge Eberwhite has only one bus that transports general education students. This bus route was established before there were sidewalks on Liberty Street, and is within the 1.5 mile walking distance limits of the district. Prior to the consolidation with WISD, this route was being investigated for discontinuation, which was highly likely (and may still be). My point is that the families from this neighborhood should be encouraged to walk or ride bikes that day if possible, as the original and main intent of W2SD is to encourage physical exercise. Of course, busses and carpools should be encouraged over driving for environmental and parking lot safety reasons, and we certainly don’t want to have the families from the classes of Ms. Marshall, Mrs. Valensky, and Mr. Inman feel left out.
While it would be great to be able to do something this year, it may make sense to plan for next year (when Debbie is gone) and hope that by the end of this school year the new principal will be named and can be briefed on what is planned for next year.
Anne
Anne Brod
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Please Note: I will be on vacation from September 28 - October 11, 2010
From: sr2s-eb...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:sr2s-eb...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Lily Guzman
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 12:31 PM
To: sr2s-eb...@googlegroups.com; Laura Welsh Florence 1; Kyla Boyse
Subject: Re: Fw: walk to school day
Hi Everyone,
Jim Rees
I think it is critical to have the principal on board if you want it
promoted widely. Do you think it would help to have a face to face and
reassure her that her concerns have been addressed in your event plan? You
may have already done this, though.
I don't think we should do it at all unless we have the principal's
blessing. I'd be willing to help with this but I can't organize the W2S day
itself. And I think the best thing is if we (the parents) organize it and
do it the standard way rather than have Debi do it her way. Unless someone
volunteers it's not going to happen. Should we appeal to the broader PTO
membership?
At the meeting last night someone (whose name I've forgotten) suggested
there should be more cooperation between the Green Team and Safe Routes,
pointing out that one of the greenest things you can do is stop driving your
kid to school. Maybe we should appeal to the Green Team for a volunteer?
Laura Welsh Florence 1
In light of Anne's point, it would probably be good to establish what is the intent of the day exactly (physical fitness vs. reduced car use, vs. creating community, etc.). I think all of these are great benefits, but it's worth having a "mission" that encompasses all, some, or one of these benefits.
My kids are general education students who bus. Our house is exactly 1.5 miles from school, and, to be honest, it's just not realistic for us to walk to school regularly. With little ones in tow, I have to allow about half an hour one way. In the winter, forget it. I would MUCH rather encourage the families in our neighborhood to take the bus. Most drive to school and miss out on the community aspect of waiting together at the bus stop, walking to and from the bus, etc. Not to mention the friends from multiple grades that my sons have made during the bus ride, the environmental benefits, and the reduced traffic at school. So, I would be disappointed if the mission of W2SD discourages busing from our neighborhood. I haven't heard anything about our route being discontinued. I think they may have combined it with a special ed. route, though. From what my kids say, the bus is quite full and a minority are general ed. students. Which is to say, I hope encouraging busing from our neighborhood is not a lost cause!
Laura Welsh Florence
Jim that the best approach is a parent-led event with Debi's approval.
It makes sense to approach the Green Team if the day's intent includes
environmental benefits (in which case it would make sense to promote
busing). If the intent is primarily physical fitness (and bus riders
will be encouraged to walk), then I think it makes more sense to
approach Kristi Van Ryn and/or the Walk and Talk committee.
Jim Rees
International Walk to School:
The goal of the walk varies from community to community. Some walks rally
for safer and improved streets, some to promote healthier habits and some
to conserve the environment. Whatever the reason, International Walk to
School events encourage a more walkable world — one community at a time.
I see encouraging bussing over driving to be well within the charter.
Encouraging bussing over walking might not be, but I don't hear anyone
saying that.