Greater Shepparton City Council will work with local primary schools to encourage more families to walk, ride or scoot to school by placing animal footprints and distance markers around 13 local primary schools in Shepparton and small towns to encourage students and their family and friends to walk to school and see what animals have been walking around their neighbourhood.
Greater Shepparton City Council has organised for an artists to paint feet on the footpath leading to primary schools to indicate the safest way to walk to school. In addition, a fun competition will be open during Term 1 that will ask primary school age children to identify the feet near their school from 500 metres to their school gate.
Greater Shepparton City Council Director Community Kaye Thomson said Walk to School program is a free, easy and fun way for kids to get active and learn healthy habits for life.
“National guidelines recommend that kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day and walking, riding and scooting to school can help reach these targets,” Ms Thomson said.
Nationally, over 759 schools participated last year, that’s more than 140,303 students walking to school, or travelling by scooter or bike. Records also indicate around 54 per cent of all residents in Greater Shepparton do not meet the Australian recommended guidelines for physical activity.
“This year, we hope to see even more local kids getting active as they travel to and from school. If you can’t walk all the way, there are many great opportunities to get involved and support your school. Try parking the car a few blocks from school at the 500m distance marker and walk, ride or scoot the rest,” she said.
“The Walk to School initiative is a fun, free way to get school kids active and help them build lifelong healthy habits. It’s also a great way for parents and carers to enjoy some quality time with their kids.”
To find out more about local Walk to School activities, Greater Shepparton schools can contact the Healthy Communities Team within Council’s Active Living Department on 03) 5832 9431 or by visiting http://www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au.
