By Danielle Kutchel
An entire Narre Warren school will take part in National Walk Safely to School Day
On Friday 14 May, students at Maramba Primary School will walk to the school gates together to support the cause.
It’s expected that almost every student from the school will take part, meeting at various points around the school in the morning before walking in with their peers.
“Each year Maramba Primary School participates in National Walk to School Day, to encourage our students to be more active and to promote sustainability,” said Belinda Ladouceur, foundation teacher and sustainability leader at Maramba.
“Teachers will meet students at various points and walk with them to school. This also creates a wonderful social event for our community.
“We hope to have over a hundred students and their families participating this year.”
It’s the 22nd year for National Walk Safely to School Day.
The community initiative aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking – especially to and from school – can provide for the long term well-being of our children.
Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking also has a favourable impact on students’ cognitive and academic performance.
It also encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffic congestion around schools, while minimising the risk of Australian children developing heart disease and diabetes.
Harold Scruby, Chairman and CEO of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said: “The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect 1 in 4 children at critical levels across Australia.
“Unless teachers, parents, carers and the community generally get behind this event and its objectives, this number will never decrease.
“The best exercise for all of us is regular walking. Children require at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity.
“We should encourage them to include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day”, he said.
