In efforts to communicate with Principals, I sent out this email today. The information might also be useful for others so I’m posting it on our web-site……
International Walk to School Day is quickly approaching on Oct. 9th.
Things I’m preparing as the Safe Routes to School Coordinator:
- Posters to deliver by the end of this week (no backpack fliers again this year)
- New A Frame signs to put in front of schools before the event
- Incentives (pencil toppers or backpack tokens, depending on each school’s preference. We are not providing hot chocolate for this event, hot chocolate only for the Polar Walk)
- Delivery of tote-box with event necessities (chalk, incentives, instructions, sign-in sheets, and educational materials to hand out)
- Creating international pen-pals opportunity in schools
- Promoting the Walking School Bus program (created stickers for all participants, "bus stop signs", prizes for Winners, WSB reflective vests and educational material for parents to teach kids about pedestrian safety as they walk).
- Registered your event at http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/
- Banner over Main street, Press Releases, contacting the media and inviting community involvement
- Creating the International pen-pal opportunity (see below for more info)
Things that are each school’s responsibility:
- Ensure your school has 2-3 parent volunteers that know how to communicate directly with me before the event, help orchestrate the event on Oct. 9th, instruct UI volunteers of what they should do when they arrive, count participants, give out incentives, decide who should win the WSB awards, take pictures of all WSB’s and the overall event.
- Create Walking School Bus route maps. It is easy to do here: http://maps.walkbiketoschool.org/ (I’m happy to meet and demonstrate how to create these maps, but it’s up to your school to create them to share with your families through this great map tool).
- Make sure your school knows that there will be Walking School Bus prizes for following categories:
- "Most International"
- "Most Colorful"
- "Best Hats"
- "Most creative signs"
- "Traveled the farthest distance by foot or bike"
- "Biggest Walking School Bus"
Connect me with any teachers that might be interested in setting up an international pen-pal experience about walking and biking to school for iWalk. I have connections with iWalk organizers from the following participating countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Fiji, France, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, (Scotland, England, Wales), United States.
I’m also open to new or different ideas at each school. These events can be a great way to stimulate and encourage new behavior when it comes to active travel to your school!
Thank you for your time and efforts to promote healthy and active living at your school. These events can be life changing. A lifetime of being active can begin on the way to school.
Safe Routes to School 