Latest news with #NationalWalkSafelytoSchoolDay
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Students across the Mid West take part in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday
Primary school children across the Mid West took steps towards a healthy future by walking safely to school on Friday as part of the National Walk Safely to School Day. More than 150 students from Mt Tarcoola Primary School took part, walking or riding to school on Friday morning. Principal Paul Luxton gathered with 25 students at Paringa Park, walking together to school while another half dozen students and parents waiting in their front yards joined the group along the way. On arrival the students were treated to a healthy breakfast of fresh fruit and muffins. On the importance of the day Mr Luxton said: 'In today's world people don't think they're safe, so kids tend to not to walk to school like they used to. This shows it is easy, there's plenty of safe footpaths and crossing points all along the way. 'It's reassuring for parents to know that their child is walking to school with another child, the good thing is the kids link up and say, 'this is my place. I'm walking past here so I'll walk with them'.' The community event, now in its 26th year, aims to promote road safety, reduce impacts on the environment and champion the health benefits of regular walking. Those benefits are not just physical — walking to and from school can have a positive impact on a student's ability to focus in class and their academic performance. Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby said: 'Until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road. 'The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Capel Primary School to once again take part in national initiative to support health and road safety
Primary schools around the South West will take part in a national initiative to support road safety and physical activity on Friday. National Walk Safely to School Day — now in its 26th year — is an event championed by the Pedestrian Council Australia for all primary schools across the country and aims to promote the health and environmental benefits of children walking to school. According to the council, regular walking has a favourable impact on children's cognitive and academic performance, encourages positive environmental action and reduces car dependency and dangerous traffic congestion around schools. Chief executive Harold Scruby said the national initiative also promoted healthy eating and encouraged schools and P&Cs to host a healthy breakfast on the day. 'The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect one in four children at critical levels across Australia,' he said. 'The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. 'Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.' Capel Primary School is set to take part, something principal Darren Simpson said they had been doing for many years. 'The school community proudly comes together whenever we promote the healthy culture of walking to school,' he said. On Friday, children will be encouraged to include a walk at the beginning of the day, at lunch time and on the way home, in the hope of building regular walking into their daily routine.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
School communities across Perth will take place in the event
Primary school students across Australia are gearing up to take part in National Walk Safely to School Day, aiming to step towards a healthier future while encouraging alternative active transport. In its 26th year, the nationwide initiative encourages families and their children to walk to school as a way to support road safety, physical activity, community connection and promote environmental awareness. The event emphasises not only the physical benefits of walking to school but the impact walking has on children's cognitive and academic performance. Your local paper, whenever you want it. This year, Kewdale Primary School is showing its commitment by inviting police to walk with the students as well as having giveaways, participation certificates and even temporary tattoos. Principal Tracey Irving with Tayte Hannivia-Jones, Paige Daly, Chelsea Gawthorne and Max Oremek. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian Kewdale Primary School principal Tracey Irving said the school had proudly taken part in the event for the past four years. 'We are committed to equipping our students with the tools they need for lifelong success, and we believe that physical and mental health are fundamental to achieving that goal,' she said. 'Walking or riding to school is a simple yet powerful step families can take to support their children's health and wellbeing. With most of our students living only a short distance from school, even a brief walk can positively impact their learning, mental and physical health, and overall sense of wellbeing,' As well as taking part of the Walk Safely to School event the school commits to other initiatives such as The Push-Up Challenge, Running club, Minister's Running Challenge and Crunch&Sip. Chief executive of the Pedestrian Council of Australia Harold Scruby shares his concerns regarding the 'disturbing' statistics on the childhood obesity epidemic. 'It continues to affect one-in-four* children at critical levels across Australia,' he said. 'The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.' The initiative also encourages school and P&Cs to host a healthy breakfast on the day. National Walk Safely to School Day is on Friday . *Australian Bureau of Statistics: National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18
