Deanwell School “Getting Out There!” Evening

Deanwell School “Getting Out There!” Evening

Deanwell School was fortunate to receive funding from the Walking and Cycling Micro Funds for our project of encouraging the majority of our students with walking to school and safe cycling to and from school, and in their recreational time. Being a newly registered Feet First School we wished to combine the two initiatives.

We have been educating our students and families about the healthy benefits of walking and the road safe practices of walking around our local community. Our hope is that this will get families doing walking and cycling activities at the weekend instead of driving. We also believe it will overcome negative or incorrect perceptions of walking and cycling. We are most grateful that the Hamilton City Council is making our streets much safer and more user friendly for walking and cycling.

The students made promotional pamphlets to advertise “Getting Out There – Walking and Cycling in our Community”. A two week programme of walking to school was held, with syndicate walking charts, stickers and spot prizes for students who participate and are observed following the road rules and/or giving leadership to younger students. Photos of those “caught being good” have been captured and displayed in our school foyer. This is proving very popular with the students. We are delighted with the improved standard of road safety behaviours of our children.

Our concluding highlight was the five o’clock evening family walkathon led by our Principal Pat Poland on Friday 13 March on the school field and adjacent park. This was followed by a school picnic/barbeque and lucky draw prizes for student participants.

We appreciated the support from the New Zealand Transport Agency, our local PEO Constable Tracey; Team Energize from Sport Waikato; our HCC School Travel Planner Ray Watson; our Waikato RoadSense Facilitator Linda Fraser, our staff organiser Heather Vaile and teacher John Talsma who thrilled the students with his orange wig, tee shirt and micro phone skills whilst presenting the prizes.

This was such a successful and fun project that our school challenges other schools to “Get Out There” and Walk.

Further information: Pat Poland, principal@deanwell.school.nz.