Walking School Bus Otonga Rd School ROTORUA

Walking School Bus Otonga Rd School ROTORUA

"Quality Learning in a Quality Environment" is what we strive for at Otonga Rd School in Rotorua. We needed to make sure that our children are living in a quality environment in order for quality learning to take place. We were sure that getting these programmes "going" would help us achieve it! This is how we did it...
 
There were three main goals for 2009 were:
 
1. Getting students, parents and whanau more active by walking.
2. Keeping our sights on being an Enviroschool - using sustainable means of transport.
3. Alleviating traffic from outside the school at peak times.
 
We set up 6 Walking School Bus routes with colour-coded maps, drivers contact details and consent forms. All drivers were clearly visible with jacket, tickets,rewards, hat and clicker as well as umbrellas. We promoted them at every opportunity- school newsletter, assemblies, gala,signs and photos. We had passengers singing jingles and songs.Some drivers even set up competitions to keep the motivation up eg. extra clicks for being sunsmart. These even functioned during Term 3 - weather permitting!
 
Our Feet First programme was launched by having the local radio station do live interviews while walking with one of the a walking school busses.
The passengers were welcomed by Ruben the Road Safety Bear and all children received stickers. It was a great day! We have all the posters up and award theFeet First Trophy to the class who has walked the most days per term.
 
We had a walking school bus "Walk to Breakfast" where our local traffic officer spoke about road safety and Ruben getting the children to do his favourite song.
The regular walkers will be going on a trip at the end of the term for their efforts. Motivation,motivation,motivation.
 We were lucky enough to have Natasja Du Plessis for The Rotorua District Council helping us set our programmes up,very dedicated parents and tamariki and a great deal of support from our principal, Mrs Linda Woon and staff.
 

Further information: Gareth Cunliffe Otonga School , .