Small school makes big walking effort

The 11 students at Ropeley State School had a great time walking to school on Walk Safely to School Day. With all the students living a fair distance from the school, it was a first for many of them to walk to school.

Students and teachers met at the Lutheran Church about 1.5 kms away from the school at 8.15am. They left the church at 8.25am and walked up hills and down dales on their way to school. Luckily there wasn't much traffic around.

On their walk they saw lots of cattle, some water in the dams, beautiful gardens, cow manure, litter, signs, clouds, blue sky, brown grass and a view of the school from up on top of the hill (through the brown grass).

At 8:50am they arrived safely at school and enjoyed a refreshing drink and a break before getting stuck into their lessons.

What a great effort!

Active and healthy kids in Leyburn

In Leyburn, lots of kids catch the bus to school. However, on Friday the bus drivers stopped a few blocks away from the school and walked with the kids the rest of the way. Many staff members and parents did the same, and walked part of the way to school

Once at school, the kids enjoyed a healthy breakfast. A perfect start to a active and healthy lifestyle.

Well done to everyone at Leyburn State School who made such a great effort.

Gypmie South walking to the beat of a drum

The school motto at Gypmie South State School is, 'together we make the difference'. Today, by walking to school, their students, teachers and parents really did make a difference.

55 students put their feet first and pounded the pavement to the beat of the drums played by Gypmie South Drum Corp who joined them for the walk.

With their school banner proudly leading the walkers and a multitude of blue and gold helium ballons floating along side, they definitely made an impact. Not just visually, but also in reducing traffic congestion and improving fitness.

The school also rewarded two lucky walkers, Ashlee Salt and Shawn Lee. Well done!

Their next walk will take place on 6 June 2008 – Queensland Day!!

Walking and talking at Ferny Grove State School

This morning, Nitro from the kids' TV show 'The Shak', Luttsy from Nova, and Mr Rod Welford, Minister for Education, Training and the Arts, walked to school with a huge group of kids from Ferny Grove State School.

Starting at the Upper Kedron Recreation Reserve, the group walked over a kilometer to school, picking up more and more walkers along the way.

Lots of kids and parents turned out for the event, which saw ten walking groups come together for a big celebration on the school oval.

During the walk Luttsy did live crosses to the Nova studio while having a chat to Nitro, Minister Rod Welford and some students about the benefits of walking to school.

Thanks to everyone at Ferny Grove for their enthusiasm and for putting their feet first on Walk Safely to School Day.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations to all the teachers, parents and kids that walked to school this morning.

Over 80 Queensland schools registered to participate, which is almost triple the number from last year. What a great result!

Keep an eye on this space for photos of some of Queensland's Walk Safely to School Day events.

If you want to share your photos from Walk Safely to School Day, we would love to see them. Send them to emily@synchronous.com.au.

Only the best from Gympie West

At Gympie West State School, the Prep classes are leading the way for Walk Safely to School Day. The Prep classes are meeting other students and parents at a local park and then walking to school together from there.

Once the students arrive at school they will be rewarded with a healthy treat.

St John Vianney's getting ready to walk

St John Vianney’s Primary School will have students walking to school from six different points in the area on Walk Safely to School Day this Friday. Parents, teachers and their Adopt a Cop, Sgt Joe, will be supporting the children on the walk. Then, on arrival they will enjoy a healthy breakfast. What a great way to start the day!

Healthy all around in Calliope

Calliope State School will be joining in the fun this Friday. Students, teachers and parents will be walking to school and there will be a special presentation on parade.

The school is also hosting a free healthy breakfast through the school's Brekky Club. Thank you to the local IGA store who has funded this great initiative through their Community Chest funds.

Everyone is walking in Upper Mount Gravatt

Upper Mount Gravatt State School is proud to participate for the third year in a row in Walk Safely to School Day.

To celebrate the year of physical activity, the school has organised for all students from Prep to Year 7 to participate in this event by walking from the school through Roly Chapman Reserve and along the pavements surrounding the school. Parents have also been invited to walk along beside their kids.

Upper Mount Gravatt State School really enjoys organising and conducting events that allows its students to participate in fun enjoyable activities with friends and family. It is also a wonderful way to start the school day.

Walking rewarded in Petrie

Our Lady of the Way School in Petrie is encouraging its students to walk to school this Friday.

A group of teachers, students and parents will be starting at 7.20am for a 40 minute walk to school. After getting to school at 8:00am students will be rewarded for their efforts with lots of fresh fruit for a healthy breakfast. This fruit has been kindly donated by Zone Fresh Gourmet Markets at Strathpine. Thank you.

Getting active in Bardon

Just as they have done in the last few years, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Bardon is encouraging their 345 kids to walk to school this Friday for WSTSD.

Last they participated in the Brisbane City Council’s Active School Travel programme to be more active in getting to school and decrease car travel, which they did by 23%!!

With 3 walking buses that operate at least once a week, kids in Bardon are definitely getting active. Families are encouraged to park their cars at a local park and walk the remaining 500m to school.

Even though they already have a dedicated Active School Travel day each week, they will be striving to get everyone out again on Friday. On Friday, all children who walk will be able to collect healthy snack from the school tuckshop and proudly display their WSTSD stickers. We can't wait to see some photos.

This year the school is also holding a Prep to Grade 2 colouring competition, and a poster design competition for Grades 3 to 7.

Great work!

Small town making a big effort

Teachers at Leyburn State School have been encouraging kids to walk to school on Friday for Walk Safely to School Day. As Leyburn is a small town this is quite achievable and many children already walk to school every day.

They are also hosting a healthy breakfast to feed the hungry walkers.

Great work!

Walking together in Longreach

Longreach State School students, staff and parents are ready and raring to go for Walk Safely to School Day on Friday. They have organised to meet at their local park between 8:00 and 8.15am so that they can walk to school together.

What a great way to spend some time together and make some new friends.

Well done!

Walking is the way to travel

Queensland Transport has always been a great supporter of Walk Safely to School Day. They are committed to getting people to walk more and use more public transport, which will mean better health and cleaner air.

Queensland Transport also has lots of information about walking and pedestrian safety on their website. To find out more, visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/pedestrian.

Walking is cool at Coolangatta

Students at Coolangatta State School will be walking further than usual on Walk Safley to School Day. To increase exercise and ease congestion, parents are being encourgaed to park the car further away and walk the rest of the way.

To reward the students who participate, the P&C will be providing fresh fruit, and between 8:00 and 9:00am Destiny from Gladiators will be coming to school to help the kids celebrate their achievement.

How cool is that!

Augathella strive to succeed

The students at Augathella State School in rural Queensland are ready to pound the pavement on Walk Safely to School Day.

While only a small school, they 'strive to succeed'. And, I'm sure they will.

We can't wait to hear more about their Walk Safely to School Day activities.

Happy walking!

Ready to walk at Alexandra Hills

Alexandra Hills State School students are getting ready to walk to school on Friday 2 May as part of Walk Safely to School Day.

Burdekin Christian College put their feet first

Burdekin Christian College students will be putting their feet first on Walk Safely to School Day. This year, students, teachers and parents will be meeting at a common spot near the school and walking the rest of the way. Once they get to school, students will then enjoy a healthy breakfast.

What a great way to start the day!

OLR's Car-Free Challenge

Each month Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School in Caloundra holds a car-free challenge where parents, teachers and students are encouraged to walk to school from three “walking bus” interchanges. Students are also picked up from the more distant Pelican Waters Shopping Centre and Golden Beach shopping area in the school’s mini-bus.

Each participant receives a ticket and on arriving at the terminus – also known as the school office – each participant gets a fruit juice ice-block. Tickets are then added up and the class with the most walkers wins a prize.

Principal Col O’Brien said participation has been increasing on a monthly basis, with the first one this year attracting 43% of students. On Walk Safely to School Day they expect to get at least 75% of students participating, if not more.

It's cool to walk to school in Gympie

Following the success of their first “Walk Safely to School Day” in May, 2007, Gympie South State School initiated a program to allocate the first Friday of each month as their walking safely to school day.

The walk encompasses a route of approximately 500 metres commencing at a safe drop-off area adjacent to the Gympie Show Grounds. Students assemble and are supervised by teaching staff on their walk to school. This route involves walking along a designated concrete footpath and utilises the school’s supervised crossing on Exhibition Road.

To acknowledge the efforts of students, the "Golden Shoe" award is presented to the class with the highest participation and consistency throughout the year.