The Halton District School Board is proud to celebrate IWalk 2015 during the week of October 5-9, an annual international event when school communities around the world encourage the use active forms of transportation to and from school. Schools throughout the board will celebrate the day/week.
International Walk to School Day, to be held Oct. 7, began as a simple idea – children and parents, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk.
Active school travel is any form of human-powered transportation including walking or wheeling including cycling, using a wheelchair, or riding a skateboard or scooter.
The Halton District School Board is committed to working with municipal and regional partners, school councils and students to promote active and sustainable transportation choices.
Schools can be busy places at the beginning and end of the day. For students living within walking distance of their school, it is recommended families choose walking or wheeling to get to and from school. Taking the school bus is also a sustainable transportation choice as walking to the bus stop counts as physical activity too.
Walking and wheeling promotes physical activity, better air quality, improved traffic safety, and provides an opportunity to get to know the community and neighbours. Students who walk and wheel on the journey to school tend to be healthier, more physically fit, stay focused and learn better at school.
“Research shows active students tend to do better in school and that walking to school has a measurable effect on concentration levels,” said Suzanne Burwell, the Board’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator. “Incorporating activity into morning routines is beneficial to the whole family, so if walking all the way isn’t feasible, consider connecting with other families to take turns walking with students, having students walk in groups or park legally a block or two from the school, and walk the rest, and start your day stress free.”