The Halton District School Board is proud to celebrate IWalk 2016 during the week of October 3-7, an annual international event when school communities around the world encourage the use active forms of transportation to and from school.
International Walk to School Day, October 5, 2016 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.
Schools can be busy places at the beginning and end of the day. For students living within walking distance of their school, families are encouraged to choose walking or wheeling to get to and from school. Taking the school bus is also a sustainable transportation choice and walking to the bus stop counts as physical activity too.
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.
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.
“Being active on the trip 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 few blocks from the school, walk the rest, and start your day stress free.”
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.