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Stockdale Road Students Catch The Walking School BusTen students from Stockdale Road Primary School helped to launch the Walking School Bus program at their school on Monday, by embarking on their first ever trip to school as part of the Walking School Bus group. By news@gippsland - 28th May 2004 - Back to News The children were presented with a certificate at the launch, and were congratulated by Stockdale Road Primary School Vice Principal, Brian Strating, and representatives from Latrobe City Council and Federation Health for their active involvement in a program that promotes health and well-being.
Latrobe City’s Walking School Bus Project Officer, Elizabeth Tomlins, said that Stockdale Road Primary School is the fourth school in Latrobe City to implement the Walking School Bus program since it began in November last year.
"Stockdale Road Primary School will join Churchill, Elizabeth Street Moe and Grey Street Primary Schools in successfully implementing Walking School Bus programs at their schools," Ms Tomlins said.
"The program is going from strength to strength, and all of the feedback that we’ve received about the program has been very positive. More children are signing up and are enjoying their daily walk to and from school," Ms Tomlins added.
Stockdale Road Primary School Vice Principal, Brian Strating said that all of the students who participated in the launch of the Stockdale Road Primary School Walking School Bus were very enthusiastic about the launch of the program, as it gave them the chance to meet up with their friends before school.
"The students were very excited about walking to school. They all agreed that they like walking to school with their friends because it gives them the opportunity to have a chat before school starts. The children also said that they feel safer crossing the road when they walk to school in a group. This is the true spirit of the Walking School Bus Program, we want our children to feel happy and safe, whilst also actively participating in some regular exercise," Mr Strating said.
"In fact, there is one student who enjoys the experience of participating in the Walking School Bus so much that even though he lives across the road from Stockdale Road Primary School he walks to the start of the Walking School Bus track and then heads back to school with the other students in the group," Mr Strating explained.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said that the Walking School Bus program has received a further 12 months funding which will enable the project to be launched at other schools throughout Latrobe City.
"Morwell Park Primary School has shown great enthusiasm for the program and it will launch its first Walking School Bus in June. Members of the Morwell East Neighborhood Renewal Residents Group have also shown their support for the project by volunteering some of their members to become ‘drivers’ and ‘conductors’ who will supervise the children to and from school," Cr White said.
"Also, in the near future, Walking School Bus programs will be launched at Crinigan Road, Kosciusko Street and Murray Road Primary Schools. The Walking School Bus initiative is a true asset to all of the primary schools in Latrobe that have implemented, or plan to implement, the program. It demonstrates a commitment to promoting healthy lifestyle practices and it also ensures that our children get to and from school safely.
"It is great to see such a worthwhile program continue to grow throughout the municipality. The Walking School Bus Program is part of Latrobe City’s commitment to uphold its accreditation as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Safe Community, and the growing participation in the program demonstrates how that commitment is being enhanced," Cr White concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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