November 6, 2009
Project launch set for Thursday, November 12 at Falgarwood Public School
The Halton District School Board will launch the Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) project at Falgarwood Public School on Thursday November 12 from 10-12 p.m. ASRTS engages young students in active transportation such as walking, biking, and in-line skating as a healthy, sustainable way to get back and forth to school.
“The vision of the ASRTS project is to see students who live within walking distance to school, using active ways to get to school,” says Gillian Tuck Kutarna, Trustee of Ward 3 & 4 Halton Hills and champion for the project.
Halton District School Board has identified 18 schools that will be involved in organizing and running the program beginning this school year. The participating elementary schools are:
| Burlington: |
Alexander’s, Charles Beaudoin, John T. Tuck, Mohawk Gardens, Orchard Park |
| HaltonHills: |
Gardiner, Mackenzie-Smith Bennett, Robert Little |
| Milton: |
Hawthorne Village, Sam Sherratt, P.L Robertson (opening soon) |
| Oakville: |
Falgarwood, Joshua Creek, Maple Grove, Montclair, Munn’s, Pilgrim Wood, Sheridan |
This project requires the commitment of numerous community partners. The Region of Halton, Halton Regional Police Service, along with all four Halton municipalities and various community groups have joined in to support the project.
“We are delighted that 18 Halton schools will have an opportunity to lead the way by participating in this important project,” said Wayne Joudrie, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “The project promotes the health and environmental benefits of walking to school, provides an opportunity for children to learn safe routes, and encourages them to have fun and make new friends.”
“The simplest part of the ASRTS project is the Walking School Bus concept,” adds Tuck Kutarna. “Getting students to walk to school with an older student or neighbourhood parent stresses the importance of physical activity, safer school communities, and environmental health.”
The event will be attended by Trustees, project schools and community partners. Participants will learn about the project plan and begin to plan their program implementation. Participants will also hear from a Halton District School Board teacher who successfully ran the program at her school last year. Walkabouts will be scheduled at some schools to determine best routes and any infrastructure changes required before implementation of the walking school bus.
The Board will present each school with a number of items to help support the program including a $500.00 cheque to kick-start the project along with funding the teacher release time to attend the event.
For additional information, contact:
Jennifer Jenkins, Active & Safe Routes to School Project Manager (ext 2228),
Halton District School Board
or
Marnie Denton, Manager, Communication Services (ext 2227),
Halton District School Board
(905) 335-3663, (905) 842-3014, (905) 878-8451