Kerang South Primary School Ride2School

There was a flurry of early morning activity at Kerang South Primary School on Friday 4^th March 2016 as students ‘wheeled’ their way to school as part of National Ride2School Day.

Eighty two students excitedly rode or scooted to school with the bike racks overflowing with enthusiasm and colour. Many more walked their way to school on the day.

Students had learnt about bike safety in the lead up to Ride2School Day with further bike activities incorporated into Friday morning assembly.

The assembly commenced with the singing of the National Anthem and the awarding of student achievement awards recognising learning outcomes and good behaviour. School leaders were also presented with their school badges.

 

Gannawarra Shire Council’s Manager Community Health, Narelle O’Donoghue congratulated the school on its involvement in the Ride2School program and the school’s ongoing commitment to Active and Healthy living.

Riding, skating, scooting and walking to school, or the school bus are all great ways to help students incorporate activity into their daily lives and to improve mental and physical health. Being physically active also helps students to stay alert, to concentrate and improves learning outcomes.

Narelle noted how happy the students were as they arrived to school on their decorated bikes and scooters and how great it was to see so many parents encouraging their children by supporting them to get actively to school and by attending the assembly.

 

Tania and Carole from the Swan Hill Crime Prevention Unit came along to reinforce the importance of being safe on the roads. Children under 12 years are able to ride on the footpath with an adult but this comes with added responsibility and being considerate of other foothpath users such as walkers and the elderly. All bikes should be fitted with a bell and students were encouraged to use their bells to alert other footpath users to their presence and to watch out for cars crossing the footpaths particularly when they back out of driveways.

Some other things to be aware of is that dark clothing sometimes makes it difficult for drivers to see students so wearing something bright over is a very good idea to improve safety. How to fit a helmet properly were demonstrated as well as how to check a bike to make sure it is ‘road safe’.

 

The judging of a decorated bike and scooter competition added excitement with winners from each year level awarded with a toothbrush and toothpaste set to help keep their smiles bright!

 

Following assembly students walked or ran two laps around the school oval which helps further support the importance of being physically active while at school.

 

Tania and Carole from VicPolice then assisted students with permission from their parents to engrave their bikes and to complete a Bicycle Passport to help keep their bicycle safe.

Six primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire participated in National Ride2School Day encouraging students and their families to ride, walk, skate or scoot to and from school, or the school bus. Other schools participating are Murrabit Group School, Kerang Primary School, Quambatook Group School, Cohuna Consolidated Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School Cohuna.

The Ride2School Program is an initiative of the Bicycle Network with more than 2,000 schools across Australia taking part and more than 350,000 students riding, walking, scooting or skating to school.

The Ride2School program promotes the importance of children being Active and Healthy in their communities and fitting at least 60 minutes of physical activity into their daily lives.

Ride2School is a Bicycle Network initiative. For more information about the Ride2School program or National Ride2School Day visit https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/179/

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