On Wednesday morning our Travel Smart Leaders were outside school celebrating those who have taken up the Wednesday Challenge to walk, bike, scooter, skate, bus or carpool to school. Students stopped at our Wednesday Challenge checkpoints and entered their name in the lucky spot prize draw!

If your whanau hasn’t taken up the challenge yet it is not too late… plan how you will travel to school next term without using the single family car. Each week the leaders come and collect data of how our students have travelled and winning classes receive a Travel Smart award along with free time.

Here are some great reasons why we are encouraging people to walk, bike, scooter, skate, bus or carpool to and from school.

• Moving your body helps you feel stronger and healthier

• Reduced traffic around our school gate means the safer it is for children

• Exercise helps you sleep better

• It’s a fun way to travel with whanau and friends

• Brain power – exercise helps you be more creative, helps your memory and concentration and do your best at schoolwork

• Leaving your car at home will save you money

• Moving your body helps you feel happier and worry less

• Leaving your car at home supports reduced air and noise pollution in our environment

• Children become more connected with their neighbourhoods

• Children who practise road safety skills daily, become safer road users when they start travelling independently

The Wednesday Challenge aims to reduce traffic on our roads by 20%. Each of us can be a changemaker and make a difference.

Article added: Thursday 07 July 2022