By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT HAS been one foot in front of the other for school kids from Endeavour Hills this month.
Students from James Cook Primary School have been involved in VicHealth’s Walk to School for the whole of October, an event in which tens of thousands of primary students across the state are encouraged to walk to and from school instead of being driven in the car.
School walk co-ordinator Peter Fimmel said James Cook had been involved in the event for a “number of years” because it was felt that it was important to encourag students take regular exercise.
“What we’re trying to do is get kids to exercise pre and post school, rather than being stuck in the car for the whole time,” he said.
“The kids don’t often get a chance to walk in large numbers to and from school so they love it.
“And the parents also get an opportunity to participate, as well as the teachers.”
Mr Fimmel said students could make a note of their progress on walking charts in their classrooms.
“What we have in all of our rooms is a record of the kids who walk to school and if they walk home, and we collect that data and send it back to VicHealth,” he said last week.
“It’s collected over the whole of October, from when we came back from schools holidays until tomorrow (Friday 31 October).”
Organisers estimate that more than 30,000 students from more than 300 Victorian primary schools took part in the Walk to School last year.
This year Victoria Police has also thrown its support behind the initiative.
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said the campaign had helped kids to establish a consistent exercise routine, and hoped it would continue to do so.
“Around four in five Victorian children don’t get the daily exercise they need for good health,” she said.
“Only one in four walk or cycle to school and one in four are overweight or obese. Habits have to change for the future health of our children.
“Being physically active can reduce body fat, improve fitness and reduce the risk of heart disease, type two diabetes and some cancers later in life.
“It also helps to develop motor and coping skills, healthy self-esteem and social skills in children.”
For more information, visit www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au.
