Safety first: Wilmot Rd Primary School students Elijah Sharma, Jayda and Maylee Webber, Alina Ghulami, Fares Ieda and Mehdi Karimi enjoy walking and riding their scooters to school every day.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
This year marks the 24th anniversary of National Walk Safely to School Day, and on Friday, May 19, schools across the country will be celebrating by encouraging students to adopt safe practices when walking to school.
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Championed by the Pedestrian Council of Australia, National Walk Safely to School Day is an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that come with regular walking or alternative active transport to school.
Wilmot Rd Primary School is located on a busy road.
For the school, this day only highlights an action it is already encouraging its students to do daily.
Stretching his legs: Year 6 student Fares Ieda loves his walks to and from school each day.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“We encourage kids to walk to school, if they can,” PE teacher Leah Orgill said.
“In the past, we’ve had a poster up that shows safe walking tracks and where they can cross roads, where there’s a crossing person who’s able to assist them or when there’s traffic lights.
“When they come to school, we just try and ask them, ‘how’d you get to school?’, ‘are you making sure that you’re using the crossings?’ ... the biggest thing is safely crossing the road if they’re a distance away from school.
“It’s definitely in their minds and it’s built into their routine, particularly for the ones that do it every day.”
The News talked with some of the Year 6 students who regularly walked or rode to school.
Riding along: For Year 4 student Mehdi Karimi and Year 6 student Elijah Sharma, riding their scooters is their preferred method of transportation.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Elijah Sharma is in Year 6 and can often be found riding his scooter to school.
“I love riding my scooter, I get to take it to the skate park after school and ruin my shoes,” Elijah said.
“My biggest tips are, ride with a helmet and don’t fall off it if you’re in Grade 6 because you have a computer in your backpack, and if you do fall off, just walk it.”
Enjoyment: Year 6 student Alina Ghulami likes getting a bit of fresh air in the mornings on her walks to school.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Alina Ghulami is also in Year 6 and enjoys taking in the morning air when walking to school.
“It’s nice to get some fresh air before school,” Alina said.
“I would say to not talk to strangers or walk in the middle of the road, and check both sides of the road before crossing.”
Together: Year 6 student Jayda and her sister Maylee Webber (Year 4) enjoy walking to and from school each day.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Jayda Webber often walks to school with her little sister, Maylee.
“I think walking to school is good because it makes you fit,” Jayda said.
“I would always use the crossing, and if there’s no crossing I would look both ways.”
