A daily walk is considered as important as the curriculum at Warrenheip Primary School.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Every day after lunch the 28 pupils and their teachers take a 2km walk, and the school is a strong supporter of VicHealth Walk to School month.
“We support Walk to School every year because it’s really important for kids to be encouraged to be healthy and active,” said principal Arthur Lane.
“We have kids who walk or cycle to school, but we still believe in going for a walk around the block together every afternoon so I can guarantee our pupils walk at least 8km to 10km a week.”
Walk to School sponsor Bendigo Bank donated white canvas shoes and art supplies to four schools including Warrenheip so pupils could add some colour to their daily walk.
VicHealth chief executive Jerril Rechter walking, riding or scooting to and from school was an easy way to make physical activity part of a child’s daily life.
“The important thing for parents to remember is that every little bit of physical activity is beneficial,” Ms Rechter said.
RELATED STORY: Peer pressure keeps kids from walking to school
“Even if your family lives too far from school to walk the whole journey, driving and parking say 500m from the school and walking the rest is a great way for families to get involved.”
The number of Victorian kids walking to school has dropped dramatically in recent decades, and only one in five children aged five to 17 get the recommended one hour of physical activity every day.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.