WAKEFIELD—The Galvin Middle School is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Mass in Motion and partnered with MassRIDES to benefit from their Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS). The Massachusetts SRTS program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school. It educates students, parents and community members on the value of safely walking and bicycling to and from school.
The partnership comes just in time to celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wed. Oct. 9. Students can walk or bike from home or start at any point along their commute route. Celebrate the many benefits of walking to school, including time with friends, energizing your day, increased concentration in school, avoiding traffic jams and helping the environment. Galvin students will join students from all over town, plus thousands of schools across America and in more than 40 countries worldwide that will walk or bike in celebration.
Please BE SAFE in your commute! Children walking to school should:
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· Pick a safe route with help from their parents
· Walk with an adult or friend when possible
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· Watch out for cars and trucks at every driveway and intersection
· Watch for drivers in parked vehicles; they may be about to move
· Obey all traffic signs and signals
· Cross streets safely:
o Stop at the curb or edge of the street
o Look left, right, left and behind and in front of you for traffic
o Wait until no traffic is coming and begin crossing
o Keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing
o Walk, don’t run across the street
Check out these links for further walking and biking safety tips: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/sites/default/files/tips_for_parents.pdf
http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/sites/default/files/tips_for_kids.pdf
http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/sites/default/files/Kids_Bike_Safety_Tips.pdf
For further SRTS information, visit www.walktoschool.org and http://www.commute.com/schools
About Mass in Motion: Mass in Motion is a grant funded initiative in Melrose and Wakefield that aims to provide residents with simple, practical and cost effective ways to eat better and move more at home, work and in the community by partnering with local agencies, community groups, businesses and coalitions.
International Walk to School Day is part of Mass in Motion’s “Wellness Wednesdays” program, which offers a variety of free and discounted events and specials every Wednesday in October. Wellness Wednesdays make it easier for residents to eat a little better and move a little more. Visit http://mimmelrosewakefield.com/ for more information on Mass and Motion and Wellness Wednesdays.
