National Walk to School Week 2007 – Round up of events
Children at Witton-le-Wear Primary School kicked off the campaign using 70 footballs to take penalties against Sam, Durham County Council’s Safer, Greener, Fitter Mascot. Seventy footballs hold the equivalent amount of Carbon Dioxide produced by one car on the average school run. The event also celebrated the first birthday of the school’s walking bus, the largest in County Durham with up to 40 pupils using it on a daily basis. Children arrived at school on the Walking Bus carrying balloons to mark the occasion. Sam greeted the walking bus as it arrived at school and then led a special assembly for children when a cake was presented to mark the anniversary. Younger pupils baked cookies in the shape of feet later in the morning to emphasise the importance of walking to school. The children baked enough cookies for each pupil at the school!
Young people from The Hermitage School, Chester-le-Street, worked with scientists to investigate the environmental impact of cars during National Walk to School Week. Groups of students worked with Dr Tom Stenhouse from Faber Maunsell, international environmental, transportation, building and engineering consultancy, to make comparisons between a variety of vehicles. Dust particles were taken from three vehicles; the 6 year old school minibus, an 11 year old petrol car and a 2 year old diesel car. Students had the opportunity to measure the particles and compare the results. The students learnt why it is important to be aware of particles emitted from vehicle exhausts, namely the detrimental impact on health of high concentrations of particulates. Through measuring the air near to the vehicle exhausts’, whilst the vehicles were running, it was found that the older vehicles emitted greater quantities of particles, especially just after the engine was started. The worst offender of the vehicles tested was the school mini-bus, whilst the least polluting was found to be the newest car. The use of technologies such as catalytic converters and particle traps to reduce pollution were discussed, as well as the importance of car maintenance. Above all, the merits of cycling, walking or catching the bus to school were highlighted.
Children at Blackhall Colliery Primary School had a swimmingly good park and stride to celebrate the campaign! Pupils and parents parked at Blackhall Community Association car park and walked to school supervised by Blackhall Community Police. On arriving at School children enjoyed a healthy breakfast, funded by local County Councillor Alan Cox with the help of Sure Start. Additionally, youngsters received a free swim pass from Peterlee Leisure Centre, encouraging pupils to get active in their spare time. The school hope the make the Park and Stride a permanent arrangement, thereby reducing congestion on the road outside school.
At Blackhall Colliery Primary, Witton-le-Wear Primary, Cestria Primary and Staindrop CE Primary, Sam conducted a special pollution related assembly about the effects of pollution on the school run. A giant globe was used to display the volume of Carbon Dioxide produced as a result of one journey to school, and through an interactive story Sam explained the importance of walking to school to protect our environment. During the week there was significant local media interest in the events and the ITV Tyne Tees covered the pollution testing activity at The Hermitage.
For more information about October’s campaign visit the International Walk To School Month 2006 page
Find out more about Sam’s role by visiting Welcome to Sam
Why are these campaigns important? Visit Why Walk To School
