Travelwise Travelwise is a programme in Auckland that encourages children to walk or bike to school or use public transport. The reasons are that 38% of all peak hour traffic is school related and this is causing pollution and congestion on our city roads. Every day Auckland vehicles release 820 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide in the air. If we can reduce this it will make it better for everyone! Awards There are currently 76 schools in the Central area that are on the TravelWise Programme.” Our school has been involved for the last two years and we are now working towards our silver award.

At the beginning of the year the children are surveyed about how they get to school. By the end of the year the goal is to see more children walking or on public transport. Throughout the year we will be running various activities to encourage walking. These may be like the successful walkers tree which we had last year, Maxx the pukeko visiting the school. We have lots of great things planned!

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Travelwise Term 3 2011 Update

Chaos at the School Gate programme will be starting Term 3, 2011

Email: judyb @freemansbay.school.nz

1 September 2011 Travelwise Seminar

It was great. I want to make a really cool movie about how to reduce pollution which will highlight walking and not cars.
Gavin
Thirty five more cars arrive on Auckland's roads every day. 5000 kids walk in school walking buses every day. This's a lot of car trips saved.
Harry

I attended a Travelwise Seminar on Wednesday 31st August along with three of our Year 3 students. It was an inspiring day and has really encourage me to spread the Travelwise Message at Freemans Bay School.
The most interesting speaker for me was Doctor Nikki Harri from the University of Auckland, who spoke on the psychology of imitation and social contagion as a tool to encourage active transport. As parents and teachers we lead by example and our children will copy us.
So let's all be Travelwise!
Judy
Email: judyb@freemansbay.school.nz 

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Travelwise Term 2 2011 Update

We have had a busy term for Travelwise.

Whanau Rau has worked with Constable Julie on learning about keeping safe when walking on footpaths and what to look out for. Children were reminded to watch out for sneaky driveways, looking carefully when crossing the road and how to use a pedestrian crossing safely.

The week of learning with Constable Julie was rounded off with a very fun show put on by the Polka Dots! The show was a fun filled song and dance extravaganza which the children and teachers enjoyed. Each child went home with their very own CD of the songs so that they can learn to sing them and retain the important message of keeping safe and having fun while walking.

As a school we also celebrated World Environment Day by having a giant clean up the school grounds. The strangest rubbish picked up was an artificial tree and a toilet seat!!  Each class was invited to construct a wordle on the environment and these are displayed in the library.

Also in Term 2 we once again had The Walkers Tree as this had proved very popular in the past. Each child gets a leaf each time they walk, scooter, bus or skateboard to school. After 5 leaves the children receive an apple and they get the chance of winning a small prize. Parents who walk can receive blossoms and they also get the chance of winning a prize. The children at Freemans Bay School are actively taking on board the Travelwise message of “walking to school”.  Well done kids!

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TravelWise Term 1 2011 Update

Next week 21- 25 March our school, will be celebrating National Travelwise where everyone will be encouraged to travel to school by walking, bus, scooter and bikes. Charts will be kept by the classroom teacher graphing how each child is travelling. Children, who wish, can have their own personal certificate of achievement. There will be some surprises as well. So join in.

Just for fun on Friday next week we will be celebrating Friday Funky Feet. Children will be encouraged to decorate their feet or shoes. It would be fun if everyone could participate.
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Walking School Bus

Karen, one of our wonderful mums,  has started a walking school bus from the top of Franklin Rd to school every morning. She will be at the corner in a fluoro jacket between 8.35-840a.m. every morning.

At the moment the bus is very small and she would love to have a long bus!  Encourage your children to join if they walk down Franklin Rd. They are much safer in a big group and they make friends as they walk together.

There is a real need for other walking school buses in the school. If there are any parents who can walk  from Union St (city) or down College Hill please email me. You do not have to commit to every day. If you are already walking your children to school please consider whether you can walk with other children so that everyone is safe.

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