This year, Safe Kids USA and Safe Kids Worldwide celebrates its 20^th year of preventing unintentional injury and saving children’s lives. More than 350 coalitions will be holding activities the last week in April to celebrate Safe Kids Week. This year’s theme is “Gear up Games” and is targeted at the “tween” population.

 

Traverse City West Junior High School will participate in Safe Kids Week by hosting activities during lunch hours the week of April 28^th through May 1^st. Activities will include: a smoke alarm relay, a brain injury simulation, a life jacket race, in and around cars safety, and pedestrian safety. The week will lead up to the Safe Routes to School Remote Drop Off Day on May 1^st. 

 

In April 2007, Traverse City West Junior High School was selected as one of five schools to participate in the State of Michigan’s Safe Routes to School pilot project to develop and pilot best practices for middle school communities. During the 2007-2008 school year, efforts have continued toward developing an action plan to make improvements to the TC West Junior High School community and vicinity which will provide a safe environment for walking and biking to school. 

 

On May 1, 2008, students at TC West Junior High School will have the opportunity to participate in a Remote Drop Off/Walk to School Day. Students who arrive by bus or car will be asked to “Hike Up the Hill” and walk to school, if only for a day. Buses will drop off students who wish to participate along Franke Road at the Service Drive Entrance. Students who are regularly driven to school are encouraged to be dropped off at the tennis courts parking lot. This way, the benefits of walking or biking to school can be provided to all students. Students dropped off at the remote sites will have volunteers along the route to school to ensure safety.

 

Forty years ago the national average for children walking to school was nearly 50%, today it is closer to 10% nationally and 3% at TC West Junior High School. A desire to walk was expressed by West Junior High student survey respondents, who indicated that if routes to school were improved, 20% said they would walk and 40% said they might.

 

Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is a national and international movement to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk or bike to school. The benefits of SR2S are many. When routes are safe, students can get the regular exercise they need for good health by walking or biking to school. Studies have shown thatin addition to better weight management, physically active kids have improved mood and concentration, and that physical fitness is related to better test scores on some standardized tests. 

 

To volunteer for Walk to School Day, please call Doreen Onthank at 947-1044 or by

email at ddonthank@charter.net . For more information regarding TC West Junior High School’s Safe Route to School initiative, please contact Rod Lowes at 933-1938.