Initiative a runaway success

Baler Primary School walked its way to success as hoards of students participated in the annual Walk Safely to School Day last week.

Now in its 18th year, the community event encourages schoolchildren, their parents and their carers to walk safely to school.

The event tackles two pertinent issues affecting West Australian students — obesity and safety.

While some children didn’t meet up with the official walking groups, hoards of blue converged on the school as mums, dads, toddlers and older siblings joined the Baler students, including Year 1’s Shaenae Pitt.

“It takes me like five minutes — I walk really fast,” she said.

Baler Primary School principal Jemma Keys said a lot of older students walked to school regularly.

“It’s a good initiative to teach kids to learn to walk safely and get their parents and older students involved too,” she said.

“It was really good to see mums with their prams, older children from the high school with their siblings and dads join in this morning.”

All students who participated in the initiative were congratulated during the morning school assembly.