Schools - News
Every Action Has a Positive Reaction: The 5th Annual Safe Routes to School Forum
One of the hallmarks of the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School initiative is to educate and encourage collaboration amongst educators, parents, and community leaders to develop solutions for childhood obesity in the state. On March 13th, MassRIDES Safe Routes team hosted its 5th Annual Forum: Every Action Has a Positive Reaction, an interactive day of workshops and unique presentations, dedicated to sharing best practices to further the breadth of the Safe Routes program in Massachusetts.
Drawing over 140 participants, from Springfield to Martha’s Vineyard, the Forum kicked off with a dynamic keynote presentation by Dr. Lindsay Shaw, a clinical sports psychiatrist. Dr. Shaw studies the cognitive and emotional benefits physical activity has on the brain. Her laboratory findings clearly draw a correlation for the necessity of the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program due to its positive impact on student academic performance.
Sometimes, the best ideas are borrowed ones, which is why participants at the Forum also have the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops, lead by their colleagues at various partner schools. The seminars varied in topic from “Oh The Places You’ll Grow: How to Sustain Your Safe Routes Program” to “Give It Some Elbow Grease: Bicycle Safety 101”. Guests also have the opportunity to share their own experiences with the program in the “Talk the Walk” session, a speed-dating networking session.
The Forum also highlighted five school and community partners for their innovation, leadership, and achievements on behalf of Safe Routes to School. "Parents, teachers, administrators, community members, and students in each of our partner schools have demonstrated that every action can indeed have a positive reaction in encouraging walking and bicycling to school," said MassDOT Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff Stephanie Neal-Johnson, who was on hand to present the awards.
Our 2012 Safe Routes to School award winners are:
Community Collaboration: The Winchester Police Department,Winchester MA
Champion of the Year: Jane Feroli, The City of Brockton,Brockton Public Schools
Safe Routes to School Innovation: The George Keverian School, Everett MA
Safe Routes to School Leadership: The Lexington Safe Routes to School Program, Lexington MA
Rookie of the Year: Arlington Education Complex, Lawrence MA
The Golden Sneaker: James Cope, MassDOT
The entire Massachusetts Safe Routes to School team is very proud of all of award winners and excited by the momentum and energy stirring at the Forum. Share your reactions to the Forum and ideas for next year on Facebook at link text
City of Lawrence Signs All 22 District Schools with Safe Routes
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The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program, a service of MassDOT, is now partnering with all 22 public schools in the Lawrence school district, an unprecedented milestone for the statewide initiative. The Lawrence Superintendent of Schools as well as the district's Coordinators for Health and Nutritional Services whole-heartedly approved the partnership with Safe Routes to School, viewing the program as an ideal method to improve the overall physical health and personal safety for their students. The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School team will collaborate with teachers, nursing staff, and PTO's to implement educational programs on pedestrian safety, lead walking school buses, establish safe houses along designated walking routes, and address how walking and biking can improve physical fitness.
Nicole Bova, RN, from Arlington Middle School in Lawrence says, "As a nurse, bringing the Safe Routes to School program into our school communities is a positive step in improving the overall health of our students. There are so many wonderful health benefits to walking to school; we don't want to discourage students from doing so because the environment is unsafe. We want them equipped with the skills needed to keep them safe.That's where Safe Routes to School comes in"
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On December 9th, team members travelled to the Arlington Middle School and led the entire 6th grade in breakout sessions, educating students on several techniques to stay safe when they walk to school; promoting personal responsibility as a pedestrian; and encouraging them to serve as pedestrian role models in their school community. With its urban environment, Arlington Middle School has a high population of students who walk and bike to school.
This MassRIDES training is important to enhancing student’s safety, as well as to raise awareness about healthy and active lifestyles. In the spring, Arlington’s 6th graders will train 2nd grade students from neighboring Arlington Elementary School, reinforcing their newfound pedestrian safety knowledge.
Safe Routes to School team members travelled to Lawrence on December 12th to Breen Elementary School to educate pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. MassRIDES staff utilized poems, songs, and other classroom activities to instill the lessons of pedestrian safety among a younger audience.
Check out the Safe Routes team in action on our visits to Lawrence by visiting our Flickr page.
Safe Routes to School For All!
On Thursday, December 8th, the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School team hosted the "Safe Routes to School For All: Park & Walks and In-School Activities" webinar. The distinguished guest speakers included Nadene Stein, principal of Northeast Elementary in Waltham and Co-Chair of the Healthy Waltham initiative, as well as Cindy Coughlin and Sandra Collins, from Alice Beal Elementary School in Springfield. Nadene, Cindy and Sandra spoke from their personal experience of how the Safe Routes to School initiative has enhanced their school community and the dramatic positive impact it has had on the health of their students. By visiting the Safe Routes to School You Tube Library, you can watch the entire webinar or click below to watch directly from Commute.com Our expanded video series can also be found on our Resources page.
MassDOT and MassRIDES Unveil Infrastructure Projects at Four Elementary Schools
MassRIDES facilitated ribbon cutting ceremonies at four Safe Routes partner schools in October to celebrate the completion of access and safety improvements that will better enable children to walk or bicycle to school. Ned Codd, Director of Program Development for MassDOT spoke to students at Bowman Elementary in Lexington. Former Highway Administrator Luisa Paiewonsky was the keynote speaker at Dallin Elementary in Arlington. Massachusetts Representative Jason Lewis and District 4 Highway Director Patricia Leavenworth participated in the ribbon cutting at Stoneham’s Central Elementary School. West Memorial in Peabody invited their entire student body to meet and listen to Highway Administrator Frank DePaola and the Honorable Mayor of Peabody Michael Bonfanti.
Governor Deval Patrick Walks to School with Glover Elementary
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On Wednesday, May 4, 2011, over 100 Massachusetts elementary and middle schools participated in Massachusetts Walk and Bicycle to School Day. Governor Deval Patrick walked with students, teachers, and parents at Glover Elementary School in Milton to encourage walking and bicycling to school as a healthy and environmentally-friendly option. Click here to view the video.
2011 Massachusetts Walk and Bicycle to School Day in the news:
- Click here to view Boston Celtics Captain, Paul Pierce's Safe Routes to School blog post!
- Easton Students Walk to School
- South Shore Schools Participate in Walk and Bike to School Day
- New Bedford Gets Ready to Walk and Bicycle to School
