The third year of Safe Routes to School (SR2S) ends on a high note as the Healthy Heart Network and other members of the SR2S coalition welcome a new school partner to the campaign. Brushton-Moira Elementary saw the importance of making sure that kids in rural areas receive the same opportunities as other districts and offered a bicycle safety session to grades 3-5. Students were thrilled with the new bike helmets they received after the presentation. The district plans a full SR2S campaign next spring.
Veteran participants Petrova Elementary and Malone Central School District participated for a third year, each taking on full responsibility for planning and implementing their activities. Petrova Elementary saw a huge jump in participation this year with over 50 students joining SR2S mascot, Walker, the chicken, on two morning walks through downtown Saranac Lake. Petrova’s SR2S champion, Elisha Pylman, says they plan to offer two additional days next May.
Malone Central School District reports students were enthusiastic about their Walk/Bike to School Campaign this year. In addition to their May campaign, students enrolled in the Y’s Time after school program at Davis Elementary also completed the YMCA’s Safety Time Pedestrian Curriculum. Led by Andy Dupuis and supported by Stephanie Rhodes, plans are to roll that curriculum out to other Malone elementary schools this fall.
The SR2S spring momentum continued into summer for both veteran communities. In Saranac Lake, the Saranac Lake Police Department and Franklin County Traffic Safety Board kicked off their new pedestrian curriculum as part of the Saranac Lake Area Youth Program. In Malone, Cornell Cooperative Extension worked with the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board and Franklin County Public Health to offer a bike rodeo. Both events were very well attended, and will surely lead to even greater student participation in fall 2016 Walk/Bike to School campaigns.
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