Walking to school

Pretty Beach Public School participated in this year's National Walk Safely to School Day on May 7.

"Walk Safely to School Day asked that we all consider our transport habits and try to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around," school principal Mrs Deborah Callender said.

"Although walking all the way to school isn't realistic for many of us, it's quite easy to figure out how you can build a walk into your family's daily routine.

"Regular exercise like walking with your child not only helps beat chronic problems like obesity, heart disease, behavioural and mental health issues and diabetes, it also gives you a great opportunity to teach your child safe ways to behave around roads and traffic."

Gosford mayor Cr Chris Holstein said it was important for parents to walk their children to school as often as possible.

"This is promoting a very important message in that we need our kids to be safe on the way to and from school," Cr Holstein said.

"It's a great day for the kids and they get to have a lot of fun.

"It is an excellent initiative in getting kids active as well as teaching them things about the environment and public transport.

"I walked my granddaughter to school on National Walk Safely to School Day and am glad to be getting involved in a day which teaches children so many valuable life lessons."

Newsletter, 29 April, 2010 Deborah Callender, Pretty Beach Public School Press release, 7 May 2010 Cr Chris Holstein, Gosford mayor