‘Walk To The Stop’ Campaign

To Be Recognized Next Month

By Eliza Hallabeck

Last year yellow bus key chains were handed out to students from their bus drivers for walking to their bus stop. That effort was part of the school district’s Walk To The Stop campaign, sponsored by the Newtown Public Schools Wellness Committee. The campaign began in September 2008, and soon after school started, parents found flyers being brought home by their students.

Next month, on November 19, as Newtown Public Schools Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard shared during a recent interview, the town’s Walk To The Stop campaign will be recognized for its effort by the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The nonprofit professional organization named Walk To The Stop its 2009 Outstanding Program.

“What we didn’t want to have happen was to have it be a one-year program,” said Ms Blanchard recently. “We want to be something that we continue. We are trying to continue the promotion now, so that it becomes a habit instead of something we do for a short amount of time.”

Ms Blanchard received notification of the recognition dinner planned for next month by email. She said the program not only encourages students to start healthy practices, but can also cut down on the number of cars driving to a bus stop.

“What we are saying is, neighborhoods get together. Use it as an opportunity to get, number one, some exercise, to walk out, and model healthy behaviors,” said Ms Blanchard. “Number two, get to know your neighbors. We are all busy, and if we are working parents, then perhaps you can take the neighborhood and share which parents will be out there on which days.”

Ms Blanchard said she understands some parents need to driver their students to the bus stop, in order to then drive to work.

“I understand that, and that is okay, too,” said Ms Blanchard. “Turn your car off. Just take a piece of the step then. If you need to drive because you are on your way to work, that is okay. But let your child know you are turning your car off, because it is environmentally wise to do that while you are waiting for the bus. And we are going to get out and talk to our neighbors, and engage in community building while we wait for the bus. Even if you can not do all of the three pieces, you can do some of the pieces. We certainly do not want to judge people on their behaviors, but everyone can do a piece of it.”

The Walk To The Stop program was sponsored by the Newtown Public School Wellness Committee. It encouraged students to walk to their bus stop to start modeling responsible behavior that will increase exercise, reduce gas waste from idling cars, reduce exhaust pollution, encourage positive social skills with others, and start and end the school day with a stress relieving burst of exercise and fresh air.