Rain, hail or shine, Balliang East Primary School pupils will be punishing their walking shoes next month.
They’ll join thousands of students statewide in walking to and from school every day during October as part of VicHealth’s Walk to School campaign.
School principal Caryn Fox said the school had been taking part in the initiative for five years, and parents were extremely supportive of their children.
“Although there are only 38 students at the school, a lot come across from Werribee so they don’t get the opportunity to walk to school – which is why we’re participating,” she said.
Children are dropped off about a kilometre from the school gates, where staff join them to walk the remaining distance to the school.
With child obesity on the rise, VicHealth’s Walk to School is aimed at being an interactive way to make exercise appealing to youngsters.
VicHealth statistics show only one in four Victoria students walks or rides to school.
By Neslim Djemal
