Eastern Ontario Active Transportation Network / Fall 2018 Newsletter
The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (LGL) District Health Unit, in partnership with active school travel stakeholders in Brockville, Smiths Falls and Mississippi Mills, was successful in receiving $100,000 over two years to pilot the “Walking the Rural Way” Project. This project will operationalize “community tailored” Walking School Bus (WSB) models, using trained adult leaders to walk with elementary school children, on established routes to school. Similar to a yellow school bus, a WSB has designated “bus stops” and “pick up times”, where children and families are encouraged to join. The project is supported by Ontario Active School Travel, a program of Green Communities Canada with funding from the Government of Ontario.
The following six schools are scheduled to participate in the first year of the “Walking the Rural Way” Project:
- Westminster Public School (Brockville)
- Commonwealth Public School (Brockville)
- Chimo Elementary School (Smiths Falls)
- Duncan J Schoular Public School (Smiths Falls)
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (Smiths Falls)
- R. Tait McKenzie Public School (Mississippi Mills)
Brockville schools will be running the Walking School Bus on Walking Wednesdays, with Westminster school using a before and after school model, while Commonwealth will start with mornings only. Smiths Falls will be piloting a Monday to Friday model, mornings only. The Walking School Bus will run from October to November 2018, and start up again April to end of June, 2019.
For more information, visit http://healthunit.org/health-information/physical-activity-rest/active-school-travel/ or e-mail WalkingSchoolBus_LGL@healthunit.org
Real food has become a high priority in our lives. We want our children to understand the difference between food and food-like substances. We want them to choose real food. As a result, we’ve given much thought to integrating an appreciation for real food into our family’s culture. Below is a list of some thoughts we’ve compiled on ways to teach children about truly nourishing food. We’ve done each of these suggestions to some extent and our children are more knowledgeable about food than their peers, and even if they find a dish unappealing, are swayed to give it a try knowing that we would only serve them what is best for them. Though they still let us know they don’t like it!
