Schools/Projects/Walking

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Each of Needham's Public Elementary Schools has an active program encouraging children to walk to school. These programs promote health, exercise and reduce congestion at the schools during drop off and pick up, as well as save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiatives involve parents, the PTCs, PE and health staff and administration. Principals work closely with Town engineering staff and the Police on ensuring safe routes to school.

Special Walking Events

Needham students will be participating in local, state and international walk to school days this year.

  • MASS Walk to School Day - Wed May 4, 2011 (rain day Fri May 6)
  • Needham Walk to School Day - Wed May 11, 2011 (rain day Fri May 13)
  • International Walk to School Day - Wed Oct 5, 2011 (rain Day Fri Oct 7)


Please contact the school coordinators for more information or to get involved:

Individual School Programs

Braodmeadow: Broadmeadow's walk-to-school program began in 2010 when it joined Safe Routes to Schools.


1) Walk to School Days

April 16, May 5 and June 10


2) Safe Routes to Schools Traveler Tickets


Eliot: Eliot's walk-to-school program began in 2006. Eliot joined Safe Routes to Schools in 2008. In 2009, Eliot was approved for a Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Assessment. The Assessment Report has not yet been released.

The current program has three components:

1) Monthly walk-to-school days

  • October: International Walk-to-School Day
  • November: Walk with Eliot principal, Mrs. Wilcox
  • January: Polar Bear Walk. Celebrate with hot chocolate!
  • February: Valentine’s Day. Deliver a Valentine thanking those who shovel their sidewalks!
  • March: Walk with Mrs. Wilcox
  • April: Earth Day, in concert with our school’s Green Kids Committee. Pick up trash along the way!
  • May: Massachusetts Walk-to-School Day, also part of townwide walking week
  • June: Walk with Mrs. Wilcox


2) Safe Routes to Schools Traveler Tickets

  • Eliot students who complete 20 walking or biking trips to or from school are eligible for a prize, courtesy of Safe Routes to Schools. Students who have completed two tickets end the program on Eliot's Walking Wall of Fame. Click here to download a Traveler Ticket.


3) Walker-of-the-Week Profiles

  • Every two weeks (so the program should really be called Walker of the Fortnight), we profile a regular walker or biker. We ask the student to answer a few questions, ask the parent to take a picture, and post the profile in the Eliot lobby.


Hillside: Hillside's walk-to-school program began in 2009 when the school joined the Safe Routes to School Program.  In 2010 we have started to get the program rolling in earnest.

The current program has three components:

1) Monthly walk-to-school days

  • October: International Walk-to-School Day
  • November: The Turkey Trot
  • December:  Holiday Hustle
  • January: Polar Bear Walk
  • March: The March March
  • April: Earth Day, in concert with our school’s Green Kids Committee... Celebrity walkers galore!
  • May 5: Massachusetts Walk-to-School Day, also part of town-wide walking week (rain date May 7)
  • June:

2) The Golden Sneaker Award

  • This coveted trophy is awarded each month to the class that has the most walkers during the monthly walk to school day.


3) Walker-of-the-Month Profiles

  • Every month we profile a regular walker or biker.  We ask the student to answer a few questions, take their picture, and post the profile in the Hillside lobby.


Newman: Newman's walk-to-school program began in Fall 2007, and joined Safe Routes to Schools in Spring 2008.

The current program has three components:

1) Walk/Bike-to-school events

  • October: International Walk-to-School Day
  • December: Holiday Stroll and Roll (hot chocolate!)
  • January: Polar Bear Walk. (hot chocolate!)
  • February: Snowman Strut (hot chocolate!)
  • April: Earth Day Scavenger Hunt, in coordination with our school’s Green Kids Committee
  • May: Massachusetts Walk-to-School Day, also part of Needham in Motion/Eat Well Be Fit walking week

2) Footloose Fridays

  • Students can join the fun of walking to school with parents and friends every Friday.

3) Walking/Biking incentive program

  • Not all Newman children can walk to school as Newman's geographical area is so large. In the spring of 2010 we joined the web-based walking incentive program Earth25 (www.Earth25.com) which allows all students to participate by logging any miles walked and biked in place of driving a car.

4) Walking School Buses

  • We have seven designated routes with meeting points and parent contacts. Parents can relay their child to a parent contact to walk to school from the meeting point with advance arrangements.

In light of the upcoming construction in 2011-12, we are increasing our accent in this area in 2010 to augment participation, with the goal of reducing traffic year-round at the school both in the morning and the afternoon.


National Programs

A school district in Washington State reported an annual savings of $220,000 in transportation costs due to increased involvement in the district’s Safe Routes to School programs. Information nn this program is available at:


Resources:

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