SOMERVILLE FAMILIES INVITED TO JOIN IN WALKING SCHOOL BUSES

Walking
school buses are part of Somerville's Safe Routes to School, the City's effort
as part of a national initiative to get kids walking and riding to school. The
program began in October 2012 at the Kennedy School, which has three safe
routes to school on Monday and three different routes on Friday. Walking school
buses are also held periodically at other schools.

Families
who live farther away from school can also take part in healthy exercise each
morning by parking at least two blocks away from school and walking the rest of
the way.

Safe
Routes to School is part of a larger Shape Up Somerville push to get children
more physically active during the school day. Research shows that children who are
more physically active on school days have fewer behavioral problems and
improved academic performance.

"This
is a great way to start the day for both children and their parents, who not
only enjoy healthy activity first thing in the morning, but get to spend some
additional social time with other parents and children," Mayor Curtatone said.
"We have to get our children active every day and make it habitual, part of
their daily normal routine. 'Eat Smart, Play Hard, Move More' is our mantra,
and we've found that overwhelmingly even our youngest students are embracing
that lifestyle and also helping their parents to understand the benefits of
being active every day."

Shape
Up Somerville is working with other schools to develop more comprehensive daily
active programs in the classroom and throughout the school day. At the Arthur
D. Healey School classroom, students participate in Cool Moves, a program where
teachers and/or students lead different movements in a classroom setting for
three to five minutes each day. At Winter Hill Community School, students in
one classroom participate in yoga sessions.

"We're
excited about programs in the works to get kids moving every day both inside
and outside of the classroom," Shape Up Somerville Director David Hudson said.
"Making the healthy choice the easy choice means putting those healthy, active
options at every child's fingertips so they become the rule rather than the
exception. That goes beyond fresh food options in cafeteria; it has to include
physical activity that integrates into the school day."

The
new Somerville Safe Routes to School Facebook page shares updates on routes,
special route activities, Shape Up tips and volunteer opportunities and
provides a forum for community input. Visit it at www.facebook.com/SomervilleSRTS.
For more details about walking school buses and other programs to get students
active during the day, please also contact Shape Up Somerville Director David
Hudson at dhudson@somervillema.gov.