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.