The School Guide
Information for schools
Maroondah City Council, supported by VicHealth
encourages all primary schools to take park in Walk to
School this October.
This school’s guide contains a step by step process to
register, promote and engage the school community in
the fun, road safety learning and healthy habits of
Walk to School.
Maroondah City Council and VicHealth look forward to
your schools support of Walk to School, especially our
two special Walk to School events.
 Crazy Sock Day - Wednesday 7 October
 Say G’Day Challenge - Wednesday 28 October
Crazy Sock Day – Wednesday 7 October
To launch Walk to School, schools are
encouraged to host a Crazy Sock Day on
Wednesday 7 October (or other suitable day
during the first week of term 4).
Simply encourage students and teachers to
wear “crazy” socks or tights for the day to make
a colourful impact as they walk, ride or scoot to
school.
WALK TO SCHOOL
Walk to School is a VicHealth
initiative that encourages
primary school children to
walk to and from school
every day in October.
It highlights the benefits of
walking, riding and scooting
for children’s health and
wellbeing.
By getting involved in Walk
to School, your school can
assist students learn healthy
habits, and achieve the 60
minutes of physical activity
recommended for children
each day.
Walking to school can also
help reduce traffic
congestion, parking
difficulties and the
associated environmental
impacts around the school.
Promote Crazy Sock Day in school newsletters,
calendar and website in the lead up to the end
of term 3.
Last year, 16 primary schools
in Maroondah participated
and benefited from less
traffic, ‘switched on’
students and happy parents.
It is an easy, fun and interactive way to raise
awareness of Walk to School within the student
community.
Plus, every registered school
is in the running for regional
prizes provided by
VicHealth.
Say G’Day Challenge – Wednesday 28 October
The exciting conclusion of Walk to School is Maroondah City Council’s
annual Say G’Day Challenge Event. It an event that makes students
excited to meet their local school crossing supervisor as they walk to
school.
On ONLY Wednesday 28 October, school crossing supervisors near
registered Walk to School schools will be handing out golden tickets.
Students who walk or cycle to school can collect a golden ticket as
they say “G’day” to their local friendly school crossing supervisor. The
golden ticket is the student’s entry into your school’s draw to win
prizes supplied by Maroondah City Council.
To enter the draw, students will need to write their name and class on
the golden ticket and place it in a special box located at the school
office. Students can only enter the draw once. Your school can then
conduct a prize draw at the first assembly in November to determine
the winners.
This event promotes safe street awareness and road crossing practices
to students and families. It is a fun and engaging activity that schools
and students can participate.
Further details about both of these events are
supplied later in this guide.
Step 1: How to get involved?
It’s easy to get involved in Walk to School and its two associated events:
1. To register with VicHealth for Walk to School.
Visit www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au to register your school for Walk to School.
Schools can also order the following free Walk to School material via the
VicHealth Website:
 A3 Coreflute signs for the school gate
 A2 Class calendars – very important for tracking student participation
 Walk to School Information Sheets for parents and guardians
 Walk to School stickers, and
 Walk to School Certificates for participating students.
Schools will NOT need to order posters directly from VicHealth as Council will
provide you with your Walk to School posters.
2. Notify Council of your Walk to School Registration
Once registered for Walk to School, notify Council of your registration by
completing the Walk to School Participation Agreement at the back of this
guide.
Send it to:
Michael Blowfield
Transport and Sustainability Officer
Maroondah City Council
PO Box 156
Ringwood, 3134
michael.blowfield@maroondah.vic.gov.au
Please register with Council by the no later than the Friday 21 August.
Step 2: The Promotion of Walk to School
This media section will assist schools to coordinate an engaging Walk to School
campaign leading up to and during October. It will help school coordinators plan
your media and communications activities to ensure parents are informed and
students are excited and ready to walk.
Campaign timeline
This time line sets out key campaign activities and dates:
Month
Activity
July - August 2015
School confirms registration with VicHealth before 21 August.
Send Walk to School Participation Form to Council by 21 August.
Order Walk to School promotional material online from VicHealth.
September 2015
School receives Say G’Day Challenge, posters, post boxes and prizes from
Council.
School receives Walk to School A3 coreflute gate signs, classroom calendars,
parent information sheets, stickers and certificates from Vic Health.
School displays posters, school gate signs, classroom calendars.
Include Walk to School Crazy Sock Day (template 1 and 2) promotion in school
newsletters.
Post Walk to School Crazy Sock Day and Say ‘G’Day’ Challenge on School
Calendar.
Promote Walk to School Crazy Sock Day on schools website.
Walk to School Crazy Sock Day announcements at last school assembly of term
3.
October 2015
Walk to School 2015 – 5 - 31 October
Verbal reminder about Walk to School Crazy Sock Day early upon return to
school in term 4.
Commence recording of students walking to school numbers with class room
calendars.
Issue reminder about Walk to School (template 3) in first school newsletter for
term four.
Promote Say ‘G’Day’ Challenge (template 4) in second school newsletter for
term 4.
The week before remind students to be out and about on Wednesday 28
October to collect their golden ticket from their local crossing supervisor.
November 2015
Draw student winners of Say ‘G’Day’ Challenge at a special assembly.
Post school participation results for Walk to School to Council.
Walk to School Newsletter Templates
Below is a promotional template to promote Walk to School and associated events
within a series of school newsletter.
Walk to School - Second last Newsletter of Term 3
[School Name] is participating in VicHealth’s Walk to School during October.
Walk to School is a month focused on encouraging students to walk, cycle or
scoot to school.
Children benefit from including more physical activity in the day, such as
improved fitness, friendships, street safety confidence and knowing the local
neighbourhood.
Starting on the first day of term four, Monday 5 October, we are encouraging
students and parents to walk and cycle to and from school as often as possible.
All students can enter VicHealth’s fun
walking-themed competitions
throughout October. For more
information visit the
Walk to School Victoria Website.
Road Safety Tip: Look and listen for
vehicles reversing out of driveways as
you walk along.
This initiative is funded by a VicHealth
Walk to School Grant.
Crazy Sock Day - [Insert Date] - Last Newsletter of Term 3
We are launching our Walk to School month with a Crazy Sock Day on [INSERT
DATE].
Students and teachers are encouraged to wear ‘crazy’ socks or tights for the day
to make a colourful impact as they walk, ride or scoot to and from school.
It is a fun and highly visual way to promote the
benefits of Walking to School.
Road Safety Tip: Make children more visible to other
road users by wearing light and bright clothing
This initiative is funded by a VicHealth Walk to
School Grant.
Walk to School has Arrived – First Newsletter of Term 4
It’s October and Walk to School has arrived!
Why not escape the morning traffic and parking chaos and set aside one or
more days a week to walk, ride or scooter to school.
Talk to other families in your street to arrange opportunities to walk together.
If you live too far to walk all the way to school, then try parking a few streets
away and walking the rest of the way.
All students can enter VicHealth’s fun walking-themed
competitions throughout October. For more
information visit the Walk to School Victoria Website.
Road Safety Tip: Always Apply the Stop, Look and
Listen procedure before crossing the street.
 Stop – when to stop, where to stop and why.
 Look – in which direction to look, how often and what for.
 Listen – what to listen for and what to do when you recognise sounds
(e.g. emergency vehicles).
 Think – think about dangers and if new dangers have appeared, and
what they need to do to keep safe
This initiative is funded by a VicHealth Walk to School Grant.
Say G’Day Challenge - Wednesday 28 October – Second Newsletter of Term
4.
Students that walk or cycle to school on Wednesday 28 October can join in this
special event to celebrate the end of Walk to School month.
Students will have the chance to win some great prizes just by walking or
cycling to school and saying ‘g’day’ to their school crossing supervisors. The
school crossing supervisors will hand out golden tickets for students can enter
into a prize draw.
To enter the prize draw, students need to write their name and class on the
golden ticket and then place them in the specially marked box at the school
office.
It’s a fun and engaging way to give our students the
chance to greet their local school crossing supervisors,
and to apply good street safety practices.
Road Safety Tip: Whenever possible, cross at a
pedestrian crossing, traffic signals or at pedestrian
refuges. Remember, a school crossing is only legally
operational when the flags are displayed.
This initiative is funded by a VicHealth Walk to School Grant.
Web page template
This initiative is funded by a VicHealth Walk to School Grant.
Council will supply schools with a Walk to School web tile that schools can place on
their websites front page to link to Walk to School information. It can also be used as
the image for Walk to School social media posts.
Walk to School Student Ambassadors
To assist the Walk to School Coordinator with the tasks of delivering Walk
to School and revving up student enthusiasm, each participating school is
to nominate two senior students to be Walk to School Ambassadors.
The ambassadors will be the voice of inspiration and fun to the school
community about Walk to School. Possible Role for the school
ambassadors include:
1. Regular Walk to School promotions at school assemblies in the lead up
to and during Walk to School.
2. Putting up Walk to School posters and signage around the school.
3. Distribute Walk to School Class calendar and other materials to
teachers.
4. Collection of Walk to School calendar and collation of participation
data.
5. Other task that support the Walk to School Coordinator to deliver Walk
to School tasks.
Step 3: Record student’s walks, rides and scoots during October
Use classroom calendars to record when students walk, scoot or ride to or
from school.
Schools that fill out classroom calendars tend to report higher
participation, giving them a better chance of winning a regional prize for
the highest participation.
All students can enter VicHealth’s fun walking-themed competitions
throughout October.
Step 4: Report your school’s participation in November
Tally up your school’s walks and report them on the Walk to School
website for your chance to win a regional school prize!
Don’t forget to notify Maroondah City Council of your school’s
participation tally.
Step 5: Celebrate your achievements!
Dedicate your first assembly in November to drawing the student prizes
for the Say ‘G’day’ Challenge.
Contact Council’s Transport and Sustainability Officer if your school would
like the Maroondah Mayor or Councillor to attend this assembly to draw
out the winners.
Let students, parents and the school community know about your
achievements through your newsletter, assemblies and website.
Special Event Details
Crazy Sock Day
Crazy Sock Day is a simple, no cost and fun event to put the whole school community
in the spirit of Walk to School.
School are to encourage teachers, students and even parents and guardians to wear
crazy or colourful socks to school to highlight start of Walk to School.
What Council will supply
Council will provide the following:
 An editable Crazy Sock Day template to promote the event in your school
newsletter, calendar and website.
What does the school have to do?
School will need to:
1. Complete the Crazy Sock Day template with details relevant to
your school, i.e. date.
2. Place Crazy Sock Day on the School Calendar.
3. Advertise Crazy Sock Day within school newsletters
and website in the lead up to the end of term 3.
4. Verbally remind students, parents and teachers
about Crazy Sock Day on the return to school term 4.
5. Principal and teachers wear crazy and colourful socks
on the day.
6. Take photo of students and teachers in their socks to
feature as a post Crazy Sock in the school newsletter and
social media.
Say G’Day Challenge - Wednesday 28 October
Maroondah City Council will coordinate a special end of Walk to School event, called
the Say G’Day Challenge. The event will promote safe street awareness and road
crossing practices to students and families. It is designed to be a fun and engaging
activity that schools and students will enjoy.
What Council will supply
Council will provide the following:
 Arrange school crossing supervisors near your school to hand out golden
tickets.
 Posters to promote Walk to School and the Say
‘G’day’ Challenge.
 Prizes for school to hand out in a draw at
assembly.
 Golden ticket collection box to be
placed outside school office on the
day.
What does the School have to do?
School will need to conduct the following
steps to participate in
1. Place supplied Walk to School and Say
G’day Challenge posters and online
advertisement in the newsletters,
websites and social media.
2. Remind students about walking to collect a
golden ticket from crossing supervisors on
Tuesday 27 October.
3. Set up the golden ticket collection box outside
school office on Tuesday27 October.
4. Conduct school prize draw at first school
assembly in November.
the
5. Notify Maroondah City Council of the school assembly to arrange for Councillor
and your school’s crossing supervisors to attend.
6. Take photo of prize winners with school’s crossing supervisors and post in
school newsletter.
Walk This Way - School Walkability Guide
To support schools to maintain students and parents enthusiasm for walking and
cycling to school beyond October, Council will supply schools with Walk This Way
School Walkability Guide.
The information contained within the guide can be used by schools to guide further
school initiatives to increase student walking and cycling. Schools will be able to use
the report to:
1. Launch a Safe Routes to School campaign in 2016. This will assist schools to
promote the safe routes to school map and supporting material to launch a
campaign to promote walking to schools.
What Council will supply
Council will provide the following:
 Walk This Way Walkability Guide detailing the walking zone and suggested safe
walking routes.
 Map of the safe routes to school to promote to the school community at the
beginning of 2016.
 A local school case study demonstrating how a small investment towards
growing student active travel can have a considerable effect on reducing traffic
congestion outside the school gate.
 Identify the three top priority pedestrian infrastructure improvements the
school.
Information and Privacy
Please note: Teachers will need to ensure that they have parent or guardian
permission before recording students’ walks. You can find information for parents on
the Walk to School website and order printed copies.
Classroom calendars are used to record students’ walks throughout October. The
calendars include the student first name (last name is not required), how far they
walk to school, and the walks they complete during October. This information will
only be accessed by the student, the student teacher and the school Walk to School
coordinator; VicHealth or Council may access this data if calendars are forwarded on
by the school for data tallying and reporting assistance.
All classroom calendars will be securely stored and destroyed at the end of the Walk
to School campaign.
The school’s summary results will be reported on the VicHealth website and will
include school-level data only. This will not include any individual student details.
Where can I get more information?
Visit the Walk to School website for information and to register:
www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au
To register for the Say ‘G’day’ Challenge , the Safe Routes to School program or to ask
further question about Walk to School contact, Michel Blowfield, Transport and
Sustainability Planner on 9298 4452 or michael.blowfield@maroondah.vic.gov.au.
Walk to School Participation Form
School:
Nominated Walks
to School
Coordinator:
Phone Number:
Email:
The School has:

Registered with VicHealth to participate in Walk to School
The school agrees to:

Promote and host a Crazy
Sock Day

Nominate two Senior
Students to be Walk to
School Ambassadors.

Collates and report Walk to
School participation results
to VicHealth in November
Coordinator’s
Signature:

Promote and participate in
the Say G’Day Challenge.

Track student participation by
the use of Walk to School
Class calendars
Date: