Powerful safety message as part of annual initiative

Holy Family Primary East Granville is a safe and nurturing environment for your family
Tupou is excited for National Walk Safely to School Day.

On Friday last week, students and teachers at Holy Family East Granville prepared for National Walk Safely to School Day.

The special day promotes healthy, safe habits and reduces vehicle dependency.

“We’re really excited to be taking part in National Walk Safely to School Day, alongside thousands of other families across Australia as part of National Road Safety Week,” said teacher Sarah Graham. “At Holy Family, we’re always encouraging students to make safe and healthy choices, and this day is a great reminder of how powerful small changes can be. Even walking part of the way makes a difference. Parking a few streets away and walking the rest helps reduce traffic around the school gates and creates a safer space for everyone.”

The Holy Family school community is invited to meet at Colquhoun Park on May 22 and walk to campus together. “It’s a great chance to build community spirit, get moving, and reinforce our key road safety message: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. THINK,” Graham said.

Holy Family Primary East Granville is a safe and nurturing environment for your family

As part of the preparations, Senior Sergeant Mark Kneipp from Cumberland Police Area Command visited the school to speak to students. “Walking to school improves wellbeing, with children being more focused and productive in class,” Sergeant Kneipp said. “Children can observe and adopt safe practices from their parents/caregivers when walking to school. Judging traffic, looking for safe areas to cross the road, and identifying potential hazards are among some of the benefits a child will experience when parents opt to walk instead of drive.”

For students and families at Holy Family, the educational day is also an exciting routine change. “When I walk to school from the church, I feel more energised and excited for a day of learning,” said Year 5 student Filipe.

Year 4 student Dominic already walks to school from his grandma’s house every morning. “Walking to school helps me learn to be safe on the roads because I have to look left and right for cars and cross the road with an adult and hold their hand,” he said.

Holy Family Primary East Granville is a safe and nurturing environment for your family

Year 3 student Tupou summed the initiative up perfectly. “Walking to school is good because it makes you stronger and healthier,” she said.

Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby said walking to school ticks every box. “You both get exercise – and we know children perform far better in the classroom when they are active before school,” he explained. “You won’t cause a dangerous traffic jam at the school gate, your car won’t emit those dangerous particulates that cause respiratory disorders in children, and you can walk back to your car, getting more exercise for yourself.”

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Parramatta News
An independent news service covering the Parramatta and Cumberland Local Government Areas.

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