Ysgol Y Lawnt Takes Part In Walk To School Week

Pupils, parents and staff from Ysgol Y Lawnt celebrated the start of Walk to School Week by holding an additional Walking Bus from St David’s Church in Rhymney to Ysgol Y Lawnt. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Walking Bus was held in addition to their weekly Wednesday Walking Bus, which has been a success for the last 8 years. Approximately 50 participants regularly attend, with parents and younger siblings often joining the pupils to take part in the early morning stroll. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many of the pupils have attended the Walking Bus from nursery, right through to Year 6 – with some participants even taking part before starting nursery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pupils were met at the school by Strider, the Living Streets walking mascot who welcomed the children and praised then for their continued efforts to walk to school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Led by the Eco-Committee, pupils from Ysgol Y Lawnt play a leading role in the organisation of the Walking Bus. Their contribution includes carrying out surveys and assisting with the development of the School Travel Plan. Year 6 pupils have also taken on the role of Walking Bus Conductors, who hand out hi visibility vests, as well as recording the names of walkers each week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are currently 21 schools throughout Caerphilly who walk regularly every week, with 26 schools taking part in this year’s Walk to School Week, meaning 5,000 choosing the healthier option of walking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils also marked Fairtrade Fortnight by having a Fairtrade banana before setting off on the journey which provided each child with enough energy to take part in the walking bus. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Walk to School Week is a 5 day challenge which takes place during National Walking Month where by school pupils ditch the bus or car and walk to school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Walking Buses take place throughout Caerphilly county borough, with Ysgol Trelyn and Pengam Primary celebrating their 10th year of a successful Walking Bus! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Tom Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Engineering said: “Well done to Ysgol Y Lawnt for successfully running their Walking Bus for the past 8 years. Taking part in a Walking Bus is a great way to stay fit and active, as well as providing a great opportunity to make new friends and to help the environment”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​