Description of a Walking School Bus Program
IntroductionWSBPs have been implemented in schools across Canada as a strategy to increase children‟s daily physical activity levels. The KFL&A Public Health‟s School Health Team has incorporated WSBPs into their health promotion programming initiatives and has recently developed a WSBP in one school (LDPS). Since each school setting is unique, including location, the community, and the staff members that help create the school community, what may seem as a feasible program in one school may not
necessarily transfer to another school interested in implementing the same program. In terms of the WSBP, there are many factors that may promote or impede program success. One aspect is how parents perceive the built and social neighbourhood environment in which their children would actively commute to school. This chapter provides a
description of the WSBP as developed by the KFL&A Public Health School Health Team in Kingston, Ontario.
Background of a WSBP in Kingston, Ontario.
The Role of Public Health
Work of KFL&A Public Health‟s School Health Team is directed by the Ontario Public Health Standards (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 2008). Under the Chronic Diseases and Injuries Program Standards, one goal is “to reduce the burden of preventable chronic diseases of public health importance,” (Ministry of Health and Long-
Term Care, 2008). To achieve this goal, public health must provide health promotion programs in the following areas: healthy eating, healthy weights, comprehensive tobacco control, physical activity, alcohol use, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The WSBP falls within the area of physical activity. Public Health is directed to work with school boards and/or staff of elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educational settings to help develop and implement healthy policies, as well as help to create supportive
environments for healthy lifestyles to prevent chronic disease. For supportive
environments, public health must collaborate with local and regional organizations and increase the capacity of community partners by mobilizing and promoting access to community resources, providing skill-building opportunities, and sharing best practices and evidence for prevention of chronic diseases (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 2008). In helping to form the basis for the development of school health initiatives, these standards align with The Ontario Curriculum for Health and Physical Education (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2010).
The Role of the Limestone District School Board
The LDSB is directed by the Foundations for a Healthy School Ideas and Shared Practices outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Education (2010). The Ontario Curriculum sets out four components for Foundations of a Healthy School. These include: high- quality instruction and programs, a healthy physical environment, a supportive social environment, and community partnerships (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2010). Each school under the Ontario curriculum must follow these components. Thus each sector, which includes the school boards, principals and teachers, is mandated to provide and promote physical activities to students.
The Walking School Bus Program
Both KFL&A Public Health‟s School Health Team and schools of the LDSB must work together to achieve physical activity initiatives for school children. The Foundations for a Healthy School includes a requirement that Public Health “coordinate a „walking Wednesday‟ program with the support from school staff, students and community partners,” and take part in “establishing a partnership with a local university to research the impact of the physical activity program on student achievement” (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2010). The WSBP meets these requirements and was developed by the School Health Team in partnership with LDPS.
Objectives of the School Health Team
Primary Objective
The primary objective of the School Health Team is to increase children‟s use of active transportation to school, with or without the WSBP, and promote healthy active lifestyles.
Secondary Objectives
There are two guiding secondary objectives. The first is to establish and encourage the use of the WSBP in schools across Kingston, Ontario. The second is to reduce traffic congestion from parents during morning and afternoon school hours so as to increase pedestrian safety in the school neighbourhood.
Activities to Achieve Objectives
One aspect of fostering the WSBP is to identify and overcome barriers that may impede the success of the WSBP. The following is a list of activities outlined by the School Health Team to achieve this aim:
To provide teachers, parents and children with the resources (maps and incentives) to participate in the WSBP so that they may be confident in their choice to allow their children to participate, and for their children to feel confident in their ability to participate.
To determine concerns and attitudes towards active transportation and the WSBP that may deter or encourage parents to allow their children to participate in active transportation.
To identify concerns of parents when considering whether to allow their children to use active transportation to school and provide recommendations for
improvements in the community that would contribute to increases in active transportation use (i.e. crossing guards, speed bumps, traffic lights etc.).
To provide the school with contacts to members of the Kingston City Council and encourage relationships with local organizations and businesses for the purpose of addressing issues that may arise (i.e. pedestrian infrastructure) and to promote greater sustainability of the program within the school community.
Development of the WSBP
Planning, development and initiation of the WSBP occurred during the fall of 2010 at LDPS by the KFL&A Public Health School Health Team for the 2010-11 school year.
School Setting Prior to the WSBP
Set within a suburban area, LDPS is located next to a Catholic Elementary School and faces the back track field of a Catholic High School. Prior to the WSBP, the principal reported that the majority of parents/guardians who live within walking distance of the school tend nevertheless to drive their children to school. This creates a considerable amount of traffic congestion in and around the school area, which is a concern for
children‟s pedestrian safety. Congestion at the front entrance of the school interferes with the school‟s bus drop-off zones and contributes to increases in exhaust fumes from vehicles. Idling parents‟ cars also reduce traffic visibility along the front entrance and street of the school for pedestrians and local traffic. After the morning bell, parents drive their children to the front door of the school causing further congestion and disruption at the school‟s front entrance and foyer. The principal stated that children who are dropped off at the last minute are late for class, causing disruption in the classroom and delaying the start of classroom instruction.
Development of the WSBP at Lancaster Drive Public School
In the Fall of 2009, the School Health Team approached the LDPS principal to discuss the potential for a WSBP at their school. The principal agreed with the idea and worked together with the School Health Team and a student working group from Queen‟s University to develop the promotion and awareness component of the WSBP.
Using a density map provided by the school‟s principal and based on where Walking School Bus Leaders lived, three routes were developed for the WSBP. Each route was within LDSB Policy No. 16, which states that children who live a distance greater than 1.6km from the school would be provided a school bus (Limestone Disctrict School Board, 2000). Each route‟s starting point was approximately 1.4km or a 15 to 20- minute walk away from the school. The routes were colour coded and assigned at least two Walking School Bus leaders. Leaders were trained by the School Health Team and provided reflective WSBP vests for safety purposes. Information about the routes including start times and how their children could join the route were sent home to parents and provided in the school‟s newsletter and website (Appendix A).
On Thursday October 14th, 2010, the WSBP began with the assistance of the School Health Team. The WSBP continued every Thursday morning with the exception of holidays, snowstorms, and Professional Development (PA) Days (non-instructional student days). Two teachers took on the role to sustain the WSBP and incorporated an incentive program to encourage children to participate. Children walking to school using the WSBP for four weeks received a neon-coloured key-chain charm, shaped like a foot, to add to their Walking School Bus charm bracelet/backpack chain. In addition, winter promotional posters were developed and sent home to parents as a reminder of the WSBP schedule and to encourage parents to dress their children appropriately for cold winter temperatures (Appendix B).
The WSBP continued for the duration of the 2010-11 school year with the support of KFL&A Public Health and the school teachers and principal who continued to