WoW! to School
10 Aug 2011 |
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Kids under the Zap machine at Almond Elementary
August marks the start of the 2011-12 school year with most Los Altos tikes heading to their neighborhood school. Also returning is GreenTown Los Altos’ program to encourage kids to walk, bike, scooter, or carpool to school. The program, under the leadership of Michael McTighe, and in effect at numerous Los Altos and Los Altos Hills elementary and middle schools, has a new name: WoW! (Walk or Wheel), based on Springer School’s successful program.
Through contests and incentives, the GreenTown WoW! program encourages and empowers kids to get to school without being driven in a car. In the process, it boosts their confidence, fosters bonding with peers, and encourages a healthy, fit lifestyle. The WoW! program also improves safety around schools by reducing traffic in parking lots and on local streets.
Our goal is to increase the number of WoW! kids by 20% by the end of the school year. Each school PTA is assigning volunteers to work with students to embrace, educate, and empower kids to forget the car and think “Walk or Wheel.” Many activities and incentives are planned throughout the year to reach our goal. We invite student councils to pledge support to the WoW! program and truly make Los Altos and Los Altos Hills bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly communities. Look for future articles during the year for more about WoW! events and each school’s progress.
For more information, to find PTA contacts, or to get involved, you can email us at bike@greentownlosaltos.org.
