We applaud the collaborative effort behind Kapa‘a Elementary’s hopefully trend-setting participation next week in the national Walk to School Day. The first-of-its-kind event, organized here by Bev Brody of Get Fit Kaua‘i and the county’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition,
We applaud the collaborative effort behind Kapa‘a Elementary’s hopefully trend-setting participation next week in the national Walk to School Day.
The first-of-its-kind event, organized here by Bev Brody of Get Fit Kaua‘i and the county’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, will feature a “Walking School Bus” that will make its way down Kawaihau Road from the New Cannery on Tuesday morning.
The goal is to address the issues of physical activity, safer communities and environmental health. As Brody says, “Aside from reduced CO2, less traffic time and teaching children self-reliance the most important benefit of walk to school programs are the health benefits. It has been proven over and over again that children who engage in regular physical activity perform better academically.”
The walk coincides with an ongoing Get Fit Kaua‘i campaign — in conjunction with the Kaua‘i Police Department — to get drivers to slow down in school zones.
We hope motorists take notice so parents can help their children safely walk or ride their bikes to school, not just next week but everyday.
Here is a sampling of 13 unedited letters written by fourth-grade students at Kapa‘a Elementary who explain in their own words why people should slow down in school zones and why it is important to walk or bike to school.
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to walk to school or ride a bike to school because it would help the world by saving gas and money. Also kids could get more exercise and healthy.
It is important to drive slow because people could get banged and people could crash. People could get very hurt. Also the parents have to pay the medical bills if their child gets hurt.
Once my cousin almost got banged by a truck. Then my cousin pulled her out of the way and saved the day.
We here at Kapa‘a Elementary School wish for people to ride bikes and walk to school.
— A responsible Kapa‘a Elementary 4th Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to bike or walk to school because it is like a first extra exercise and helps us get healthier. Also less pollution goes in the air.
It is also really important to drive slow because people get tickets when they speed up or you can crash or bang some people. Like this one time, my friend almost got banged from a car because the car wasn’t looking then my friend wasn’t looking.
Luckily, the car took a really fast glimpse then press its brakes then my friend looked and saw the car. Then he got so scared, he cried halfway home. That’s why people should drive slow and some people should pay attention!
— A concerned Kapa‘a Elementary 4th Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to ride a bike or walk to school because it will make kids healthier and we will stop cars to burn rubber or roads and other places and damage it. People also should drive slowly on roads because I almost got hit by Kealia Beach. I was going to get my brother at my friends house and this car was speeding up the hill and realized I was walking and stopped. We need students to walk to school safely and parents and people to drive slowly.
— A concerned Kapa‘a Elementary Fourth Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to have people drive slowly because my friend Sophie almost got banged by a car in the morning at school when she was walking across the road. The guy was driving and Sophie did not look both sides of the road. Number one rule: look both sides before crossing the road.
It is important to let your kids ride there bike or walk to school. My classmate Lemule rides his bike because he knows that he should ride a bike. Lemule wants the world not to smell just like car’s smoke and gas. My classmate Lexi walk to school because she thinks the same thing too.
— A thinkable thoughtful Kapa‘a Elementary Fourth Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to ride your bike or walk to school because it doesn’t pollute the grass like how gas from the cars. Another thing is bikes and walking gives you exercise and gives you strong bone that makes your health.
People should drive slower because they might bang someone. I would feel much safer if people would drive slower.
— A concerned Kapa‘a Elemetnary Fourth Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to walk or ride your bike to school because it will help to keep our planet healthy. You should also walk or ride your bike because it will keep you healthy. If you live past a mile and a half you can drive to school. If you live close you should walk.
People should drive slowly because once my friend was crossing and then a speeding driver almost hit her and my brother’s friends had to pull her out of the way. Many kids want people to slow down. So slow down.
— A concerned Kapa‘a Elementary Fourth Grader
Dear Newspaper Editor,
It is important to ride a bike or walk to school because it helps the world be more green. Also people would get more healthier. It is important because the world would get less pollution. The people would get there 30 minute exercise a day. If it happened, everyday people would have all those things.
It is important to drive more slow. It’s important because when people are crossing the road they could be run over. If someone was driving with one hand on the wheel and a turn came he/she might go out of control because they were going too fast. If people was driving fast they would have to be pulled over by a cop and would have to pay the price. If this happened people in the world would not have near death experiences.
We at Kapa‘a Elementary feel that more people should walk or bike to school and should drive slower, so we can feel safe.
—A concerned Kapa‘a Elementary Fourth Grader
