Champion Schools

Benicia Schools

Mary Farmar Elementary

Principal Wendy Smith understands the importance of getting her students to walk and bike to school safely. She has shown her support of the Safe
Routes to School (SR2S) program over the last five years beginning in the 2012-2013 school year when the school first participated in the Walking School Bus Pilot program.

Since then, Mrs. Smith has involved her school in various SR2S activities and participated in every event or program offered during the 2015-2016 school year. They included, International Walk to School Day, National Bike to School Day, hosting a Bike Rodeo and Bike Mobile event, bike helmet distribution, Poster Contest participation, and completing Fall and Spring Student Travel Surveys.

During the same year, she started a weekly staff-led Walking Wednesday program, which is now in its 3rd year. She and the staff librarian meet students and parents at Ninth Street Park and lead them across the Military W. overpass safely to school. An average of 12 students participate weekly. 

“Kids love it, parents love it, I love it,” said Mrs. Smith and added that she wished she could do it every day.  “What a great way to start the day,” she said.

Mary Farmar Elementary continues to be an exemplary school  in the county for its participation in the Safe Routes program.

 

Matthew Turner Elementary

The school first embraced the SR2S program during the 2012-2013 school year by starting a  Walking School Bus with three routes to reduce the number of students getting to school by car. In 2013-2014, the school held three separate week-long Walk and Roll events to further encourage walking to school. During the 2014-2015 school year, the school began its monthly Walking Wednesday program, now in its 4th year.  On the first Wednesday of every month school staff meet students and parents at Jack London, Skillman and Waters End Parks and walk, bike or ride scooters to school together.

Fairfield and Suisun City Schools

Fairview Elementary School

Fairfield

Physical Education teacher, Kristen Soulsby, understands the importance of fitness for Fairview students by coordinating the school’s first Family Fitness Night in January 2018. Along with Solano Safe Routes to School and Solano County Public Health staff, school staff and volunteers gathered to bring students and their families a fun night of learning the importance of health and fitness. Stations included a jump roping class, using pedal power on a “bike blender” to make healthy smoothies, and learning more about the Safe Routes to School program.

Suisun Elementary

Suisun City

 

More than 150 Suisun Elementary students participated in International Walk to School Day on Oct. 10, 2018 thanks to the outstanding efforts of the Student Leadership group who orchestrated an exciting and fun event for all! The Leadership students and their advisers met fellow students and parents at a  nearby 7-11 store  and led the .5 mile walk to the school with balloons, a “Walk to School Day” banner and fun music! A Suisun City Police Department motor officer accompanied the walkers who were then met with a “cheering tunnel” comprised of administrators, teachers and parents. Suisun Elementary stepped up its commitment to getting their students moving  by hosting an energetic and fun Walk to School Day event!

 

 

Rio Vista Schools

D.H. White

Rio Vista

D.H. White has consistently participated in yearly Safe Routes to School events. For our 4th Annual Poster Contest in 2018 each student was given a flyer and an entry form by Secretary Codi Agan. The extra support of making sure all students get their chance to draw and enter into the contest is a much appreciated step.

Fairfield Schools

Vacaville Schools

Foxboro Elementary

Vacaville

After participating in International Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day with positive experiences the last 2 years, assistant principal, Kristyn Andrews, wanted to promote walking and biking to school to Foxboro Elementary students on a regular basis. So she took the next step and started a monthly WOW Wednesday program in November 2017.

WOW Wednesdays encourage students to walk or ride bikes or scooters to school. On the first Wednesday of the month, the Watch D.O.G. volunteers greet students near the school to cheer and thank them for walking, biking or riding a scooter instead of taking the car to school. For their efforts the students get a charm to put on a chain to proudly display on their backpacks.

Foxboro Elementary exemplifies what it means to be a Champion School. In addition to hosting International Walk to School Day, Bike to School Day and monthly WOW Wednesdays, Mrs. Andrews has encouraged participation in our annual Poster Contest and the twice-yearly student travel surveys. In addition, Foxboro goes the extra mile by promoting the events on its eye-catching school marquee and on the school web page.

 

 

Vacaville Schools

 

Callison Elementary

Vacaville

Walking School Bus

In an effort to combat excessive traffic around the school during drop off and pick up times, then principal, Cathy Bozzini, decided to close the school parking lot during the 2014-2015 school year and offer parents a safe alternative to driving their children to school by starting three staff-led Walking School Bus (WSB) routes.

During the first year implementing the Walking School Buses, school staff led an average of 45 children to and from school daily on three routes, rain or shine.  As a departure from volunteer-led Walking School Buses, the school decided to use school staff to ensure continuity and availability to lead the routes every day. Parents liked having school staff lead the WSB’s because both the parents and the students know the staff. Since the program began, the school has had fewer traffic concerns and the children walking are getting more exercise.  

Now in its 4th year, the program is part of the school culture and popular with parents and their children who participate.  While the program continues to remain popular, the Walking School Bus now has one route led by two parent volunteers who walk with students every day,  to and from school, rain or shine.

Kudos to the Callison administrators for its commitment to continue providing  parents a safe and dependable alternative for getting their children to and from school.

Note: The WSB is currently on hiatus, but will resume in December 2018 or January 2019.

 

Padan Elementary

Vacaville

WOW (Walk or Wheel) Wednesdays.

Principal Cicely Rodda has ardently supported the SR2S program for numerous years at Padan Elementary and during the 2016-2017 school year, she undertook the challenge to start WOW Wednesdays for the school’s 600 plus students. Wanting to get her students active in an on-going walking and biking program, she launched the WOW (Walk or Wheel) Wednesday program in March 2016.  She worked with her teaching staff to get their support and use their prep time to meet the students at three different meeting spots to encourage them to keep walking, biking or riding scooters to school and give the kids much coveted charms for their efforts. To publicize and promote the weekly event, Mrs. Rodda had signs and a banner put up around campus, sent information to parents and posted information on the school website. According to Cicely, the kids are excited about the program and it’s gaining in popularity.

The school  has consistently been involved in numerous SR2S activities and programs making Padan one of the top schools in the county in participation last year. In addition to WOW Wednesdays, Padan participated in a Bike Rodeo, the SR2S Poster Contest, International Walk to School Day, Bike to School Day, and twice-yearly student travel surveys in Oct. 2016 and May 2017.

On Bike to School Day last May, Mrs. Rodda welcomed Supervisor John Vasquez, who presented two Padan students, who were 2017 Poster Contest winners, with gift certificates.  The event was featured in a front page story in the Vacaville Reporter.

WOW Wednesdays are continuing in the 2017-2018 school year with school staff and a volunteer grandparent greeting students every Wednesday as they walk, bike or ride their scooters to school. 

Vallejo Schools

Everest Academy

Vallejo

Everest Academy is the newest addition to the SR2S program thanks to the hard work and creativity of Carmen Cassius, Academic Support Provider, who devised an on-campus Walking Wednesday in 2016-2017 school year to encourage students, parents and teachers to build positive relationships and stay active. On average, 71 students and 16 adults participate in the event every week and students are “happy, smiling, singing and dancing” as they walk around campus. Everest academy also participates in other Safe Routes to School events including International Walk to School day, the annual Poster Contest, and semi-annual Hand Tally Surveys.

Annie Pennycook Elementary

Vallejo

Pennycook Elementary began a Walking School Bus in the fall of 2016. Led by Arnika Nichols (Academic Support Provider) and parent volunteers, students meet three times per week to walk to and from school. Pennycook also plans to launch Fit Fridays in the spring which will encourage students to engage in physical activity by walking or biking to school as well as participating in an on-campus activity. Pennycook also participated in a number of Safe Routes to School events throughout the years including International Walk to School Day, Bike to School day, the annual Poster Contest, and semi-annual Hand Tally Surveys.

Elsa Widenmann Elementary

Vallejo

Widenmann Elementary began a Walking Wednesday in the fall of 2016. Championed by Carolyn Logan (Academic Support Provider and recent Champion of the Month), several teachers, and youth leadership, the weekly event gathers students and and parents alike to walk around campus at the beginning of the school day. Students look forward to their weekly walks and earn a stamp for every lap they complete.Widenmann also participates in other Safe Routes to School events including International Walk to School Day and semi-annual hand-tally surveys.